Abstract: A sorting apparatus has at least two sorter cells arranged substantially one above the other. Sorter cells are fitted to a driving unit for moving the sorter cells from a horizontal loading plane to a horizontal discharge plane, both of which are assigned to the sorter cells. A vertical distance between the sorter cells is equal to the vertical distance between two loading planes arranged one above the other and to the vertical distance between the upper and lower plane of at least a first and a second pair of discharge planes arranged one above the other.

Abstract: A storing apparatus has at least one rack with compartments that are arranged in an essentially vertical plane in a matrix having a first direction and a second direction relative to each other. A carrier frame, disposed facing the rack, moves vertically in a first conveying arrangement. At least one second conveying arrangement is fitted to the frame to accept an article and move the article in a first direction to any one of the compartments in the rack. At least one third conveying arrangement moves the article between the second conveying arrangement and a compartment.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus has at least two sorter cells arranged substantially one above the other. Sorter cells are fitted to a driving unit for moving the sorter cells from a horizontal loading plane to a horizontal discharge plane, both of which are assigned to the sorter cells. A vertical distance between the sorter cells is equal to the vertical distance between two loading planes arranged one above the other and to the vertical distance between the upper and lower plane of at least a first and a second pair of discharge planes arranged one above the other.

Abstract: A storage and stacking device for flat objects such as mail or newspapers cludes boxes for temporarily storing, transporting, and stacking the objects. Boxes are arranged on the stacking device at an angle of less than 90.degree. and coupled to a connecting element. The device has a fixed stack support associated with the boxes, and a movable stack support which is movable relative to the fixed stack support. The boxes and the fixed stack support are movable relative to one another. The boxes and the fixed stack support are formed by comb-like elements. The box comb-like elements comb through the fixed stack support comb-like elements during the relative motion of the box with respect to the fixed stack support. The box comb-like elements, the movable stack support and the fixed stack support are always in a positive contact with the stack of the objects.

Abstract: In an apparatus for sorting and distributing mail pieces, the mail pieces e introduced into an inlet module, then from the inlet module into a transporter and finally to an outlet module. Mail pieces are moved from a receiving station on to a continuous conveyor forming a part of the inlet module. The continuous conveyor has a number of transporting sections disposed in spaced generally horizontal planes. From the transporting sections mail pieces are transferred at a transfer station from transport pallets on to individual receptacles in the transporter. At a removal station spaced from the transfer station, mail pieces are removed by an extraction device from the individual receptacles on the transporter to containers on an output conveyor of the output module. The containers are formed to receive a plurality of mail pieces.