Abstract: A sheet of material that is marked with a pulsed laser, the sheet of material having an outer edge and an inner edge separated by a core. The distance from the outer edge to the inner edge is the sheet thickness. The sheet of material has a total concentration of TiO2 of less than about 1.00%. There is an exterior layer beginning at the outer edge and extending into the core, the thickness of the exterior layer is from about 10.00% to about 40.00% of the sheet thickness, and the exterior layer has an average concentration of from about 2.50% to about 10.00% TiO2.

Abstract: A sheet of material that is marked with a pulsed laser, the sheet of material having an outer edge and an inner edge separated by a core. The distance from the outer edge to the inner edge is the sheet thickness. The sheet of material has a total concentration of TiO2 of less than about 1.00%. There is an exterior layer beginning at the outer edge and extending into the core, the thickness of the exterior layer is from about 10.00% to about 40.00% of the sheet thickness, and the exterior layer has an average concentration of from about 2.50% to about 10.00% TiO2.

Abstract: A part 3D printed by a pulse lasing apparatus. The part has a predetermined feature comprising a plurality of 3D prints and voids in a grid pattern. The grid pattern has a plurality of locations disposed along a series of substantially parallel rows, and each location comprises either one 3D print or one void. The pulses from the pulse lasing apparatus form the 3D prints and the absence of a pulse forms the voids. The pulse lasing apparatus is controlled by a computing device that sends packets of instructions to the pulse lasing apparatus, the packet of instructions comprising at least 2, where each individual instruction informs the laser to pulse or not to pulse, creating a 3D print or a void, respectively, at each location on the grid pattern.

Abstract: A sheet of material that is marked in a predetermined pattern with a pulsed laser on its outer surface. The sheet material is a layered material that has an outer edge and an inner edge separated by a core. There is a first layer comprising a first material beginning at the outer edge and extending into the core and there is a second layer containing the second material within the core. The outer surface further has a patch, that is a region of the outer surface where the second material is disposed at the outer surface, and at least a portion of the laser marks are disposed on the patch.

Abstract: A sheet of material that is marked with a pulsed laser, the sheet of material having an outer edge and an inner edge separated by a core. The distance from the outer edge to the inner edge is the sheet thickness. The sheet of material has a total concentration of TiO2 of less than about 1.00%. There is an exterior layer beginning at the outer edge and extending into the core, the thickness of the exterior layer is from about 10.00% to about 40.00% of the sheet thickness, and the exterior layer has an average concentration of from about 2.50% to about 10.00% TiO2.

Abstract: A sheet of material marked by a pulse lasing apparatus. The sheet of material has a predetermined feature comprising a plurality of marks and voids in a grid pattern. The grid pattern has a plurality of locations disposed along a series of substantially parallel rows, and each location comprises either one mark or one void. The pulses from the pulse lasing apparatus form the marks and the absence of a pulse forms the voids. The pulse lasing apparatus is controlled by a computing device that sends packets of instructions to the pulse lasing apparatus, the packet of instructions comprising at least 2, where each individual instruction informs the laser to pulse or not to pulse, creating a mark or a void, respectively, at each location on the grid pattern.

Abstract: A sheet of material that is marked with a pulsed laser, having an outer edge and an inner edge separated by a core. There is a first layer beginning at the outer edge and extending into the core less than about 60 micron, and there is a second layer that begins where the first layer ends, is at least about 5 microns from the outer edge, and begins no greater than 60 micron from the outer edge. The first layer is substantially free of laser marking additives, and the second layer has an average concentration of TiO2 within the range of from about 5.00% to about 12.00% by weight of the second layer.

Abstract: A measuring cup including a bottom end and an open end opposite the bottom end; a sidewall extending from said bottom end to the open end, wherein the sidewall has an interior surface; and a dosing indicium integral with the interior surface, wherein at least a portion of the dosing indicium includes a bitmapped pattern of chemically or structurally modified bits of the sidewall, wherein the bitmapped pattern includes at least two rows of bits.

Abstract: A measuring cup including a bottom end and an open end opposite the bottom end; a sidewall extending from said bottom end to the open end, wherein the sidewall has an exterior surface; and a dosing indicium integral with the exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the dosing indicium includes a bitmapped pattern of chemically or structurally modified bits of the sidewall, wherein the bitmapped pattern includes at least two rows of bits.

Abstract: A package including a first part and a second part moveable relative to one another; a first part positional indicator integral with the first part, wherein the first part positional indicator includes a bitmapped pattern of chemically or structurally modified bits of the first part, wherein the bitmapped pattern includes at least two rows of the bits.

Abstract: A method for performing a task in registration with a discrete seal in at least one material is described herein. The method involves simultaneously forming a discrete seal and a fiducial/eye mark in the at least one material. The method includes providing a detection device; providing a unit operation mechanism; and performing an operation on the material(s) in registration with the discrete seal. The task performed in registration with the discrete seal is based upon the location of the eye mark that was simultaneously formed with the discrete seal. A method of making flexible containers using cutting to form the outer periphery of the packages is described herein. Also described herein are flexible containers and container blanks made by such a method.

Abstract: An inflation feature for a shipping package, an inflation rig assembly for inflating a shipping package, and a method of inflating a shipping package. The method includes providing an inflation feature and an inflation rig assembly with corresponding alignment features, positioning the inflation feature of a shipping package, in an uninflated state, on to the inflation rig assembly in a first position, moving the inflation rig assembly to a second position, such that the shipping package is in fluid communication with an expansion material source, and inflating the shipping package to an inflated state.

Abstract: Laser marked articles having a predetermined feature marked onto a wall that is either user readable, machine readable, or both. Also, methods of making the marked articles by laser marking.

Abstract: Laser marked articles having a predetermined feature marked onto a wall that is either user readable, machine readable, or both. Also, methods of making the marked articles by laser marking.

Abstract: Blow molded articles having a predetermined feature incorporated into the wall provided by variations in the thickness of the wall of the article corresponding to a predetermined pattern etched into the preform from which the article was formed. Also, etched preforms for making blow molded articles and methods for making such preforms and articles.

Abstract: Laser marked articles having a predetermined feature marked onto a wall that is either user readable, machine readable, or both. Also, methods of making the marked articles by laser marking.

Abstract: Processes for laser marking articles having a predetermined feature marked onto a wall that is either user readable, machine readable, or both. Also, methods of making the marked articles by laser marking.

Abstract: Method of making a blow molded article from a preform including: a) providing a preform of a thermoplastic material having a plurality of effect structures each having an effect surface having a normal with an orientation, the preform having a body with one or more walls and an opening, wherein at least a portion of the one or more walls of the preform has a three-dimensional pattern of cavities and/or protrusions thereon; and b) blow molding the preform to form a blow molded article, wherein the step of blow molding the preform changes the orientation of the normal of at least some of the effect surfaces of the effect structures to create a visual effect in at least one wall of the blow molded article.

Abstract: Package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The package has an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir. The inner sheet of the package includes a shrinkable material that can be activated to immobilize articles disposed in the article reservoir.

Abstract: A shipping package and method of making a shipping package having a flexible inner sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The method includes providing one or more sheets of flexible material, joining the sheet(s) to form an article reservoir for accepting an article to be shipped, one or more expansion chambers, and an article retrieval feature. The expansion chambers can be inflated or otherwise expanded to provide structure to the package and to protect the article in the article reservoir.