method and device for loading cylindrical articles in a processing apparatus including a rotatable starwheel with pockets defined therein which carry the cylindrical articles and a plurality of mandrels aligned with the pockets for rotation with the starwheel such that the cylindrical articles may be axially transferred from the pocket onto the mandrel for processing , the device primarily comprising a plurality of conduit outlets which may be intermittantly connected through valve means to a compressed gas source to produce a jet of compressed gas at predetermined positions in the rotation of the starwheel pocket and onto the mandrel , and more preferably further including a vacuum passage through the mandrels which may be selectively connected to a vacuum source to work in synchronous with the compressed gas jet to provide both an internal vacuum and an external gas jet urging the cylindrical article onto the mandrel .