Abstract: A transport puck vertically aligns a caulking cartridge, nozzle-down. The puck includes (i) a substantially solid lower plug portion, having a lead face and a bottom face and an center passageway that is at least partially inverted frustum-shaped that forms a side contact face that tapers from a wider lead face opening to a narrower bottom face opening; and or to a tubular sleeve from the side contact face to the bottom face opening; (ii) an upper sleeve, shaped to receive the caulking cartridge in a desired vertical alignment to the lower plug portion; and (iii) at least one funnel-shaped bore into the bottom face with an inserted connector comprising a head and stem, the head spaced within the bore to define a spacing that has been determined to identify bottom face wear.

Abstract: A transport puck vertically aligns a caulking cartridge, nozzle-down. The puck includes (i) a substantially solid lower plug portion, having a lead face and a bottom face and an center passageway that is at least partially inverted frustum-shaped that forms a side contact face that tapers from a wider lead face opening to a narrower bottom face opening; and or to a tubular sleeve from the side contact face to the bottom face opening; (ii) an upper sleeve, shaped to receive the caulking cartridge in a desired vertical alignment to the lower plug portion; and (iii) at least one funnel-shaped bore into the bottom face with an inserted connector comprising a head and stem, the head spaced within the bore to define a spacing that has been determined to identify bottom face wear.

Abstract: A packet for viscous material includes a pouch that comprises an expressing-shaped first closure end and a second closure end and at least two opposing sidewalls. The closure ends and sidewalls define an enclosure. At least one closure end has an expressing shape and a separate rigid foldable flat cradles the pouch. The flat is of a material that is more rigid than the pouch. A spout-forming area separate from the pouch and the rigid foldable flat, is positioned on a rigid foldable flat side of the packet. The area is of intermediate rigidity or thickness to the pouch and the rigid foldable flat. The spout-forming area is derived as a remnant from a semi-rigid material strip that acts as a pouch-forming tacking strip during a pouch forming process. The spout-forming area reinforces at least a part of the pouch at the pouch expressing shape first closure end. The separate rigid foldable flat overlaps the spout-forming area to cradle the spout-forming area with the cradled pouch.

Abstract: A transport puck vertically aligns a caulking cartridge, nozzle-down.

Abstract: A transport puck vertically aligns a caulking cartridge, nozzle-down.

Abstract: A transport puck vertically aligns a caulking cartridge, nozzle-down.

Abstract: A packet for viscous material includes a pouch that comprises an expressing-shaped first closure end and a second closure end and at least two opposing sidewalls. The closure ends and sidewalls define an enclosure. At least one closure end has an expressing shape and a separate rigid foldable flat cradles the pouch. The flat is of a material that is more rigid than the pouch. A spout-forming area separate from the pouch and the rigid foldable flat, is positioned on a rigid foldable flat side of the packet. The area is of intermediate rigidity or thickness to the pouch and the rigid foldable flat. The spout-forming area is derived as a remnant from a semi-rigid material strip that acts as a pouch-forming tacking strip during a pouch forming process. The spout-forming area reinforces at least a part of the pouch at the pouch expressing shape first closure end. The separate rigid foldable flat overlaps the spout-forming area to cradle the spout-forming area with the cradled pouch.

Abstract: A flexible package is formed and filled in an in-line process by directing a web of film and a semi-rigid strip in a machine direction; folding the web of film into a pair of opposing walls with the semi-rigid strip there between; and selectively attaching the strip to only one of the opposing walls by controlling applied heating to opposing walls of the pair to seal one wall but not the other to the semi-rigid strip to define an opening between upper edges of the opposing walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming and filling a flexible package, comprises: a film unwind station for unwinding a web of flexible film from a roll of film includes: a folding station for folding the web into a pair of opposing walls; a strip unwind station for unwinding a strip of semi-rigid material from a roll of material and positioning the strip between the pair of opposing walls of the web; a metal buffer plate insertable between the strip and one of the opposing walls of the web; sealing stations, separating stations and filling stations.

Abstract: A flexible package is formed and filled in an in-line process by directing a web of film and a semi-rigid strip in a machine direction; folding the web of film into a pair of opposing walls with the semi-rigid strip there between; and selectively attaching the strip to only one of the opposing walls by controlling applied heating to opposing walls of the pair to seal one wall but not the other to the semi-rigid strip to define an opening between upper edges of the opposing walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming and filling a flexible package, comprises: a film unwind station for unwinding a web of flexible film from a roll of film; a folding station for folding the web into a pair of opposing walls; a strip unwind station for unwinding a strip of semi-rigid material from a roll of material and positioning the strip between the pair of opposing walls of the web; a metal buffer plate insertable between the strip and one of the opposing walls of the web; a first sealing station having a sealing bar for forming a seal between the strip and the other of the opposing walls; a second sealing station having a pair of sealing bars positioned to form a lower non-linear side seal between the opposing walls of the web of flexible film at spaced intervals; a third sealing station having a pair of sealing bars positioned to form an upper non-linear side seal between the opposing walls of the web of flexible film at spaced intervals to define connected pouches between adjacent lower and upper side seals; a