# US 2016/0251184 A1 · System and method of automatic feeder stack management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0251184 A1 - Document ID: US20160251184A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/154,603 - Filed: 2016-05-13 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12 - Assignees: United States Postal Service - Applicants: United States Postal Service - Inventors: John W. Brown; Edward F. Houston; Juan A. Roman; Leung M. Shiu; Riley Houston Mayhall, III; William P. McConnell; Matthew G. Good; Robert E. Hume; Thomas A. Hillerich, JR.; Long K. Ha - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160251184A1 ## CPC - B65H 3/124: {Suction bands or belts} - B65H 1/025: {with controlled positively-acting mechanical devices for advancing the pile to present the articles to the separating device} - B65H 2511/214: Inclination - B65H 2513/10: Speed - B65H 2515/34: Pressure, e.g. fluid pressure - B65H 2701/1916: Envelopes and articles of mail - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract Embodiments of a system and method for singulating articles in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a pressure sensor on a perforated drive belt assembly configured to sense the pressure exerted by a stack of articles. The sensed pressure may be used to control various portions of the automatic stack feeder, such as a belt or a paddle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the position or speed of the conveyor belt or the paddle when the angle between the lead article in the stack of articles and the conveyor belt deviates from a threshold angle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to move the paddle in the first direction when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to move the conveyor belt in the second direction when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to move the paddle in the first direction and move the conveyor belt in the second direction when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to move the conveyor belt in the first direction at a first speed and to move the paddle in the first direction at a second speed which is greater than the first speed when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to move the paddle in the second direction when the sensed angle is less than the threshold angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to move the conveyor belt in the first direction when the sensed angle is less than threshold angle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to move the paddle in the second direction and move the conveyor belt in the first direction when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to move the conveyor belt in the first direction to hold the paddle in place when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 11 A method for managing articles comprising: receiving a stack of articles onto a conveyor, the conveyor the conveyor comprising a conveyor belt and a paddle, the conveyor belt configured to convey the stack of articles located thereon in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction, the paddle being configured to provide support for the stack of articles located on the conveyor belt; detecting an angle between a lead article in the stack of articles; generating a signal related to the detected angle; receiving the signal from the sensor in a controller in communication with the conveyor belt, the paddle, and the sensor; and adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt or the paddle in response to the received signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt or the paddle in response to the received signal comprises adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt or the paddle when the angle between the lead article in the stack of articles and the conveyor belt deviates from a threshold angle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt comprises moving the paddle in the first direction when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt comprises moving the conveyor belt in the second direction when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt comprises moving the paddle in the first direction and moving the conveyor belt in the second direction when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt comprises moving the conveyor belt in the first direction at a first speed and moving the paddle in the first direction at a second speed which is greater than the first speed when the sensed angle is greater than the threshold angle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt comprises moving the paddle in the second direction when the sensed angle is less than the threshold angle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt comprises moving the conveyor belt in the first direction when the sensed angle is less than threshold angle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt comprises moving the paddle in the second direction and move the conveyor belt in the first direction when the sensed angle is less than the threshold angle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein adjusting the position or speed of the conveyor belt comprises moving the conveyor belt in the first direction and holding the paddle in place when the sensed angle is less than the threshold angle.