The invention relates to a conveying device (1) having an accumulation area (SB) for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O2, Oa . . . Oj), and to an operating method for the conveying device (1). By means of a measuring device (L1), the object rear edge (KHO1) of a first object (O1) and the object front edge (KVO2) of a second object (O2) which follows the first object (O1) are detected. The position of the objects (O1, O2) is determined by means of rotation signals from the drives (M) of conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L). For the second object (O2), a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed (vSoll) is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position (PStop) of the object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2) is located at the position of the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1), or between the object front edge (KVO1) of the stopped first object (O1) and the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1). Subsequently, the second object (O2) is moved and stopped by means of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) on the basis of the calculated speed reduction.