Abstract: A nipple for use with a bottle assembly includes a base portion that has a bottom surface, a vent region that is coupled to and extends upward from the base portion of the nipple, and a nipple portion that extends upward from the vent region. The nipple portion includes an outlet opening therein, and the vent region includes a vent channel and an air valve substantially aligned with the vent channel.

Abstract: A nipple for use with a bottle assembly includes a base portion that has a bottom surface, a vent region that is coupled to and extends upward from the base portion of the nipple, and a nipple portion that extends upward from the vent region. The nipple portion includes an outlet opening therein, and the vent region includes a vent channel and an air valve substantially aligned with the vent channel.

Abstract: A product dispensing system including a container having multiple walls that define an internal volume, at least one of the walls including a pre-formed flex line, and a dispenser including a frame having a front end and a rear end, the frame including a stop positioned proximate the rear end and a support deck extending between the front end and the rear end, and an opening tool positioned to open the container as the container is moved along the support deck into engagement with the stop, wherein the engagement between the stop and the container effects a flexing of the container along the pre-formed flex line.

Abstract: A product dispensing system including a container having multiple walls that define an internal volume, at least one of the walls including a pre-formed flex line, and a dispenser including a frame having a front end and a rear end, the frame including a stop positioned proximate the rear end and a support deck extending between the front end and the rear end, and an opening tool positioned to open the container as the container is moved along the support deck into engagement with the stop, wherein the engagement between the stop and the container effects a flexing of the container along the pre-formed flex line.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention inspects cylindrical, circular or spherical objects, such as cans. A camera acquires images of a reference object and objects to be inspected. A reference object is rotated and imaged by at least one camera. A processor is operatively connected to the at least one camera and object rotator and draws a position mask based on images of the reference object in rotated positions to create a reference mask. An object to be inspected is imaged and the position mask is drawn. A processor matches the position mask for the object with the reference mask to determine a position and/or defects of the object.

Abstract: A system and method inspects containers and cans and includes a conveyor for advancing a plurality of containers into an inspection area. A sensor senses when a can has advanced into the inspection area. At least one light source illuminates the exterior of the can and interior of the can through the top opening after sensing that a can has advanced into the inspection area. The top camera has a field of view looking down into the top opening for obtaining a pixel image of the top and interior of the can and opposing side cameras obtain pixel images in elevation of the container. A processor processes the pixel images and calculates eccentricity, diameter of the opening, and flange width measurements based on the pixel image of the top and the interior of the container. The processor calculates height and flange angle measurements based on the pixel images obtained in the elevation of the container.

Abstract: A sensor determines the planar inclination of a surface and includes a sensor body having a light emitting end. Three Z-axis sensors are positioned within the sensor body. Each Z-axis sensor includes a laser assembly having a light output for emitting a light beam from the light emitting end onto a surface to be scanned. An optical detector receives reflected light that had been emitted from the laser assembly onto a surface to be scanned. A processor is operatively connected to the optical detectors and calculates the planar inclination of the surface based on the light scattered back from the surface to be scanned. Each laser assembly has a sine wave modulation that is different from the sine wave modulation of a respective other laser assembly. The sine wave modulation is a function of amplitude, frequency modulation, DC offset, time and phase.

Abstract: A method of determining the planar inclination of a surface is disclosed. Each of three lasers positioned within a sensor body are modulated with different sine wave frequencies based on stored values within a wave-table by superimposing onto the emitted light beam a respective sine wave frequency. The light beam is scattered from each laser onto a respective position sensitive detector after being emitted onto a surface to be analyzed. The light beam is then demodulated by producing electrical signals from each respective position sensitive detector and integrating the electrical signals and calculating the planar inclination on the surface based on demodulated values.

Abstract: A garment applies heat to the neck, head or torso with air-activated chemical heating packets. The garment is formed from cloth and is preferably soft and sufficiently supple to conform to the body contours during use. The garment has at least one pouch positioned between two layers of cloth for holding the air-activated heat-producing packet. A layer of cloth between the heating packet and the body is a high pile cloth with air-trapping qualities for diffusing heat supplied by the heating packet to distribute the heat evenly to the body for assuring comfort for the user. In one form of the invention, the garment comprises a neck wrap, scarf, bandanna, a head covering in the form of a hat liner, or a cap insert. The neck wrap, scarf or bandanna includes an elongated pouch for holding the heating packet and has overlapping ends that can be fastened together by means of hook-and-loop fasteners.

Abstract: A reversible vest is provided for heating the body core by applying heat to the torso by means of an air-activated chemical heating packet. The vest is formed from cloth and is preferably soft and sufficiently supple to conform to the body contours during use. The vest includes two layers of cloth lying adjacent to one another. A pouch is provided between these layers of cloth for holding the air-activated heat-producing packet. The layer of cloth between the hot chemical packet and the body is a high pile cloth with air-trapping qualities for diffusing heat supplied by heating packets to distribute the heat evenly to the body to assure comfort to the user. The reversible vest has front and rear panels with pouches in different positions. The pouches are in heat-conductive relationship with the body for transferring heat from the chemical heating packet to the body core.