Abstract: Folded signatures of lightweight stock are fed in a direction parallel to the backbone of the signatures and deposited in sets of predetermined number and in shingled relation onto a main conveyor moving transverse to the direction of feed from the supply stack. The main conveyor deposits the signatures on the top of a stack in the hopper of a gathering machine. The height of the stack in the hopper is sensed, and this is used to control feeding from the supply stack. Preferably, the supply stack is held in a hopper with the signatures resting on a second or supply conveyor which extends upwardly and outwardly from the main conveyor so that adjacent loading machines can be nested to reduce space requirements.