An article palletizer and/or depalletizer is disclosed. During palletizing operations, articles on an article conveyor are diverted from the article conveyor at a first location (29) and moved along a first path toward a discharge end where a sweep unit (64) urges and leads the diverted articles onto a pallet by groups for storage with a retainer (71) precluding article travel beyond the pallet. During depalletizing operations, stored articles are urged and led from the pallet by groups by the sweep unit (64) and a retainer unit (71) along a second path separate from the first path to thus establish a flow-thru configuration with the articles being led to a second location of the article conveyor downstream from the first location where the articles are inserted onto the article conveyor. The system and method are particularly useful for storing cans diverted from a high speed can production and/or handling line, and for later supplying stored cans, when needed, to the line.
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