Abstract: The actuator (1) of the invention includes a motor (8), a sprocket (8) rotated by the motor, and a chain (4) driven by the sprocket (3) and having a first end (41) to be connected to opening (F) to be actuated. The actuator (1) also includes a bearing (5) for a portion (45) of the chain (4), said bearing being mounted so as to be capable of free translation along an axis (X2) perpendicular to rotation axis (X3) of the sprocket (3) and being provided with means (6) for interaction with the chain so that the translation movement of the bearing along the axis (X2) is due to the chain (4) being driven by the sprocket (3).

Abstract: A linear motor arrangement for panels, in particular sliding door leaves, movable along a travel path, as well as to a device for mounting such an arrangement includes a linear drive system having at least one stator member of a linear motor and a connecting member as components. The connecting member comprises a circuitry. The components are consecutively disposed in a row. Furthermore, the connecting member has a housing, which, at one end, has at least one connection possibility for an external energy supply. In addition, the housing, respectively the connecting member is adapted, to receive circuitry, which has additional terminals. In order to be able to run connecting lines in the connecting member, a channel is configured in the housing such that they are led out of the housing at the end of the connection possibility.

Abstract: In a vitrified bonded grinding wheel that is formed so that superabrasives formed of cubic boron nitride (CBN) grains or diamond grains are bonded and held with a vitrified binder, the vitrified binder is formed of oxide particles and amorphous glass, and the vitrified binder has no open pore that is in fluid communication with outside air.

Abstract: Superabrasive tools and their methods of manufacture are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of improving retention of superabrasive particles held in a solidified organic material layer of an abrading tool, a portion of each of said superabrasive particles protruding out of the solidified organic material layer is provided. The method may include securing a plurality of superabrasive particles in the solidified organic material layer in an arrangement that minimizes mechanical stress impinging on the protruding portion of any individual superabrasive particle when used to abrade a work piece. As an example, the arrangement of the plurality of superabrasive particles may be configured to uniformly distribute frictional forces across substantially each superabrasive particle.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting an attachment and an air beam comprising a hug strap attached to a hug strap pad, the hug strap adapted to connect with the attachment, and the hug strap pad adapted to attach to the air beam. A method of securing an attachment to an air beam comprising providing an air beam, attaching a hug strap to a hug strap pad, securing the hug strap pad (with the hug strap attached) to the air beam, and securing the attachment to the hug strap.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with a reconfigurable communal space are disclosed.

Abstract: A roofing assembly includes an uppermost stainless steel cover. The cover has an upper surface and a lower surface. The roofing assembly has a reinforced foam base, rafters and a ridge board. The ridge board supports the cover and the base. Cement board panels have upper surfaces adhered to the foam base.

Abstract: A flashing material for a building structure is provided. The flashing material includes a flexible water-resistive membrane having an upper textured surface with a series of separate, laterally paced-apart, elongate spacers bonded thereto. The elongate spacers can be polymeric filaments that define an air space and drainage paths across the upper surface of the membrane. Preferably, the filaments have a series of depressions formed therein that provide transverse drainage paths across the filaments. Sill, decking and other building structure assemblies and methods of making the flashing material are provided.

Abstract: A transportable medical facility (10) is convertible between a compacted condition for transport on a low loading trailer (51), and an expanded, free-standing condition for use. The transportable medical facility (10) comprises a base structure (11), a roof structure (14) and a pair of external side walls (15, 16) which together define an internal working area (19) when the facility (10) is in its expanded condition. Internal walls (26, 27) divide the internal working area (19) into a procedure room (38), a recovery ward (41) and other rooms such as an entrance lobby (28), a main waiting room (29), a sub waiting room (31), a staff lavatory (32), a patient lavatory (33), clean and dirty utility rooms (34, 35), a consultation room (36), a pre-procedural lobby (37), a patient changing room (43) a further dirty utility room (44) for the recovery ward (41).

Abstract: A tower includes an outer portion forming an outer covering for the wind turbine tower and an inner portion disposed within the outer portion. The inner portion includes a preassembled power module including an upwardly extending support and electrical components that extend outwardly beyond the upwardly extending support and guide supports coupled at a first end to the upwardly extending supports and extending outwardly beyond the electrical components.

Abstract: A method for erecting a pre-stressed sectionalized and segmented concrete tower for wind power or heliostatic generator or chimney comprising the steps of (a) building a tower foundation; (b) fabricating a plurality of concrete segments having internal ducts for introducing pre-stressing tendons; (c) fabricating a plurality of assembling supports and lifting harnesses for proving a support to the concrete segments when assembled in tower sections; (d) installing, with a crane the concrete segments to conform the concrete tower section; (e) engaging a lifting harness to the concrete tower section, lift the whole section of tower, mount such concrete section on the foundation and disengage the lifting harness and/or the assembling support; (f) assembling the following concrete tower sections though the use of assembling supports and mounting such tower sections through the use of lifting harnesses; and (g) joining the concrete sections through prestressing tendons to provide a rigid tower.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses an arrangement for resilient fixing and where the arrangement (3) is intended to be able to be fixedly anchored in a first, for instance a fixed and bearing, construction (1) and in such a fixedly anchored position be able to retain a second, for instance a laterally related and/or sub-oriented, construction (2), where the arrangement (3) displaying a first part portion (3a) for instance provided with a helical thread, cooperable with the first construction (1) and a second part portion (3b) for instance provided with a helical thread, cooperable with the second construction (2). The first part portion (3a) and the second part portion (3b) are, via a rod-shaped device (3c), to be coordinated with one another, while spring means (4), for instance a helical spring unit (4a) is to be adapted, by tractive or compressive force to resiliently retain said second construction (2) at an adapted distance (“D”) from said first construction (1).

Abstract: A building panel system includes a plurality of full size panels and half-size panels mountable to each other for building a wall. The panels each include a longitudinally extending rectangular parallelepiped elongate horizontal member. The full size and half-size panels have substantially equivalent height and depth dimensions. The full size panels each include a longitudinally spaced apart pair of vertically extending hollow pilaster columns formed on a rear face of the horizontal member. The pair is spaced apart so as to position each column of the pair towards opposite ends of the horizontal member. The half-size panels each include a single vertically extending hollow pilaster column formed on a rear face of the horizontal member. The pilaster columns extend vertically by the height dimension.

Abstract: Green roof systems are provided comprising a plurality of tile sheets. Each tile sheet in turn may comprise a plurality of tiles. The tiles are connected to one another by one or more bridges. The tile sheets may be disposed above a layer of growing medium. The tiles are spaced apart from one another so as to form a channel between each tile. The channels formed between the adjacent tiles are contiguous with neighboring channels and are arranged so as to form a circuitous pathway for water runoff. The channels so formed allow plant growth between each tile. Advantages of certain embodiments include improved strength, reduced weight, reduced costs, increased life spans, reduced maintenance, easier installation, improved building energy conservation, reduced urban island heat effect, improved sound insulation, improved water retention, improved environmental aspects, improved irrigation, and reduced erosion of the growing medium.

Abstract: An elevated water tank utilizing an integrated field erected and bolted panels, such as, by way of example, steel rolled tapered panels (RTP) having epoxy powder-coated construction. The outer bolted steel reinforced panels are integral and co-linear with the preferably cylindrically shaped exterior reservoir walls thereabove providing reservoir perimeter structural support. The bolted steel reinforced panels are to provide support of a reinforced interstitial steel floor to grade, and either both or only one of an inner support pedestal of a transverse dimension less than that of the reservoir, or an outer support pedestal having substantially the same cross sectional configuration and size as the reservoir thereabove, may be so constructed. The reservoir and pedestal structure preferably use factory epoxy coated steel construction and are most preferably field installed utilizing synchronized hydraulic screw jack or traditional elevated field construction techniques.

Abstract: A skylight assembly includes a curb which supports the skylight above the roof surface. The curb is formed from four mechanically connected structural insulated panels. The panels include an outer fastener-receiving member such as OSB with an intermediate polystyrene foam layer and an innermost melamine layer. The curb is assembled on site and fastened to the roof structure with brackets. The melamine surface provides a finished interior surface and the curb itself provides thermal insulation.

Abstract: A steel door system is disclosed. The steel door system includes a steel door, a steel door jamb, and a steel window frame. Each component of the steel door system is made with minimal materials and joints. The minimal materials and joints greatly reduce the risk of failure of the final steel door system. The steel door is made of steel door stiles and rails that are each formed of a single piece of sheet metal. The steel door jamb is made of three pieces of sheet metal, and the steel window frame is made of three pieces of sheet metal. These components are coupled together to create the finalized steel door system.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a post (602) and a corresponding pivoting barrier (601) comprises a post-mountable bracket (300) and a pivoting barrier-mountable bracket (500). The former comprises a frame (301) configured to be affixed to the post, a barrier pivot (305) that is affixed to the frame, and a linear actuator arm mounting bracket (307) that is also affixed to the frame. The pivoting barrier-mountable bracket can comprise a frame (501) configured to be affixed to the pivoting barrier, a post pivot (505) that is affixed to the frame and that is configured to pivotally mate with the barrier pivot, and a linear actuator arm mounting bracket (507).

Abstract: A suspended ceiling system comprising metal grid members and rectangular composite acoustical panels, the panels having edges at their peripheries, the grid members having a cross section generally like an inverted T such that they provide oppositely extending flanges adapted to support the panels at their edges, a resilient element at a juncture between a support on the grid member flanges and at least one edge of each panel, the resilient element being arranged to temporarily deflect to permit a panel to be raised from below the grid member into an installed position and to extend itself to hold such panel in position on the grid.

Abstract: An electrified grid for a suspended ceiling comprising first and second grid sections lying in a common ceiling plane, each grid section having metal main tees and metal cross tees intersecting with the main tees, the first and second sections being adjacent one another and having respective main tees in parallel alignment and with a fixed spacing not substantially greater than the length of the cross tees, the grid sections being electrically insulated from one another whereby at least said main tees of fixed spacing can be held at opposite voltage polarities and an electrical or electrical device carried on or above the ceiling can be powered by electrical connection of separate ones of its leads to the metal tees of a respective one of said first and second grid sections.

Abstract: Glass blocks and glass block panel assemblies with improved thermal and solar heat gain resistance are described. The blocks are comprised of two symmetric glass elements, one that would face the exterior of a building and another that would face the interior of a building, separated by a second material that acts as a thermal break between the inside and outside of a building. The thermal break may optionally encircle one or more pieces of material that become enclosed in the block for performance or aesthetic purposes. Additional adhesives and sealants may be used as needed to insure structural and functional reliability of the block. For application into building structures, wall and window installation methods are also described including spacers that help ensure quality block alignment.

Abstract: A truss includes a first cap, a second cap, a core member, at least two struts, and a fastening member securing the struts to the core member between the first cap and the second cap. The struts are rotatably attached to the core member between the first cap and the second cap of an angle between 15° and 180°.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a high performance tape for use in insulated glass units (IGUs) that combines exceptionally low permeability to gases and vapors with extremely low thermal conductivity. Prior art includes low-permeability aluminum-backed tapes as well as low-conductivity polymer-backed tapes, but nothing currently available serves both of these needs with a single product.

Abstract: A roof paneling system includes a roof panel comprising an open-cell inorganic foam. The foam can decrease hydraulic conductivity of the roof paneling system, filter rainwater falling on the roof, and reflect excess heat. The open-cell inorganic foam preferably comprises a ceramic or glass, and has a porosity of at least about 20%, a mean pore size less than about 10 mm, and a thickness of at least about 10 mm. The foam can include a hydrophilic compound that further decreases the hydraulic conductivity of the foam. Optionally, the foam can have a reflectivity of at least about 20%.

Abstract: An insulating spacer for creating a thermally insulating bridge between spaced apart panes of a multiple pane window unit comprises in one embodiment, a solid fiber-stabilized aerogel insulation material, hardened with a desiccant-impregnated hot melt adhesive. The spacer defines a thermally insulated space between the panes. Several embodiments of the insulating spacer of the present invention are disclosed. Insulated glass units using the disclosed insulating spacers and windows employing these insulated glass units have significantly better thermal performance than prior art insulated glass units and windows.

Abstract: A screed device (10) used as a guide for removing excess mortar from a vertical surface after being set to a predetermined position, consisting of an elongated, narrow, rectangular shaft that contains three grooves (12) located near the top, bottom, and center of the back side of the said shaft, each accommodating a small block (14)). The blocks are attached to the wall with self-tapping screws (22) which pass through the shaft and the blocks thereby connecting the shaft to the blocks and the blocks to the surface being coated. The shaft is able to be adjusted in and out from the blocks as necessary to achieve a plumb position by rotation of a connecting post (24) contained within the block. The connecting post has a retainer clip (26) that compresses the face of the shaft between the head of the post and the clip to keep the post from falling out of the block when adjusted.

Abstract: A multi-layer, thermal insulation quilt (1) comprises two spaced apart, outer layers (2, 3) at least one of which is a reflective thermal insulation layer, between which outer layers there is provided at least one inner layer (4) of thermal insulation, characterised in that the outer layers (2, 3) secured together by a non-metallic, common restraining tag (5) of such length, that the tag (5) determines the maximum separation of the outer layers (2, 3) but effects no compressive loading on the or each thermal insulation layer (4).

Abstract: The present invention is an anchoring biscuit device for joining three boards. It includes, (a) an at least partially flat horizontal top element having an imaginary center line, having opposite side walls, and having a top view footprint adapted to be inserted into grooves of adjacent boards; (b) at least one substantially vertical support member attached to the underside of the top element and extending downwardly therefrom for a predetermined length for joinder of two adjacent boards which contain said grooves for receiving portions of said top into said grooves; and, (c) at least one compressive element located on aid device, with at least a portion of said at least one compressive element, from a top view footprint, being located away from said imaginary center line and way from said vertical support member, wherein said compressive element is adapted to at least partially collapse under predetermined compressive force.

Abstract: A wedge set for use in fastening floor joists consists of two interslidable wedge members (1, 2) adapted to abut each other along cooperating first abutment surfaces (3, 10), each wedge member (1, 2) having a second abutment surface (4, 11) forming an acute angle with the corresponding first abutment surface. The second abutment surfaces (4, 11) on the two wedge members (1, 2) of the wedge set extend substantially parallel to each other. The wedge members (1, 2) have cooperating locking means (6, 7, 13, 14), which are adapted for retaining them from a mutual displacement so that the distance between their second abutment surfaces (4, 11) is reduced, and retaining means (9, 15), which are adapted for retaining the first abutment surfaces (3, 10) in abutment with each other. The first abutment surfaces (3, 10) are plane and the locking means (6) consist of ratchets.

Abstract: A concrete block mold division plate for front-face-up block molding. The division plate fits into a channel formed in each of the side walls of the mold. A plurality of fasteners secure the division plate within each channel and to the side walls of the mold. The division plate operates in conjunction with an optimized dry cast concrete mixture to provide acceptable control of the flatness and parallelism of the top and bottom surfaces of the blocks.

Abstract: An upper chord bearing joist comprising a top chord member and a bottom chord member, each having a flange portion and a web receiving portion including two web receiving tabs, each made from a unitary piece of metal; a generally planar steel web, a portion of the web being attached to the the top chord member and to the bottom chord member, wherein a top portion of the web is between the two web receiving tabs of the top chord member and a bottom portion of the web is between the two web receiving tabs of the bottom chord member; and a first and second pair of support members, each support member including a shoe portion, a web attaching portion, and an angled portion, the web attaching portion portion being attached to the web receiving tabs and the angled portion being in contact with the web. The joist may be cambered, have reinforcement stiffeners, and have a rotatable joint at either end. The joists may be used in composite with concrete or with wood.

Abstract: A hub joint includes a metal rod and pin for joining tubular members in three-dimensional space for assembling a frame structure. The hub joint enables rapid assembly, rapid reconfiguration, and rapid disassembly without using any specialized tools. Multiple hub joints may be used to form geodesic domes, freestanding trusses, space frame slabs, tetrahedrons, and pentahedrons. The hub joints allow different frame configurations that are lightweight, strong, durable, scalable, expandable, and portable.

Abstract: A bracketing system is provided having two brackets joined by a flexible adhesive material that allows bridging or backing members of variable lengths and widths to be mounted between vertical studs to enhance stability of the wall construction. A wall construction assembly according to an embodiment of the invention comprises two vertical studs and a bridge backing member mounted there between by a bracketing system, which includes a left bracket and a right bracket connected by a flexible adhesive material. Because the bridge backing member can be adjustably sized to be secured on the brackets, it can be sized to fit between studs regardless of any variation in the spacing of the studs. This obviates the need to prefabricate bridge backing members to fit between variably spaced studs. The bridge backing member can be mounted flush with the stud to eliminate unevenness in the wall structure. Bridge or backing members of various widths and lengths can be mounted to the bracketing system.

Abstract: A grating system provides enhanced see through characteristics and typically includes longitudinal deep bars, axial crossbars, axial filler bars between the crossbars and longitudinal joining bars which join the crossbars and filler bars to one another. The deep bars are part of a first subassembly and the other bars are part of a second subassembly which may be lowered to join the two subassemblies to one another. The crossbars and filler bars are seated on the deep bars with the crossbars typically within upwardly opening notches formed in the deep bars. The joining bars are typically above and aligned with the deep bars. The upper surfaces of the crossbars and filler bars are usually substantially flush with one another. The grating system is configured to support vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (D) for locking/unlocking to the ground (S) of a connecting plate (100) to the ground or to the rim of a basin of a roof element, the plate (100) being on the one hand connected to the rim of the roof element and on the other hand connected to the ground (S) or to the basin rim, the plate (100) being pierced with an orifice (121) coming opposite a hole (200) made in the ground, the locking/unlocking device interacting with the hole (200) made in the ground and resting on the plate (100) for the purpose of attaching the latter. This device is noteworthy in that it comprises an expandable bush (300) changing from a volume called a rest volume allowing it to be inserted into the hole (200) made in the ground to a volume called the expanded volume ensuring its adhesion to the walls (210) of the said hole (200). Applications: attaching swimming pool shelters.

Abstract: A below floor marker used to locate a pre-installed pipe stub below a finished concrete floor includes a coupling adapted for attachment to the pipe stub, and a cap which fits on the coupling to seal the pipe while pouring the concrete. The top wall of the cap lies an inch or so under the finished floor elevation (FFE). The cap has resilient filaments at a center thereof extending through the thin concrete layer to provide a visual indication of the pipe stub location. An electronic marker is retained within the coupling to provide an additional electromagnetic indication of the pipe stub location. The transmission axis of the electronic marker is aligned with the centerline of the cap/conduit/pipe to provide precise location of the stub. The cap may include an upper sidewall having outer annular notches which facilitate cutting the upper sidewall to a height of the FFE.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool is provided for cutting an opening in a sheet of material (e.g., drywall) around a pre-installed item (e.g., an electrical box). The cutting tool may include a shaft, at least one cutter, a guide tip and a shoulder formed by a lower edge of the cutter adjacent the guide tip. The shoulder may have a width that corresponds to the width of a wall of the pre-installed item. The width of the shoulder may be equal to the width of the wall, or it may be slightly greater than the width of the wall. The guide tip may include a bearing to prevent marring of the wall of the item when the guide tip is rotating and in contact with the wall. An adjustable collar and corresponding bearing may also be disposed around the shaft for controlling a preferred cutting depth of the cutter. The cutting tool may be engaged with any suitable rotary tool, including one having an adjustable table for controlling a preferred cutting depth of the cutter.

Abstract: A method of erecting a cold box that includes the steps of anchoring at least one column to a foundation in a substantially vertical orientation; anchoring a pipe rack module to the foundation in a substantially vertical orientation, wherein the pipe rack module is in close proximity to the at least one column; attaching interconnecting piping between the pipe rack module and the at least one column; anchoring at least four corner beams to the edge of the foundation in a substantially vertical orientation; attaching prefabricated panels with bracing to the corner beams, to form an enclosure around the column and piping; and attaching a roof to the enclose is provided.

Abstract: This is a roofing machine wherein the vertical rollers are adapted to engage various types of configurations of the purlins of a metal frame building. The machine also uses angle irons mounted on top of a horizontal roller housing and utilizes angles rather than pipes as is done with most prior art devices. Furthermore, the machine clamps the carriage angles to the angle irons in a simpler manner than prior art devices.

Abstract: Panels include decorative strips and are suitable for wall or ceiling coverings, or for use as screens, shades or the like. The panels may be modular panels, for installation with a number of like panels to form a covering. The panels may be configured to disguise the joins between panels so as to approximate, or create the illusion of, a continuous covering. Each panel may include a number of decorative strips and a number of transverse supports supporting the decorative strips.

Abstract: A stretch wrap device for delivering stretch wrap film to a coil of cable or other filament type product being wound on a rotating mandrel and a traversing assembly for delivering stretch wrap film to the coil of cable or other filament type product; the traversing assembly including a stretch wrap module for traversing parallel to the rotating mandrel; the stretch wrap module including a motor and roller assembly for contacting and transporting the stretch wrap film toward the rotating mandrel so that an end of the stretch wrap film engages the coil of cable or other filament type product, and the continued rotation of the mandrel causing the end of the stretch wrap film to cover the surface of the wound coil of cable or other filament type material; the stretch wrap module also includes a compressed air generator and air jets for supporting the end of the stretch wrap film with compressed air, the end of the stretch wrap film engaging the coil of cable or other filament type with the completion of the windi

Abstract: A dispenser assembly, comprising: a fluid dispenser (D) of generally cylindrical shape; and a package (E) defining a housing (L) for the dispenser (D) and a single side flap (V) that extends from one side of the housing (L) from a bottom side edge (24) of the housing, such that the housing projects entirely from one side only of the plane defined by the flap (V), characterized in that the housing (L) presents a cross-section that is substantially a square of side U, the flap (V) presenting a height (H) parallel to the bottom side edge (24) and a width l perpendicular to the edge (24), the width l corresponding substantially to a multiple of U.

Abstract: In an air evacuative binding type air packing bag and a packing method using the same, an air cylinder is bended to form a first cushioning wall and a second cushioning wall, two sides of the first cushioning wall and the second cushioning wall are adhered to each other to form an accepting space. Next, an article is placed in the accepting space, and air in the accepting space is then evacuated to allow the first cushioning wall and the second cushioning wall to bind the article up to retain the article in the accepting space and not to be shaken with the air packing bag.

Abstract: A hot filling system for a liquid, with heat recovery, and a corresponding method, wherein prior to heating and filling the liquid is first preheated in a heat exchanger. A portion of the heated liquid to be filled is again cooled in a recooler and recirculated. The return line of the recooler is here connected to the supply line of the heat exchanger so as to transfer heat energy from the recooler to the heat exchanger. This reduces energy losses in comparison with known systems.

Abstract: A device for packing syringes in nests comprising means of setting the syringes to the right pitch and first means of gripping the said syringes set to the said pitch.

Abstract: A packaging laminate includes at least one material layer provided with magnetisable particles. A roller can be configured to apply crease line patterns on the packaging laminate while also applying magnetic fields for magnetising at least some of the magnetisable particles in the packaging laminate. A method of controlling working operations on a packaging laminate in a filling machine involves supplying a packaging laminate to a filling machine, wherein the packaging laminate includes at least one material layer comprising magnetizable particles, with at least some of the magnetizable particles being magnetized particles. The method also involves controlling working operations of the filling machine on the packaging laminate supplied to the filling machine by reading information provided by the magnetized particles.

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: A method and an apparatus for wrapping a stack (12, 13) of superposed sheets, brochures and/or folders with a wrapping sheet (15) is described. The stack (13) is travelling in a first direction (4) on a first conveyor (2) defining a conveying path. A supply of wrapping sheets (14) is placed in line with the first conveyor (2). At the downstream end of the first conveyor (2) a rotating waver wheel (10) is arranged. This waver wheel pulls a top sheet (15) of the supply of wrapping sheets (14) and turns the wrapping sheet (15). Downstream of the first conveyor (2) a second conveyor (3) is provided defining a gap (5) between the first and second conveyors in which the wrapping sheet is inserted. As the stack (13) engages the wrapping sheet (15), the rotating waver wheel (10) provides means for folding the sheet around the stack.

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

Abstract: A portable food dispenser includes one or more containers. A first container is capable of being only partially opened to provide access to food or a second container. The second container includes a cover that can be opened to provide access to food.