Collator without a main line drive shaft

Each of several hopper sections includes at least one signature pile support (21-24, 41-44, 61-64) for holding signatures to be fed to the conveyor. Each section also includes a feeder (25-28, 45-48, 65-68) for feeding a signature from the pile support to the conveyor. Each section has its own respective motor (32, 52, 72) for driving the associated feeder. Each motor includes its own respective controller (30, 50, 70) for controlling the associated motor to control the feeding of signatures from the associated feeder to the conveyor. A master controller (14) interconnecting the motor drives, controls speed of operation and coordinates timing of operation of the motor drives for driving the associated feeder.