An overhead conveyor system for conveying overhead adapters along a conveying direction, comprising a. a first overhead conveyor line, b. a functional overhead conveyor line connected in terms of conveying technology to the first overhead conveyor line and having a discharge element for discharging overhead adapters from the overhead conveyor system, c. a separating unit arranged upstream of the functional overhead conveyor line for feeding the overhead adapters separately into the functional overhead conveyor line, d. a first identification unit arranged upstream of the separating unit for identifying overhead adapters to be discharged, e. a second identification unit arranged downstream of the separating unit for identifying overhead adapters to be discharged, f. a control unit for automatically conveying and discharging the overhead adapters, wherein the control unit is in signal connection with the discharge element, the first identification unit, the second identification unit and the separating unit, characterized in that the separating unit is switchable by means of the control unit such that a conveying distance (d 1, d 2) oriented along the conveying direction between two adjacent overhead adapters can be set variably, wherein in the event that no overhead adapters to be discharged have been identified by the first identification unit, the separation takes place with a conveying distance that is smaller than the minimum conveying distance, and in the event that at least one overhead adapter to be discharged has been identified by means of the first identification unit, the overhead adapters are subsequently separated at the required minimum conveying distance by means of the separating unit and conveyed in the functional overhead conveyor line. a. a first overhead conveyor line, b. a functional overhead conveyor line connected in terms of conveying technology to the first overhead conveyor line and having a discharge element for discharging overhead adapters from the overhead conveyor system, c. a separating unit arranged upstream of the functional overhead conveyor line for feeding the overhead adapters separately into the functional overhead conveyor line, d. a first identification unit arranged upstream of the separating unit for identifying overhead adapters to be discharged, e. a second identification unit arranged downstream of the separating unit for identifying overhead adapters to be discharged, f. a control unit for automatically conveying and discharging the overhead adapters, wherein the control unit is in signal connection with the discharge element, the first identification unit, the second identification unit and the separating unit, characterized in that the separating unit is switchable by means of the control unit such that a conveying distance (d 1, d 2) oriented along the conveying direction between two adjacent overhead adapters can be set variably, wherein in the event that no overhead adapters to be discharged have been identified by the first identification unit, the separation takes place with a conveying distance that is smaller than the minimum conveying distance, and in the event that at least one overhead adapter to be discharged has been identified by means of the first identification unit, the overhead adapters are subsequently separated at the required minimum conveying distance by means of the separating unit and conveyed in the functional overhead conveyor line.