Sorting apparatus for CD, Micro-cassette and video tape or similar article

A device for selecting and distributing stackable articles from a stock, comprising:

• at least one driven endless conveyor communicating with a holder for stocking said articles, said holder including a grid-like bottom comprising a plurality of rods extending in the travelling direction of said conveyor and spaced in the transverse direction;
• said conveyor travelling along a path, said path being essentially horizontal and including an incline in a direction transverse to the direction of travel, at least the lower portion of said holder having a position perpendicular to and spaced from said path;
• a plurality of discharge stations along said path for receiving said articles;
• a plurality of pushing members mounted upon and spaced along said path for taking an article from said holder, advancing said article along said path, and delivering said article to said discharge station, said pushing members being active above said path, each of said pushing members extending transversely to the direction of travel and including a forward face and an upper surface and comprising a plurality of teeth disposed longitudinally along the upper surface thereof passing between said rods, said pushing member contacting said article at the forward face thereof when said teeth are passed between said rods;
• a coding means for giving each article a destination code related to one of said discharge stations;
• and
• means for reading said destination code and discharging said article to an appropriate discharge station;
• optical scanning means located in said path of travel beyond said holder for the registration of coded information available upon a surface of article taken from the holder and advanced by a pushing member along said path.