An automated apparatus for orienting truss plates, and in particular truss plates, such as those greater than 6 inches in width, that are typically formed from a single sheet of steel, comprises: a generally horizontally-disposed platform shelf; first and second receiving channels; a sweeper block; and a reciprocal movement unit for reciprocally moving the sweeper block. The platform shelf, which is positioned to receive truss plates from a truss plate forming unit, has an upper face and a pair of opposed lateral edges. The receiving channels are positioned laterally of a respective one of the platform shelf lateral edges and below its upper face. Each of the receiving channels is sized and configured such that a truss plate falling from the upper face and received therein takes and maintains an orientation in which the backing member of the truss plate is generally upright. The sweeper block is positioned above the upper face. The reciprocal movement means moves the sweeper block transversely between a first position above the first receiving channel and a second position above the second receiving channel. The reciprocal movement means is configured so that the sweeper block passes over the upper face while moving between the first and second positions. The sweeper block is deployed at a height such that it contacts a truss plate positioned on the upper face and sweeps the truss plate over one of the lateral edges into one of the receiving channels. This action is repeated as the sweeper block is moved over the other receiving channel; in doing so, it sweeps another truss plate positioned on the upper face into the other receiving channel.