Sorting method and apparatus

A sorting apparatus which uses a sorting/conveying line with branch destination comprising:

• a branch line for sorting the commodities more than a quantity required for the branch destination;
• and
• a surplus article returning line for returning surplus commodities after removing a required quantity to the sorting/conveying line.

An inspection and assurance system, wherein a delivery inspection center is provided between a plurality of suppliers and a plurality of retailers to sort delivered commodities from the suppliers according to order information of the retailers on sorting/conveying lines of the delivery inspection center, to collect actual commodity information passing the sorting/conveying lines in the delivery inspection center, and to calculate sorting results for every retailer and delivery results for every supplier, reporting the sorting results of the retailer to the retailers concerned, wherein the sorting results for retailers relating to the delivered commodities of each supplier are reported to the supplier concerned.

An inspection and assurance system which establishes a shipment zone for every return destination trader at a second sorting/conveying process branched from the sorting/conveying line, and compiles and outputs return sorting results for every retailer and return results for every supplier by actual commodity input identification means of sorted commodity for the return destination trader.