Abstract: A bottle sorting system includes a carousel which transports bottles through various stations to classify and separate bottles according to identifying characteristics. At a transfer station, bottles are brought into alignment with gripper mechanisms that are automatically closed to engage the bottles. The bottles are then transported through an inspection staton where they are electrooptically scanned to determine their identifying characteristics. A central processing unit compares the bottle characteristics with stored sets of characteristics to classify each bottle. The locations of each classified bottle is monitored by the central processing unit as the bottles are transported by the carousel. When a particular bottle reaches a location associated with one of a plurality of discharge conveyors, the central processing unit actuates an opening device to open the gripper mechanism and release the bottle onto the conveyor.