Method and device for sorting objects by means of intermediate storage units

A sorting system for sorting objects in accordance with a predefined sorting feature, the sorting system comprising:

• a measuring device for detecting the objects;
• a feed transport device;
• a series of a plurality of receiving devices;
• a control device;
• a series of a plurality of intermediate storage units disposed in parallel;
• feed connection paths, one of said feed connection paths connected between one of said intermediate storage units and said feed transport device;
• receiving devices;
• removal connection paths, one of said removal connection paths connected between one of said intermediate storage units and one of said receiving devices;
• said measuring device measuring, for an object, a value of the sorting feature for the object;
• said control device selecting one of said intermediate storage units for each of the objects in accordance with the value of the sorting feature measured;
• said feed transport device transporting the object to said feed connection path leading to said intermediate storage unit selected for the object;
• each of said feed connection paths transporting the object to an assigned said intermediate storage unit;
• said removal connection paths transporting the object from said assigned intermediate storage unit to one of said receiving devices;
• the sorting system programmed to carrying out the following steps for each of the objects:
• measure, via said measuring device, the value of the sorting feature for the object;
• select automatically, via said control device, said intermediate storage unit in accordance with the value of the sorting feature measured;
• transport, via said feed transport device, the object to said feed connection path of said intermediate storage unit selected;
• redirecting, via the sorting system, the object into said selected feed connection path;
• transport, via said feed connection path, the object to said intermediate storage unit selected;
• subsequently transport, via said removal connection path, the object from said intermediate storage unit to said receiving device;
• transport, via said feed transport device, the objects in such a way that a sequence of the transported objects is formed, and, for each of said intermediate storage units, the objects are transported from said intermediate storage units into said receiving device in such a way that all the objects from said intermediate storage unit are disposed directly one behind the other in said receiving device;
• detect a last object in the sequence of the objects transported in said feed transport device via said measuring device;
• said control device configured to control each of said intermediate storage units such that for each of said intermediate storage units, a procedure of emptying said intermediate storage unit is triggered, when the last object in a sequence of transported objects transported in said feed transport device has been transported into said intermediate storage unit because said intermediate storage unit was selected for the sorting feature value of the object, or the object in said feed connection path has been transported past said intermediate storage unit because a subsequent said intermediate storage unit in the series of said intermediate storage units was selected for the sorting feature value of the object;
• and
• the sorting system configured such that the emptying of said intermediate storage unit comprises transporting, via said removal connection path of said intermediate storage unit, all the objects in said intermediate storage unit to said receiving device.