a machine for sorting things (such as punched cards or letters) into classes
an abstract machine that sorts an array of comparable objects
The mill worker who separates different grades and sizes of lumber for storage.
A machine that measures the thickness, width and length of rough lumber and directs the boards into bins containing like pieces.
This is a multi bin device that sorts and collates pages as you copy them. Sorters are available with staplers built in that staple pages as they are completed.