Abstract: A can handling system for transporting cans with an open end through an oven for drying of printed material applied to the exterior of the can comprising, a plurality of free-standing can carriers, each having a base and an upstanding member centrally thereof to engage within a can and hold a can in inverted position and with the base and upstanding member being of a size to position a can to prevent contact between two cans when a pair of can-carrier bases are in contact, transport structure for advancing cans sequentially at uniformly spaced intervals to a loading station, conveying and synchronizing structure for advancing can carriers sequentially to said loading station to have the can engaging members of the can carriers at the same spacing as the cans arriving at the loading station whereby cans may be transferred sequentially to sequential can carriers, and conveyor structure for conveying the can carriers to an oven in single-file relation and thereafter moving the can carriers and cans through the o