PURPOSE: To increase frequency in the sorting of papers or the like by providing a plurality of sorting means in the sheet conveying direction and a chute means which receives the sheet taken away from the sorting means and carries the same by itself and which drops the sheet onto the lower conveying means upstream with respect to the sorting means at the most upstream part thereof.

CONSTITUTION: A mass of mail A passed through a first pawl belt (sorting means) 16 undergoes another sorting process three times, i.e., a second pawl belt 17 and a third and a fourth pawl belt 18 and 19 provided on a wide middle belt 12. A mass of mail T piled together on a return conveyor (chute means) 25 is unpiled to some extent when dropped onto the wide middle belt 12. By using the return conveyor 25 having driving force, there is no need for providing extra space for mail dropping and the height of the sorters for papers or the like can be reduced.