A device for engaging and aligning items moving along a conveyance line that are to be positioned on a pallet is provided. The device includes a robotic arm positioned adjacent the conveyance line and having a manipulator thereon. The manipulator includes a number of fingers that extend downwardly from the manipulator in order to engage the items on the conveyance line. The fingers operate to stop and align the items to form a well-defined stack in the shape defined by the position of the fingers on the manipulator. The manipulator can rotate while the fingers are in engagement with the stack of items in order to reposition the items as desired for placement on the pallet by sliding the items along the various surfaces of the system and without lifting the items off of the conveyance line, thereby limiting the cost and time associated with the operation of the device.