ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,304,756, issued on May 20, was assigned to United States Postal Service (Washington).

"System for transferring articles from a container" was invented by Wayne R. Perry-Eaton (Leesburg, Va.), George W. Potts Jr. (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Daniel Radtke (Madison, Wis.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An automated system for transferring articles from a container. An item transfer system includes a frame configured to receive a first tray and a second tray, a movable paddle assembly, a frame, and a plurality of actuators. The system is configured to transfer articles from the first tray to the second tray by an automated process including sec...