Abstract: A process, product, and system for detecting a defective vacuum in a packaged product. The process may include providing a packaged product including a product enclosed within a packaging article. The packaging article may include a film having at least one layer containing a fluorescence-based indicator. The process may further include exposing the packaged product to incident electromagnetic energy to produce an excited fluorescence-based indicator, such that the excited fluorescence-based indicator emits fluorescent electromagnetic energy; and determining, based on the fluorescent electromagnetic energy emitted by the excited fluorescence-based indicator, that gas is present within the packaging article.

Abstract: The continuity of a functional layer of a web (32, 60, 78) is assessed by forwarding the web, detecting (42, 63) the presence of the functional layer and a discontinuity and/or a thin region in the functional layer, and generating a signal in response to the discontinuity and/or thin region. The functional layer comprises a detectable component (360) in a thermoplastic composition. The detecting is carried out by a machine vision system capable of detecting the detectable component (360) in the functional layer. The detectable component (360) can be active or passive. Also included are systems for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A process for monitoring seal quality of a packaging article. In one embodiment, the process for monitoring the seal quality includes sealing a film to form packaging article and forming a seal area. The seal area is analyzed by a vision system to acquire image data of the seal area. A vision inspection engine analyzes the image date to determine the continuity of the seal, the strength of the seal, or both.

Abstract: A process, product, and system for detecting a defective vacuum in a packaged product. The process may include providing a packaged product including a product enclosed within a packaging article. The packaging article may include a film having at least one layer containing a fluorescence-based indicator. The process may further include exposing the packaged product to incident electromagnetic energy to produce an excited fluorescence-based indicator, such that the excited fluorescence-based indicator emits fluorescent electromagnetic energy; and determining, based on the fluorescent electromagnetic energy emitted by the excited fluorescence-based indicator, that gas is present within the packaging article.

Abstract: The continuity of a functional layer of a web (32, 60, 78) is assessed by forwarding the web, detecting (42, 63) the presence of the functional layer and a discontinuity and/or a thin region in the functional layer, and generating a signal in response to the discontinuity and/or thin region. The functional layer comprises a detectable component (360) in a thermoplastic composition. The detecting is carried out by a machine vision system capable of detecting the detectable component (360) in the functional layer. The detectable component (360) can be active or passive. Also included are systems for carrying out the process.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for tracking, visualizing and understanding energy or utilities usage of one or many buildings. The system links building characteristics with energy or utilities use thereby enabling users to view energy or utilities usage and cost information at the portfolio, development, building, or meter levels. This technique allows for easy comparison among and between buildings in a portfolio, group, or common ownership. The system provides for quick creation of custom reports to compare buildings across portfolios. These custom reports further enable users to compare energy/utilities use of buildings within a given account relative to energy/utilities use of similar buildings in a larger database, thus providing meaningful performance benchmarking based on real data.