Sorting installation and sorting method for jointly sorting different kinds of articles

A sorting installation for sorting articles in accordance with a prescribed sorting feature, wherein each article to be sorted belongs to either a first article kind or a second article kind, the sorting installation comprising:

• a measuring device;
• a data-processing selection unit;
• a first transport device;
• a second transport device;
• a separating filter having a first output and a second output;
• a first outward-transfer device;
• a second outward-transfer device;
• a first set of sorting outputs;
• and
• a second set of sorting outputs;
• each of said sorting outputs of said first set of sorting outputs is able to accommodate at least one article of the first article kind in each case, each of said sorting outputs of said second set of sorting outputs is able to accommodate at least one article of the second article kind in each case;
• said first outward-transfer device starts at said first output of said separating filter and said second transport device starts at said second output of said separating filter;
• said measuring device automatically determines a sorting feature value assumed by the prescribed sorting feature for the article to be sorted;
• said selection unit selects, in dependence on the sorting feature value of the article, a respective sorting output for each of the articles to be sorted;
• said first transport device transporting each of the articles to be sorted to said separating filter;
• said second transport device transporting each of the articles to be sorted belonging to the second article kind from said separating filter to said second outward-transfer device;
• each of said first and second outward-transfer devices is configured so that the article which is to be sorted and has been transported to a respective said first or second outward-transfer device is:
• transported to a selected said sorting output;
• and
• transferred out into said sorting output selected;
• the sorting installation being configured to perform the following steps for each of the articles to be sorted, wherein:
• said measuring device determines the sorting feature value assumed by the prescribed sorting feature for the article;
• said measuring device establishes whether the article belongs to the first article kind or the second article kind;
• and
• said first transport device transports the article to said separating filter;
• the sorting installation configured to perform steps for each of the articles to be sorted belonging to the first article kind, wherein:
• if said measuring device has determined the sorting feature value in a given time, said selection unit selects a sorting output of said first set of sorting outputs in dependence on the sorting feature value which has been determined;
• if said separating filter forwards the article to said first outward-transfer device, said first outward-transfer device transfers the article out into said sorting output selected;
• the sorting installation configured to perform steps for each of the articles to be sorted belonging to the second article kind, wherein:
• the second transport device transports the article onwards, if said measuring device has determined the sorting feature value in a given time, said selection unit selecting a sorting output in dependence on the sorting feature value which has been determined;
• if said sorting output selected belongs to said second set of sorting outputs, said second transport device transports the article to said second outward-transfer device and said second outward-transfer device transfers the article out into said sorting output selected.