Apparatus for orientating cylindrical articles

First and second chambers, each having a rotor, are interconnected by a passage. The first chamber has a contoured periphery to receive articles and the passage is shaped and dimensioned to permit travel therealong only of those articles which are orientated in the first chamber with their longitudinal axes either in the direction of travel or normal to the direction of travel. Articles in other orientations are carried round the first chamber by the rotor for representation at the passage. The rotor in the second chamber permits the passage of those articles which have their longitudinal axes in the direction of travel and topples by means of blades, the articles having their axes normal to the direction of travel into positions in which the axes are in the direction of travel. (author)