a method and apparatus for collecting square articles including conveying a series of articles in a longitudinal direction , stopping the articles in front of a first pusher , transversely pushing a predetermined number of articles into a tapered second pusher , advancing the second pusher a distance equal to the length of the article , and retracting the second pusher . the tapered second pusher includes a stepped configuration of a plurality of stages , each stage having longitudinal and transverse sides which are respectively about the same size as the length and width of the article and at least one of the stages in the middle being omitted . a first stopper provided in front of the omitted stage prevents the articles from entering into the omitted stage and a second stopper provided in front of the first stopper prevents the articles in front of the omitted stage from being pushed out of the tapered second pusher .