Patent Publication Number: US-11662241-B1

Title: Doser assemblies, apparatuses including a doser assembly, methods of making the same, and/or methods of operating the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present inventive concepts relate to doser assemblies, apparatuses including a doser assembly, methods of making the doser assemblies and/or apparatuses, and/or methods of operating the doser assemblies and/or apparatuses. 
     Description of Related Art 
     In manufacturing plant material products (e.g., oral products), machines may be used to prepare pouches containing plant material products. In some cases, the pouches may be filled with plant material. 
     SUMMARY 
     Example embodiments relate to a doser assembly, an apparatus including the doser assembly, methods of making the doser assemblies and/or apparatuses, and/or methods of operating the doser assemblies and/or apparatuses. 
     According to some example embodiments, a doser assembly may include a hopper assembly, a vibration transmission assembly, and a paddle. The hopper assembly may be configured to receive filler material. An interior surface of the hopper assembly may at least partially define a hopper opening that extends through the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly may be coupled to the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly may include a shaft that is configured to rotate around a central rotation axis, an eccentric that is fixed to the shaft and having a center that is radially offset from the central rotation axis, a connecting rod that is pivotably connected to the center of the eccentric, and a bracket that is pivotably connected to the connecting rod. The paddle may be in a portion of the hopper opening of the hopper assembly. The paddle may extend in a direction between a first part of the interior surface of the hopper assembly and a second part of the interior surface of the hopper assembly. A first end of the paddle may be pivotably coupled to the hopper assembly at a paddle pivot joint. The paddle may be fixed to the bracket of the vibration transmission assembly separately from the hopper assembly, such that the vibration transmission assembly is configured to cause the paddle to reciprocatingly pivot around the paddle pivot joint based on converting rotary motion of the shaft into reciprocating motion of at least the bracket. 
     The paddle may have a first outer surface that at least partially defines the hopper opening. The paddle may have a second outer surface that is fixed to the bracket of the vibration transmission assembly. The first and second outer surfaces may be opposite surfaces of the paddle. 
     The first outer surface may define a concave second end of the paddle that is opposite from the first end that is pivotably coupled to the hopper assembly. 
     The hopper assembly may include a first hopper wall and a second hopper wall that face each other and are spaced apart from each other. An inner surface of the first hopper wall may include the first part of the interior surface of the hopper assembly. An inner surface of the second hopper wall may include the second part of the interior surface of the hopper assembly. A lower surface of the first hopper wall may be concave. A lower surface of the second hopper wall may be concave. The lower surface of the first hopper wall may be level with the lower surface of the second hopper wall and aligned with the lower surface of the second hopper wall. A distal surface of the paddle that is opposite from the paddle pivot joint at the first end of the paddle may protrude downwards in a vertical direction away from the lower surface of the first hopper wall and the lower surface of the second hopper wall by a paddle protrusion distance. 
     The eccentric may be configured to be adjustably fixed to the shaft to adjust a magnitude of an offset distance between the center of the eccentric and the central rotation axis of the shaft. 
     The doser assembly may further include a drive plate that is fixed to the vibration transmission assembly such that the drive plate is fixed in relation to the shaft, the drive plate connected to the paddle pivot joint such that a position of the paddle pivot joint is fixed in relation to the drive plate. 
     The paddle may be connected to the drive plate independently of the hopper assembly, such that the paddle is coupled to the hopper assembly through at least the drive plate. 
     The drive plate may be adjustably coupled to the hopper assembly through an adjustable bearing. The adjustable bearing may be configured to adjust a position of the drive plate in relation to the hopper assembly to adjust a position of the paddle pivot joint in relation to the hopper assembly. 
     The hopper assembly may be pivotably coupled to a fixed support structure through at least an adjustable swivel joint. 
     The paddle may have a second end that is opposite from the first end that is pivotably coupled to the hopper assembly, the second end at least partially defining a blade edge that at least partially defines the hopper opening. 
     The doser assembly may further include a hopper chute that is coupled to the hopper assembly. The hopper chute may have a top chute opening and a bottom chute opening. The bottom chute opening may be open to the hopper opening of the hopper assembly. The hopper chute may be configured to direct filler material into the hopper opening of the hopper assembly. The hopper assembly may include a diverter plate that extends through an interior of the hopper chute such that the hopper chute and the diverter plate collectively define, within the interior of the hopper chute, first volume space that is configured to direct a flow of filler material into the hopper opening via the top chute opening and the bottom chute opening, and a second volume space that is partitioned from the top chute opening by the diverter plate, such that the diverter plate at least partially partitions the first and second volume spaces from each other and the diverter plate isolates the second volume space from the flow of filler material into the hopper opening via the first volume space. 
     The doser assembly may further include first and second level sensor devices. The first level sensor device may be configured to direct a first sensor beam into a first region of the hopper opening that is proximate to the paddle, to generate first sensor data that is associated with a first level of filler material in the first region. The second level sensor device may be configured to direct a second sensor beam through the second volume space into a second region of the hopper opening that at least partially vertically overlaps the bottom chute opening and is distal from the paddle in relation to the first region, to generate second sensor data that is associated with a second level of filler material in the second region. 
     According to some example embodiments, a system may include the doser assembly, a filler material distribution system that is configured to convey the filler material from a filler material reservoir to the top chute opening of the doser assembly via the hopper chute, a memory storing a program of instructions, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the program of instructions to implement a cascade control of the first and second levels of filler material in the first and second regions of the hopper opening, respectively. The cascade control may include processing the first sensor data generated by the first level sensor device to determine a value of the first level of filler material in the first region, executing a first proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control loop to generate a first output value indicating a target first level of filler material in the first region, based on a first process variable that is the determined value of the first level of filler material and a first setpoint that is a stored first level setpoint value, processing the second sensor data generated by the second level sensor device to determine a value of the second level of filler material in the second region, executing a second PID control loop to generate a second output value that is a control value to control a filler material conveyor system, based on a second process variable that is the determined value of the second level of filler material and further based on a second setpoint that is the first output value, and controlling the filler material conveyor system based on the second output value to control at least one of the first level of filler material in the first region or the second level of filler material in the second region. 
     The processor may be configured to execute the program of instructions to implement the cascade control such that the second level of filler material is caused to be equal to or greater than a threshold second level value, and a variation in the first level of filler material over time is reduced. 
     According to some example embodiments, an apparatus for forming pouching products may include the doser assembly and a conveyor system. The doser assembly may be on the conveyor system. 
     According to some example embodiments, a method of operating a system that includes the doser assembly and a filler material distribution system that is configured to convey the filler material from a filler material reservoir to the top chute opening of the doser assembly via the hopper chute may include: processing the first sensor data generated by the first level sensor device to determine a value of the first level of filler material in the first region, executing a first proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control loop to generate a first output value indicating a target first level of filler material in the first region, based on a first process variable that is the determined value of the first level of filler material and a first setpoint that is a stored first level setpoint value, processing the second sensor data generated by the second level sensor device to determine a value of the second level of filler material in the second region, executing a second PID control loop to generate a second output value that is a control value to control the filler material distribution system, based on a second process variable that is the determined value of the second level of filler material and further based on a second setpoint that is the first output value, and controlling the filler material distribution system based on the second output value to control at least one of the first level of filler material in the first region or the second level of filler material in the second region. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features and advantages of the non-limiting embodiments herein may become more apparent upon review of the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are merely provided for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. For purposes of clarity, various dimensions of the drawings may have been exaggerated. The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. 
         FIG.  1 A  is a front perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 B  is an illustration of a first material dispensing station of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 C  is an illustration of a second material dispensing station of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 D  is a partial view of a first receiving location, a dosing location, a cleaning location, and a second receiving location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 E  is a top perspective view of a conveyor system of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 F  is a top perspective view of a conveyor system of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 G  is a top view of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 H  is a rear perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 I  is a partial rear perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product including a filler material distribution system according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 J  is an enlarged view of a portion of the filler material distribution system of  FIG.  1 I  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  2 A,  2 B, and  2 C  are illustration of the first material and/or the second material for use in an apparatus according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 A  is a partial front view of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a perspective view of a first receiving location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 C  is a perspective view of a first receiving location and a dosing location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 D  is a top perspective view of the dosing location and the cleaning location with the doser assembly and cleaner assembly removed according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 E  is a top perspective view of the dosing location and cleaning location with the doser assembly and cleaner assembly removed and a second receiving location according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 F  is a partial front view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product including a first material roll extending through the first material distribution station and a second material roll extending through the second material distribution station according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 G  is a front perspective view showing the second material extending through the second material distribution station according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 H  is a side perspective view of the dosing location and the cleaning location with the doser assembly and the cleaner assembly removed and a second receiving location according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 I  is a partial view of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  showing the second receiving location and the cutting and sealing location according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  4 D, and  4 E  are perspective views of an apparatus including a doser assembly and a rotatable drum according to some example embodiments, with  FIG.  4 D  being a perspective cross-sectional view along line  4 D- 4 D′ shown in apparatus of  FIG.  4 C . 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are perspective views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  6 A,  6 B,  6 C, and  6 D  are partial views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  with some structures omitted and with  FIG.  6 D  being a cross-sectional view along line  6 D- 6 D′ shown in  FIG.  6 C , according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  7 A,  7 B,  7 C,  7 D,  7 E, and  7 F  are plan views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  8 A  is a cross-sectional plan view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  8 A- 8 A′ shown in  FIG.  7 C  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  8 B  is a cross-sectional plan view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  8 B- 8 B′ shown in  FIG.  7 D  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  8 C  is a cross-sectional plan view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  8 C- 8 C′ shown in  FIG.  7 B  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  9 A  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  9 A- 9 A′ shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  9 B and  9 C  are cross-sectional perspective views of a paddle of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along lines  9 B- 9 B′ and  9 C- 9 C′, respectively, shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D  are perspective views of a paddle of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  10 E,  10 F,  10 G, and  10 H  are plan views of a paddle of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  11 A  is a view of a vibration transmission assembly of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  11 B  is a cross-sectional view of the vibration transmission assembly of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  11 B- 11 B′ shown in  FIG.  11 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  11 C  is a cross-sectional view of the vibration transmission assembly of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  11 C- 11 C′ shown in  FIG.  11 B  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional view of the vibration transmission assembly of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  12 - 12 ′ shown in  FIG.  11 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  13 A,  13 B, and  13 C  are cross-sectional views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along lines  13 A- 13 A′,  13 B- 13 B′, and  13 C- 13 C′, respectively, shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  13 D  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the doser assembly of FIG.  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  13 C- 13 C′ shown in  FIG.  7 D  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  13 E and  13 F  are cross-sectional views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along lines  13 E- 13 E′ and  13 F- 13 F′, respectively, shown in  FIG.  8 B  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  13 G  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  13 F- 13 F′ shown in  FIG.  8 B  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  14 A  is a plan cross-sectional view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  9 A- 9 A′ shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  14 B  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  9 A- 9 A′ shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments 
         FIG.  15    is a schematic view of an apparatus including a filler material distribution system, a doser assembly, and a control system according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  16    is a flowchart illustrating a cascade control method according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  17    is a schematic illustrating a cascade control method according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  18 A  is a perspective view of an apparatus  1000  including the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B  and a cleaner assembly  2600  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  18 B  is a perspective cross-section view of the apparatus  1000  of  FIG.  18 A . 
         FIG.  18 C  is a cross-section view of region A of  FIG.  18 B . 
         FIG.  19    is an image of an apparatus including a doser assembly, rotatable drum, and cleaner assembly with partially removed and lifted cleaner roller of an apparatus according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  20 A and  20 B  are perspective view of a cleaner assembly  2600  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  20 C  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the cleaner assembly of  FIG.  20 A  along line  20 C- 20 C′ according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  20 D  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIG.  20 A  along line  20 D- 20 D′ according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  21 A and  21 B  are plan views of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIGS.  20 A and  20 B  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  21 C  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIG.  21 B  along line  21 C- 21 C′ according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  21 D  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIG.  21 B  along line  21 D- 21 D′ according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  22 A,  22 B, and  22 C  are perspective views of a poker roller and corresponding divot plate of a rotatable drum according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  23 A,  23 B, and  23 C  are views of the divot plate of  FIGS.  22 A- 22 C  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  23 D and  23 E  are cross-sectional views of the divot plate of  FIG.  23 A  along lines  23 D- 23 D′ and  23 E- 23 E′, respectively, according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  24 A and  24 B  are views of the poker roller of  FIGS.  22 A- 22 C  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  25 A and  25 B  are cross-sectional views of the poker roller and corresponding divot assembly of  FIG.  22 A  along lines  25 A- 25 A′ and  25 B- 25 B′, respectively, according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  26    is an expanded view of region B of  FIG.  25 A  according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  27    is a plan cross-sectional view of the poker roller and corresponding divot assembly of  FIG.  22 A  along line  25 B- 25 B′, according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  28    shows a flowchart illustrating a method of making a pouch product according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  29    shows a flowchart illustrating a method of configuring the doser assembly to provide filler material into divots of a rotatable drum of an apparatus according to some example embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein. 
     Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, example embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but to the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of example embodiments. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures. 
     It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “covering” another element or layer, it may be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or covering the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the specification. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms (e.g., “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like) may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing various example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, and/or elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or groups thereof. 
     Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of example embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments should not be construed as limited to the shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations and variations in shapes. 
     It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will further be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it may be above or beneath or adjacent (e.g., horizontally adjacent) to the other element. 
     It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like), which may be referred to as being “perpendicular,” “parallel,” “coplanar,” or the like with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) may be “perpendicular,” “parallel,” “coplanar,” or the like or may be “substantially perpendicular,” “substantially parallel,” “substantially coplanar,” respectively, with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof. 
     Elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially perpendicular” with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to be “perpendicular” with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances and/or have a deviation in magnitude and/or angle from “perpendicular,” or the like with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a. tolerance of ±10%). 
     Elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially parallel” with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to be “parallel” with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances and/or have a deviation in magnitude and/or angle from “parallel,” or the like with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a. tolerance of ±10%). 
     Elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially coplanar” with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to be “coplanar” with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances and/or have a deviation in magnitude and/or angle from “coplanar,” or the like with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a. tolerance of ±10%)). 
     It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof may be recited herein as being “the same” or “equal” as other elements, and it will be further understood that elements and/or properties thereof recited herein as being “identical” to, “the same” as, or “equal” to other elements may be “identical” to, “the same” as, or “equal” to or “substantially identical” to, “substantially the same” as or “substantially equal” to the other elements and/or properties thereof. Elements and/or properties thereof that are “substantially identical” to, “substantially the same” as or “substantially equal” to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to include elements and/or properties thereof that are identical to, the same as, or equal to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances. Elements and/or properties thereof that are identical or substantially identical to and/or the same or substantially the same as other elements and/or properties thereof may be structurally the same or substantially the same, functionally the same or substantially the same, and/or compositionally the same or substantially the same. 
     It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof described herein as being “substantially” the same and/or identical encompasses elements and/or properties thereof that have a relative difference in magnitude that is equal to or less than 10%. Further, regardless of whether elements and/or properties thereof are modified as “substantially,” it will be understood that these elements and/or properties thereof should be construed as including a manufacturing or operational tolerance (e.g., ±10%) around the stated elements and/or properties thereof. 
     When the terms “about” or “substantially” are used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±10% around the stated numerical value. When ranges are specified, the range includes all values therebetween such as increments of 0.1%. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, including those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     In the drawings, a X-Y-Z coordinate axis may be used to describe some features. The X direction may be referred to as a first direction. The Y direction may be referred to as a second direction. The Z direction may be referred to as a third direction. As shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , for example, the X, Y, and Z directions may cross each other and may be orthogonal to each other. 
     Referring to at least  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I , in some example embodiments, an apparatus  1000  may be configured to form pouch products that contain a filler material within a pouch comprising webs of elastic layer material that are sealed together. 
     As described herein, the apparatus  1000  may include a doser assembly  100  on top of and/or over a conveyor system. A description of the doser assembly  100  according to some example embodiments follows with regard to at least  FIGS.  4 A- 18 C . As described herein, the apparatus  1000  may include a cleaner assembly  2600 . A description of the cleaner assembly  2600  according to some example embodiments follows with regard to at least  FIGS.  18 A- 27   . In some example embodiments, the doser assembly  100  and/or the cleaner assembly  2600  may be present independently of the remainder of some or all of the apparatus  1000 . In some example embodiments, one or more of the doser assembly  100  or the cleaner assembly  2600  may be absent from the apparatus  1000 . 
     Hereinafter, a non-limiting example of an apparatus  1000  where a doser assembly  100  and a cleaner assembly  2600  according to some example embodiments are placed on top of and/or over a conveyor system including a rotatable drum  1125  is described, but inventive concepts are not limited thereto. 
       FIG.  1 A  is a front perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 B  is an illustration of a first material dispensing station of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 C  is an illustration of a second material dispensing station of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 D  is a partial view of a first receiving location, a dosing location, a cleaning location, and a second receiving location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 E  is a top perspective view of a conveyor system of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 F  is a top perspective view of a conveyor system of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 G  is a top view of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 H  is a rear perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 I  is a partial rear perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product including a filler material distribution system according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  1 J  is an enlarged view of a portion of the filler material distribution system of  FIG.  1 I  according to some example embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1 A , in some example embodiments, an apparatus  1000  for forming a pouch product includes a housing or frame  102  configured to house at least a portion of the apparatus  1000 . The apparatus  1000  also includes a control interface  104 , a control system  106 , a first material dispensing station  110 , a conveyor system (e.g., a rotatable drum  1125 ) and a doser assembly  100 . The apparatus  1000  also includes a second material dispensing station  170 , a conveyor system  175 , a container conveyor system  180 , and a waste removal system  190 . The apparatus  1000  also includes a cleaner assembly  2600 . It will be understood that in some example embodiments, at least some of the aforementioned stations, systems, and assemblies of apparatus  1000  may be absent from the apparatus  1000 . 
     In some example embodiments, a first receiving location  120 , a dosing location  130 , a second receiving location  150 , a cleaning location  164 , and a cutting and sealing location  160  are along the path of the rotatable drum  1125 . In some example embodiments, the rotatable drum  1125  may move in a generally clockwise direction. In some example embodiments, the rotatable drum  1125  may move in a counterclockwise direction. The first receiving location  120  may be at about an 11 o&#39;clock position along the path, the dosing location  130  may be at about a 12 o&#39;clock position along the path, the cleaning location  164  may be at about a 1 o&#39;clock position along the path, the second receiving location may be at about a 2 o&#39;clock position along the path, and the cutting and sealing location  160  may be at about a 4 o&#39;clock position along the path. In some example embodiments, where a linear conveyor is used instead of the rotatable drum  1125 , the first receiving location  120  may be upstream of the dosing location  130 , the second receiving location  150 , and the cutting and sealing location  160 . The dosing location  130  may be between the first receiving location  120  and the second receiving location  150 , the second receiving location  150  may be between the dosing location  130  and the cutting and sealing location  160 , and the cleaning location  164  may be between the dosing location and the second receiving location  150 . 
     In some example embodiments, the first material dispensing station  110  is configured to deliver (e.g., transfer) a first material  1500  to the first receiving location  120 . The first material dispensing station  110  includes a first roll holder  112  (also referred to herein as a dispenser roller) configured to hold a roll of the first material  1500 . A description of the first material  1500  follows with regard to at least  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C . The first material  1500 , as shown and discussed further with respect to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C , generally includes a first elastic layer  1512   a  and a first support layer  1514 . The first roll holder  112  may include a generally cylindrical roller on a shaft. The first roll holder  112  is configured to rotate as the first material  1500  is pulled therefrom. In some example embodiments, the first roll holder  112  may not rotate, and instead, the first material  1500  may be held on a material roller that is placed on the first roll holder  112 , such that the material roller may rotate about the first roll holder  112 . 
     In some example embodiments, the first material dispensing station  110  also includes a first set of rollers  114  including a first tensioner  114 A, a first dewrinkling roller  117 , a first stripper plate  118 , and a first scrap roll holder  119 . The first set of rollers  114  may include one to twenty rollers. The first set of rollers  114  may extend between the first roll holder  112  and/or the first dewrinkling roller  117 . The first set of rollers  114  includes any roller over which the first material  1500  travels except for the first dewrinkling roller  117 . Each roller of the first set of rollers  114  may include a generally cylindrical body mounted on a shaft extending from a first backing board  122 . The first backing board  122  may be within and/or supported by the housing or frame  102 . Each roller of the first set of rollers  114  is configured to rotate about the respective shaft in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction so as to aid in transferring the first material  1500  from the first roll holder  112  to the first receiving location  120  and aid in transferring a removed portion of the support layer from the first receiving location  120  to the first scrap roll holder  119 . In some example embodiments, one or more of the rollers of the first set of rollers  114  may be mechanically coupled to a driver (also referred to herein as a motor, drive motor, or the like) which may include a servoactuator or any known type of drive motor and which may be configured to cause the roller to rotate to at least partially induce conveyance of the first material  1500  from the first roll holder  112  to the first receiving location  120 . Such a driver may be communicatively coupled to the control system  106  via control interface  104 , such that the control system  106  may be configured to control the driver to control the transfer of first material  1500  to the first receiving location  120 . 
     In some example embodiments, the first tensioner  114 A, is configured to maintain tension along the first material  1500 . The first tensioner  114 A may be any tensioning roller including tension sensing rollers generally known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. Where a tension sensing roller is used, the tension sensing roller may sense a tension of the first material, and the control system  106  may be configured to receive a signal from the tension sensing roller regarding the tension, compare the tension to a desired tension stored in a memory  108 , and adjust the tension applied by the first tensioner  114 A if necessary and/or desired. 
     The first material dispensing station  110  also includes the first dewrinkling roller  117 , which is configured to reduce and/or prevent wrinkles in the first material  1500 . The first dewrinkling roller  117  may have a bowed surface configured to remove any wrinkles from the first material  1500  as the first material  1500  passes over the first dewrinkling roller  117 . The first dewrinkling roller  117  may be adjacent the first receiving location  120 . 
     In some example embodiments, the rollers of the first material dispensing station  110  are arranged as shown in  FIG.  1 A . However, in some example embodiments, the arrangement of the rollers may vary as required based on the location of the first receiving location  120  with respect to the first material dispensing station  110 . 
     In some example embodiments, the first stripper plate  118  is adjacent to the first receiving location  120 . The first stripper plate  118  is configured to remove at least a portion of the first support layer  1514  from the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  at the first receiving location  120 . The removed portion or portions of the support layer  1514  are rolled onto the first scrap roll holder  119 . 
     In some example embodiments, the dosing location  130  is along the path of the rotatable drum  1125 . The doser assembly  100  according to any of the example embodiments is positioned at or adjacent the dosing location  130  and is configured to deliver a desired (or, alternatively predetermined) portion of a filler material at the dosing location  130 . The doser assembly  100  may be moveable with respect to the dosing location  130  so as to allow for maintenance of the rotatable drum  1125  and/or other portions of the apparatus  1000 . A description of the cleaner assembly  2600  according to some example embodiments follows with regard to at least  FIGS.  18 A- 27   . The doser assembly  100  may be the doser assembly according to any of the example embodiments, including any of the example embodiments described with reference to  FIGS.  4 A- 18 C , but example embodiments are not limited thereto. 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  includes the second material dispensing station  170 , which is configured to transfer a second material  1500 ′ to the second receiving location  150 . The second receiving location  150  may be between the dosing location  130  and the cutting and sealing location  160 . The second receiving location  150  may further be between the cleaning location  164  and the cutting and sealing location  160 . The second material  1500 ′ generally includes a second elastic layer  1512   b  and a second support layer  1514 ′. The second material  1500 ′ may be the same as or substantially the same as the first material  1500  and is discussed in detail with respect to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C . In some example embodiments, the second material  1500 ′ may be different than or substantially different than the first material  1500 . 
     In some example embodiments, the second material dispensing station  170  includes a second backing board  171  and a second roll holder  172  configured to hold a roll of the second material  1500 ′. The second roll holder  172  may include a generally cylindrical roller on a shaft. The second roll holder  172  is configured to rotate as the second material  1500 ′ is pulled therefrom. In some example embodiments, the second roll holder  172  may not rotate, and instead, the second material  1500 ′ may be held on a material roller that is placed on the second roll holder  172 , such that the material roller may rotate about the second roll holder  172 . The second roll holder  172  may be mounted on the second backing board  171 . In some example embodiments, the second roll holder  172  may be removably mounted. 
     In some example embodiments, the second material dispensing station  170  also includes a second set of rollers  174  including a second tensioner  174 A, a second dewrinkling roller  177 , rollers  178 , the second stripper plate  155 , and the second scrap roll holder  179 . The second material  1500 ′ runs through the second set of rollers  174 , and over the second tensioner  174 A, which is configured to maintain tension along the second material  1500 ′. The second set of rollers  174  may include one to ten rollers, which may be between the second roll holder  172 , the second dewrinkling roller  177 , rollers  178 , the second stripper plate  155 , and the second scrap roll holder  179 . In some example embodiments, one or more of the rollers of the second set of rollers  174  may be mechanically coupled to a driver (also referred to herein as a motor, drive motor, or the like) which may include a servoactuator or any known type of drive motor and which may be configured to cause the roller to rotate to at least partially induce conveyance of the second material  1500 ′ from the second roll holder  172  to the second receiving location  150 . Such a driver may be communicatively coupled to the control system  106  via control interface  104 , such that the control system  106  may be configured to control the driver to control the transfer of second material  1500 ′ to the second receiving location  150 . 
     In some example embodiments, the second tensioner  174 A is generally the same as the first tensioner  114 A. In other example embodiments, the second tensioner  174 A is different than the first tensioner  114 A. 
     In some example embodiments, the second dewrinkling roller  177  is configured to reduce and/or prevent wrinkles in the second material  1500 ′ as the second material  1500 ′ passes over the second dewrinkling roller  177 . The second dewrinkling roller  177  may be the same as the first dewrinkling roller  117 . The second dewrinkling roller  177  may have a bowed surface configured to remove any wrinkles from the second material  1500 ′ as the second material  1500 ′ passes thereover. 
     In some example embodiments, the rollers of the second material dispensing station  170  are arranged as shown in  FIG.  1 A . However, in some example embodiments, the arrangement of the rollers may vary as required based on the location of the second receiving location  150  with respect to the second material dispensing station  170 . 
     In some example embodiments, the second material dispensing station  170  also includes a second stripper plate  155 . The second stripper plate  155  may be adjacent the second receiving location  150 . The second stripper plate  155  is configured to remove at least a portion of the second support layer  1514 ′ from the second elastic layer  1512   b  of the second material  1500 ′ at the second receiving location  150 . The removed portion or portions of the second support layer  1514 ′ are rolled onto the second scrap roll holder  179 . 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  includes a sealer and cutter, such as a heat knife assembly  5000  adjacent the cutting and sealing location  160 . The heat knife assembly  5000  is configured to seal a portion of the first elastic layer  1512   a  to a portion of the second elastic layer  1512   b  around the filler material, and then cut around the seal to form a pouch product. In some example embodiments, the seal (not shown) is formed by heat sealing. In some example embodiments, a seal may be formed using an adhesive, such as a food-grade adhesive, or formed by ultrasonic welding and/or laser. 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  includes a cleaner assembly  2600  at a cleaning location  164  that may be between the dosing location  130  and the second receiving location  150 . The cleaner assembly  2600  may remove excess filler material from the exposed upper surface of the first elastic layer  1512   a  in order to reduce the risk of filler material being trapped in the seal formed at the heat knife assembly  5000 . The cleaner assembly  2600  may compress the portions of filler material delivered at the dosing location  130  into divots  1400  of the rotatable drum  1125  to improve density uniformity of the portions of filler material and to reduce the risk of any part of the portion of filler material exiting the divots prior to the pouch product being formed around the filler material. A description of the cleaner assembly  2600  according to some example embodiments follows with regard to at least  FIGS.  18 A- 27   . 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  includes a container conveyor system  180  configured to deliver a plurality of containers to an ejection location  192  along the path of the rotatable drum  1125 . The container conveyor system  180  runs below the rotatable drum  1125  as shown in  FIG.  1 A . The container conveyor system  180  may be any suitable container conveyor system generally known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
     In some example embodiments, the ejection location  192  may be at about a 6 o&#39;clock position along the path of the rotatable drum  1125 . At the ejection location  192 , pouch products are ejected from the rotatable drum  1125  after formation, and placed into the plurality of containers moving along the container conveyor system  180 . 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  also includes a waste removal system  190 , which may include a vacuum configured to remove excess portions of the first material and the second material that are not part of the pouch product, and/or any other dust and/or waste produced during manufacture of the pouch products. 
     In some example embodiments, the control interface  104  may be configured to receive control commands, including commands provided by an operator based on manual interaction with the control interface  104 . The control interface  104  may be a manual interface, including a touchscreen display interface, a button interface, a mouse interface, a keyboard interface, some combination thereof, or the like. Control commands received at the control interface  104  may be forwarded to the control system  106 , which may include a processor, and the control system  106  may execute one or more programs of instructions, for example to adjust operation of one or more portions of the apparatus  1000 , based on the control commands. In some example embodiments, the control interface  104  may be included as part of the control system  106  and may not be a separate part in relation to the control system  106 . 
     In some example embodiments, the control system  106  (e.g., the processor executing a program of instructions) may include a memory  108 . The memory  108  may be configured to store information and look-up tables indicating a desired tension of the first and second material, a desired weight of filled containers, etc. The control system  106  may be configured to determine when a container has been filled based on a weight of the container and/or determine a tension of the first and second materials. In some example embodiments, the memory  108  may be included as part of the control system  106  and may not be a separate part in relation to the control system  106 . 
     In some example embodiments, the control system  106  is configured to control a supply of a first material and a second material, control a tension of the first material and/or the second material, control a speed of rotation of the rollers and/or the rotatable drum  1125 , etc. In some example embodiments, the control system  106  is configured to control one or more drivers, servoactuators, motors, or the like in any of the elements, stations, assemblies, or the like of the apparatus  1000  in order to control the operation of any portion of the apparatus  1000 . 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  may include a weight sensor (e.g., a weight scale) (not shown) configured to generate data signals associated with the weight of a formed pouch product. The control system  106  may process received sensor data to determine a weight of the formed pouch products and adjust the doser assembly  100  or other portions of the apparatus  1000  to ensure uniformity of formed pouch products. 
     The control system  106  according to some example embodiments may be implemented using hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. For example, hardware devices may be implemented using processing circuitry such as, but not limited to, a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, or any other device capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner. 
     For example, when a hardware device is a computer processing device (e.g., a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a microprocessor, etc.), the computer processing device may be configured to carry out program code (also referred to herein as a program of instructions) by performing arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations, according to the program code. Once the program code is loaded into a computer processing device, the computer processing device may be programmed to perform the program code, thereby transforming the computer processing device into a special purpose computer processing device. In a more specific example, when the program code is loaded into a processor, the processor becomes programmed to perform the program code and operations corresponding thereto (e.g., any of the methods according to any of the example embodiments, including the cascade control method according to some example embodiments, including the example embodiments as described with reference to  FIGS.  15 - 17   , the method of making a pouch product according to some example embodiments, including the example embodiments as described with reference to  FIG.  28   , or the like), thereby transforming the processor into a special purpose processor. 
     An example of the control system  106  with an integrated control interface  104  according to some example embodiments is shown in  FIG.  15   . 
     According to some example embodiments, computer processing devices may be described as including various functional units that perform various operations and/or functions to increase the clarity of the description. However, computer processing devices are not intended to be limited to these functional units. For example, in some example embodiments, the various operations and/or functions of the functional units may be performed by other ones of the functional units. Further, the computer processing devices may perform the operations and/or functions of the various functional units without sub-dividing the operations and/or functions of the computer processing units into these various functional units. 
     Units and/or devices according to some example embodiments may also include one or more storage devices. The one or more storage devices may be tangible or non-transitory computer-readable storage media, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a permanent mass storage device (such as a disk drive), solid state (e.g., NAND flash) device, and/or any other like data storage mechanism capable of storing and recording data. The one or more storage devices may be configured to store computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, for one or more operating systems and/or for implementing the example embodiments described herein. The computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, may also be loaded from a separate computer readable storage medium into the one or more storage devices and/or one or more computer processing devices using a drive mechanism. Such separate computer readable storage medium may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive, a memory stick, a Blu-ray/DVD/CD-ROM drive, a memory card, and/or other like computer readable storage media. The computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, may be loaded into the one or more storage devices and/or the one or more computer processing devices from a remote data storage device via a network interface, rather than via a local computer readable storage medium. Additionally, the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, may be loaded into the one or more storage devices and/or the one or more processors from a remote computing system that is configured to transfer and/or distribute the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, over a network. The remote computing system may transfer and/or distribute the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, via a wired interface, an air interface, and/or any other like medium. 
     The one or more hardware devices, the one or more storage devices, and/or the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, may be specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the example embodiments, or they may be known devices that are altered and/or modified for the purposes of example embodiments. 
     A hardware device, such as a computer processing device, may run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications that run on the OS. The computer processing device also may access, store, manipulate, process, and create data in response to execution of the software. For simplicity, one or more example embodiments may be exemplified as one computer processing device; however, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a hardware device may include multiple processing elements and multiple types of processing elements. For example, a hardware device may include multiple processors or a processor and a controller. In addition, other processing configurations are possible, such as parallel processors. 
     Software may include a computer program, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, for independently or collectively instructing or configuring a hardware device to operate as desired. The computer program and/or program code may include program or computer-readable instructions, software modules, data files, data structures, and/or the like, capable of being implemented by one or more hardware devices, such as one or more of the hardware devices mentioned above. Examples of program code include both machine code produced by a compiler and higher level program code that is executed using an interpreter. 
     Software and/or data may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, element, physical or virtual equipment, or computer storage medium or device, capable of providing instructions or data to, or being interpreted by, a hardware device. The software also may be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the software is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. In particular, for example, software and data may be stored by one or more computer readable recording mediums, including the tangible or non-transitory computer-readable storage media or memory  108  discussed herein. 
       FIG.  1 B  is an illustration of a first material dispensing station of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 B , the first material dispensing station  110  may include the first roll holder  112 , the first set of rollers  114  including the first tensioner  114 A, the first dewrinkling roller  117 , the first stripper plate  118 , and the first scrap roll holder  119  on the first backing board  122 . A path of travel of the first material  1500  through the first material dispensing station  110  is illustrated by line  1500 . As shown, the first material  1500  may extend from the first roll holder  112  and through a portion of the first set of rollers  114  including the first tensioner  114 A, the first dewrinkling roller  117 , and to the first stripper plate  118  as shown. The apparatus  1000  may also include a first tracking controller  116  configured to maintain the first material  1500  on track and at a desired tension. 
     In some example embodiments, the first stripper plate  118  is a stationary plate that abuts the rotatable drum  1125  (shown in  FIG.  1 D ) at the first receiving location  120 . 
       FIG.  1 C  is an illustration of a second material dispensing station of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, the second material dispensing station  170  is arranged generally the same as the first material dispensing station  110  shown in  FIG.  1 B . The second material dispensing station  170  includes the second roll holder  172 , the second set of rollers  174  including the second tensioner  174 A, the second dewrinkling roller  177 , rollers  178 , the second stripper plate  155 , and the second scrap roll holder  179  on a second backing board  171 . The second material  1500 ′ may extend from the second roll holder  172  and through the second set of rollers  174 , the second tensioner  174 A, the second dewrinkling roller  177 , rollers  178 , and to the second stripper plate  155  as shown. A path of travel of the second material  1500 ′ through the second material dispensing station  170  is illustrated by line  1500 ′. Further, the second tensioner  174 A may include a second tracking controller  176  configured to keep the second material  1500 ′ on track and maintain tension of the second material  1500 ′ as the second material  1500 ′ passes through the second material dispensing station  170 . In some example embodiments, the second tracking controller  176  is the same as the first tracking controller  116 . 
     In some example embodiments, the second stripper plate  155  is a stationary plate that abuts the rotatable drum  1125  (shown in  FIGS.  1 D- 1 E ) at the second receiving location  150 . 
       FIG.  1 D  is a perspective view of a first receiving location, a dosing location, and a second receiving location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 D , the first receiving location  120 , the dosing location  130 , the cleaning location  164 , and the second receiving location  150  are positioned along the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 D , the first stripper plate  118  abuts the rotatable drum  1125  at the first receiving location  120 . 
     In some example embodiments, the rotatable drum  1125  includes a plurality of separate lanes of divots  1400  extending in parallel around an outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . For example, as shown, the rotatable drum  1125  includes two lanes  1420 ,  1440  of divots  1400  extending in parallel around the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . Each of the divots  1400  in each of the lanes  1420 ,  1440  is configured to receive the first elastic layer  1512   a  and remaining portion (portion  1522  as shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C ) of the first supporting layer  1514  of the first material  1500  after the portion of the first support layer is removed therefrom. At the dosing location  130 , a filler material (e.g., a portion of filler material) is provided into each divot  1400  by the doser assembly  100  (e.g., based on the filler material falling into the divots  1400  under gravity and/or pressure of overlying filler material in the doser assembly  100  as described herein with reference to  FIGS.  4 A- 18 C ). After dosing, the rotatable drum  1125  moves the filled first elastic layer  1512   a  to the cleaning location  164 , where excess filler material on the upper surface of the first elastic layer  1512   a  may be removed and/or moved into the divots  1400  to be added to the portion of filler material included therein, and where the portion of filler material in the divots  1400  may be compressed further into the divots  1400 . After such compression, the rotatable drum  1125  moves the filled/compressed first elastic layer  1512   a  to the second receiving location  150 . The second stripper plate  155  is adjacent the second receiving location  150 . 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  further includes a vacuum source  1410  configured to communicate a vacuum to an inner portion of the rotatable drum  1125  between about the first receiving location  120  and the second receiving location  150 . The rotatable drum  1125  may include baffles (not shown) therein that generally align with the location of the first receiving location  120  and the second receiving location  150  so as to focus the vacuum on the area between the first receiving location  120  and the second receiving location  150 . 
       FIG.  1 E  is a partial view of a first receiving location, a dosing location, a cleaning location, a second receiving location, and a cutting and sealing location along a path of a rotatable drum of the apparatus  1000  of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 E , the cutting and sealing location  160  is along the path of the rotatable drum  1125 . The cutting and sealing location  160  is adjacent the second receiving location  150 . 
     In some example embodiments, the heat knife assembly  5000  is adjacent the cutting and sealing location  160 . The heat knife assembly  5000  includes a heat knife assembly roller  5505  and a plurality of heat knives  5510 . The heat knife assembly roller  5505  is configured to rotate on a shaft  5520  extending through the heat knife assembly roller  5505 . The heat knife assembly roller  5505  rotates in a direction opposite to the direction in which the rotatable drum  1125  rotates. The heat knife assembly roller  5505  may be driven by a motor (not shown). A speed of rotation of the heat knife assembly roller  5505  may be greater than a speed of rotation of the rotatable drum  1125 . As the heat knife assembly roller  5505  and the rotatable drum  1125  rotate, the divots  1400  and respective ones of the plurality of heat knives  5510  align. 
     In some example embodiments, each of the plurality of heat knives  5510  is sized and configured to fit around a respective one of the divots  1400  along the rotatable drum  1125 . Thus, the size and shape of each of the heat knives  5510  is about the same as the size and shape of each of the divots. For example, each divot  1400  and each heat knife  5510  may be generally oval in shape, and the heat knife  5510  may be slightly larger than the respective divot  1400 . The speed of rotation of the heat knife assembly roller  5505  may be controlled by the control system  106 , such that respective ones of the plurality of heat knives  5510  match up to and/or substantially align with respective divots  1400  along the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     In some example embodiments, the plurality of heat knives  5510  include at least a portion that is formed of metal. A heater or rotary engine (not shown), may be in the heat knife assembly roller  5505  and configured to heat the plurality of heat knives  5510  to a temperature sufficient to heat seal a portion of the first elastic layer  1512   a  to a portion of the second elastic layer  1512   b . The temperature may range from about 100° C. to about 500° C. depending on the material used to form the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b . For example, the heat knives  5510  may be heated to a temperature of about 400° C. The chosen temperature is sufficient to melt the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b  thereby at least partially cutting through the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b  as the seal is formed. 
       FIG.  1 F  is a top perspective view of a conveyor system of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 F , the conveyor system may include at least the rotatable drum  1125 . The rotatable drum  1125  may be configured to rotate on a shaft  1640 . Further, the rotatable drum  1125  includes a plurality of plates  1600 . The plurality of plates  1600  are spaced apart along an outer surface (e.g., the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S) of the rotatable drum  1125 . The plurality of plates  1600  may be substantially uniformly spaced apart. However, in some example embodiments, the plurality of plates  1600  may not be uniformly spaced apart. Each of the plurality of plates  1600  may define two divots  1400  therein so as to form the two lanes  1420 ,  1440  along the rotatable drum  1125 . The apparatus  1000  may be configured to form about 100 pouch products per minute, but the number of pouch products formed may vary based on a speed of rotation of the rotatable drum  1125 , the number of plates  1600 , and the number of lanes. For example, the number of lanes may be increased or decreased to alter the number of pouch products formed per minute. In some example embodiments, each of the plurality of plates  1600  may include three or more divots  1400 , such that additional lanes are formed along the rotatable drum  1125 . As shown in  FIGS.  22 A- 27   , each of the plurality of plates  1600  may include four or more divots  1400 , such that additional lanes are formed along the rotatable drum  1125 . Thus, a number of pouch products produced may be increased by increasing a number of lanes along the rotatable drum  1125 . Thus, a number of pouch products produced may be increased by increasing a number of lanes along the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 F , a motor  1660  is configured to drive the shaft  5520  on which the heat knife assembly roller  5505  rotates. A second motor  1670  is configured to drive the shaft  1640  on which the rotatable drum  1125  rotates. 
       FIG.  1 G  is a top view of a conveyor system and a cutting and sealing system of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 G , the plurality of plates  1600  are attached to a top surface extending along the rotatable drum  1125 . Each of the plurality of plates  1600  includes two or more divots  1400 . As shown, the divots  1400  includes a plurality of air inlets  700  through which vacuum is communicated (e.g., via vacuum conduits  1430  that establish fluid communication between the air inlets  700  and a vacuum source  1410  as shown in  FIG.  18 C ) so as to pull the first elastic layer  1512   a  into each of the divots  1400  as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates from the first receiving location  120  to the second receiving location  150 . Further, as shown, each of the divots  1400  may be generally oval in shape. In some example embodiments, the divots  1400  may be round, square, polygonal, or any other shape. For example, as shown in  FIGS.  22 A- 27   , the divots  1400  may be a rounded rectangular shape. 
     In some example embodiments, the heat knife assembly roller  5505  includes a plurality of plates  705  including at least one heat knife  5510  thereon. In some example embodiments, the number of heat knives  5510  per plate is the same as the number of divots  1400  per plate  1600  in the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     In some example embodiments, each of the heat knives  5510  is generally oval in shape. In some example embodiments, the heat knives  5510  may be round, square, rounded rectangular, polygonal, or any other shape. A shape of the heat knives may be generally the same as a shape of the divots  1400 . In some example embodiments, the shape of the heat knives  5510  is different than the shape of the divots  1400 . 
     In some example embodiments, the rotatable drum  1125  may include a plurality of grippers  1710 . The grippers  1710  may be air inlets through which vacuum may be communicated. In some example embodiments, the grippers  1710  may be raised bumps that are configured to aid in retaining the first material  1500  in which the portion of the support layer remains along the plurality of grippers  1710  as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates. 
       FIG.  1 H  is a rear perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 H , the apparatus  1000  may include the housing or frame  102 . Further, the apparatus  1000  may include a filler material conveyor system  1110  along which the filler material travels before reaching the doser assembly  100 . An end of the filler material conveyor system  1110  may at least partially extend through a window  1105  in the frame  102 , such that the filter material falls off the end of the filler material conveyor system  1110  and into a hopper opening of the doser assembly  100 . 
     In some example embodiments, the filler material conveyor system  1110  may be retractable to allow for easy access to the doser assembly  100  for maintenance, etc. Further, the filler material conveyor system  1110  may include sensors configured to sense a level of filler material on the conveyor as is generally known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The control system  106  may receive a signal from the sensors and determine a level of filler material and adjust the level of filler material based on requirements of the doser assembly  100 . 
     As described herein with reference to at least  FIGS.  14 A and  15   , the filler material distribution system  1200  may include a motor  1120  that is coupled to the filler material conveyor system  1110  and configured to control the operation of the filler material conveyor system  1110 . The control system  106  may be electrically and/or communicatively coupled to the motor  1120  and may be configured to generate and transmit control signals to the motor  1120  to cause the motor  1120  to control the filler material conveyor system  1110  to control the rate of supply of filler material to the doser assembly  100  based on implementing a cascade control system, using sensor data generated by two separate sensor devices (e.g., level sensor devices) of the doser assembly  100  which generate sensor data indicating respective levels of filler material in two separate regions of a hopper opening of the doser assembly. 
       FIG.  1 I  is a partial rear perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product including a filler material distribution system according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 I , the apparatus  1000  includes a filler material distribution system  1200  including the filler material conveyor system  1110  and a hopper  1210 , also referred to herein as a filler material reservoir. In some example embodiments, the hopper  1210  may include a vibration mechanism used to shake the filler material and consistently deliver the filler material to the filler material conveyor system  1110 . In some example embodiments, the hopper  1210  may be a vibrating bin, such as a live bottom bin. In some example embodiments, the filler material conveyor system  1110  may include a conveyor belt device, a vibrating feed pan device, or the like. As described herein, the filler material distribution system  1200  may include a motor  1120  (e.g., drive motor, servoactuator, or the like) that is mechanically coupled to the filler material conveyor system  1110  and is communicatively coupled to the control system  106  of the apparatus  1000  (e.g., via control interface  104 ) and is configured to control operation of the filler material conveyor system  1110  (e.g., operating speed of a filler material conveyor system  1110  that is a conveyor belt, vibration frequency, stroke length, and/or amplitude of a filler material conveyor system  1110  that is a vibrating feed pan, etc.) based on control signals received from the control system  106  of the apparatus  1000 . 
       FIG.  1 J  is an enlarged view of a portion of the filler material distribution system of  FIG.  1 I  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1 J , the hopper  1210  is configured to release filler material  1300  from a bottom thereof directly onto the filler material conveyor system  1110 , which may be driven by a motor  1120  (e.g., a drive motor, a servoactuator, or the like) to convey the filler material  1300  to the doser assembly  100 . 
       FIGS.  2 A,  2 B, and  2 C  are illustration of the first material and/or the second material for use in the apparatus  1000  according to some example embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C , the first material  1500  comprises a composite material  1510 A and the second material  1500 ′ comprises a composite material  1510 B. The composite material  1510 A is the same as the composite material  1510 B. The composite material  1510 A,  1510 B includes a first or elastic layer  1512  and a second or support layer  1514 . In some example embodiments, the elastic layer  1512  comprises a sheet of non-woven elastomeric material and the support layer  1514  comprises a sheet of woven material. The elastic layer  1512  may be stacked with the support layer  1514 . In at least some example embodiments, the elastic layer  1512  is disposed on top of the support layer  1514  and extends coextensive with the support layer  1514 . In at least some other example embodiments, a support layer  1514  may be disposed on top of the elastic layer  1512 . At least a portion of the elastic layer  1512  may be coupled to the support layer  1514 . 
     In at least some example embodiments, a first surface of the elastic layer  1512 , herein referred to as an upper surface  1516  of the elastic layer  1512 , may engage a first surface  1518  of the support layer  1514 . In at least some example embodiments, the elastic layer  1512  is coupled to the support layer  1514  by physical characteristics of the elastic layer  1512  and the support layer  1514 , for example, by adhesive friction. In some example embodiments, the elastic layer  1512  comprises polyurethane and the support layer comprises polypropylene. 
     The support layer  1514  may include a first portion  1520  and a second portion  1522 . In at least some example embodiments, the second portion  1522  comprises a pair of second portions  1522 , with the first portion  1520  being disposed between the pair of second portions  1522 . In at least some example embodiments, the first portion  1520  and each of the pair of second portions  1522  is generally rectangular. The second portions  1522  may have substantially similar shapes and dimensions, and extend substantially parallel to one another. In at least some example embodiments, the support layer  1514  may be sized, shaped, and/or sub-divided (such as into the first and second portions  1520 ,  1522 ) to reduce or minimize interference of the support layer  1514  with regions of the elastic layer  1512  that will be involved in subsequent manufacturing processes. 
     In some example embodiments, boundaries between the first and second portions  1520 ,  1522  are at least partially defined by a plurality of perforations  1524  and the first portion  1520  is configured to be separated from the second portion  1522  at the plurality of perforations  1524 . In at least some other example embodiments, boundaries between the first and second portions  1520 ,  1522  are separated by cuts or weak regions, such as thinner regions. Thus, the first and second portions  1520 ,  1522  may be configured to be separated from one another. 
     The second portion  1522  of the support layer  1514  may remain coupled to the elastic layer  1512  when the first portion  1520  is removed. In at least some example embodiments, the composite material  1510 A,  1510 B may be assembled, stored, and transported with the first and second portions  1520 ,  1522  remaining together. Accordingly, when the elastic and support layers  1512  and  1514  are coextensive, the composite material  1510 A,  1510 B may be stored, such as on a roll or in stacks of sheets, without adjacent elastic layers  1512  substantially sticking to one another. In at least some other example embodiments, the first portion  1520  of the support layer  1514  may be removed from the second portion  1522  prior to storage and/or transport. Thus, the composite material  1510 A,  1510 B may further comprise an interleaf layer to reduce and/or prevent sticking between adjacent elastic layers  1512  (not shown). In still other example embodiments, the composite material is manufactured with a support layer that includes only second portions and is substantially free of a first portion (not shown). 
       FIG.  2 B  is a perspective view of the composite material of  FIG.  2 A  having a portion of a support layer removed according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  2 C  is a cross-sectional view of the composite material of  FIG.  2 B , taken at line  2 C- 2 C′. 
     In some example embodiments, the first portion  1520  of the support layer  1514  may be removed from the composite material  1510 A,  1510 B to create a composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′, as shown in  FIGS.  2 B- 2 C . The composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ includes the elastic layer  1512  and a support layer  1514 ′. The support layer  1514 ′ includes the pair of second portions  1522 , with the first portion  1520 ,  1520 ′ ( FIG.  2 A ) having been removed. Accordingly, a portion of the upper surface  1516  of the elastic layer  1512  is exposed and free to interact with a product portion during a manufacturing process. 
     The composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ includes a first or product region  1526  and a second or apparatus region  1528 . The product region  1526  comprises a portion of the elastic layer  1512  free from the support layer  1514 ′ (e.g., the portions where the pair of second portions  1522  remain). In some example embodiments, the apparatus region  1528  is configured to engage an apparatus (not shown) to facilitate conveyance of the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ through the apparatus in a machine direction  1530 . In some example embodiments, the presence of the support layer  1514 ′ in the apparatus region  1528  may maintain tensile strength of the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ in the machine direction  1530  to facilitate conveyance of the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ and/or may facilitate holding the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ on an apparatus (e.g., on a top surface of the apparatus) during a manufacturing process. In at least some example embodiments, the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ can be registered by and conveyed through the apparatus. 
     In the example embodiment shown in  FIGS.  2 B- 2 C , the apparatus region  1528  includes a first apparatus region  1528 - 1  and a second apparatus region  1528 - 2 . The first and second apparatus regions  1528 - 1 ,  1528 - 2  may be disposed on opposite sides of the product region  1526 . In some example embodiments, each of the product region  1526 , the first apparatus region  1528 - 1 , and the second apparatus region  1528 - 2  is rectangular or substantially rectangular. The first and second apparatus regions  1528 - 1 ,  1528 - 2  may extend along opposing edges  1532  of the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′. In some example embodiments, the first and second apparatus regions  1528 - 1 ,  1528 - 2  extend continuously between a first end  1534  of the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ and a second end  1536  of the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ to maintain tensile strength of the composite material  1510 A′,  1510 B′ as it is conveyed through the apparatus in the machine direction  1530 . In some example embodiments, the first and second apparatus regions  1528 - 1 ,  1528 - 2  extend substantially parallel to one another. 
     The product region  1526  is free to stretch and deform (such as in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface  1516 ) to permit the performance of additional manufacturing steps, such as product placement, sealing of the elastic layer  1512  to itself or another elastic layer to form a pouch around the product, sealing the elastic layer  1512  around the product, and/or cutting or other methods of separation. The first and second apparatus regions  1528 - 1 ,  1528 - 2  may continue to engage the apparatus while other manufacturing steps are performed within the product region  1526 . 
     The elastic layer  1512  composite material  1510 A′ may be referred to herein as a first elastic layer  1512   a . The elastic layer  1512  of the composite material  1510 B′ may be referred to herein as a second elastic layer  1512   b . The first and second elastic layers  1512   a ,  1512   b  may be formed of the same materials or different materials. In some example embodiments, the first elastic layer  1512   a  and/or the second elastic layer  1512   b  may include a material that is the same as or similar to an elastomeric polymer pouch material such as, for example, polypropylene, polyurethane, styrene, styrenes (including styrene block copolymers), EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate), polyether block amides, EPAMOULD (Epaflex), EPALINE (Epaflex), TEXIN (Bayer), DESMOPAN (Bayer), HYDROPHAN (AdvanceSourse Biomaterials), ESTANE (Lubrizol), PELLETHANE (Lubrizol), PEARLTHANE (Merquinsa), IROGRAN (Huntsman), ISOTHANE (Greco), ZYTHANE (Alliance Polymers and Services), VISTAMAX (ExxonMobil), TEXIN RXT70A (Bayer), MD-6717 (Kraton), or any combination thereof. Other suitable materials may also be used. 
       FIG.  3 A  is a partial front view of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3 B  is a perspective view of a first receiving location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3 C  is a perspective view of a first receiving location and a dosing location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3 D  is a top perspective view of the dosing location and the cleaning location with the doser assembly and cleaner assembly removed according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3 E  is a top perspective view of the dosing location and cleaning location with the doser assembly and cleaner assembly removed and a second receiving location according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3 F  is a partial front view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product including a first material roll extending through the first material distribution station and a second material roll extending through the second material distribution station according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3 G  is a front perspective view showing the second material extending through the second material distribution station according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3 H  is a side perspective view of the dosing location and the cleaning location with the doser assembly and the cleaner assembly removed and a second receiving location according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3 I  is a partial view of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  showing the second receiving location and the cutting and sealing location according to some example embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 A- 3 I , during operation of the apparatus  1000 , the first material  1500  travels from a first roll  1700  at the first roll holder  112  to the first receiving location  120 . As the first material  1500  travels, the first material  1500  runs through the first tensioner  114 A which may include the first tracking controller  116 . The first tensioner  114 A may include at least one tension sensing roller, as generally known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The first tracking controller  116  and the first tensioner  114 A are configured keep the first material  1500  on track and at a desired tension as the first material  1500  passes along the various rollers. The first tracking controller is configured to pivot a set of rollers around a center axis so as to maintain web tracking. The first tracking controller  116  is in constant movement so as to maintain the edge of the web within the target area of an edge sensor (not shown). 
     In some example embodiments, the first material  1500  then travels along the first dewrinkling roller  117 , which has a bowed (convex) surface that is configured to reduce and/or prevent wrinkles in the first material  1500 . 
     Once the first material  1500  arrives at the first receiving location  120 , portions of the first material  1500  are aligned with the rotatable drum  1125 , while the first portion  1520  of the first support layer  1514  is removed. Removal of the first portion  1520  along the perforations  1524  occurs as the first stripper plate  118  and remaining ones of the first set of rollers  114  roll up the first portion  1520 , such that only the elastic layer  1512  (e.g., the first elastic layer  1512   a ) and portions  1522  of the first support layer  1514  of the first material  1500  remain at the first receiving location  120  and in contact with the rotatable drum  1125 . The motion of the rotatable drum  1125  simultaneously pulls the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  away from the removed portion  1520  thereby aiding in the removal of the first portion  1520 . The first stripper plate  118  puts pressure along the first material  1500 , and the first portion  1520  is pulled back over the first stripper plate  118  on the first scrap roll holder  119  and remaining ones of the first set of rollers  114  pull the portion  1520  from the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514 . 
     In some example embodiments, at the first receiving location  120 , the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  are aligned with the rotatable drum  1125 , such that the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  move with the rotatable drum  1125  in a machine direction towards the dosing location  130 . Thus, the elastic layer  1512  (e.g., first elastic layer) and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the first material  1500  are conveyed through the apparatus  1000  in the machine direction. The elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the first material  1500  includes the product region  1526  and the apparatus region  1528  (shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C ). The product region  1526  includes the elastic layer  1512  (e.g., the first elastic layer  1512   a ), and the apparatus region  1528  includes the elastic layer  1512  and the support layer  1514 ′, which prevents stretching of the elastic layer  1512  as the composite material  1510 A′ passes through the apparatus  100 . 
       FIG.  3 B  is a perspective view of a first receiving location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 B , the movement of the first material  1500  to the first receiving location  120  is shown in more detail. As shown, the first material  1500  moves along the first dewrinkling roller  117  to the first receiving location  120 . At the first receiving location  120  along the path of the rotatable drum  1125 , the first material  1500  is brought into contact with a portion of the rotatable drum  1125  while the first portion  1520  is pulled away from the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  by the first stripper plate  118  and the remaining rollers. As shown, the first portion  1520  is pulled in a direction substantially opposite to the direction in which the rotatable drum  1125  rotates. 
       FIG.  3 C  is a perspective view of a first receiving location and a dosing location of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 C , an edge  2000  of the first stripper plate  118  abuts a portion of the rotatable drum  1125  at the first receiving location  120 . Once the first material  1500  aligns with the rotatable drum  1125 , the first portion  1520  of the support layer  1514  is pulled over the edge  2000  and the body of the first stripper plate  118  as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates clockwise away from the first stripper plate  118 . Substantially simultaneously, the removed first portion  1520  of the support layer  1514  is being pulled by the rollers and the first scrap roll holder  119  (shown in  FIG.  3 A ). 
       FIG.  3 D  is a top perspective view of the dosing location and the cleaning location with the doser assembly and cleaner assembly removed according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 D , the first material  1500  including the elastic layer  1512  (e.g., first elastic layer  1512   a ) and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  moves along the rotatable drum  1125  from the first receiving location  120  to the dosing location  130 . The first edge  2000  of the first stripper plate  118  abuts the first material  1500  at the first receiving location  120 . As the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  rotate with the rotatable drum  1125 , the removed first portion  1520  is pulled away from the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522 . The first portion  1520  is pulled in a direction opposite of the direction of rotation of the rotatable drum  1125 . The first portion  1520  extends over the first stripper plate  118 . The remaining composite material  1510 A′ that is on the rotatable drum  1125  and which includes the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  of the first material  1500  may be referred to herein as a first web. 
     Further, as shown, the elastic layer  1512  is semi-transparent such that the divots  1400  along the rotatable drum  1125  can be seen therethrough. As the rotatable drum  1125  rotates, a vacuum is pulled via the vacuum source  1410  and vacuum conduits  1430  (shown in  FIG.  18 C ) so as to conform at least a portion of the first elastic layer  1512   a , which includes the first product region  1526 , and the second portions  1522  to a surface of the apparatus  1000 . Thus, the vacuum pulls separate, respective portions of the first elastic layer  1512   a  into each of the divots  1400  prior to dosing by the doser assembly  100 . Such separate, respective portions of the first elastic layer  1512   a  that are drawn into the divots  1400  may be referred to as “first web portions.” 
     In some example embodiments, the rotatable drum  1125  may also include the grippers  1710  (shown in  FIG.  1 G ), which may be air inlets at which the vacuum is communicated to the second portions  1522  and/or raised bumps that grip the first material  1500 . In some example embodiments, when the grippers  1710  include air inlets, the vacuum can be applied so as to pull and hold the first material  1500  against a surface of the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     After the elastic layer  1512  is pulled into the divots  1400 , portions of filler material are placed into separate, respective divots  1400  on top of the first elastic layer  1512   a  by the doser assembly  100 , and the rotatable drum  1125  continues to rotate towards the second receiving location  150  via the cleaning location  164 . The first web portions located in the divots  1400  into which portions of filler material are provided by the doser assembly  100  may be referred to herein as “filled first web portions.” 
     At the cleaning location  164 , the cleaner assembly  2600  as described with regard to  FIGS.  18 A- 27    removes excess filler material from the exposed upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  and/or moves such excess filler material from the exposed upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  into one or more of the divots  1400  that hold portions of filler material to add to such portions of filler material and may further compress the portions of filler material held in the divots  1400 . The rotatable drum then  1255  continues to rotate toward the second receiving location  150 . 
     At the second receiving location  150 , the second material  1500 ′ is aligned with the first elastic layer  1512   a  and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the “first web” of the first material  1500 , such that the portions of filler material held in the divots  1400  with the filled first web portions are sandwiched between the elastic layer  1512  of the first material  1500  (e.g., the first elastic layer  1512 ) and the second material  1500 ′. 
       FIG.  3 E  is a top perspective view of the dosing location and cleaning location with the doser assembly and cleaner assembly removed and a second receiving location according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 E , the second material  1500 ′ is aligned with the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  of the first material  1500  (e.g., the first web which includes the first elastic layer  1512   a  and the filled first web portions) at the second receiving location  150 , which is along the rotatable drum  1125  as the rotatable drum  1125  continuously rotates. 
       FIG.  3 F  is a partial front view of an apparatus for forming a pouch product including a first material roll extending through the first material distribution station and a second material roll extending through the second material distribution station according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 F , the elastic layer  1512  and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the first material  1500  move along the rotatable drum  1125  to the dosing location  130  after the elastic layer  1512  of the first material  1500  (e.g., the first elastic layer  1512   a ) has been pulled into the divots  1400  by vacuum as discussed with respect to at least  FIG.  3 D . 
     At the dosing location  130 , a desired amount (e.g., portion) of filler material may be provided into each divot  1400  on top of the first elastic layer  1512   a  by the doser assembly  100  to form the filled first web portions in the divots  1400 . The doser assembly  100  may be any of the doser assemblies according to any of the example embodiments, including any of the doser assemblies  100  according to  FIGS.  4 A- 18 C . 
     The rotatable drum  1125  continues rotating from the dosing location  130  to the second receiving location  150  via the cleaning location  164 , such that the filled divots  1400  continue moving along the rotatable drum  1125  towards the second receiving location  150 . 
     At the second receiving location  150 , the second material  1500 ′ is delivered to the rotatable drum  1125  via the second roll holder  172 , the second set of rollers  174  including the second tensioner  174 A, and the second dewrinkling roller  177 . The second material  1500 ′ is then aligned with the elastic layer  1512  (e.g., first elastic layer  1512   a ) and the second portions  1522  of the first material  1500 , such that the portions of filler material in the divots  1400  are sandwiched between the elastic layer  1512  of the first material  1500  (e.g., the first elastic layer  1512   a ) and the second material  1500 ′. 
     At the second receiving location  150 , as with the first material  1500 , the first portion  1520 ′ of the support layer  1514  of the second material  1500 ′ is removed as the second stripper plate  155  and second scrap roll holder  179  pull the first portion  1520 ′ away from the remaining second portions  1522 ′ along the perforations  1524 . The first portion  1520 ′ is continuously rolled onto the second scrap roll holder  179  while the remaining second portions  1522 ′ of the second material  1500 ′ are aligned with the elastic layer  1512  (e.g., the first elastic layer  1512   a ) and the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the first material  1500  as the rotatable drum  1125  continuously rotates towards the cutting and sealing location  160 . 
       FIG.  3 G  is a front perspective view showing the second material extending through the second material distribution station according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 G , the first portion  1520 ′ of the second material  1500 ′ is pulled away from the remainder of the second material as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates and the second stripper plate  155  presses against the second material. The second scrap roll holder  179  continuously rolls the removed first portion  1520 ′ to aid in pulling the removed material from the remainder of the second material  1500 ′. 
       FIG.  3 H  is a side perspective view of the second receiving location and the cutting and sealing location according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 H , after the elastic layer  1512  (e.g., the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b ) and the remaining second portions  1522  of the first material  1500  and the second material  1500 ′ are aligned along the rotatable drum  1125 , the aligned materials move into contact with an edge  2400  of the second stripper plate  155 . The edge  2400  abuts the rotatable drum  1125  and the first portion  1520 ′ of the second material  1500 ′ is pulled from the second portions  1522  of the second material  1500 ′ along the perforations  1524  (shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C ). The edge  2400  provides a point at which pressure is applied to the second material  1500 ′ as the first portion  1520 ′ of the support layer  1514  is pulled and removed along the perforations  1524  in the support layer  1514  of the second material  1500 ′. 
     The remaining portions of the first material  1500  and the second material  1500 ′ continue to travel along the rotatable drum  1125  to the cutting and sealing location  160 , which may be at about a 4 o&#39;clock position along the rotatable drum  1125 . As the rotatable drum  1125  rotates clockwise, the heat knife assembly roller  5505  rotates counterclockwise, such that the heat knives  5510  align with respective ones of the divots  1400  along the rotatable drum  1125 . The heat knives  5510  are heated to a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b  so as to form a seal between the elastic layers of the first material  1500  and the second material  1500 ′. In some example embodiments, the heating is sufficient to at least partially cut the newly formed pouch product from the surrounding waste material simultaneous to the sealing. 
       FIG.  3 I  is a partial view of the apparatus of  FIG.  1 A  showing the second receiving location and the cutting and sealing location according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 I , the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b  are aligned and travel to the cutting and sealing location  160 . 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  also includes a drum register  2500  configured to adjust a speed of rotation of the rotatable drum  1125 . The rotatable drum  1125  is servo controlled to follow speed and position commands using motion move position cam instructions synchronized to follow a master virtual axis. Servo configuration allows each motor to know how far to move over the course of one pouch, taking in account motor speed and powertrain setup (gear box ratios etc.). Speeds are therefore set in pouches/sec. The rotatable drum  1125  has an attached disk with a small slot cut near outside perimeter. A homing sensor on each of the two disks detects the slots to provide a “Home” position. This home position is offset in software so as to provide accurate alignment of the two drums. 
     Further, as shown the heat knives  5510  align with the divots  1400  as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates clockwise, and the heat knife assembly roller  5505  rotates counterclockwise, and the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b  pass therebetween. 
     As described herein, a “filler material” may include particulate matter comprising particles. The filler material may be a powder-like substance that may flow freely when shaken or tilted. In some example embodiments, the filler material may have a particle size (e.g., particle diameter) between about 0.1 μm to about 500 μm. In some example embodiments, the filler material may have a particle size (e.g., particle diameter) between about 0.1 μm to about 200 μm. In some example embodiments, the filler material may have a particle size between about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.25 mm to about 0.5 mm, about 125 μm to about 250 μm, about 60 μm to about 125 μm, about 4 μm to about 60 μm, about 1 μm to about 4 μm, any combination thereof, or the like. 
     In some example embodiments, the filler material may have an average particle size of about 50 μm. In some example embodiments, the filler material may have an average particle size of about 200 μm. In some example embodiments, the filler material may have an average particle size of about 400 μm. 
     The filler material may partially or entirely comprise particles having a maximum diameter that is between about 0.1 μm to about 1 μm. The filler material may partially or entirely comprise particles having a maximum diameter that is equal to or greater than 1 μm. 
     The filler material may contain and/or partially or completely comprise at least one substance. In some example embodiments, the at least one substance is a consumer product. 
     In some example embodiments, the at least one substance and/or the consumer product is an inert powder material. In some example embodiments, the filler material may contain and/or partially or completely comprise a substance that is microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). 
     In some example embodiments, the at least one substance and/or the consumer product includes (e.g., partially or completely comprises) an oral product. 
     In some example embodiments, the oral product is an oral tobacco product, an oral non-tobacco product, an oral  cannabis  product, or any combination thereof. The oral product may be in a form of loose material (e.g., loose cellulosic material), shaped material (e.g., plugs or twists), pouched material, tablets, lozenges, chews, gums, films, any other oral product, or any combination thereof. 
     The oral product may include chewing tobacco, snus, moist snuff tobacco, dry snuff tobacco, other smokeless tobacco and non-tobacco products for oral consumption, or any combination thereof. 
     Where the oral product is an oral tobacco product including smokeless tobacco product, the smokeless tobacco product may include tobacco that is whole, shredded, cut, granulated, reconstituted, cured, aged, fermented, pasteurized, or otherwise processed. Tobacco may be present as whole or portions of leaves, flowers, roots, stems, extracts (e.g., nicotine), or any combination thereof. 
     In some example embodiments, the oral product includes a tobacco extract, such as a tobacco-derived nicotine extract, and/or synthetic nicotine. The oral product may include nicotine alone or in combination with a carrier (e.g., white snus), such as a cellulosic material. The carrier may be a non-tobacco material (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose) or a tobacco material (e.g., tobacco fibers having reduced or eliminated nicotine content, which may be referred to as “exhausted tobacco plant tissue or fibers”). In some example embodiments, the exhausted tobacco plant tissue or fibers can be treated to remove at least 25%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% of the nicotine. For example, the tobacco plant tissue can be washed with water or another solvent to remove the nicotine. 
     In other example embodiments, the oral product may include  cannabis , such as  cannabis  plant tissue and/or  cannabis  extracts. In some example embodiments, the  cannabis  material includes leaf and/or flower material from one or more species of  cannabis  plants and/or extracts from the one or more species of  cannabis  plants. The one or more species of  cannabis  plants may include  Cannabis sativa, Cannabis  indica, and/or  Cannabis ruderalis . In some example embodiments, the  cannabis  may be in the form of fibers. In some example embodiments, the  cannabis  may include a cannabinoid, a terpene, and/or a flavonoid. In some example embodiments, the  cannabis  material may be a  cannabis -derived  cannabis  material, such as a  cannabis -derived cannabinoid, a  cannabis -derived terpene, and/or a  cannabis -derived flavonoid. 
     The oral product (e.g., the oral tobacco product, the oral non-tobacco product, or the oral  cannabis  product) may have various ranges of moisture. In some example embodiments, the oral product is a dry oral product having a moisture content ranging from 5% by weight to 10% by weight. In some example embodiments, the oral product has a medium moisture content, such as a moisture content ranging from 20% by weight to 35% by weight. In some example embodiments, the oral product is a wet oral product having a moisture content ranging from 40% by weight to 55% by weight. 
     In some example embodiments, oral product may further include one or more elements such as a mouth-stable polymer, a mouth-soluble polymer, a sweetener (e.g., a synthetic sweetener and/or a natural sweetener), an energizing agent, a soothing agent, a focusing agent, a plasticizer, mouth-soluble fibers, an alkaloid, a mineral, a vitamin, a dietary supplement, a nutraceutical, a coloring agent, an amino acid, a chemesthetic agent, an antioxidant, a food-grade emulsifier, a pH modifier, a botanical, a tooth-whitening agent, a therapeutic agent, a processing aid, a stearate, a wax, a stabilizer, a disintegrating agent, a lubricant, a preservative, a filler, a flavorant, flavor masking agents, a bitterness receptor site blocker, a receptor site enhancers, other additives, or any combination thereof. 
     In some example embodiments, the filler material may contain any product or substance. For example, the filler material may contain confectionary products, food products, medicines, or any other product. 
     Hereinafter, a non-limiting example of a doser assembly  100  that may be included in an apparatus  1000  according to any of the example embodiments, for example placed on top of and/or over a conveyor system including a rotatable drum  1125  of the apparatus  1000 , is described, but inventive concepts are not limited thereto. 
       FIGS.  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  4 D, and  4 E  are perspective views of an apparatus including a doser assembly and a rotatable drum according to some example embodiments, with  FIG.  4 D  being a perspective cross-sectional view along line  4 D- 4 D′ shown in  FIG.  4 C .  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are perspective views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  6 A,  6 B,  6 C, and  6 D  are partial views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  with some structures omitted and with  FIG.  6 D  being a cross-sectional view along line  6 D- 6 D′ shown in  FIG.  6 C , according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  7 A,  7 B,  7 C,  7 D,  7 E, and  7 F  are plan views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  8 A  is a cross-sectional plan view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  8 A- 8 A′ shown in  FIG.  7 C  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  8 B  is a cross-sectional plan view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  8 B- 8 B′ shown in  FIG.  7 D  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  8 C  is a cross-sectional plan view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  8 C- 8 C′ shown in  FIG.  7 B  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  9 A  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  9 A- 9 A′ shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  9 B and  9 C  are cross-sectional perspective views of a paddle of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along lines  9 B- 9 B′ and  9 C- 9 C′, respectively, shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D  are perspective views of a paddle of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  10 E,  10 F,  10 G, and  10 H  are plan views of a paddle of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  11 A  is a view of a vibration transmission assembly of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  11 B  is a cross-sectional view of the vibration transmission assembly of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  11 B- 11 B′shown in  FIG.  11 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  11 C  is a cross-sectional view of the vibration transmission assembly of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  11 C- 11 C′ shown in  FIG.  11 B  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional view of the vibration transmission assembly of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  12 - 12 ′ shown in  FIG.  11 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  13 A,  13 B, and  13 C  are cross-sectional views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along lines  13 A- 13 A′,  13 B- 13 B′, and  13 C- 13 C′, respectively, shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  13 D  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the doser assembly of FIG.  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  13 C- 13 C′ shown in  FIG.  7 D  according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  13 E and  13 F  are cross-sectional views of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along lines  13 E- 13 E′ and  13 F- 13 F′, respectively, shown in  FIG.  8 B  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  13 G  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  13 F- 13 F′ shown in  FIG.  8 B  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  14 A  is a plan cross-sectional view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  9 A- 9 A′ shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  14 B  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  along line  9 A- 9 A′ shown in  FIG.  8 C  according to some example embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , in some example embodiments, a doser assembly  100  may include at least a hopper assembly  200 , a vibration transmission assembly  300 , and a paddle  400 . According to some example embodiments, the doser assembly  100  may be configured to provide (e.g., “dose,” “supply,” etc.) portions (e.g., volumes, amounts, instances, etc.) of filler material to be packaged into “doses” or pouches of filler material. As shown with regards to at least  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I  and as further shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E , the doser assembly  100  may be located on a rotatable drum  1125  that includes multiple plates  1600  of divots  1400  on an outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . The doser assembly  100  may be located on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  and may be configured to supply portions of filler material  2200  into the divots  1400  that are on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S, and in which “first web portions” of a first elastic layer are drawn as described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I , to provide “portions” or “doses” of filler material  2280  to be packaged into pouches of filler material. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 10 G , an interior surface  200 _IS of the hopper assembly  200  may at least partially define a hopper opening  200 _O that extends through the hopper assembly  200 . The hopper opening  200 _O may also be referred to herein as an interior volume space within the hopper assembly  200  that is at least partially defined by one or more interior surfaces of one or more structures of the hopper assembly  200 . As described herein, the bottom boundary of the hopper opening  200 _O may be defined by the lower surfaces  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200 . As shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I and  4 A- 4 E , the doser assembly  100  may be on the rotatable drum  1125  such that the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 , which may include divots  1400  and on which the first web that includes first elastic layer  1512   a  is located, is directly exposed to the hopper opening  200 _O and may at least partially close the bottom boundary of the hopper opening  200 _O. 
     The hopper assembly  200  may be configured to receive a flow  1302  of filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O, for example from the filler material conveyor system  1110  of the filler material distribution system  1200  of apparatus  1000  as described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I . The filler material may be provided into the hopper opening  200 _O from above the hopper assembly  200 , and may be provided manually and/or using machinery, for example from the filler material conveyor system  1110  of the filler material distribution system  1200 , either directly or via a hopper chute  600  as shown. In some example embodiments, the filler material conveyor system  1110  (not shown in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B ) above the doser assembly  100 , which may include a conveyor belt, vibrating feed pan, or the like, may provide the filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100 , but other means may be used to provide the filler material  1300  to the doser assembly  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B  and further referring to at least  FIGS.  14 A- 14 C , where the doser assembly  100  is on the rotatable drum  1125  that includes divots  1400  on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S thereof as described herein, the filler material  1300  that is supplied into the hopper opening  200 _O by the filler material distribution system  1200  may be held within the hopper opening  200 _O as filler material  2200  and may fall, at least partially due to gravity, into empty divots  1400 _ 1  of the rotatable drum  1125  that are directly exposed to the hopper opening  200 _O (and into which first web portions of the first elastic layer  1512   a  may be further drawn under vacuum via vacuum source  1410  and conduit  1420  a as described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I  and as shown in at least  FIG.  18 C ) to establish portions  2280  of filler material  2200  within the divots  1400  and thus establish filled divots  1400 _ 2  containing the portions  2280  of filler material and thus form filled first web portions. 
     As described further herein with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I , the filler material  2200  that falls into the divots  1400  under gravity may cover the separate, respective portions of the first elastic layer  1512   a  drawn into the separate, respective divots  1400  under vacuum to form the filled first web portions including the respective portions of the first elastic layer  1512  and separate, respective portions  2280  of filler material thereon in the respective divots  1400 . Additionally, the weight of additional filler material  2200  in the hopper opening  200 _O overlaying the divots  1400  may further push filler material  2200  at the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O into exposed divots  1400  and may further at least partially compress the portions  2280  of filler material within the divots  1400 . Based on rotation of the rotatable drum  1125  in relation to the doser assembly  100 , the filled divots  1400  that hold the portions  2280  of filler material may be rotated out of exposure to the hopper opening  200 _O, for example to the second receiving location  150  of apparatus  1000  as described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I  to be covered with second elastic material of the second elastic layer  1512   b . Corresponding elastic material portions of the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b  on the filled divots  1400  may be sealed together and cut from the remaining elastic material portions of the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b  by a heat knife assembly  5000  as described herein to form sealed pouches containing separate, respective portions  2280  of the filler material. 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , in some example embodiments, the paddle  400  may be caused to vibrate  490  (e.g., reciprocatingly pivot). The paddle  400  may vibrate  490  concurrently with filler material  1300  being supplied into the hopper opening  200 _O by a filler material distribution system  1200  and concurrently with rotation of the rotatable drum  1125  to move empty divots  1400  (covered with first web including first elastic layer  1512   a ) into direct exposure to the hopper opening  200 _O to be filled with portions  2280  of filler material  2200  (e.g., based on rotation of the rotatable drum  1125  to move divots  1400  to the dosing location  130  as shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I ) and to move filled divots  1400  out of direct exposure to the hopper opening  200 _O (e.g., based on rotation of the rotatable drum  1125  to move divots  1400  away from the dosing location  130  as shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I ). The paddle  400  may vibrate  490  to push filler material  2200  into the divots  1400 , clear excess filler material  2200  from the top of filled divots  1400 _ 2  as the filled divots  1400 _ 2  move out of exposure to the hopper opening  200 _O (e.g., away from the dosing location  130  of apparatus  1000  and thus away from the doser assembly  100 ) due to rotation of the rotatable drum  1125  in relation to the doser assembly  100 , and/or cause the filler material  2200  to be retained within the hopper opening  200 _O as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates in relation to the doser assembly  100  to cause plates  1600  with filled divots  1400 _ 2  to move out of exposure to the hopper opening  200 _O under the paddle  400 . 
     The paddle  400  may include a surface, configured to face into the hopper opening  200 _O, that is configured to impact, move, and/or “cup” the filler material  2200  that is resting above the tops of filled divots  1400  in the hopper opening  200 _O based on the “vibration” of the paddle  400 , to induce movement of the filler material  2200  back into a portion of hopper opening  200 _O distal from the paddle  400 . Restated, with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I , the paddle  400  may vibrate  490  to clear excess filler material  2200  from the tops of the filled divots  1400 _ 2  that are exiting the dosing location  130  of the apparatus  1000  based on rotation of the rotatable drum  1125 , similar to how one uses a knife to level material (e.g., flour or sugar) in a measuring cup, so the height of the filler material in the divots  1400  may be equal to (or substantially equal to) the height of the divot  1400  filled by the filler material. Accordingly, the paddle  400  may improve the uniformity and consistency of the amount of filler material  2200  that fills the divots  1400  (e.g., the amount of the portions  2280  of filler material) from divot  1400  to divot  1400 . Additionally, the paddle  400  may be configured to clear excess filler material  2200  and/or cause filler material  2200  not located in the divots  1400  to be retained in the hopper opening  200 _O while reducing or minimizing excess release/ejection/discharge of filler material  2200  into the ambient environment and/or out of the hopper opening  200 _O, for example as clouds or sprays of material. As a result, the paddle  400  may enable reduced maintenance costs associated with cleanup of released/discharged excess filler material out of the doser assembly  100 . Additionally as a result, the paddle  400  may enable improved performance of an apparatus  1000  that includes the doser assembly  100  based on reducing contamination of machine/mechanical portions of the apparatus  1000  (e.g., motors, bearings, etc.) with excess filler material  2200 . 
     The vibration transmission assembly  300  may be coupled, directly or indirectly as shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , to the hopper assembly  200 . As shown, the vibration transmission assembly  300  may include a shaft  310  (e.g., a rotatable shaft, drive shaft, etc.) that is configured to rotate around a central axis of rotation  310 _A, an eccentric  320  that is fixed to the shaft  310  and has a center  320 _C (also referred to as a central rotation axis of the eccentric  320 ) that is radially offset  320 _OS from the central rotation axis  310 _A of the shaft  310 , a connecting rod  330  that is pivotably connected (e.g., via pivot joint  332  which may include a bearing, such as a rolling-element bearing and/or a ball bearing as shown) to the center of the eccentric  320 , and a bracket  340  that is pivotably connected (e.g., via pivot joint  338  which may include a bearing, such as a rolling-element bearing and/or a ball bearing as shown) to the connecting rod  330 . As described herein, a “pivot joint” may be interchangeably referred to as a “pivot,” “hinge joint,” “hinge,” or the like. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the doser assembly  100  may include a motor  360  that is mechanically coupled to one end of the shaft  310 . The motor  360  may be coupled to the shaft  310  via drive transmission  370  (which may be a gearbox), which as shown may include multiple belt-driven gears (the one or more belts mechanically coupling the gears are not shown). In some example embodiments, the drive transmission  370  may be absent and the shaft  310  may be directly driven by the motor  360 . The motor  360  may be a servoactuator, or any known type of drive motor. The motor  360  may be configured to induce the rotary motion of the shaft  310  around the central axis of rotation  310 _A of the shaft  310 . 
     The paddle  400  is located in a portion of the hopper opening  200 _O of the hopper assembly  200  and/or is understood to be configured to define at least a portion of a boundary of the hopper opening  200 _O. As shown, the paddle  400  may extend in a direction (e.g., a horizontal direction, shown as the X direction) between a first part  200 _IS_ 1  of the interior surface  200 _IS of the hopper assembly  200  and a second part  200 _IS_ 2  of the interior surface  200 _IS of the hopper assembly  200 . A first end  400 _ 1  of the paddle  400  is pivotably coupled (directly or indirectly) to the hopper assembly  200  at a paddle pivot joint  410  which may include a bearing  412  such as a rolling-element bearing and/or a ball bearing as shown. As shown, the paddle  400  may be fixed to the bracket  340  of the vibration transmission assembly  300  separately from the hopper assembly  200 , such that the vibration transmission assembly  300  may be configured to cause the paddle  400  to reciprocatingly pivot around the paddle pivot joint  410  based on converting rotary motion of the shaft  310  into reciprocating motion of at least the bracket  340 . 
     In some example embodiments, a material of any portion of the doser assembly  100 , including hopper assembly  200 , the paddle  400 , any part of the vibration transmission assembly  300 , or the like may include one of a metal (e.g., aluminum), a metal alloy (e.g., steel), a plastic (e.g., polyether ketone (PEEK), polyoxymethylene (an acetal homopolymer resin corresponding to the trademark DELRIN®, held by DuPont™), a sub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof. A material of the paddle  400  may include a plastic, such as one of PEEK, polyoxymethylene, or both PEEK and polyoxymethylene. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto and the paddle  400  may alternatively be formed of other materials such as a metal, a metal alloy, and/or a different plastic. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the hopper assembly  200  may include a first hopper wall  202  and a second hopper wall  204  that face each other (e.g., are opposing hopper walls) and are spaced apart from each other (e.g., spaced apart in the X direction as shown). As shown, the inner surface  202 _IS of the first hopper wall  202  may include and/or define the first part  200 _IS_ 1  of the interior surface  200 _IS of the hopper assembly  200  and the inner surface  204 _IS of the second hopper wall  204  may include and/or define the second part  200 _IS_ 2  of the interior surface  200 _IS of the hopper assembly  200 . 
     As shown, the first hopper wall  202  may include a lower surface  202 _LS that is concave in shape, and the second hopper wall  204  may include a lower surface  204 _LS that is concave in shape. The lower surfaces  202 _LS and  204 _LS may collectively at least partially define a lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  which may be configured to be located on (e.g., to rest upon) the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     As shown, the lower surface  202 _LS of the first hopper wall  202  may be level (e.g., level in a vertical direction or Z direction as shown) with the lower surface  204 _LS of the second hopper wall  204  and aligned with the lower surface  204 _LS of the second hopper wall  204 . For example, as shown, the concave shapes of the lower surfaces  202 _LS and  204 _LS may be horizontally aligned in at least the X direction so that the lower surfaces  202 _LS,  204 _LS collectively define a common concave-shaped curved surface. As shown, the concave lower surfaces  202 _LS,  204 _LS may be configured to be complementary to the curvature of the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  so as to establish a flush fit (e.g., complementary fit) between the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  and the rotatable drum  1125 _S when the doser assembly  100  is on the rotatable drum  1125  (with at least the second portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the “first web” of the first material  1500  therebetween). 
     It will be understood that, as described herein, at least a portion (e.g., edge portion, including portions  1522  of the support layer  1514 ) of the “first web” of the first material  1500  may be located between the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  and the rotatable drum  1125  when a flush fit is established between the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  and the rotatable drum  1125 _S. The edge portion of the first web of the first material  1500  (e.g., portions  1522  of the support layer  1514 ) may be sufficiently thin and flexible to fit between the complementary curvatures of the lower surface  200 _LS and outer circumferential surface  1125 _S and enable the flush fit therebetween. As described herein, the hopper assembly  200  may be adjustably oriented (e.g., in the YZ plane) in relation to the rotatable drum  1125  to adjust the complementary fit between the concave curvatures of the lower surfaces  202 _LS and  204 _LS and the convex curvature of the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the hopper assembly  200  may include a third hopper wall  206  that is connected to the first hopper wall  202  and the second hopper wall  204  at a first end region  200 _ 1  of the hopper assembly, and the paddle  400  may be pivotably coupled to the hopper assembly  200  (via at least the paddle pivot joint  410 ) at an opposite, second end region  200 _ 2  of the hopper assembly  200 . As a result, the inner surface  206 _IS of the third hopper wall  206  and the first outer surface  420 _ 1  of the paddle  400  may be spaced apart from each other (e.g., in the Y direction) and may be configured to face each other, and may at least partially define opposite sides of the hopper opening  200 _O. 
     As shown, the inner surface  206 _IS of the third hopper wall  206  may, together with the inner surfaces  202 _IS and  204 _IS of the first and second hopper walls  202  and  204 , at least partially define the inner surface  200 _IS of the hopper assembly  200  that at least partially defines the side boundaries of the hopper opening  200 _O. In some example embodiments, the first outer surface  420 _ 1  of the paddle  400  may be configured to be a part of the inner surface  200 _IS of the hopper opening  200 _O and/or may be consider to collectively, together with the inner surface  200 _IS of the hopper assembly  200  that includes inner surfaces  202 _IS,  204 _IS, and  206 _IS, at least partially define the side boundaries of the hopper opening  200 _O. 
     As further shown, the lower surface  206 _LS of the third hopper wall  206  may, together with the lower surfaces  202 _LS and  204 _LS of the first and second hopper walls  202  and  204 , collectively define the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , and referring particularly to  FIGS.  13 A- 14 B , the first hopper wall  202  may include an outer base frame  202 _ 1  and an inner wall  202 _ 2 . The outer base frame  202 _ 1  and the inner wall  202 _ 2  may collectively define a set of one or more conduit openings  200 _CO within an interior of the first hopper wall  202 . The conduit openings  200 _CO may include a first conduit opening  200 _CO 1  at a lower region of the first hopper wall  202  and a second conduit opening  200 _CO 2  at a lower-mid region of the first hopper wall  202 . As shown, the hopper assembly  200  may further include one or more conduit lines  250  which may extend into the conduit openings  200 _CO and may be coupled t one or more gas sources, a vacuum source, or any combination thereof. 
     The first conduit opening  200 _CO 1  is in fluid communication with the lower surface  202 _LS of the first hopper wall  202  via first apertures  250 - 1  that extend through the interior of the inner wall  202 _ 2  between the first conduit opening  200 _CO 1  and the lower surface  202 _LS. When the doser assembly  100  is on the rotatable drum  1125 , the first apertures  250 - 1  may direct gases supplied to the first conduit opening  200 _CO 1  by a conduit line  250  to the interface between the lower surface  202 _LS and the material that the lower surface  202 -LS is located on, which may be the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 , an upper surface of an edge portion of a first material  1500  (e.g., a portion  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the first material  1500 ) that is on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S and thus is between surfaces  202 _LS and  1125 _LS, or any combination thereof. The first apertures  250 - 1  may direct the gases to the interface to form an “air curtain” that may serve as a bearing between the doser assembly  100  and the rotatable drum  1125  and/or first material  1500  (e.g., support portions  1522  of the first web) on which the doser assembly  100  is located as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates beneath the hopper assembly  200 . The “air curtain” may restrict and/or reduce discharge of filler material  2200  out of the hopper opening  200 _O through the interface between the lower surface  202 _LS and the rotatable drum  1125  and/or first material  1500  thereon. 
     The second conduit openings  200 _CO 2  are in fluid communication with the hopper opening  200 _O via second apertures  250 - 2  that extend through the interior of the inner wall  202 _ 2  between the second conduit openings  200 _CO 2  and the inner surface  202 _IS. When the paddle  400  is vibrating  490  during operation of the doser assembly  100 , the second apertures  250 - 2  may direct gases supplied to the second conduit openings  200 _CO 2  by a conduit line  250  to the hopper opening  200 _O to form an “air bearing” between the interior surface  200 _IS of the hopper assembly  200  and the vibrating paddle  400  and to further or alternatively serve as an “air curtain” to restrict and/or reduce discharge of filler material  2200  out of the hopper opening  200 _O through the interface between the interior surface  200 _IS (e.g., inner surface  202 _IS) and the paddle  400 . 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the second conduit openings  200 _CO 2  and second apertures  250 - 2  may be absent from the doser assembly  100 . It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the first conduit openings  200 _CO 1  and first apertures  250 - 1  may be absent from the doser assembly  100 . 
     While the above description is provided with regard to conduit openings  200 _CO in the first hopper wall  202 , it will be understood that, similarly, the second hopper wall  204  may include an outer base frame  204 _ 1  and an inner wall  204 _ 2  that may collectively define a separate set of one or more conduit openings  200 _CO within an interior of the second hopper wall  204  and which may be connected to a set of conduit lines  250  which may be configured to operate similarly to the conduit lines  250  connected to the conduit openings  200 _CO within the first hopper wall  202 . Accordingly, both the first and second hopper walls  202  and  204  may be configured to provide “air curtains” at opposite sides of the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  to restrict or reduce discharge of filler material  2200  out of the hopper opening  200 _O through the interface between the lower surface  200 _LS and the rotatable drum  1125  and/or first material  1500 . 
     In view of the above, it will be understood that the conduit lines  250  may be configured to provide vacuum, gases, or both vacuum and gases into the hopper assembly  200  through corresponding conduit openings  200 _CO in the hopper assembly  200 , and that the conduit lines  250  may extend into the conduit openings  200 _CO and may be in fluid communication with an exterior (e.g., lower surface  200 _LS) of the hopper assembly  200  and/or with the hopper opening  200 _O via apertures  250 - 1  and/or  250 - 2 . 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the hopper assembly  200  may include an air knife  298  that may be coupled to the third hopper wall  206  and may be configured to direct a stream of air downwards (e.g., in the −Z direction) along inner surface  206 _IS of the third hopper wall  206  to form a curtain of air that restricts filler material  2200  from leaving the hopper opening  200 _O via a space between the third hopper wall  206  and the first elastic layer  1512   a  that is on the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , and referring particularly to  FIGS.  9 A- 10 H , the paddle  400  may have a first outer surface  420 _ 1  that at least partially defines the hopper opening  200 _O, and the paddle  400  may have a second outer surface  420 _ 2  that is configured to be fixed to the bracket  340  of the vibration transmission assembly  300  (e.g., via fasteners including but not limited to bolts, via adhesion, via the bracket  340  and the paddle  400  being separate portions of a single, unitary piece of material, etc.). As shown, the first and second outer surfaces  420 _ 1  and  420 _ 2  are opposite surfaces of the paddle  400 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the first end  400 _ 1  of the paddle  400  may include holes  414  and recess  416  configured to receive the bracket  480  and bearings  412  to establish the paddle pivot joint  410  at the first end  400 _ 1  of the paddle  400 . As shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the second end  400 _ 2  of the paddle  400 , which is an opposite end from the first end  400 _ 1 , may include a distal surface  402  that is opposite from the paddle pivot joint  410  at the first end  400 _ 1  of the paddle  400 . As shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the first outer surface  420 _ 1  may be an at least partially curved surface that defines a concave shape and which at least partially defines the hopper opening  200 _O. In some example embodiments, the concave shape may extend to the second end  400 _ 2  of the paddle  400 . Based on having an at least partially concave-shaped first outer surface  420 _ 1  that faces into the hopper opening  200 _O, the paddle  400  may be configured to “cup” the excess filler material  2200  located in the hopper opening  200 _O during vibration  490  of the paddle  400  (e.g., reciprocating pivoting of the paddle  400  around the paddle pivot joint  410 ) to induce movement of the excess filler material  2200  away from filled divots  1400 _ 2  of the rotatable drum  1125  that are moving underneath and past the paddle  400  and out of exposure to the hopper opening  200 _O and to further induce movement of the excess filler material  2200  further into the interior of the hopper opening  200 _O. 
     As shown, in some example embodiments, the second end  400 _ 2  of the paddle  400  may at least partially define a blade edge  400 _BE that at least partially defines the hopper opening  200 _O. The blade edge  400 _BE may face into the hopper opening  200 _O. During operation of the doser assembly  100 , the vibration  490  of the paddle  400  as driven by the vibration transmission assembly  300  may cause the blade edge  400 _BE to “cut” into the excess filler material  2200  that is located in the hopper opening  200 _O on the filled divots  1400 _ 2  to facilitate movement of the excess filler material  2200  to remain within the hopper opening  200 _O, thereby further reducing release/drainage of filler material  2200  out of the hopper opening  200 _O independently of the divots  1400  of the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the paddle  400  may be coupled to the hopper assembly  200  such that the distal surface  402  of the paddle  400  may protrude downwards in a vertical direction (e.g., the −Z direction as shown) away from the lower surface  202 _LS of the first hopper wall  202  and the lower surface  204 _LS of the second hopper wall  204  (e.g., away from the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200 ) and towards the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  by a paddle protrusion distance  404 . The paddle protrusion distance  404  may be equal to or less than a thickness of the first web of the first material  1500  that may overlay the rotatable drum  1125  on which the doser assembly  100  may be located. The paddle protrusion distance  404  may be equal to or greater than 0 inches and equal to or less than about ⅛ inches. For example, the paddle protrusion distance  404  may be about 1/16 inches. Based on the distal surface  402  protruding by the paddle protrusion distance  404 , contact between the distal surface  402  of the paddle  400  and the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  may be controlled to improve clearing of excess filler material  2200  from the tops of the filled divots  1400 _ 2 . 
     Referring to the vibration transmission assembly  300  as shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , and particularly referring to  FIGS.  11 A- 12   , the vibration transmission assembly  300  may include an eccentric  320  that is fixed to the shaft  310  via fasteners  322  (e.g., bolts as shown) that extend through slots  324  in the eccentric such that the fasteners  322  to engage (e.g., thread ably engage) with shaft holes  312  (e.g., threaded holes) of the shaft  310 , thereby fastening (e.g., fixing, holding in place, etc.) the eccentric  320  between the fasteners  322  and the shaft  310 . The eccentric  320  may be pivotably connected, at the center  320 _C thereof (also referred to as a central rotation axis of the eccentric  320 ), to one end of the connecting rod  330  via pivot joint  332  which may include a rotatable-element bearing as shown. The connecting rod  330  may be pivotably connected, at another end thereof, to the bracket  340  via pivot joint  338  which may include a rotatable-element bearing as shown. Accordingly, the connecting rod  330  is pivotably connected at opposite ends between the bracket  340  and the eccentric  320 , where the eccentric  320  is configured to be fixed to the shaft  310  by at least the fasteners  322 . Accordingly, based on rotation of the shaft  310  (which may be driven by motor  360  directly or via a drive transmission  370 ), the movement of the shaft  310  may be transferred to the bracket  340  via the eccentric  320  and the connecting rod  330 . 
     As further shown, the shaft  310  may include a groove  310 _G that extends in a particular direction and extending through and crossing the central axis of rotation  310 _A and the holes  312 . The eccentric  320  is configured to be held in the groove  310 _G by the fasteners  322  engaged with shaft holes  312  through the slots  324 . As shown, the slots  324  may be elongated in the direction of axis  320 _A (which may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the eccentric  320 ) so that the eccentric  320  may be adjustably offset in relation to the shaft  310  in the groove  310 _G while still enabling the fasteners  322  to engage respective shaft holes  312  of the shaft  310  to fix the eccentric  320  to the shaft  310  such that the eccentric  320  is at least partially in the groove  310 _G. As result, the eccentric  320  may be adjustably fixed to the shaft  310  (e.g., via the fasteners  322  being adjustably tightened in the slots  324 ) so that the center  320 _C of the eccentric  320  is radially offset  320 _OS from the central axis of rotation  310 _A of the shaft  310  along an axis  320 _A that extends in parallel with a line intersecting the slots  324  (and may extend in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the eccentric  320 ), in parallel to the groove  310 _G (and may extend in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the groove  310 _G), in parallel with a line intersecting the holes  312 , and crossing axis  310 _A and center  320 _C. As shown in at least  FIG.  11 C , the eccentric  320  may include an indicator  328  that is aligned with the center  320 _C (also referred to as central axis of rotation) of the eccentric  320 , and the shaft  310  may include an indicator  318  that is aligned with the central axis of rotation  310 _A of the shaft  310 . A magnitude of the offset between the indicators  318 ,  328  as shown may indicate a magnitude of the offset  320 _OS (also referred to herein as an offset distance) between the central rotation axis  310 _A of the shaft  310  and the center  320 _C of the eccentric  320 , thereby enabling external observation and/or measurement (e.g., with measurement tools such as a measuring tape or caliper) of the magnitude of the offset  320 _OS and therefore improving ease of accuracy of adjustments of the magnitude of the offset  320 _OS. 
     The magnitude of the offset  320 _OS may be adjusted based on loosening the engagement of fasteners  322  with the eccentric  320  via slots  324  (e.g., based on adjustably loosening the engagement of the fasteners  322  with the shaft holes  312 ), sliding the eccentric  320  in the groove  310 _G in parallel with the axis  320 _A to adjust the magnitude of the offset  320 _OS, and re-tightening the fasteners  322  in the shaft holes  312  through the slots  324  to re-tighten the engagement of eccentric  320  between the fasteners  322  and the shaft  310  to re-fix the eccentric  320  at a new offset  320 _ 0 S. 
     Based on the adjustable offset  320 _OS between the center  320 _C of the eccentric  320  and the central axis of rotation  310 _A of the shaft  310 , the rotary motion of the shaft  310  around central axis of rotation  310 _A may cause the center  320 _C, and thus the pivotable connection between the eccentric  320  and the connecting rod  330 , to move in a circular path that orbits the central axis of rotation  310 _A, which further causes the bracket  340  to move in a reciprocating path, which further causes the paddle  400  that is fixed (e.g., fastened) to the bracket  340  to reciprocatingly pivot around the paddle pivot joint  410 . Thus, the eccentric  320  may be configured to function as a crank arm having an adjustable arm length, based on the eccentric  320  being configured to be adjustably positioned in relation to the shaft  310 . 
     As a result of such reciprocating pivot motion of the paddle  400 , the paddle may “vibrate”  480  (e.g., at a rate of 1,500 rpm). The vibration of the paddle  400  may induce movement of the filler material in the hopper opening  200 _O. 
     Referring back to  FIGS.  1 A- 3 I  and further referring to  FIGS.  14 A- 14 B and  18 A- 18 C , as the vacuum source  1410  pulls portions of the first web of the first material  1500  including the first elastic layer  1512   a  (e.g., first web portions) into the divots  1400  (e.g., via conduits  1420  as shown in  FIG.  18 C ) while the rotatable drum  1125  rotates and moves the first web between the doser assembly  100  and the top of the rotatable drum  1125 , filler material  1300  may be provided into the hopper opening  200 _O (see  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B ) of the doser assembly  100  (as filler material  2200 ). Such filler material  2200  may thus fall to the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O and thus fall onto exposed portions of the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  (which may be on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  and/or may be drawn into the divots  1400  under vacuum). As described herein, the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  may at least partially comprise (e.g., alone or together with respective upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the support layer  1514 ) an upper surface of the first material  1500 . 
     The filler material conveyor system  1110  (see  FIGS.  1 H- 1 J ) may provide a flow  1302  of filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100  to establish filler material  2200  within the hopper opening  200 _O. At least a portion of the filler material  2200  at the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O may fill the portions of the first elastic layer  1512   a  pulled into the divots  1400 , based on said filler material  2200  falling into the divots  1400  under gravity and/or based on downwards pressure exerted on the filler material  2200  by the weight of overlaying filler material  2200  on top of the filler material  2200  that fills the divots  1400  at the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O. As shown in at least  FIG.  14 A , the filler material  2200  that fills a given divot  1400  that is a filled divot  1400 _ 2  may be referred to as a portion  2280  of filler material, and the portion of first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  in the given filled divot  1400 _ 2  may be referred to as a filled first web portion. 
     As the rotatable drum  1125  rotates, the first web (including first elastic layer  1512   a ) and plates  1600  may move under the doser assembly  100  and the paddle  400  may be caused by the vibration transmission assembly  300  to reciprocatingly pivot (e.g., vibrate  490 ) around the paddle pivot joint  410  to push filler material  2200  into the divots  1400 , clear excess filler material  2200  from the tops of the divots  1400 , and/or cause the filler material  2200  to be retained within the hopper opening  200 _O as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates to cause plates  1600  with filled divots  1400 _ 2  to move out of the hopper opening  200 _O under the paddle  400 . 
     As noted herein, the vibration transmission assembly  300  may be configured to cause the paddle  400  to vibrate  490  at a rate that is equal to or greater than 1,500 reciprocation cycles per minute, 3,000 reciprocation cycles per minute, or the like, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. The first outer surface  420 _ 1  of the paddle  400 , which may be concave shaped, and the second end  400 _ 2  of the paddle  400 , which may include a blade edge  400 _BE, may clear excess filler material  2200  so the filler material  2200  does not overfill the divots  1400 . In other words, the paddle  400  may clear the excess filler material  2200  from the divots  1400 , similar to how one uses a knife to level material (e.g., flour or sugar) in a measuring cup, so the height of the filler material  2200  in the divots  1400  (e.g., the height of the portion  2280  of filler material in each filled divot  1400 _ 2  from the bottom  1480  of said divot) may be equal to (or substantially equal to) the height of the divot  1400  filled by the portion  2280  of filler material. Accordingly, the paddle  400  may ensure the amount of filler material  2200  of the portions  2280  of filler material that fill the divots  1400  may be consistent from divot  1400  to divot  1400 . 
     Additionally, the paddle  400  may be configured to clear excess filler material  2200  and/or cause filler material  2200  not located in the divots  1400  to be retained in the hopper opening  200 _O while reducing or minimizing excess release/discharge of filler material  2200  into the ambient environment and/or out of the hopper opening  200 _O, for example as clouds of material. As a result, the paddle  400  may enable reduced maintenance costs associated with cleanup of released/discharged excess filler material  2200  out of the doser assembly  100 . 
     The vertical distance between the paddle  400  and the upper surface of the first material  1500  (e.g., the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a ) may be adjusted using the adjustable bearing  550  described with regard to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B  to adjust the relative position of the drive plate  500  and adjustment plate  510 , and thus the paddle  400  connected to the drive plate  500  via bracket  480 , in relation to the hopper assembly  200  having lower surfaces  200 _LS that rest on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . Additionally, as the first web (including first elastic layer  1512   a ) and plates  1600  move under doser assembly  100  with the rotation of the rotatable drum  1125 , sides of the hopper assembly  200  in the doser assembly  100 , such as the hopper walls  202 ,  204 ,  206  described in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , may limit and/or prevent filler material  2200  from spreading laterally off of the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     Reciprocation frequency, amplitude, and/or stroke distance of the vibration  490  of the paddle  400  may be adjusted, for example based on adjustably repositioning the magnitude of the offset  320 _OS of the eccentric  320  in relation to the shaft  310 , for desired performance. For example, the reciprocation frequency and/or stroke distance of the paddle  400  may be increased to improve the ability of the paddle  400  to push filler material into the divots  1400  and/or clear excess filler material from the divots  1400 . At the same time, the reciprocation frequency and/or stroke distance of the paddle  400  may be reduced to limit and/or avoid damage to the first web, including the first elastic layer  1512   a.    
     Additionally, the first apertures  250 - 1  described in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B  may discharge air between the lower surfaces  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  and the upper edge surfaces of the first web of the first material  1500  (e.g., upper surfaces of the remaining portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the first web) to function as an “air curtain” to both serve as an air bearing between the first material  1500  and the hopper assembly  200  and further to restrict filler material  2200  from leaving the hopper opening  200 _O via any space between the hopper walls  202 ,  204  and the first material  1500 . 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the hopper assembly  200  may include an air knife  298  that is configured to direct a stream of air along inner surface  206 _IS of the third hopper wall  206  to form a curtain of air that restricts filler material  2200  from leaving the hopper opening  200 _O via a space between the third hopper wall  206  and the first material  1500 . 
     In other words, the hopper assembly  200  of the doser assembly  100  may guide and/or contain the filler material  2200  so the filler material  2200  fills the divots  1400  and does not fall off of the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     While  FIGS.  1 A to  3 I and  18 A- 18 C  illustrate a non-limiting example where the rotatable drum  1125  includes one lane of plates  1600  spaced apart from each other along the rotatable drum  1125 , where each plate  1600  includes two divots  1400 , example embodiments are not limited thereto. In some embodiments, a plurality of lanes of plates  1600  may be provided along the rotatable drum  1125  and/or the plates  1600  may include more or fewer than two divots  1400  per plate  1600 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the doser assembly  100  may include a drive plate  500  that is fixed to the vibration transmission assembly  300  (e.g., via bushing  350 , which may be a bearing such as a rotatable-element bearing) such that the drive plate  500  is fixed in relation to the position of the shaft  310 . 
     As further shown, the drive plate  500  may be connected to the paddle pivot joint  410 , and thus to the paddle  400 , for example by bracket  480 , such that a position of the paddle pivot joint  410  is fixed in relation to the drive plate  500 . As shown, the paddle  400  may be connected to the drive plate  500  independently of the hopper assembly  200 , such that the paddle  400  is coupled to the hopper assembly  200  through at least the drive plate  500 . For example, the paddle  400  may be connected to the drive plate  500  through the bracket  480  such that the paddle  400  is not directly connected to the hopper assembly  200  independently of the drive plate  500 . As a result, a position of the paddle  400  in relation to the hopper assembly  200  may be adjusted, for example based on adjustable positioning of at least the drive plate  500 . 
     As shown, the drive plate  500  may be fixed to adjustment plate  510 . Adjustment plate  510  may be pivotably connected to pivot bar  290  (e.g., via a bushing  512  which may be a bearing, such as a rotatable-element bearing) that is further fixed to a fixed support structure  299 , which may be a clamp structure that may be fixed to an external stationary structure of the apparatus  1000  as described herein, a foundation, or the like. In some example embodiments, the fixed support structure  299  may be fixed to a frame of the rotatable drum  1125 . Accordingly, the adjustment plate  510  and the drive plate  500  fixed thereto may be configured to be adjustably pivoted  514  around pivot bar  290  and thus pivoted in relation to the fixed support structure  299  and thus in pivoted in relation to an external structure such as the rotatable drum  1125 . As further shown, the doser assembly  100  may include a support plate  540  that is configured to be fixed in place in relation to the hopper assembly  200  by at least connection parts  560 ,  562  and clamp  564 . 
     The support plate  540  may be pivotably connected to pivot bar  290  (e.g., via a bushing  541  which may be a bearing, such as a rotatable-element bearing). Accordingly, the support plate  540  and hopper assembly  200  fixed thereto may be configured to be adjustably pivoted  544  around pivot bar  290  and thus pivoted in relation to the fixed support structure  299  and thus in pivoted in relation to an external structure such as the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     In some example embodiments, the adjustment plate  510  may be configured to pivot in relation to the support plate  540  and thus in relation to the hopper assembly  200  based on pivoting  514  around the pivot bar  290 . As shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the adjustment plate  510  may be adjustably coupled to the support plate  540  (and adjustably positioned in relation thereto) by adjustable bearing  550 , which may be a threaded adjustment bearing as shown. The adjustable bearing  550  may be adjusted (e.g., based on rotation of one or more threaded nuts on the threaded shaft of the adjustable bearing  550  as shown) to adjust a magnitude of a spacing  550 _S between connected portions of the adjustment plate  510  and the support plate  540 , thereby adjusting a pivot  514  of the adjustment plate  510  around pivot bar  290  in relation to the support plate  540 , and thus adjusting a position of the adjustment plate  510  in relation to the support plate  540 . 
     As a result of adjusting a position of the adjustment plate  510  in relation to the support plate  540  via the pivoting  514 , a position of the drive plate  500  in relation to the hopper assembly  200  may be adjusted. Accordingly, based on adjustment of the adjustment plate  510  position in relation to the support plate  540  position, a position of the paddle  400 , which is fixed in position in relation to the drive plate  500  and thus the adjustment plate  510  via at least the bracket  480 , may be adjusted in relation to a position of the hopper assembly  200 , which is fixed in position in relation to the support plate  540  via the connection parts  560 ,  562 . Accordingly, a protrusion level of the distal surface  402  of the paddle  400  from the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  may be adjusted, which may adjust a magnitude of contact or impingement of the distal surface  402  on an upper surface  1516  of a first elastic layer  1512   a  that covers the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  when the paddle  400  is vibrating  490  during operation of the doser assembly  100 . Such adjustment of the position of the paddle  400  in relation to the hopper assembly  200  may enable reduced or mitigated abrasion of the first elastic layer  1512   a  during operation of the doser assembly  100 . 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the doser assembly  100  may not include the drive plate  500 , adjustable plate  510 , support plate  540 , or any part or combination of parts of the doser assembly  100 . For example, in some example embodiments, at least the drive plate  500  the adjustable plate  510  may be omitted from the doser assembly  100 , and the paddle  400  may be connected to eh hopper assembly  200  via bracket  480  which may be directly connected to the hopper assembly  200 , and the bushing  350  of the vibration transmission assembly  300  may be connected (e.g., directly or indirectly connected) to the support plate  540  to hold the vibration transmission assembly in place in relation to the support plate  540 . In some example embodiments, the support plate  540  may be omitted and/or may be integrated with the fixed support structure  299 , such that both the hopper assembly  200  (to which the paddle  400  may be coupled directly or indirectly via bracket  480 ) and the vibration transmission assembly  300  may be connected (e.g., directly or indirectly) to the fixed support structure  299 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the doser assembly  100  may include an adjustable swivel joint  580  and adjustable clamp  264  between connection parts  560  and  562 , where connection part  560  is fixed to the support plate  540 , connection part  562  is fixed to the hopper assembly  200 , and adjustable clamp  264  is configured to tighten and loosen the engagement between the connection parts  560  and  562  to adjustably fasten (e.g., fix) the support plate  540  to the hopper assembly  200  via the connection parts  560  and  562  via adjustable clamp  264 . The adjustable swivel joint  580  may enable adjustment of the orientation of the hopper assembly  200  (e.g., rotation of the hopper assembly  200 ) in relation to the support plate  540 . Accordingly, it will be understood that the hopper assembly  200  may be configured to be pivotably coupled to the support plate  540  via the adjustable swivel joint  580  through the connection parts  560  and  562 . Additionally, because the support plate  240  is coupled to the fixed support structure  299 , and the fixed support structure is configured to be fixed to a stationary support structure such as a frame of the rotatable drum  1125 , it will be understood that the hopper assembly  200  may be configured to be pivotably coupled to the fixed support structure  299 , pivotably coupled to the stationary support structure plate  540 , and/or pivotably coupled to the stationary support structure in relation to the rotatable drum  1125 , via at least the swivel joint  580  through the connection parts  560  and  562 . 
     As the support plate  540  may be fixed in relation to a stationary support structure through at least the pivot bar  290  and fixed support structure  299  as shown, and as the rotatable drum  1125  may be further fixed in position to the stationary support structure (e.g., in relation to the apparatus  1000  as described herein), adjustment of orientation of the hopper assembly  200  in relation to the support plate  540  may adjust an orientation of the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  in relation to the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  so that the lower surface  200 _LS (which may be concave) may be concentric with the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . Where the lower surface  200 _LS includes concave lower surfaces  202 _LS and  204 _LS as described herein, the adjusting of orientation of the hopper assembly  200  may enable adjustment of the complementary (e.g., flush, concentric, etc.) fit between the concave lower surfaces  202 _LS and  204 _LS in relation to the curvature of the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S when the hopper assembly  200  is on the rotatable drum  1125  as shown. 
     As shown, the connection parts  560  and  562  may each include respective cylindrical parts, where the cylindrical part of the connection part  562  may extend coaxially within the cylindrical part of the connection part  560 , so that the cylindrical part of the connection part  562  may rotate around its central longitudinal axis  568 , to implement the adjustable orientation of the hopper assembly  200  that is connected to the connection part  562  in relation to the support plate  540  that is connected to the connection part  560 . The central longitudinal axis  568  of the cylindrical part of the connection part  562  may be coaxial with the central axis of the cylindrical part of the connection part  560 , such that longitudinal axis  568  may be understood to be a common central longitudinal axis of both of the connection parts  560  and  562 . Accordingly, the hopper assembly  200  may be understood to be adjustably rotated and/or re-oriented in relation to the support plate  540  based on the connection parts  560  and  562  being adjustably rotated/re-oriented in relation to each other around central longitudinal axis  568 . However, it will be understood that example embodiments are not limited thereto, and the connection parts  560  and  562  may have different central longitudinal axes that may be parallel to each other and the connection parts  560  and  562  may be configured to be rotated around one or both of their respective longitudinal axes and/or a separate axis that is different from the longitudinal axes of connection parts  560  and  562 . 
     As further shown, the adjustable clamp  264  may be fixed to the connection part  560  and may be configured to adjustably tighten engagement with the cylindrical part of the connection part  562  to adjustably tighten engagement between the connection parts  560  and  562 . Based on the adjustable clamp  264  being loosened, the cylindrical part of connection part  562  may slide in or out of the cylindrical part of the connection part  560  in order to engage or disengage the hopper assembly  200  with the support plate  540 . 
     As shown, the adjustable swivel joint  580  includes opposing, adjustable threaded bolts  582  that are connected to the connection part  560  and a nose piece, or nose  584  that is connected to the connection part  562  and is configured to extend between opposing ends of the threaded bolts  582 . The threaded bolts  582  may be adjustably threaded in relation to the connection part  560  to adjust a position and/or size of a gap  582 _G between the opposing ends of the threaded bolts  582  in which the nose  584  may be held. As shown, the threaded bolts  582  may be adjusted to engage opposite surfaces of the nose  584  to hold the nose  584  in place in relation to the threaded bolts  582 , thereby holding the connection part  562  and hopper assembly  200  in a fixed orientation in relation to the connection part  560  and the support plate  540 . 
     In some example embodiments, because the support plate  540  is coupled to the fixed support structure  299 , which may be coupled to a stationary structure to which the rotatable drum  1125  may be coupled, adjustment of the orientation of the connection part  562  in relation to the connection part  560  via the adjustable swivel joint  580  may implement adjustment of the relative orientation of the hopper assembly  200  in relation to the rotatable drum  1125 , thereby enabling the lower surface  200 _LS thereof to be adjustable oriented to be complementary (e.g., concentric) with the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . In some example embodiments, because the relative orientation of the hopper assembly  200  in relation to the support plate  540  (and thus to the rotatable drum  1125  via a stationary support structure such as a part of the apparatus  1000  to which both the support plate  540  and the rotatable drum  1125  may be fixed) may be set by the positions of the threaded bolts  582  in relation to the connection part  560  (thereby setting a position and/or size of the gap  582 _G in which the nose  584  is held in relation to the connection part  560 ), the orientation of the hopper assembly  200  in relation to the support plate  540  (and for example to the rotatable drum  1125 ) may be easily re-set when the hopper assembly  200  is detached from the support plate  540  via disengagement of connection parts  560  and  562  (e.g., for maintenance) and later re-attached via re-engagement of connection parts  560  and  562 . 
     For example, when the clamp  564  is loosened, to loosen the engagement between connection parts  560  and  562 , and connection parts  560  and  562  may be detached/disengaged from each other, the nose  584  may be removed from the gap  582 _G between the threaded bolts  582 , but the threaded bolts  582  may retain their position in relation to the connection part  560 , thereby retaining the position of the gap  582 _G between opposing ends of the threaded bolts  582  in relation to the connection part  560 . When the connection part  562  is re-engaged with the connection part  560 , the connection part  562  may be easily rotated in relation to the connection part  560  to re-align the nose  584  with the retained gap  582 _G between the opposing surfaces of the threaded bolts  582  and re-place the nose  584  with the gap  582 _G when the connection parts  560  and  562  are re-engaged and the adjustable clamp  264  is re-tightened to fix the connection parts  560  and  562  together. As a result, ease of maintenance and re-alignment/re-orientation of the hopper assembly  200  in relation to the support plate  540  and thus to the rotatable drum  1125  may be improved by reducing effort needed to re-align and/or re-orient the hopper assembly  200  upon reattachment to the support plate  540  via connection parts  560 ,  562 . 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the connection parts  560  and  562 , the adjustable clamp  564 , or any combination thereof may be considered to be part of the adjustable swivel joint  580 , together with the threaded bolts  582  and the nose  584 . 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the doser assembly  100  may not include the adjustable swivel joint  580 , or any part or combination of parts of the doser assembly  100 . For example, in some example embodiments, the hopper assembly  200  may be configured to be connected to the support plate  540  and may not be configured to rotate and/or re-orient in relation to the support plate  540  around a longitudinal axis  568 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the support plate  540  may include a lower recess  542  into the lower surface  540 _LS thereof, and the support bar  294 , which may be fixed to the fixed support structure  299  at one end, may be coupled at a distal end to an eccentric  574  having a center that is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis  294 _A of the support bar  294 . As further shown, the eccentric  574  may be coupled to a shaft  575  that extends coaxially with the central longitudinal axis  294 _A through an interior of the support bar  294 , and a lever  576  may be coupled to the shaft  575  through a gap  294 _G extending through the support bar  294 . Additionally, as shown, the eccentric  574  may be vertically aligned with the lower recess  542  of the support plate  540  such that the inner surface  543  of the lower recess  542  may rest on the eccentric  574 . The eccentric  574  may thus provide at least some of the structural support to the support plate  540  from the fixed support structure  299 , via support bar  294 , to hold the support plate  540  in place. As a result, a relative position of the support plate  540  in relation to the fixed support structure  299  (and thus, in some example embodiments, to the rotatable drum  1125 ) may be based on the position of the engagement between the eccentric  574  and the inner surface  543  of the lower recess  542  in relation to the fixed support structure  299  and support bar  294 . 
     In some example embodiments, the lever  576  may be moved  578  through the gap, to thus rotate the shaft  575  and thus to rotate  548  the eccentric  574  coupled to the shaft  575  at the distal end of the support bar  294 . As the center of the eccentric  574  is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis  294 _A while the shaft  575  is coaxial to the central longitudinal axis  294 _A, rotation  548  of the eccentric  574  due to rotation of the shaft  575  may cause the eccentric  574  to move upwards or downwards vertically (e.g., in the Z direction), thereby raising or lowering a position of the inner surface  543  of the lower recess  542  that is in contact with the eccentric  574 . As a result, the portion of the support plate  540  that is proximate to the recess  542  may be adjustably raised or lowered (in the Z direction), thereby adjustably pivoting  544  the support plate  540  around the pivot bar  290 . Therefore, the doser assembly  100  may be configured to enable, via movement  578  of the lever  576  and resultant rotation of the eccentric  574 , adjustment and/or fine-tuning of the position of the support plate  540 , and thus of the hopper assembly  200  that may be coupled thereto via connection parts  560  and  562 , in relation to the support bar  294  and thus to the fixed support structure  299  and any stationary structures coupled thereto (and, for example, the rotatable drum  1125 ). Such enabled adjustment of the position of the support plate  540  and hopper assembly  200  may enable the hopper assembly  200  to be lifted/lowered a relatively small distance to enable small adjustments/inspections of the rotatable drum  1125  and/or first material  1500  thereof, enable various maintenance operations, enable various adjustments to the doser assembly  100  and/or apparatus  1000  thereof to adjust operational performance, or the like. 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B , the doser assembly  100  may include a kickstand  570  that is pivotably coupled to support plate  540  via pivot  577  at a first end thereof and includes a recess  572  at an opposite, second end  570 _D thereof. As shown in at least  FIG.  6 C , the kickstand  570  may rest in place at the second end on an end portion  294 _EP of the support bar  294  during operation of the doser assembly  100 . In some example embodiments, the support plate  540  may be configured to pivot  544  around the pivot bar  290  such that the inner surface  543  of the recess  542  disengages from the eccentric  574  and the distal end  540 _D of the support plate  540  that is distal from the pivot bar  290  rises vertically (e.g., in the Z direction), which may cause the pivot  577  to move vertically to enable the kickstand  570  to pivot  579  around the pivot  577  so that the second end  570 _D of the kickstand  570  that is distal from the pivot  577  falls downwards (e.g., in the Z direction) to contact the outer surface of the end portion  294 _EP of the support bar  294 , so that the recess  572  of the kickstand  570  receives and engages the end portion  294 _EP. The kickstand  570  may then rest on the support bar  294  via the engagement between the recess  572  and the end portion  294 _EP, thereby holding the support plate  540  in place in an elevated, pivoted position where the distal end  540 _D is elevated in relation to a rest position and where the inner surface  543  remains disengaged from the eccentric  574 . When the support plate  540  is in such an elevated, pivoted position, the hopper assembly  200  is further lifted into an elevated position that is disengaged from the rotatable drum  1125 , based on the connection between the hopper assembly  200  and the support plate  540  via connection parts  560  and  562 , thereby enabling ease of maintenance on the hopper assembly  200 , the rotatable drum  1125 , any combination thereof, or the like. When it is desired to return the support plate  540  to a position where the support plate  540  rests on the eccentric  574  and where the hopper assembly  200  is returned to be on the rotatable drum  1125 , the distal end  540 _D may be raised to disengage the recess  572  of the kickstand  570  from the end portion  294 _EP of the support bar  294 , and which point the distal end  570 _D of the kickstand  570  may be raised to pivot  579  the kickstand  570  upwards, and the support plate  540  may be pivoted  544  downwards to rest the inner surface  543  of the recess  542  on the eccentric  574  and to return an outer surface of the kickstand  570  to rest on the end portion  294 _EP, thereby, in some example embodiments, returning the support plate  540  and hopper assembly  200  to an operation position in which the doser assembly  100  may be configured to operate. 
     In some example embodiments, the doser assembly  100  may include an actuator  590 , which may be an actuator such as an air cylinder that raises/lowers a piston based on a compressed air supply, which may apply force  592  against a lower surface  540 _LS of the support plate  540  (e.g., via said piston of an air cylinder actuator  590  engaging the lower surface  540 _LS) to adjustably raise/lower the distal end  540 _D of the support plate  540  and thus adjustably pivot  544  the support plate  540  around pivot bar  290 . The actuator  590  may thus enable adjustable positioning of the support plate  540  and thus the hopper assembly  200  connected thereto (e.g., to move the support plate  540  and hopper assembly  200  to/from an elevated position where the kickstand  570  recess  572  engages with the end portion  294 _EP to hold the support plate  540  and hopper assembly  200  in place in the elevated position) with reduced manual lifting/adjustment of the support plate  540  and hopper assembly  200 . 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the doser assembly  100  may not include the eccentric  574 , the shaft  575 , the lever  576 , the kickstand  570 , the actuator  590 , or any part or combination of parts of the doser assembly  100 . For example, in some example embodiments, the eccentric  574 , shaft  575 , and lever  576  may be omitted such that at least a distal part of the end portion  294 _EP of the support bar  294  is configured to be received into the lower recess  542  of the support plate  540  and contact the inner surface  543  so that the support plate  540  may rest directly on at least the distal part the end portion  294 _EP. 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B  and further referring to  FIGS.  14 A- 14 B , the doser assembly  100  may include a chute  600  that is coupled to the hopper assembly  200  and which is configured to direct filler material into the hopper opening  200 _O, for example from a filler material conveyor system  1110  of a filler material distribution system  1200  as described herein. 
     As shown, the hopper opening  200 _O may have a top opening  200 _TO, and the chute  600  may be coupled to the hopper assembly  200  to be configured to direct filler material  1300  received from the filler material conveyor system  1110  into the hopper opening  200 _O via the top opening  200 _TO. 
     As shown, the hopper chute  600  may include chute plates  600 _ 1 ,  600 _ 2 ,  600 _ 3 , and  600 _ 4  that collectively at least partially define the outer body of the chute  600  and whose respective inner surfaces collectively define an interior volume space  616  of the chute  600  that extends from a chute top opening  600 _TO to a chute bottom opening  600 _BO. As shown, the chute top opening  600 _TO may be larger than the chute bottom opening  600 _BO so that the chute  600  is configured to funnel a flow  1302  of filler material  1300  down into the hopper opening  200 _O through the chute bottom opening  600 _BO, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. 
     As further shown, the hopper assembly  200  may include a diverter plate  620  that extends through the interior volume space  616  of the hopper chute  600  (e.g., downwards and into the interior volume space  616  from one edge of the top chute opening  600 _TO as shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B ) to at least partially partition the interior volume space  616  into two separate volume spaces: a first volume space  612  and a second volume space  614 . The first volume space  612  is open (e.g., directly exposed) to both the top and bottom chute openings  600 _TO and  600 _BO. The second volume space  614  is at least partially partitioned from the first volume space  612  by the diverter plate  620  and is completely partitioned from (e.g., isolated from direct exposure to) the chute top opening  600 _TO while remaining open to the chute bottom opening  600 _BO. As a result, the hopper chute  600  and the diverter plate  620  may collectively define, within the interior volume space  616  of the hopper chute  600 , a first volume space  612  that is configured to direct a flow of filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O via the top chute opening  600 _TO and the bottom chute opening  600 _BO and a second volume space  614  that is partitioned from the top chute opening  600 _TO by the diverter plate  620 . As shown, the diverter plate  620  at least partially partitions the first and second volume spaces  612  and  614  from each other, and the diverter plate  620  is configured to isolate the second volume space  614  from the flow  1302  of filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O via the first volume space  612 . As a result, the second volume space  614  remains open to at least a portion of the hopper opening  200 _O via the bottom chute opening  600 _BO without a flow  1302  (e.g., stream) of filler material  1300  entering the second volume space  614  from the top chute opening  600 _TO. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B and  14 A- 14 B , the doser assembly  100  may include a first level sensor device  710  and a second level sensor device  720 . Each of the first and second level sensor devices  720  may be a level sensor device configured to generate sensor data indicating a distance from the sensor to a target and thus indicating a level of a material in a region. The first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  may be any known type of level sensor device. For example, each of the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  may be a laser rangefinder device that generates sensor data indicating a distance from the device to and from a target based on determining a time of flight of a laser beam emitted from the device and reflected from the target back to the device to be detected at the device based on the reflection. The first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  may be a same type of sensor device or different types of sensor devices. 
     As shown in at least  FIG.  14 A , the doser assembly  100  may be configured to direct a flow  1302  of filler material  1300  received from a filler material conveyor system  1110  into the hopper opening  200 _O via the hopper chute  600 . The filler material  1300  received into the hopper opening  200 _O may collect as filler material  2200  at the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O on the portion of the rotatable drum  1125  and/or first web of first material  1500  therein, including first elastic layer  1512   a , that are exposed at the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O. As shown, at least some of the filler material  2200  may fall into one or more divots  1400  of the rotatable drum  1125  that include separate, respective first web portions (e.g., separate, respective portions of the first elastic layer  1512   a  that are drawn into the divots  1400  under vacuum) that are exposed to the hopper opening  200 _O to fill the divots  1400 , thereby forming filled first web portions containing portions  2280  of filler material within filled divots  1400 _ 2 . 
     As further shown in at least  FIG.  14 A , the level  2200 _L of filler material  2200  in the hopper opening  200 _O may build up to various levels in various regions of the hopper opening  200 _O on the divots  1400 , and the weight of the filler material  2200  on the divots  1400  in the hopper opening  200 _O may push some of the filler material  2200  into one or more of the exposed empty divots  1400 _ 1  (which may include separate, respective first web portions the first material  1500 , including separate, respective portions of first elastic layer  1512   a , drawn therein) to fill the divots  1400  to establish filled divots  1400 _ 2  with filled first web portions having portions  2280  of filler material. The weight of the filler material  2200  may further compress the portions  2280  of filler material in the filled divots  1400  to establish a more uniform density of filler material within the divots  1400 . 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  14 A- 14 B , the first level sensor device  710  is configured to direct a first sensor beam  712  into a first region  2210 _ 1  of the hopper opening  200 _O that is proximate to the paddle  400  and distal from the bottom chute opening  600 _BO. Accordingly, the first level sensor device  710  may be configured to generate first sensor data that is associated with (e.g., indicates) a first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material  2200  in the first region  2210 _ 1  of the hopper opening  200 _O. 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  14 A- 14 B , the second level sensor device  720  is configured to direct a second sensor beam  722  into a second region  2210 _ 2  of the hopper opening  200 _O that at least partially vertically overlaps the bottom chute opening  600 _BO and is distal from the paddle  400  in relation to the first region  2210 _ 1 . Accordingly, the second level sensor device  720  may be configured to generate second sensor data that is associated with (e.g., indicates) a second level  2200 _L 2  of filler material  2200  in the second region  2210 _ 2  of the hopper opening  200 _O. 
     Each of the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  may be configured to generate sensor data indicating a value of the respective first and second levels  2200 _L 1  and  2200 _L 2  based on empirically based calibration. Each level sensor device  710  and  720  may be configured to generate sensor data indicating a level value based on detecting reflection of a respective sensor beam  712  and  722  emitted therefrom. In some example embodiments, each level sensor device may be calibrated based on causing the sensor device to generate sensor data when filler material  2200  is absent from the hopper opening and identifying the level value in such sensor data as being associated with a “zero” level value (e.g., a level value of 0) and also causing the sensor device to generate sensor data when filler material  2200  is filled in the hopper opening  200 _O to a maximum level  2200 _L (e.g., a level of the top opening  200 _TO of the hopper opening  200 _O) and identifying the level value in such sensor data as being associated with a “max” level value (e.g., a level value of 100). 
     In some example embodiments, sensor data values associated with various level values between empty and maximum level of filler material  2200  in the hopper opening  200 _O may be generated by the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  based on empirically varying the levels of filler material  2200  in the various regions  2210 _ 1  and  2210 _ 2  of the hopper opening  200 _O between known level values (e.g., known values of  2200 _L 1  and  2200 _L 2 ) and monitoring the resulting sensor data output by the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  for each known value of filler material  2200  levels  2200 _L 1  and  2200 _L 2  in the respective regions. Such various known values of the first and second levels of filler material  2200 _L 1  and  2200 _L 2  may be associated with the corresponding sensor data values generated by the respective first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  when the filler material levels are at the known values in a look-up table that 1) associates values of first sensor data generated by the first level sensor device  710  with corresponding known first level  2200 _L 1  values and 2) associates values of second sensor data generated by the second level sensor device  720  with corresponding known second level  2200 _L 2  values. The sensor data generated by (and thus output from) a level sensor device  710  and/or  720  during operation to the doser assembly  100  may be compared with values in an empirically-determined look-up table to determine a resultant level  2200 _L 1  and/or  2200 _L 2  of filler material in the first and/or second regions  2210 _ 1  and/or  2210 _ 2  of the hopper opening  200 _O. In some example embodiments, the look-up table may store a set of discrete values of first and second levels of filler material  220 _L 1  and  2200 _L 2  that are associated with separate, respective data values generated by the respective first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720 , while the first and/or second level sensor devices  710  and  720  may generate a sensor data value that is between the discrete sensor data values stored in the look-up table and thus corresponds to a value of a first and/or second level of filler material  2200 _L 1  and/or  2200 _L 2  that is not stored in the look-up table. Accordingly, determination of a resultant level during operation to the doser assembly  100  may include comparing sensor data (e.g., a sensor data value) generated by (and thus output from) a level sensor device  710  and/or  720  with the look-up table to determine the two stored sensor data values that the generated sensor data value is between (e.g., respective high and low stored sensor data values that are the respective closest discrete sensor data value above and below the generated sensor data value in the look-up table). An interpolation operation may be performed between these two stored sensor data values in view of the generated sensor data value, along with the two filler material level values that respectively correspond to the two stored sensor data values in the look-up table, to determine a resultant filler material level value  2200 _L 1  and/or  2200 _L 2  that corresponds to the generated sensor data value, according to, for example, equation (1): 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   y 
                   = 
                   
                     
                       y 
                       1 
                     
                     + 
                     
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           x 
                           - 
                           
                             x 
                             1 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               y 
                               2 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               y 
                               1 
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               x 
                               2 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               x 
                               1 
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     where, in equation (1), “x” is the generated sensor data value of sensor data received from a level sensor device (e.g.,  710  and/or  720 ) during operation of the doser assembly  100 , x 1  and x 2  are the stored sensor data values in the look-up table that the generated sensor data value “x” is between in value magnitude, y 1  and y 2  are the respective filler material level values that are associated with the stored sensor data values x 1  and x 2 , respectively, in the look-up table, and “y” is the resultant filler material level corresponding to the generated sensor data value “x.” 
     Referring to  FIGS.  14 A- 14 B , the first level sensor device  710  is configured to direct the first sensor beam  712  to a location in the hopper opening  200 _O in the first region  2210 _ 1  that is proximate to (e.g., adjacent to) the paddle  400 , so that the first level sensor device  710  is configured to generate first sensor data indicating a value of the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material  2200  on the divots  1400  under the hopper opening  200 _O adjacent to the paddle  400 . As shown, the first level sensor device  710  is configured to direct the first sensor beam  712  to a first region  2210 _ 1  that is distal from the bottom chute opening  600 _BO so that the sensor data generated by the first level sensor device  710  is influenced by at least the vibration of the paddle  400  to retain filler material  2200  in the hopper opening  200 _O and on the filled divots  1400 _ 2  of the rotatable drum  1125  on which the doser assembly  100  is located. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  14 A- 14 B , the second level sensor device  720  is configured to direct the second sensor beam  722  to a location in the hopper opening  200 _O in the second region  2210 _ 2  that is proximate to (e.g., adjacent to) and/or vertically overlapping the bottom chute opening  600 _BO and further distal from the paddle  400 , so that the second level sensor device  720  is configured to generate second sensor data indicating a value of the second level  2200 _L 2  of filler material  2200  on the divots  1400  in a second region  2210 _ 2  that is under the hopper opening  200 _O vertically overlapping the bottom chute opening  600 _BO and/or distal from the paddle  400 , which may be a region in which the flow  1302  of filler material  1300  is received into the hopper opening  200 _O from the filler material distribution system  1200 . 
     As shown, the second level sensor device  720  is configured to direct the second sensor beam  722  through the second volume space  614  of the hopper chute  600  that is partitioned from the top chute opening  600 _TO, and thus isolated from direct exposure to the top chute opening  600 _TO, so that interference by particles of the flow  1302  of filler material  1300  falling into the hopper opening  200 _O via the top chute opening  600 _TO and the first volume space  612  of the chute  600  is reduced or minimized. Thus, the accuracy and reliability of second sensor data generated by the second level sensor device  720 , indicating a second level  2200 _L 2  of filler material in the second region  2210 _ 2  of the hopper opening  200 _O may be improved, thereby enabling improved performance of a control system that utilizes the second sensor data generated by the second level sensor device  720  as an input process variable may be improved. 
     As shown, the second level sensor device  720  may be connected to the diverter plate  620  independently of the chute  600 , and the first level sensor device  710  may be connected to the bracket  480 . But example embodiments are not limited thereto, and the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  may be connected to any parts of the doser assembly  100 . In some example embodiments, one or both of the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  may be connected to part of the apparatus  1000  that are external to the doser assembly  100  and may be connected to said parts independently of the doser assembly  100 . In some example embodiments, the hopper chute  600  may be omitted from the doser assembly  100  and the second level sensor device  720  may be connected to the hopper assembly  200  or some other part of the doser assembly  100  (e.g., support plate  540 ) via a separate bracket or connection structure. 
     While the example embodiments of the doser assembly  100  show the chute  600 , diverter plate  620 , and first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  in a doser assembly that includes the paddle  400 , vibration transmission assembly  300 , adjustable plate  510 , drive plate  500 , support plate  540 , and the like, it will be understood that some or any of the elements of the doser assembly  100  as shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B  may be omitted from the doser assembly  100 . For example, in some example embodiments the paddle  400  may be replaced by a rotating wheel, or a fourth hopper wall that extends between the first and second hopper walls  202  and  204  and faces the third hopper wall  206 , while the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  and chute  600  and diverter plate  620  may remain present in the doser assembly  100 . In another example, one or both of the first and second sensor devices  710  and  720  may be omitted from the doser assembly  100 ; such a doser assembly  100  may omit the diverter plate  620  from the chute  600  and may further omit the chute  600 . 
       FIG.  15    is a schematic view of an apparatus  1000  including a filler material distribution system  1200 , a doser assembly  100 , and a control system  106  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  16    is a flowchart illustrating a cascade control method according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  17    is a schematic illustrating a cascade control method according to some example embodiments. The apparatus  1000  shown in  FIG.  23    may the same as the apparatus  1000  according to any of the example embodiments. 
     The control system  106  shown in  FIG.  15    may be the same as the control system  106  according to any example embodiments, including the control system  106  shown in  FIG.  1 A . As shown, the control system  106  may include a processor  2320  (e.g., a central processing unit, or CPU), a memory  2330  (e.g., a solid state drive, or SSD), a power supply  2340  (e.g., a connection to an external power source), and a communication interface  2350  (e.g., a wired electronic and/or communication connection interface, including for example a wired or wireless network communication transceiver) that are electrically and/or communicatively coupled together via a communication bus  2310 . As shown, in some example embodiments the communication interface  2350  may include and/or may be the control interface  104  of apparatus  1000  as described herein according to some example embodiments. The control system  106  may be configured (e.g., based on memory  2330  storing a program of instructions and processor  2320  executing the program of instructions) to perform any of the methods according to any of the example embodiments. 
     The doser assembly  100  shown in  FIG.  15    may be the same as the doser assembly  100  according to any example embodiments, including the control system  106  shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B . As shown, the doser assembly  100  may include the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  as described herein, and the control system  106  may be electrically and/or communicatively coupled to the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  of the doser assembly  100  via a wired or wireless communication link and/or electronic link with the communication interface  2350 . 
     As shown, the control system  106  may be electrically and/or communicatively coupled to the motor  360  of the doser assembly  100  and the control system  106  may be configured to generate control signals, transmitted to the motor  360  via interface  2350 , to control operation of the motor  360  and thus to control vibration  490  (e.g., vibration frequency) of the paddle  400  via the vibration transmission assembly  300 . 
     Still referring to  FIG.  15   , the filler material distribution system  1200  may include a filler material conveyor system  1110  (e.g., a vibrating feed pan, a conveyor belt, etc.) and a motor  1120  (e.g., a servoactuator, a drive motor, etc.) that is configured to control the filler material conveyor system  1110  to cause the filler material conveyor system  1110  to convey filler material  1300  from the hopper  1210  of the filler material distribution system  1200  to the doser assembly  100  and thus to the hopper opening  200 _O via the hopper chute  600 . As shown, the control system  106  may be electrically and/or communicatively coupled to the motor  1120  and the control system  106  may be configured to generate control signals, transmitted to the motor  1120  via communication interface  2350 , to control operation of the motor  1120  and thus to control operation of the filler material distribution system  1200  (e.g., control operation of at least the filler material conveyor system  1110 ), including for example controlling a rate of speed, vibration frequency, vibration amplitude or stroke length of vibration of a vibrator feed pan of filler material conveyor system  1110 , a rate of speed of a conveyor belt of filler material conveyor system  1110 , or the like. 
     Referring generally to  FIG.  15    and further referring to  FIGS.  14 A- 14 B  and  FIGS.  16 - 17   , the control system  106  may be configured (e.g., based on memory  2330  storing a program of instructions, also referred to herein as a cascade control program  2322 , and the processor  2320  executing the program of instructions) to implement a cascade control method that controls the first and second levels  2200 _L 1  and  2200 _L 2  of filler material  2200  in the first and second regions  2210 _ 1  and  2210 _ 2  of the hopper opening  200 _O, respectively. 
     Referring generally to the cascade control method shown in  FIGS.  16 - 17   , which may be implemented by the control system  106  based on the processor  2320  executing a program of instructions stored at memory  2330 , implementing the cascade control program  2322  may include receiving and processing first sensor data generated by the first level sensor device  710  to determine a value of the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material  2200  in the first region  2210 _ 1  of the hopper opening  200 _O, executing a first proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control loop PID1 to generate a first output value OV1 indicating a target first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material in the first region  2210 _ 1 , based on a first process variable PV1 that is the determined value of the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material  2200  and a first level setpoint value, or “first setpoint” SP1 that is a stored first level setpoint value, processing the second sensor data generated by the second level sensor device  720  to determine a value of the second level  2200 _L 2  of filler material in the second region  2210 _ 2 , executing a second PID control loop PID2 to generate a second output value OV2 that is a control value to control the filler material distribution system  1200  (e.g., at least the filler material conveyor system  1110 ), based on a second process variable PV2 that is the determined value of the second level  2200 _L 2  of filler material and further based on a second level setpoint value, or “second setpoint” SP2 that is the first output value OV1, and controlling the filler material distribution system  1200  (e.g., at least the filler material conveyor system  1110 ) based on the second output value OV2 to control both the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material in the first region  2210 _ 1  and the second level  2200 _L 2  of filler material in the second region  2210 _ 2 . 
     Still referring generally to  FIGS.  16 - 17   , the control system  106  may be configured to implement (e.g., execute) cascading PID control loops PID1 and PID2 based on using the first and second sensor data generated by the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720  as respective input process variables PV1 and PV2 of the PID control loops PID1 and PID2. 
     Each PID loop PID1 and PID2 (e.g., PIDx) may operate as a control loop implementing a PID algorithm according to equation (2): 
                     u   ⁡   (   t   )     =         K   p     ⁢     e   ⁡   (   t   )       +       K   i     ⁢       ∫   0   t         e   ⁡   (   τ   )     ⁢   d   ⁢   τ         +       K   d     ⁢       de   ⁡   (   t   )     dt                 (   2   )               
where, in equation (2), “u(t)” is the output variable (e.g., OVx) of the PID loop PIDx, “K p ” is a proportional gain value (e.g., a tuning parameter), “K i ” is an integral gain value (e.g., a tuning parameter), “K d ” is a derivative gain value (e.g., a tuning parameter), “t” is the present time or instantaneous time, an “t” is a variable of integration, and “e(t)” is an error according to equation (3):
 
 e ( t )= SPx−PV ( t ))  (3)
 
where, in equation (3), “SPx” is the setpoint value or “setpoint” of the PID loop PIDx, and “PV(t)” is the instantaneous value of the process variable of the PID loop PIDx. The values of the proportional, derivative, and derivative gain values K p , K i , and K d , may be experimentally determined values and may be constant values that may be stored at the control system  106  (e.g., in memory  2330 ).
 
     As shown in  FIG.  17   , the first PID loop PID1 may use a particular, or predetermined, first level setpoint value SP1 (e.g., a level value of “15.0” in a level value range of 0-100) which may be stored at the control system  106  and may use a received first sensor data value indicating the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material (e.g., 9.072165 as shown in  FIG.  17   ), indicated by the first sensor data generated by the first level sensor device  710 , as the process variable PV1 of the first PID loop PID1. The first PID loop PID1 may implement a PID loop as described herein, using at least the process value PV1 and setpoint value SP1, to generate a first output value OV1 (e.g., 30.175331 against a setpoint value SP1 of 15.0). 
     As shown in  FIG.  17   , the output value OV1 of the first PID loop PID1 (e.g., 30.175331) may be used as the second setpoint value SP2 of the second PID loop PID2, and the second PID loop PID2 may use a value indicating the second level  2200 _L 2  of filler material (e.g., 19.622643 as shown in  FIG.  25   ), indicated by the second sensor data generated by the second level sensor device  720 , as the process variable PV2 of the second PID loop PID2. The second PID loop PID2 may implement a PID loop as described herein, using the process value PV2 and setpoint value SP2, to generate a second output value OV2. 
     The second output value OV2 may serve as a control value to control the filler material distribution system  1200  (e.g., the filler material conveyor system  1110 ). For example, when the filler material conveyor system  1110  includes a vibrating feed pan driven by a motor  1120  that is a servoactuator, the control value that is the output value OV2 may indicate a signal that, when received by the motor  1120 , causes the motor  1120  to control the amplitude, stroke, and/or vibration frequency of vibration of the vibrating feed pan that controls the rate at which filler material  1300  is conveyed into the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100 . In another example, when the filler material conveyor system  1110  includes a conveyor belt driven by a motor  1120  that is a servoactuator, the control value that is the output value OV2 may indicate a signal that, when received by the motor  1120 , causes the motor  1120  to control the rate of speed of the conveyor belt that controls the rate at which filler material  1300  is conveyed into the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100 . In some example embodiments, the value (magnitude) of OV2 may indicate a specific motor speed (e.g., specific rate of rotation) of motor  1120 , and the control system  106  may process OV2 to generate a command signal that is transmitted to motor  1120  to cause the motor  1120  to responsively operate (e.g., rotate) as specified by OV2 (e.g., rotate at the specific motor speed indicated by OV2). In some example embodiments, the control system  106  may directly transmit OV2 to motor  1120  to cause the motor  1120  to responsively operate as specified by OV2 (e.g., rotate at a specific motor speed indicated by OV2). The motor  1120  may be configured to process OV2 and responsively adjust the motor speed to the specific motor speed indicated by OV2. In some example embodiments, the value (magnitude) of OV2 may indicate a specific property (e.g., voltage and/or current) of electrical power to be supplied to the motor  1120  to cause the motor  1120  to rotate at a specific motor speed, and the control system  106  may process OV2 and, based on OV2, adjustably control one or more properties (e.g., current, voltage, etc.) of a supply of electrical power to the motor  1120  (e.g., from a power supply such as mains power to the motor  1120  via control system  106  and/or switchgear controlled by the control system  106 ) to cause the motor  1120  to rotate at the specific motor speed. The control system  106  may include any known power supply circuitry (e.g., a voltage regulator) configured to adjust properties (e.g., voltage and/or current) of electrical power supplied to various motors of the apparatus  1000 , including motor  1120 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  16   , the control system  106  may be configured to implement the method shown in  FIG.  16    to implement the cascade control program  2322  as described herein, for example based on the processor  2320  executing a program of instructions stored at the memory  2330  (e.g., the program  2322 ). 
     At S 2002 , the control system  106  receives the first sensor data generated by the first level sensor device  710 . At S 2004 , the control system  106  processes the first sensor data to determine a value of the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material in the first region  2210 _ 1  of the hopper opening  200 _O (e.g., determine a first level value of the filler material in the first region  2210 _ 1 ) at a given instantaneous time “t”. As shown, the determined first level value may be input into the first PID loop PID1 as a first process variable PV1 of the first PID loop PID1. At S 2006  a stored first level setpoint value, indicating a target value of the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material in the first region  2200 _ 1  of the hopper opening  200 _O, may be retrieved and input into the first PID loop PID1 as a first setpoint SP1 of the first PID loop PID1. 
     At S 2010 , the first PID loop PID1 is executed (S 2012 ) using the first process variable PV1 and the first setpoint SP1, using for example equations (2) and (3) as described herein with stored gain values to generate a first output variable OV1 of the first PID loop PID1 that indicates a target first level value indicating a target first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material in the first region  2210 _ 1  (e.g., a target first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material in the first region  2210 _ 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  16   , the output variable OV1 may be input as the second setpoint SP2 of the second PID loop PID2. 
     At S 2008 , the control system  106  receives the second sensor data generated by the second level sensor device  720 . At S 2009 , the control system  106  processes the second sensor data to determine a second level value indicating the second level  2200 _L 2  of filler material in the second region  2210 _ 2  of the hopper opening  200 _O (e.g., determine a second level value of the filler material in the second region  2210 _ 2 ) at a given instantaneous time “t” (which may be the same time or different time associated with the first level value determined at S 2004 ). As shown, the determined second level value may be input into the second PID loop PID2 as a second process variable PV2 of the second PID loop PID2. 
     At S 2020 , the second PID loop PID2 is executed (S 2022 ) using the second process variable PV2 and the second setpoint SP2, using for example equations (2) and (3) as described herein with stored gain values (which may be the same or different as the gain values used for the first PID loop PID1) to generate a second output variable OV2 of the second PID loop PID2 that indicates a control value of a control signal to control the filler material distribution system  1200  (e.g., control the filler material conveyor system  1110 ) via control of motor  1120 . 
     At S 2030 , a control signal is generated based on the value of the second output variable OV2 and transmitted to motor  1120  to cause the motor  1120  to control the filler material distribution system  1200  (e.g., control the filler material conveyor system  1110 , for example control a conveyor belt speed, vibration frequency, vibration stroke, vibration amplitude, etc. of the filler material conveyor system  1110 ) in order to control the rate of supply of filler material  1300  (e.g., control the rate, such as mass flow rate, volume flow rate, etc. of the flow  1302  thereof) into the hopper opening  200 _O. 
     Referring back to  FIGS.  14 A- 14 B , the filler material  1300  supplied into the hopper opening  200 _O (e.g., the rate of the flow  1302  thereof) may be initially deposited into the second region  2210 _ 2  of the hopper opening  200 _O based on the second region  2210 _ 2  vertically overlapping the bottom chute opening  600 _BO, thereby increasing the value of the second level  2200 _L 2 . The filler material  2200  may progressively move towards the paddle  400 , and thus toward the first region  2210 _ 1  in the hopper opening  200 _O, as the rotatable drum  1125  and first material  1500  thereon rotate beneath the doser assembly  100 . The paddle  400  may vibrate  490  to cause excess filler material  2200  that is not within the filled divots  1400 _ 2  to remain in the hopper opening  200 _O, thereby adjusting the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material in the first region  2210 _ 1  of the hopper opening  200 _O that is proximate to the paddle  400 . 
     Referring generally to  FIGS.  14 A- 17   , the cascade control program  2322  implemented by the control system  106 , to control the motor  1120  based on the first and second sensor data generated by the first and second level sensor devices  710  and  720 , may control the rate of the flow  1302  of filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O to control the levels  2200 _L 1  and  2200 _L 2  to improve the uniformity and consistency of the amount and/or density of filler material filling the divots  1400  during operation of the apparatus  1000  over time. For example, the cascade control program  2322 , when performed by control system  106  to control the apparatus  1000 , may cause the second level  2200 _L 2  to be equal to or greater than a threshold value (which may be stored at the control system  106  and may, for example, be a second level  2200 _L 2  value of 19.0) so that the weight of excess filler material  2200  in the second region  2210 _ 2  consistently pushes the filler material  2200  into the empty divots  1400 _ 1  and compresses the portions  2280  of filler material in the filled divots  1400 _ 2  to at least a threshold density. The cascade control program  2322  may thus further include performing the second PID loop PID2 based on the stored threshold value of level  2200 _L 2  to cause the determined value  2200 _L 2  to approach, meet, and be equal to or greater than the stored threshold value. Additionally, by keeping the second level  2200 _L 2  to be equal to or greater than the stored threshold value, the weight of excess filler material  2200  in the second region  2210 _ 2  may cause the density of the portions  2280  of filler material  2200  in the filled divots  1400 _ 2  to have improved consistency and uniformity of mass, shape, volume, density, etc. over time, thereby configuring the apparatus  1000  to form pouch products having an improved consistency and uniformity of mass, shape, volume, density, etc. over time. 
     Simultaneously with the above, the cascade control program  2322  implemented by the control system  106  to control the apparatus  1000  may cause a reduced time-variation in the first level  2200 _L 1 , which may therefore further improve the uniformity and consistency of the underlying portions  2280  of filler material in the filled divots  1400 _ 2  under the first region  2210 _ 1  due to the weight of the first level  2200 _L 1  of filler material in the first region  2210 _ 1 . As a result, the cascade control program  2322  implemented by the control system  106  may cause an apparatus  1000  to produce pouch products of filler material that have improved consistency and uniformity of mass, shape, volume, density, etc. over time, thereby configuring the apparatus  1000  to form pouch products having an improved consistency and uniformity of mass, shape, volume, density, etc. over time. 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  configured to implement the cascade control program  2322  as described herein may include a doser assembly  100  that does not include the paddle  400 , the hopper chute  600 , the diverter plate  620 , or any part or combination of parts of the doser assembly  100 . It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the apparatus  1000  configured to implement the cascade control program  2322  as described herein may include or omit the cleaner assembly  2600  as described herein. 
       FIG.  18 A  is a perspective view of an apparatus  1000  including the doser assembly of  FIGS.  4 A- 14 B  and a cleaner assembly  2600  (also referred to as a cleaner/poker assembly) according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  18 B  is a perspective cross-section view of the apparatus  1000  of  FIG.  18 A .  FIG.  18 C  is a cross-section view of region A of  FIG.  18 B .  FIG.  19    is an image of an apparatus including a doser assembly  100 , rotatable drum  1125 , and cleaner assembly  2600  with partially removed and lifted cleaner roller  2610  of an apparatus according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  20 A and  20 B  are perspective view of a cleaner assembly  2600  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  20 C  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIG.  20 A  along line  20 C- 20 C′ according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  20 D  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIG.  20 A  along line  20 D- 20 D′ according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  21 A and  21 B  are plan views of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIGS.  20 A and  20 B  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  21 C  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIG.  21 B  along line  21 C- 21 C′ according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  21 D  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner assembly  2600  of  FIG.  21 B  along line  21 D- 21 D′ according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  22 A,  22 B , and  22 C are perspective views of a poker roller and corresponding divot plate of a rotatable drum according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  23 A,  23 B, and  23 C  are views of the divot plate of  FIGS.  22 A- 22 C  according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  23 D and  23 E  are cross-sectional views of the divot plate of  FIG.  23 A  along lines  23 D- 23 D′ and  23 E- 23 E′, respectively, according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  24 A and  24 B  are views of the poker roller of  FIGS.  22 A- 22 C  according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  25 A and  25 B  are cross-sectional views of the poker roller and corresponding divot assembly of  FIG.  22 A  along lines  25 A- 25 A′ and  25 B- 25 B′, respectively, according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  26    is an expanded view of region B of  FIG.  25 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  27    is a plan cross-sectional view of the poker roller and corresponding divot assembly of  FIG.  22 A  along line  25 B- 25 B′, according to some example embodiments. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS.  1 A to  27   , in some example embodiments, an apparatus for forming a pouch product according to some example embodiments, such as apparatus  1000 , may include a cleaner assembly  2600 , which may be located at a cleaning location  164  between dosing location  130  of the doser assembly  100  and the second receiving location  150  of the second material dispensing station  170 . The cleaner assembly  2600  may be configured to clean the upper surface of the first material  1500  (e.g., the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the first material  1500 ) on the rotatable drum  1125  of excess filler material  2270  that is outside the filled divots  1400 _ 2  (and which may be on an upper surface of the first material  1500 , including the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the first material  1500 ) as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates the first material  1500  (e.g., first web) away from the doser assembly  100  and further move said excess filler material  2270  that is on an upper surface of the first material  1500 , including the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the first material  1500 , into the divots  1400  of the rotatable drum  1125  to add to the portions  2280  of filler material located within the filled divots  1400 _ 2 . The cleaner assembly  2600  may be further configured to compress the portions  2280  filler material that is in the filled divots  1400 _ 2  further towards the respective bottoms  1480  of the filled divots  1400 _ 2 , thereby further restricting the possibility of loss of filler material from the filled divots  1400 _ 2  prior to portions of the second material  1500 ′ (e.g., portions of the second elastic layer  1512   b ) being sealed with corresponding portions of the first material  1500  (e.g., corresponding portions of the first elastic layer  1512   a  that form the filled first web portions), for example via heat knife assembly  5000 , to seal the portions  2280  of filler material in separate, respective pouch products. Additionally, the compression of the portions  2280  of filler material in the filled divots  1400 _ 2  by the cleaner assembly  2600  may further improve consistency and uniformity of density of the portions  2280  of filler material, thereby improving the uniformity and consistency of the pouches that are formed by the apparatus  1000 . 
     As shown, the cleaner assembly  2600  may include a cleaner roller  2610  (also referred to herein as a cleaner wheel) and a poker roller  2620  (also referred to herein as a poker wheel). The cleaner roller  2610  and the poker roller  2620  may be mechanically coupled to a motor  2660  (which may be a servoactuator, any known type of drive motor, or the like) via a transmission  2630  (which may be a gearbox) such that the cleaner roller  2610  and the poker roller  2620  are configured to counter rotate with the rotatable drum  1125 . It will be understood herein that counter rotation of the cleaner roller  2610  and the poker roller  2620  with the rotatable drum  1125  may mean that the cleaner roller  2610 , the poker roller  2620 , and the rotatable drum  1125  rotate in a same machine direction so that 1) proximate surface of the cleaner roller  2610  and the rotatable drum  1125  are rotating in a same direction and 2) proximate surfaces of the poker roller  2620  and the rotatable drum  1125  are rotating in a same direction. It will be understood that in some example embodiments the transmission  2630  may be omitted and/or the cleaner and poker rollers  2610  and  2620  may be separately driven by separate drivers. 
     In some example embodiments, for example as shown in  FIG.  18 C , the cleaner roller  2610  is positioned so that the outer surface  2612  of the cleaner roller  2610  is in contact with the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  on the rotatable drum  1125 . The cleaner roller  2610  may be configured to be driven (e.g., by motor  2660  via transmission  2630 ) to counter rotate with the rotatable drum  1125  such that the outer surface  2612  of the cleaner roller  2610  moves at a greater tangential speed than the tangential speed of the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  (e.g., to rotate “overspeed” relative to the rotatable drum  1125 ). For example, the cleaner roller  2610  may be configured to rotate such that the outer surface  2612  of the cleaner roller  2610  moves at a tangential speed that is at least three times greater than a tangential speed of the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum and/or the upper surface of the first material  1500  (e.g., the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the first material  1500 ). Based on the cleaner roller  2610  rotating “overspeed” relative to the rotatable drum  1125  and in contact with at least the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 , the portion of the outer surface  2612  of the cleaner roller  2610  that is contacting the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  is moving in relation to the upper surface  1516  and is in moving contact with the upper surface  1516 . Such moving contact may enable the cleaner roller  2610  to move excess filler material  2270  that is on the upper surface of the first material  1500 , including the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the first material  1500 , into one or more proximate divots  1400  to be added to the respective portions  2280  of filler material that are in the one or more divots  1400 . 
     Based on moving the excess filler material  2270  into the divots  1400  to become part of the portions  2280  of filler material within the divots  1400 , and thus removing the excess filler material  2270  from the upper surface of the first material  1500 , including the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the first material  1500 , the cleaner roller  2610  may be configured to reduce the possibility of excess filler material  2270  becoming trapped within the seal between corresponding portions of the first and second elastic layers  1512   a  and  1512   b  of the first and second materials  1500  and  1500 ′, respectively, when the corresponding portions are sealed together and cut by the heat knife assembly  5000  to form a pouch product. As a result, the cleaner roller  2610  may enable an improvement in the structure of the resulting pouch products that are formed by the apparatus  1000 . 
     In some example embodiments, and as shown, the poker roller  2620  may include multiple projections  2622  (also referred to herein as “pokers”) extending from the central core  2626  of the poker roller  2620  having a central shaft  2629  in one or more ring patterns or “lanes”  2402  around the circumference of the central core  2626 . The projections  2622  may be configured to each extend into one or more divots  1400  of the rotatable drum  1125  as the poker roller  2620  counter rotates with the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     The poker roller  2620  may be configured to be driven (e.g., by motor  2660  via transmission  2630 ) to counter rotate with the rotatable drum  1125  such that the projections  2622  move at a same tangential speed as the tangential speed of the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  (e.g., to rotate in synchronization with the rotatable drum  1125 ), so that the projections  2622  extend into and out of separate, respective divots  1400  of the rotatable drum  1125  based on the counter rotation of the poker roller  2620  and the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     Still referring to at least  FIGS.  18 A- 18 C , the cleaner assembly  2600  may be positioned at a cleaning location  164  in the apparatus  1000  such that the cleaner roller  2610  is between the dosing location  130  and the poker roller  2620 , and thus the cleaner roller  2610  may be between the doser assembly  100  and the poker roller  2620 . As a result, the cleaner roller  2610  may be configured to move the excess filler material  2270  that is on the upper surface of the first material  1500 , including the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the first material  1500 , into one or more divots  1400  of the rotatable drum  1125  after the doser assembly  100  has supplied portions  2280  of filler material into the divots  1400  and prior to the poker roller  2620  compressing the portions  2280  of filler material in the divots  1400 . 
     Based on the cleaner roller  2610  being between the doser assembly  100  and the poker roller  2620 , the uniformity and consistency of the density of the portions  2280  of filler material in the divots  1400  may be improved by reducing the risk of low-density excess filler material  2270  entering the divots  1400  after the portions  2280  of filler material in the divots  1400  has been compressed by the poker roller  2620  to a higher density. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 A- 27   , the plates  1600  of the rotatable drum  1125  may have various numbers (quantities) of divots  1400 , such that the plates  1600  of the rotatable drum  1125  define various quantities of patterns (e.g., “lanes”) of divots  1400  extending in parallel around an outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 . Additionally, the projections  2622  of the poker roller  2620  may similarly define various quantities of patterns (e.g., “lanes”) of projections  2622  extending in parallel around the outer circumferential surface  2628  of the poker roller  2620 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIGS.  18 A- 18 C , the plates  1600  may each include two divots  1400  and thus may define two lanes of divots  1400  on the rotatable drum  1125 . Similarly, the poker roller  2620  may include two lanes of projections  2622  (in  FIGS.  18 A- 18 C , four projections  2622  per lane) extending around the outer circumferential surface  2628  of the poker roller  2620 , where each separate “lane” of projections  2622  is configured to be aligned with a separate one of the “lanes” of divots  1400 . Thus, each separate lane of projections  2622  is configured to extend into and out of divots  1400  of a separate lane of divots  1400  on the rotatable drum  1125  based on the counter rotation of the poker roller  2620  and the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     In another example, as shown in  FIGS.  20 A- 21 D , the poker roller  2620  nay include three “lanes” of projections  2622 , and it will be understood that an apparatus  1000  that includes the poker roller  2620  shown in  FIGS.  20 A- 21 D  may include a rotatable drum  1125  having plates  1600  with three divots  1400  per plate  1600  such that the rotatable drum  1125  of such an apparatus  1000  may have three lanes of divots  1400 , and each separate “lane” of projections  2622  of the poker roller  2620  shown in  FIGS.  20 A- 21 D  may be configured to be aligned with a separate one of the “lanes” of divots  1400  and may be configured to extend into and out of divots  1400  of a separate lane of divots  1400  on the rotatable drum  1125  based on the counter rotation of the poker roller  2620  and the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     In another example, as shown in  FIGS.  19  and  22 A- 27   , the plates  1600  may each include four divots  1400  and thus may define four lanes of divots  1400  on the rotatable drum  1125 . As further shown, the plates  1600  may each divide the divots  1400  into separate closely-spaced sets  1620  of divots and may include fastener holes  1630  configured to engage with fasteners to fasten the plate  1600  to the rotatable drum  1125 . Similarly, the poker roller  2620  may include four lanes  2402  of projections  2622  (in  FIGS.  19  and  22 A- 27   , four projections  2622  per lane) extending around the outer circumferential surface  2628  of the poker roller  2620 , where each separate “lane”  2402  of projections  2622  is configured to be aligned (e.g., aligned in the Z direction as shown in at least  FIGS.  18 A- 19   ) with a separate one of the “lanes” of divots  1400  and thus may be configured to be aligned with a separate divot  1400  of a given plate  1600 . As further shown, some lanes  2402  of projections may be closely spaced as separate sets  3210  of projection ring patterns to align with separate sets  1620  of divots in a given plate  1600 . Thus, each separate lane  2402  of projections  2622  may be configured to extend into and out of divots  1400  of a separate lane of divots  1400  on the rotatable drum  1125  based on the counter rotation of the poker roller  2620  and the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     As further shown, each plate  1600  may define air inlets  700  that each extend, in a length  700 _L that extends through a portion of a thickness of the plate  1600 , between a bottom  1480  of a given divot  1400  at the top of the plate  1600  to a vacuum conduit opening  1610  at a bottom of the plate  1600 . Each vacuum conduit opening  1610  may be configured to connect with one or more vacuum conduits  1430  of the rotatable drum  1125  and thus may be configured to establish fluid communication of at least some of the air inlets  700  of a plate with the vacuum source  1410 , thereby enabling vacuum to be applied to one or more divots  1400  based on a position of the plate  1600  on the rotatable drum  1125  as the rotatable drum rotates during operation of the apparatus  1000 . In some example embodiments, a single vacuum conduit opening  1610  may be configured to connect air inlets  700  of multiple divots  1400  to a vacuum conduit. As shown in at least  FIGS.  22 C,  23 C, and  23 E , for example, a plate  1600  may include separate vacuum conduit openings  1610  into which air inlets  700  extend from divots  1400  of separate, respective sets  1620  of divots, such that each vacuum conduit opening  1610  is configured to connect to a vacuum conduit  1430  of rotatable drum  1125  and thus couple two divots  1400  of a given set  1620  to vacuum via air inlets  700  extending from the two divots  1400  to the vacuum conduit opening  1610 . 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  18 C,  19 , and  25 A- 27   , based on the counter rotation of the poker roller  2620  in synchronization with the rotatable drum  1125 , the projections  2622  may move into separate, respective divots  1400  of a plate  1600  and may compress the separate, respective portions  2280  of filler material that are within the divots  1400  to increase the density and further increase the uniformity of the density of the filler material in each divot  1400 . Such compression may reduce the possibility of filler material leaving the divot  1400  prior to portions of the second elastic layer  1512   b  being sealed to the “filled first web portions” of the first elastic layer  1512   a  to seal the portions  2280  of filler material on the “filled first web portions” within respective pouch products, thereby improving the uniformity and consistency of the amount of filler material included in each pouch product formed by the apparatus  1000 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  20 A- 21 C , the cleaner roller  2610  may, in some example embodiments, include a central shaft  2618  with a central core  2616  comprising a relatively rigid material (e.g., stainless steel, DELRIN®, PEEK, etc.) and an outer layer of a compressible roller material  2614  that defines the outer surface  2612  of the cleaner roller  2610 . Such a compressible roller material may include a relatively flexible material, including but not limited to rubber, silicone, or the like. The cleaner roller  2610  may be positioned in relation to the rotatable drum  1125  such that the cleaner roller  2610  is configured to compress the compressible roller material  2614  against the upper surface of the first material  1500 , which may include the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the respective portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  of the first material, on the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     For example, the cleaner assembly  2600  may position the cleaner roller  2610  in relation to the rotatable drum  1125  such that a smallest spacing distance between the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  and the outer surface  2612  of the cleaner roller  2610  is equal to or less than a thickness of the first material  1500  (e.g., a thickness of the first elastic layer  1512   a ). In another example, the cleaner assembly  2600  may position the cleaner roller  2610  in relation to the rotatable drum  1125  such that a smallest spacing distance between the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  and the central axis of rotation of the cleaner roller  2610  at central shaft  2618  is equal to or less than the smallest radius of the cleaner roller  2610  from the central shaft  2618  to the outer surface  2612  when the compressible roller material  2614  is in an uncompressed state. 
     Based on the compressible roller material  2614  being in compression with the rotatable drum  1125 , the contact area between the outer surface  2612  of the cleaner roller  2610  and the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  may be increased, thereby improving the cleaning action (e.g., moving excess filler material  2270  into the divots  1400 ) that is performed by the cleaner roller  2610 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  20 A- 21 C , the cleaner roller  2610  may have a circular cylindrical shape (e.g., may have a circle cross-section shape) and thus may be a circular cylindrical roller. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, as shown in  FIGS.  18 A- 18 C , in some example embodiments the cleaner roller  2610  may have a polygonal cylindrical shape (e.g., may have a decagon cross-section shape) and thus may be a polygonal cylindrical roller. 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  20 C and  21 C- 21 D , the transmission  2630  may include a gearbox with first and second gears  2632  (e.g., toothed gears) and a belt  2636  (e.g., a toothed belt) extending therebetween with a tensioner roller  2638  providing tension to the belt  2636 . The first gear  2632  may be connected to central shaft  2629  and may be configured to directly drive the poker roller  2620 . The first gear  2632  may be directly driven by the motor  2660 , such that the poker roller  2620  may be directly driven by the motor  2660 . As a result of the poker roller  2620  being configured to be directly driven by the motor  2660 , the rate of rotation of the poker roller  2620  may be more precisely correspond to the rate of rotation of the rotatable drum  1125  to the that the tangential speed of the outer surface of the poker roller  2620  (e.g., the tangential speed of the projections  2622  and/or the outer surfaces  2624  thereof) matches the tangential speed of the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  (e.g., the tangential speed of the divots  1400 ) and/or the tangential speed of the upper surface of the first material  1500  (e.g., the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the respective portions  1522  of the first material  1500 ), thereby ensuring synchronized movement of the projections into and out of divots  1400  as the rotatable drum  1125  and the poker roller  2620  counter rotate (e.g., both rotate in the machine direction). 
     As shown, the second gear  2634  may be connected to the central shaft  2618  and may be configured to directly drive the cleaner roller  2610 . The second gear  2634  may be coupled to the first gear  2632  via belt  2636  so that the first and second gears  2632  and  2634  may both be driven by the motor  2660 . The first and second gears  2632  and  2634  and the belt  2636  may be sized and positioned to cause the cleaner roller  2610  to counter rotate in “overspeed” in relation to the rotatable drum  1125 , as described herein, while the poker roller  2620  counter rotates in synchronization with the rotatable drum  1125  as described herein. Because the cleaner roller  2610  is configured to rotate in overspeed in relation to the rotatable drum  1125  to move excess filler material  2270  while poker roller  2620  is configured to move in synchronization with the rotatable drum  1125  to move projections  2622  into and out of the divots  1400 , the cleaner roller  2610  may be configured to tolerate at least minor slippage in the belt  2636  of the transmission  2630  while the synchronized rotation of the poker roller  2620  is ensured via being directly driven by the motor  2660 . In some example embodiments, transmission  2630  may be omitted and the second gear  2634  may be separately directly driven by a separate motor. 
     As shown, and as particularly shown in  FIGS.  25 A- 27   , each divot  1400  defined by a given plate  1600  may have a first length  1400 _L in a first direction that may be parallel with a tangent of a curvature of the rotatable drum  1125  (e.g., the Y direction in  FIGS.  25 A- 27   ), a first width  1400 _W in a second direction that crosses the first direction and may be parallel to a central axis of the rotatable drum (e.g., the X direction in  FIGS.  25 A- 27   ), and a first depth  1400 _D in a third direction that crosses the first and second directions (e.g., the Z direction in  FIGS.  25 A- 27   ). 
     As further shown, and as particularly shown in  FIGS.  25 A- 27   , each projection  2622  of the poker roller  2620  may have a second length  2622 _L in a fourth direction that may be parallel with a tangent of a curvature of the outer surface  2624  of the projection  2622  (e.g., the Y direction in  FIGS.  25 A- 27   ), a second width  2622 _W in a fifth direction that crosses the fourth direction and may be parallel to a central axis of the poker roller  2620  (e.g., the X direction in  FIGS.  25 A- 27   ), and a second depth  2622 _D in a sixth direction that crosses the fourth and fifth directions and may extend radially from the central axis of the poker roller  2620  (e.g., the Z direction in  FIGS.  25 A- 27   ). As shown, the first and fourth directions may be the same direction (e.g., Y direction), the second and fifth directions may be the same direction (e.g., X direction), and the third and sixth directions may be the same direction (e.g., Z direction). As shown, in some example embodiments the second length  2622 _L may be smaller than the first length  1400 _L, and the second width  2622 _W may be smaller than the first width  1400 _W, thereby providing clearance between the inner surfaces of the divots  1400  and the corresponding outer surfaces of the projections  2622  to reduce the risk of contact between said inner and outer surfaces during operation of the apparatus  1000 . 
     As shown, each projection  2622  of the poker roller  2620  may have an outer surface  2624  that is distal from a central axis of the poker roller  2620  and has a convex curvature, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments, the outer surface  2624  of each projection  2622  may be a planar surface. 
     In some example embodiments, a material of any portion of the cleaner assembly  2600 , including any portion of cleaner roller  2610 , any portion of poker roller  2620 , any part of the transmission  2630 , or the like may include one of a metal (e.g., aluminum), a metal alloy (e.g., steel), a plastic (e.g., polyether ketone (PEEK), polyoxymethylene (an acetal homopolymer resin corresponding to the trademark DELRIN®, held by DuPont™), a sub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof. A material of the cleaner roller  2610  and/or the poker roller  2620  may include a plastic, such as one of PEEK, polyoxymethylene, or both PEEK and polyoxymethylene. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto and the cleaner roller  2610  and/or the poker roller  2620  may alternatively be formed of other materials such as a metal, a metal alloy, and/or a different plastic. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  20 A- 21 D , the cleaner assembly  2600  may include a filler material shield  2640  that is configured to partition the cleaner roller  2610  and poker roller  2620  from other portions of the apparatus  1000  in which the cleaner assembly  2600  is included, to reduce or minimize the possibility of filler material being ejected from the cleaner assembly  2600  into other parts of the apparatus  1000 . 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the cleaner assembly  2600  may omit one of the cleaner roller  2610  or the poker roller  2620 . For example, the cleaner assembly  2600  may include the cleaner roller  2610  but not the poker roller  2620 . In another example, the cleaner assembly  2600  may include the poker roller  2620  but not the cleaner roller. 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the cleaner assembly  2600  may be included in an apparatus  1000  with a doser assembly  100 , where the doser assembly  100  does not include at least the paddle  400  as described herein. It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the cleaner assembly  2600  may be included in an apparatus  1000  with a doser assembly  100 , where the doser assembly  100  and/or apparatus  1000  does not include at least both the first and second level sensors devices  710  and  720  as described herein and the apparatus  1000  may not be configured to implement the cascade control program as described herein. 
       FIG.  28    shows a flowchart illustrating a method of making a pouch product according to some example embodiments. The method may be performed by the apparatus  1000  according to any of the example embodiments, under the control of the control system  106  of the apparatus  1000 . For example, the control system  106  may be configured to cause the apparatus  1000  to implement the method of making the pouch product as shown in  FIG.  28    based on a processor  2320  of the control system  106  executing a program of instructions which may be stored at a memory  2330  of the control system  106 . It will be understood that at least some operations of the method shown in  FIG.  28    may be performed concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) with each other and/or may be performed in a different order than shown in  FIG.  28   . In some example embodiments, one or more operations shown in  FIG.  28    may be absent from the method performed by the apparatus  1000 . In some example embodiments, the method performed by the apparatus  1000  may include one or more additional operations in addition to the operations shown in  FIG.  28   . 
     At S 2802 , the apparatus  1000  transfers a first material  1500  to a first receiving location  120  of the apparatus  1000  (e.g., from a first roll holder  112 ). The first material  1500  may include a first elastic layer  1512   a  and a first support layer  1514 . A portion  1520  of the first support layer  1514  may be removed from the first elastic layer  1512   a  (and drawn, for example to first scrap roll holder  119 ) such that the first elastic layer  1512   a  and the remaining portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  form a first web. 
     At S 2804 , the apparatus  1000  conveys the first web to a dosing location  130 . The first web may be conveyed to overlay an outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  of the apparatus  1000 , such that the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first web overlaps one or more divots  1400  of the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     At S 2806 , the apparatus  1000  applies a vacuum to the first web at the dosing location  130 , via vacuum source  1410 , vacuum conduits  1430 , and air inlets  700  into the divots  1400 , to draw at least a portion of the first web into one or more of the divots  1400  to form first web portions that are in the divots  1400 . 
     At S 2808 , the apparatus  1000  may control a filler material distribution system  1200  to supply filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100 . Such control may be implemented based on controlling a motor  1120  of the filler material distribution system  1200  to control a filler material conveyor system  1110  to transfer filler material  1300  from a hopper  1210  to the doser assembly  100 . The filler material conveyor system  1110  may supply the filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100  as a flow  1302  of filler material  1300 , for example via at least a first volume space  612  of a chute  600  of the doser assembly  100 . The filler material  1300  supplied into the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100  is referred to as filler material  2200 . 
     At S 2810 , the apparatus  1000  causes the doser assembly  100  to fill each of the first web portions in divots  1400  that are exposed to the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100  with a portion  2280  of filler material to form filled first web portions. The apparatus  1000  may cause the rotatable drum  1125  to rotate, with the first web portions being in the divots  1400 , such that the divots  1400  move under the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100  to be exposed to the hopper opening  200 _O and thus exposed to the filler material  2200  located therein. The filler material  2200  located in the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O may be provided into the exposed divots  1400  that are exposed to the hopper opening  200 _O at the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O under gravity (e.g., the own weight of the filler material  2200  entering the divots  1400 ) and/or the weight of additional, overlaying filler material  2200  pushing the filler material at the bottom of the hopper opening  200 _O into the divots  1400 . The apparatus  1000  may cause the paddle  400  of the doser assembly  100  to vibrate  490  at S 2810  to retain filler material  2200  in the hopper opening  200 _O and remove excess filler material from the tops of the filled divots  1400 _ 2  as the rotatable drum  1125  rotates the filled divots  1400 _ 2  with the filled first web portions away from the doser assembly  100 . 
     At S 2812 , the apparatus rotates the rotatable drum  1125  to the cleaning location  164  to convey the filled first web portions to the cleaner assembly  2600 . At the cleaner assembly at S 2812 , the apparatus  1000  operates the cleaner roller  2610  to move excess filler material  2270  that is on an upper surface of the first material  1500 , including the upper surface  1516  of the first elastic layer  1512   a  of the first material  1500  alone or in combination with the upper surfaces of the portions  1522  of the first material  1500 , into one or more of the divots  1400 , such that the excess filler material  2270  is added to the portions  2280  of filler material contained in the filled first web portions of said divots  1400 . At the cleaner assembly at S 2812 , the apparatus  1000  further operates the poker roller  2620  to compress the portions  2280  of filler material in the one or more divots  1400  to thus compress the filled first web portions in the divots  1400 . 
     At S 2814 , the apparatus  1000  conveys the filled first web portions, which have been compressed by the cleaner assembly  2600 , from the cleaner assembly  2600  at the cleaning location  164  to a second receiving location  150 . The apparatus may transfer a second material  1500 ′ to the second receiving location  150  of the apparatus  1000  (e.g., from a second roll holder  172 ). The second material  1500 ′ may include a second elastic layer  1512   b  and a second support layer  1514 . A portion  1520  of the second support layer  1514  may be removed from the second elastic layer  1512   b  (and drawn, for example to second scrap roll holder  179 ) such that the second elastic layer  1512   b  and the remaining portions  1522  of the support layer  1514  form a second web. 
     At S 2816 , the apparatus  1000  may align the second web with the first web and seal the second web to the first web (e.g., via the heat knife assembly  5000  to form a pouch product. 
     At S 2818 , the apparatus may operate the heat knife assembly  5000  to cut the pouch product from the first web and the second web, thereby providing the formed pouch product that contains the portion  2280  of filler material. 
       FIG.  29    shows a flowchart illustrating a method of configuring the doser assembly  100  to provide filler material into divots  1400  of a rotatable drum  1125  of apparatus  1000  according to some example embodiments. The method may be performed with regard to the apparatus  1000 , doser assembly  100 , and/or rotatable drum  1125  according to any of the example embodiments. It will be understood that at least some operations of the method shown in  FIG.  29    may be performed concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) with each other and/or may be performed in a different order than shown in  FIG.  29   . In some example embodiments, one or more operations shown in  FIG.  29    may be absent from the method. In some example embodiments, the method may include one or more additional operations in addition to the operations shown in  FIG.  29   . 
     At S 2902 , the doser assembly  100  is coupled to a stationary structure to at least partially position the doser assembly  100  at a fixed location in relation to the rotatable drum  1125  of the apparatus  1000 . For example, the fixed support structure  299  of the doser assembly  100  is connected to a stationary support structure to position the fixed support structure  299  at a fixed position in relation to at least the rotatable drum  1125 , to thereby at least partially position the doser assembly  100  at a fixed location in relation to the rotatable drum  1125 . Such a stationary support structure may be a stationary or fixed part of the apparatus  1000 . For example, the fixed support structure  299  may be connected to a part of a frame of the rotatable drum  1125  of the apparatus  1000 . 
     At S 2904 , a determination is made regarding whether the hopper assembly  200  is at least loosely engaged with the support plate  540  via connection parts  560  and  562  which are at least engaged with each other. If not, at S 2906 , the hopper assembly  200  is at least partially engaged with the support plate  540  such that the hopper assembly  200  may be configured to rotate in relation to the support plate  540 . For example, connection part  560  that is fixed to the support plate  540  may be engaged with the connection part  562  that is fixed to the hopper assembly  200 . If so, at S 2908  the engagement between connection parts  560  and  562  is loosened or ensured to be loose, for example based on adjustably loosening adjustable clamp  264 , to enable the connection parts  560  to  562  to rotate around the common longitudinal axis and thus to enable the hopper assembly  200  to rotate in relation to the support plate  540  while remaining engaged thereto. At S 2909 , the hopper assembly  200  is rotated to a particular orientation where the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  is located above and is oriented to be complementary, or “concentric,” with the outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum  1125 . Such rotation may include rotating connection parts  560  and  562  are in relation to each other around the common central longitudinal axis  568  to a particular relative orientation where the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  is located above and is oriented to be complementary, or “concentric,” with the outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     At S 2910 , the support plate  540  adjustably positioned to be on (e.g., in direct contact with) the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  or on first material  1500  that is directly on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S. Such adjustable positioning may include causing the support plate to be pivoted  544  around pivot bar  290  to lower the distal end  540 _D so that the lower surface  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  contacts the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125  or contacts first material  1500  that is directly on the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S and/or such that the support plate  540  (e.g., an inner surface  543  of a lower recess  542  of the support plate  540 ) rests on the eccentric  574  that is connected to the support bar  294 . Such adjustable positioning at S 2910  may include orienting the hopper assembly  200  to cause the lower surface  200 _LS to be concentric, or “complementary”, with the outer circumferential surface. 
     Such adjustable positioning at S 2910  may include adjustably pivoting  579  the lever  576  of the doser assembly  100  to adjustably rotate  548  the eccentric  574  in relation to the support bar  294  to fine-tune the vertical positioning of the support plate  540 , and thus the vertical positioning of the hopper assembly  200 , in relation to the fixed support structure  299  and thus in relation to the rotatable drum  1125 . 
     At S 2912 , the adjustable clamp  264  is adjusted to tighten the engagement between the connection parts  560  and  562  and thus hold the hopper assembly  200  in place at its present position and orientation. At S 2914 , the threaded bolts  582  of the adjustable swivel joint  580  are adjusted to engage opposite surfaces of the nose  584  to thus establish and define the gap  582 _G that may be used to quickly re-establish the same relative orientation of connection parts  560  and  562  (and thus re-establish the orientation which renders the lower surfaces  200 _LS of the hopper assembly  200  concentric with the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S of the rotatable drum  1125 ) after future disconnection and re-connection of the connection parts  560  and  562 . 
     At S 2916 , the paddle  400  is adjustably positioned in relation to the hopper assembly  200 , so as to adjustably position the paddle  400  in relation to the rotatable drum  1125 , the divots  1400  thereof, and first material  1500  that is presently or will be drawn onto the outer circumferential surface  1125 _S so as to be between the rotatable drum  1125  and the doser assembly  100 . The adjustment at S 2916  may include adjusting the adjustable bearing  550  to adjustably pivot  514  the adjustable plate  510  around the pivot bar  290  in relation to the support plate  540 , thereby adjustably positioning the paddle  400  which may be pivotably connected to bracket  480  (which may be connected to adjustable plate  510  via drive plate  500 ) at the paddle pivot joint  410 . 
     At S 2918 , the doser assembly  100  is operated concurrently with rotation of the rotatable drum to rotate divots  1400 , into which the first web portions of the first material  1500  are drawn (e.g., separate, respective portions of the first elastic layer  1512   a  are drawn into separate, respective divots  1400 ), under the doser assembly  100 , and further concurrently with operation of the filler material distribution system  1200  to supply filler material  1300  into the hopper opening  200 _O of the doser assembly  100  to accumulate in the hopper opening  200 _O as filler material  2200 , so that the filler material  2200  may fall into the divots  1400  under gravity and/or under pressure of overlying filler material  2200  in the hopper opening  200 _O. S 2918  may include operating the motor  360  to drive the vibration transmission assembly  300  to cause the paddle  400  to pivotably reciprocate, or “vibrate”  480  around paddle pivot joint  410  to clear excess filler material  2200  from the tops of filled divots  1400 _ 2  being rotated out of exposure to the hopper opening  200 _O and away from the doser assembly  100  and/or to retain filler material  2200  in the hopper opening  200 _O while reducing ejection of filler material  2200  from the hopper opening  200 _O independently of the portions  2280  of filler material in the filled divots  1400 _ 2 . 
     In some example embodiments, the connection parts  560  and  562  are connected to each other at S 2902 . Therefore, as shown, the method may bypass S 2904  and instead, at S 2906 , adjustably loosen the adjustable clamp  264  to loosen the engagement between connection parts  560  and  562  to enable the connection parts  560  to  562  to rotate around the common longitudinal axis at S 2908  to establish the desire relative orientation between the connection parts  560  and  562   
     While some example embodiments have been disclosed herein, it should be understood that other variations may be possible. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present inventive concepts, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.