Abstract: In order to avoid ergonomic problems such as carpel tunnel syndrome while improving productivity, an apparatus for feeding signatures to a patent bound binding line is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pocket adjacent a binding line for receiving signatures to be delivered to the binding line. It also includes a signature feeder for feeding signatures from a source in a generally vertical direction to a signature receiving and transferring mechanism. The signature receiving and transferring mechanism has a signature receiving end positioned in generally vertically spaced relation to the source and a signature transferring end positioned generally adjacent to the pocket. The signature receiving and transferring mechanism has a signature conveyor for conveying signatures in a continuous stream from the signature receiving end to the signature transferring end for delivery into the pocket.