Abstract: The invention relates to a tangential distributor for stoppers of a given length and diameter. The distributor comprises a pair of rotating coaxial plates separated by a vertical distance which is slightly more than one stopper diameter. Between these plates is formed a passageway between a central portion of the plates and a peripheral area. Properly aligned stoppers are removed from this peripheral area. A baffle is formed into the passageway to orient the stoppers and allow only those oriented tangentially to the plates to pass into the peripheral area. A guide around the peripheral area retains the stoppers in the peripheral area until they are removed. The plates may be rotated at variable velocities for control of the rate of removal and orientation.