System and method of automatic feeder stack management

A system for managing articles comprising:

• a conveyor configured to support and move a stack of articles, the conveyor comprising a conveyor belt and a paddle, wherein the conveyor belt is configured to convey the stack of articles located thereon in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the paddle is configured to move in the first or in the second direction to provide support for the stack of articles located on the conveyor belt;
• a sensor configured to detect an angle between an lead article in the stack of articles and the conveyor belt and generate a signal related to the detected angle;
• a controller in communication with the sensor, the conveyor belt and the paddle, wherein the controller receives the signal from the sensor;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to adjust the position or speed of the conveyor belt or the paddle in response to the received signal.