Sorting device for flat mail items

A sorting arrangement for flat items of mail, having at least one feed arrangement, comprising:

• separating arrangement and a transporting means for the separated items of mail,
• a reading arrangement for determining distribution information located on the separated items of mail,
• a plurality of containers which circulate on at least one conveying arrangement in a conveying loop with at least two semicircular conveying sections, of which at least one is aligned horizontally, and are intended for laterally receiving, for transporting and for discharging in a controllable manner in each case one item of mail standing on a narrow side,
• a plurality of depositing receptacles which are arranged along the conveying arrangement, beneath the containers, are open at the top and receive the items of mail from the containers,
• a control arrangement which, also in accordance with the distribution information read, controls the discharge of the items of mail from the containers to the depositing receptacles such that each item of mail located in a container is discharged to the depositing receptacle assigned to this distribution information, if required in a predetermined sequence, and
• wherein the end section of the transporting means of the feed arrangement can be pivoted about the center point (M) of the semicircular, horizontally aligned conveying section and, during the introduction of the respective item of mail into an empty moving container, is pivoted in essentially the same direction as the moving containers and at a speed adapted to the container speed, and in that, for loading purposes, the lateral openings of the containers are located in the interior of the conveying loop, and the transporting means of the feed arrangement is arranged partially within the conveying loop, and transports the items of mail into the lateral openings of the containers in the horizontally aligned semicircular conveying section.