Method for sorting conveyed objects on a conveyor system using time control

A conveyor system, comprising a plurality of material handling elements, a material handling element of the plurality of material handling elements comprising:

• a plurality of incoming conveyor segments,
• at least one coupling for an outgoing conveyor segment, to which the incoming conveyor segments are merged,
• a plurality of retainers configured to stop a flow on the incoming conveyor segments,
• a controller which is configured to release a conveyed object at a release time point essentially corresponding to a target arrival time point when the conveyed object arrives as scheduled at a target destination minus a target run-through time needed for transport of the conveyed object from a current position to the target destination, and
• wherein at least one coupling for an outgoing conveyor segment of one of the material handling elements is connected directly or indirectly to an incoming conveyor segment of another of the material handling elements.

A material handling element merging conveying streams, comprising

• a plurality of incoming conveyor segments,
• at least one coupling for an outgoing conveyor segment, to which the incoming conveyor segments are merged,
• a plurality of retainers configured to stop a flow on the incoming conveyor segments, and
• a controller which is configured to release a conveyed object at a release time point corresponding to a target arrival time point when the conveyed object arrives as scheduled at a target destination, minus a target run-through time needed for transport of the conveyed object from a current position to the target destination.