PURPOSE: To make it possible to efficiently sort articles, by providing a first article sorting section having racks arranged along the longitudinal direction of a container conveying line and a second article sorting section having racks arranged along the longitudinal direction of a travel path for container carrier vehicles.

CONSTITUTION: Kinds of articles which are delivered in a large number and have a high possibility of orders from destinations are sorted in a first article sorting section A1 which stores therein several kinds of articles and is provided with racks 1 arranged along the longitudinal direction of a container conveying line 2. On the contrary, kinds of articles which are delivered in a small number and have a low possibility of orders from destinations are sorted in a second articles sorting section A2 which stores therein several kinds of articles and in which racks 12 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of a travel path for container carrier vehicles.