A device for separating, scanning and sorting publications bearing the Universal Product Code. The device comprises a flat bed extending horizontally but inclined to one side, along which move parallel belts at high speed. A loading bit or hopper at one end receives magazines stacked in random sequence. These are separated by means of the synchronized movement of stack lifting bars at the bottom of the bin and movable separating fingers downstream. The fingers drop on each magazine as it begins to pass beneath them, and the stack lifters are simultaneously raised to lift the remaining magazines off the belts. The fingers are lifted a short time after the trailing edge of the magazine passes them to ensure a gap between adjacent magazines. The stack lifters to drop as the trailing edge passes the fingers, without a time delay. Means are also provided for initially stepping back the leading edges of the magazines in a stack, this means comprising a novel forward wall construction for the bin, and flat springs between the stack lifters and the separator fingers.The separated magazines pass a conventional scanner which, through a computer, controls shift registers corresponding in number to the diverter gates. The diverter gates include fingers which are rockable from a position flush with the bed to a diverting position in which a magazine impelled by the belts will strike the fingers and be diverted laterally. Concave scoop-like members are mounted adjacent each set of diverter fingers to aid the diverting action.