Abstract: A reusable food or beverage container sanitizing system and method of operation automates the identification and sanitizing of reusable food or beverage containers. A reusable food or beverage container has an identification device associated therewith. The reusable food or beverage container is associated to a customer order and used to supply a food or beverage to the customer. The system utilizes a UV sanitizing system to prevent the spread of harmful germs on the reusable food or beverage container. The doors of a pass-through UV sanitizing system allow the customer to insert an unsanitized container on the entry (“unsanitized”) side of the system, and the retail employee to remove the sanitized container from the exit (“sanitized”) side of the system without having to tough any other surface (doors, knobs, handles, etc.) than the container itself.

Abstract: A reusable food or beverage container that features self-cleaning surface characteristics thereby allowing effective cleaning using minimal resources and effort. The reusable food or beverage container includes an identification device used to associate the reusable food or beverage container as a part of a system of reusable food or beverage containers and associated devices. Successful identification of the reusable food or beverage container allows the container to be accepted for reuse as a part of the reusable container system, as well as to initiate automated processes associated with that particular reusable container.

Abstract: A sealing device generally includes a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface and a heating element disposed about such surface and secured thereto such that the heating element rotates therewith. The heating element is coiled about the outer surface of the cylinder in the form of an overlapping helical pattern. Juxtaposed film plies may be sealed together by bringing the sealing device into rotational contact with the juxtaposed film plies and heating the heating element to a temperature sufficient to cause the film plies to seal together.

Abstract: A method and system for the application of foam insulation onto a surface or into a cavity include a sheet with an aperture, where the sheet covers or partially covers the surface or a cavity with the aperture adjacent to the surface or cavity. A pressure-activated foam generator which generates foam is coupled with the sheet. The pressure-activated foam generator includes a frangible output seal with a ruptured position. The pressure-activated foam generator is positioned so that in the ruptured position the foam has a path from the frangible output seal through the aperture and onto the surface or into the cavity. The sheet is connected to cover or partially cover the surface or cavity, and the pressure-activated foam generator is activated and the foam flows onto the surface or into the cavity.

Abstract: A sealing device generally includes a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface and a heating element disposed about such surface and secured thereto such that the heating element rotates therewith. The heating element is coiled about the outer surface of the cylinder in the form of an overlapping helical pattern. Juxtaposed film plies may be sealed together by bringing the sealing device into rotational contact with the juxtaposed film plies and heating the heating element to a temperature sufficient to cause the film plies to seal together.

Abstract: A machine for providing cushioning products of varying lengths from a supply of a web material having sequential transverse rows of inflated protrusions. A pair of opposing feed members form a feed nip for moving the web along a path of travel. At least one sensor detects location information for the sequential rows of inflated protrusions as the web travels along the path of travel. A severing device is moveable between (i) an engaged position to separate the web transversely or perforate the web transversely and (ii) a disengaged position. A controller is programmed (i) to receive the location information and (ii) to operatively control the severing device to move it to the engaged position when a selected row is in a determined position relative the severing device.

Abstract: A sealing device generally includes a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface and a heating element disposed about such surface and secured thereto such that the heating element rotates therewith. The heating element is coiled about the outer surface of the cylinder in the form of an overlapping helical pattern. Juxtaposed film plies may be sealed together by bringing the sealing device into rotational contact with the juxtaposed film plies and heating the heating element to a temperature sufficient to cause the film plies to seal together.

Abstract: A supply of inflatable pouches includes an inflatable web defining a series of inflatable chambers, a longitudinal fold in the web such that the web is configured in the form of two juxtaposed inflatable panels joined together at the longitudinal fold, and a series of transverse seals that bond the panels together to form a series of inflatable pouches between pairs of the transverse seals.

Abstract: A method and system for the application of foam insulation onto a surface or into a cavity include a sheet with an aperture, where the sheet covers or partially covers the surface or a cavity with the aperture adjacent to the surface or cavity. A pressure-activated foam generator which generates foam is coupled with the sheet. The pressure-activated foam generator includes a frangible output seal with a ruptured position. The pressure-activated foam generator is positioned so that in the ruptured position the foam has a path from the frangible output seal through the aperture and onto the surface or into the cavity. The sheet is connected to cover or partially cover the surface or cavity, and the pressure-activated foam generator is activated and the foam flows onto the surface or into the cavity.

Abstract: A machine for inflating and sealing an inflatable web, the web including opposing longitudinal edges and a pair of sheets sealed together by transverse seals that form a series of inflatable containers. The machine generally includes a support structure, a spool for supporting a roll of the inflatable web, a web conveyance system, an inflation system to inflate the containers, and a sealing device for sealing closed the openings of the containers.

Abstract: A system for active alignment of an inflatable web with respect to an inflation nozzle as the web is dispensed from a roll for serial inflation by the inflation nozzle, the inflatable web including top and bottom sheets sealed together by transverse seals to define a series of inflatable chambers having an opening between the terminal ends of the transverse seals and proximate a longitudinal edge of the web for receiving inflation fluid from the nozzle, the system comprising: a spool adapted to support the roll so that the roll rotates about the spool as the inflatable web is withdrawn from the roll; an actuator arranged to adjust the position of the roll along the length of the spool; an inflation nozzle adapted to provide inflation fluid into the openings of the inflatable chambers as the web travels along a path of travel past the inflation nozzle; a tracking sensor comprising: a sensor arm pivotally mounted at a pivot point at a given location relative the inflation nozzle, the sensor arm having a contact

Abstract: A sealing device generally includes a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface and a heating element disposed about such surface and secured thereto such that the heating element rotates therewith. The heating element is coiled about the outer surface of the cylinder in the form of an overlapping helical pattern. Juxtaposed film plies may be sealed together by bringing the sealing device into rotational contact with the juxtaposed film plies and heating the heating element to a temperature sufficient to cause the film plies to seal together.

Abstract: A machine for providing cushioning products of varying lengths from a supply of a web material having sequential transverse rows of inflated protrusions. A pair of opposing feed members form a feed nip for moving the web along a path of travel. At least one sensor detects location information for the sequential rows of inflated protrusions as the web travels along the path of travel. A severing device is moveable between (i) an engaged position to separate the web transversely or perforate the web transversely and (ii) a disengaged position. A controller is programmed (i) to receive the location information and (ii) to operatively control the severing device to move it to the engaged position when a selected row is in a determined position relative the severing device.

Abstract: A sealing device generally includes a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface and a heating element disposed about such surface and secured thereto such that the heating element rotates therewith. The heating element is coiled about the outer surface of the cylinder in the form of an overlapping helical pattern. Juxtaposed film plies may be sealed together by bringing the sealing device into rotational contact with the juxtaposed film plies and heating the heating element to a temperature sufficient to cause the film plies to seal together.

Abstract: A supply of inflatable pouches includes an inflatable web defining a series of inflatable chambers, a longitudinal fold in the web such that the web is configured in the form of two juxtaposed inflatable panels joined together at the longitudinal fold, and a series of transverse seals that bond the panels together to form a series of inflatable pouches between pairs of the transverse seals.

Abstract: A supply of inflatable pouches includes an inflatable web defining a series of inflatable chambers, a longitudinal fold in the web such that the web is configured in the form of two juxtaposed inflatable panels joined together at the longitudinal fold, and a series of transverse seals that bond the panels together to form a series of inflatable pouches between pairs of the transverse seals.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a sliding exercise apparatus. In various embodiments, the sliding exercise apparatus includes a sliding unit with a platform, a sliding surface, a motion sensor, and a transmitter. The sliding unit moves in response to pressure applied against the platform, as the sliding surface is adapted to slide along a ground surface in one or more directions. The motion sensor generates activity data based on one or more characteristics of the movement, such as speed, direction, etc. The transmitter sends the activity data to a computing device, which is adapted for processing, storing, and sharing information based on the activity data.

Abstract: A system for providing a web of inflated containers includes a conveyance system, a detachment arm, and a controller. The conveyance system has an operative mode in which the web is advanced along a path of travel by counter-rotating members having a nip through which at least a portion of the web passes and (ii) an idle mode. The detachment arm is positioned beside the path of travel downstream from the conveyance system. The detachment arm has a separator end to engage the web in the path of travel. The controller is programmed to operatively control the conveyance system to move to: (i) the operative mode to advance the web by a predetermined number of containers and (ii) the idle mode in which a transverse detachment line of the web is aligned with the separator end of the detachment arm.

Abstract: A machine for inflating and sealing an inflatable structure having a longitudinal edge generally comprises a drive, an inflation nozzle, a sealing device, and a sheet engagement device. The machine may define an engaging assembly and an opposing assembly. The drive may be rotationally coupled to the sheet engagement device such that when the drive rotates, the engagement device also rotates. The sheet engagement device may comprise one or more engagement rollers which may have a plurality of teeth thereon. A first plurality of rollers and a second plurality of rollers comprising the engagement rollers may intermesh between a drive roller and a backing roller on the longitudinal edge of the inflatable structure. Thereby, the sheets of the inflatable structure may be engaged together and the length of the longitudinal edge may contract to facilitate inflation. The resulting inflated inflatable structure may comprise an embossed longitudinal edge.

Abstract: A machine for inflating and sealing an inflatable web, the web including opposing longitudinal edges and a pair of sheets sealed together by transverse seals that form a series of inflatable containers. The machine generally includes a support structure, a spool for supporting a roll of the inflatable web, a web conveyance system, an inflation system to inflate the containers, and a sealing device for sealing closed the openings of the containers.