Disclosed is a sorting device for elements of the cap or stopper type, used to close a bottle or vial, or of the plastic preform type. The device includes a continuous conveyor arranged to travel in a conveying direction and equipped with successive transverse stop members between which the elements can rest in transverse alignment. The sorting device includes an ejector for ejecting the elements from the conveyor by moving the elements essentially along the length of the transverse stop members, the ejector include at least one push member which can move at least transversely to the conveying direction so as to push the elements towards the exit zone. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.