A method and an apparatus are provided for singulating articles received in a slug and/or manipulating such articles to create a controlled gap between a trailing edge of a leading article and a leading edge of a successive article, while targeting a desired throughput. For singulation, a plurality of belts are mounted adjacent to each other with a slide chute between each pair of adjacent belts, articles moving from an infeed belt and passing from one belt to another through the chute therebetween. A plurality of sensors are positioned such that there is a single control sensor for at least selected ones of the belts, each control sensor sensing article position on a corresponding belt. Controls are provided for operating each belt in response to a corresponding control sensor, an operative state of a downstream belt and/or a difference between the desired throughput and detected throughput. For creating controlled gaps between successive articles, a plurality of belts are provided, mounted adjacent each other, articles being received on a first of the belts and passing from one belt to an adjacent belt. A plurality of control sensors are sensing article position relative to each belt and controls are provided which operate each belt in response to a corresponding control sensor, an operative state of a downstream belt and/or the difference between the desired throughput and the detected throughput. The controls are also operative to initiate stopping of a belt if a detected trailing-edge to leading-edge gap is smaller than the desired minimum gap.