A release device may include a lifting and pre-stopping element having an upper sliding surface, the part coupled to a drive such that the sliding surface is movable over the sliding plane into an enabled position and at the level of the sliding plane into a blocked position, the part having a stop which in the enabled position protrudes beyond the sliding plane. A blocking element, behind the part in the sliding direction, has an upper blocking element sliding surface, a blocking edge protruding beyond the sliding plane, and an extendable/retractable block coupled to the drive such that the block is movable below the blocking element sliding surface into an enabled position and above the blocking element sliding surface into a blocked position. The blocking edge may be in front of the block in the sliding direction, preventing contact between the piece good and the block in the blocked position.

A system for controlling a flow of articles includes a conveyor driven in a direction to convey articles in the direction. A plurality of lanes are disposed along a portion of the conveyor. Each lane accepts a row of articles along the conveyor direction. A plurality of sensors count the articles in each lane. A plurality of actuators control the flow rates of the articles by comparing and adjusting the flow rates in respective lanes.

A material handling device (1), including: a conveying mechanism (10), the conveying mechanism comprising a first conveying platform (11) and a second conveying platform (12) that are coplanar and arranged side by side, the first conveying platform being provided with a feeding position (101), the second conveying platform being provided with a discharging position (102), the conveying speed of the second conveying platform being greater than the conveying speed of the first conveying platform; and a screening mechanism provided between the feeding position and the discharging position. The material handling device provided in the present application conveys workpieces by means of the first conveying platform and second conveying platform that are coplanar and arranged side by side.