A handling system in a machine for processing containers, including a plurality of support plates circulating in a closed circuit, each support plate including one or more housings, each housing being able to hold a container, a first portion, in which the support plates circulate in a horizontal position along a first axial direction, a second portion, known as the return portion, with a second moving member configured to move the support plates in an opposite second axial direction X1B, the support plates circulating in the second portion in a vertical return orientation, the handling system including a holding pallet to selectively either unload the support plates from the second portion onto the holding pallet or for loading the support plates from the holding pallet into the second portion.