posterior end of engagement slot 52 fig3 illustrates yet another design for a guide tray 34 to receive and properly orient straws 30 after ejection from hopper 31 significantly in the design depicted in fig2 and 29 straws 30 penetrate dispensing aperture 24 while being ejected from hopper 31 and the rear ends of straws 30 fall backward into guide tray 34 only after the straw is ejected from hopper 31 fig3 illustrates a known thrust adjusting head 159 usable to adjust the force with which conventional linear actuator 61 shown in fig3 engages rotary drive shaft 191 fig3 39 illustrate details of the interaction between straws 30 in stacking slot 51 defined between sidewalls 32 and 50 as traversing head 183 traverses dispensing slot 52 to dispense straws 30 seriatim in fig3 two straws 30 are stacked one atop another in stacking slot 51 while traversing head 183 is in its rearmost position engaging rear detection switch 199 not shown in this sequence upon receipt of a signal to dispense another straw 30 traversing head 183 moves forwardly forcing lower straw 30 out of stacking slot 51 through dispensing aperture 24 see fig2 as straw 30 clears slot 51 fig3 and 36 the rear of straw 30 is no longer supported by sidewall 32.