Patent ID: 11905127
Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A container conveyance system comprising:
a first container having a first item and a second item, the first container comprising a first lip disposed about an upper portion of the first container;
a second container having a third item, the second container comprising a second lip disposed about an upper portion of the second container;
a conveyor configured to receive the first item, the second item, and the third item;
a set of rails comprising a first rail and a second rail, the set of rails configured to engage the first lip of the first container and the second lip of the second container; and
a drive system coupled to the first rail of the set of rails, wherein the drive system is configured to propel the first container and the second container along the set of rails, wherein the second rail is a passive guide rail;
wherein the set of rails comprises a helical formation, such that the first container and the second container are rotated 360 degrees from an upright position to an inverted position to the upright position as the first container and the second container move along the set of rails, and wherein the first item, the second item, and the third item fall from the respective first container and the second container onto the conveyor.