Abstract: Machine for automatically positioning and aligning containers, such as plastic bottles, including a hopper (48, 48a, 48b, 48c) for receiving randomly containers (4, 4a, 4b) to be sorted, a hopper bottom (12, 12a, 29) with a peripheral edge portion spaced at a distance from the side wall of the hopper to provide a space through which the containers can drop by gravity towards a lower section, a rotatable disc (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) below the hopper bottom and container holders supported on the disc for movement therewith and having recesses therein for receiving and holding containers in a lying position. A container support shelf (28, 59) with a discharge section extends below container holders for supporting containers in the holder recesses during movement.