PURPOSE: To carry out the delivering sorting control at real time by discriminating a slip number of an article on a sorting line by using hierarchized sorting data tables, and sorting data registration and searching process programs.

CONSTITUTION: For a supplied article, a slip number of a slip attached to the article is read by a bar code reader 570 installed on a sorting line, and it is taken into a sorting control device as sorting bar code reading data. A sorting data table 531 is searched using a sorting data registration and searching process program 530 using the slip number as a searching key to determine a distribution area code for the article. In the case where an upper slip control number is already registrated in an uppe slip control table, therefore, a number in a lower slip number control table is determined immediately, and the area code is read directly by the lower slip number. A sorting process control device 520 then searches a branch table 590 based on the code to carry out sorting control.