Patent ID: 8636135

Claim:
A sorting apparatus configured to sort out a workpiece by piling up a plurality of unwoven fabrics to a second conveyance route or a third conveyance route from a first conveyance route, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor mechanism configured to convey the workpiece from the first conveyance route to the second conveyance route while the workpiece is held, the conveyor mechanism having a workpiece holding surface configured to abut one surface of the workpiece; and a transferring mechanism configured to transfer the workpiece conveyed from the first conveyance route by the conveyor mechanism to the third conveyance route, wherein the third conveyance route is branched off from between the first conveyance route and the second conveyance route, the conveyor mechanism is continued over the first conveyance route and the second conveyance route, the transferring mechanism is configured to push out the workpiece held for conveyance by the conveyor mechanism from the workpiece holding surface toward the third conveyance route thereby to transfer the workpiece to the third conveyance route, and the transferring mechanism includes a ventilation unit configured to blow air from the workpiece holding surface toward the third conveyance route.