Resin-molded articles, to which such advantages as strength, rigidness and light weight are secured thanks to kneading with fibers, and which has excellent surface characteristics such as smoothness of the surface and beauty in the appearance, and resistance against weather, ultraviolet rays and light are provided.

A rotary thermoforming apparatus including a rotatable drum having a plurality of cavity flats positioned on an outer surface of the drum together defining a mold cavity section of the drum, each cavity flat having one or more mold cavities, a plug assist assembly positioned adjacent each corresponding cavity flat when in a first retracted state, the plug assist assembly secured to, and rotatable with, the outer surface of the drum, each plug assist assembly having one or more plug assist members corresponding to the one or more mold cavities in the adjacent corresponding cavity flat, wherein each plug assist member is extendable into its corresponding mold cavity, and retractable from its corresponding mold cavity, wherein each plug assist assembly is extendable from the first retracted state to an extended state positioned over the corresponding cavity flat, and wherein each plug assist assembly is retractable from the extended state back to the first retracted state.

A method for producing an element of a capsule, the capsule being intended to contain a product having at least one component that can be extracted by means of an extraction fluid, comprises the step of obtaining at least one preparatory zone intended to define, during use of the capsule, a passage for the extraction fluid, so that the extraction fluid can pass through the capsule in order to extract said component. The preparatory zone is obtained by means of a cutting operation carried out before the capsule is filled with the product and after the capsule element has been formed. The cutting operation is carried out by means of a blade element.

A method of manufacturing a plastic container having a curled rim (320) comprises the steps of providing a sheet of plastic material; drawing a portion thereof into a mould (120) to form a bottom and wall (310′) of the container, leaving a surrounding portion of material to form a rim (320) of the container; cutting the rim loose from a remaining portion of material; and curling the rim. In the curling step, an inner part of the rim is supported by a supporting member while an outer part is pressed by a pressing member (230) moving relative to the supporting member for the rim to be bent around the supporting member.

A shaped article, a method for making it, and its use. The shaped article is formed from flat fiber material and has a bottom (2), a body (4), and an opening, which is surrounded by a circumferential flange (6). The shaped article (1) comprises a flange stabilizer (10) attached to the second flat side (18) of the flange (6) facing the bottom (2). The flange stabilizer (10) is disc-shaped and has an inner contour (12) corresponding to the desired cross-sectional shape of the shaped article (1) in the region of the opening and can be slipped over the body (4) in the region of the bottom (2) and up to the flange (6). The flat sides (16, 18) of the flange stabilizer (10) extend essentially parallel to the flange (6), defining and stabilizing the cross-sectional shape of the body (4) in the region of the opening and the flange.

A shaped article, a method for making it, and its use. The shaped article is formed from flat fiber material and has a bottom (2), a body (4), and an opening, which is surrounded by a circumferential flange (6). The shaped article (1) comprises a flange stabilizer (10) attached to the second flat side (18) of the flange (6) facing the bottom (2). The flange stabilizer (10) is disc-shaped and has an inner contour (12) corresponding to the desired cross-sectional shape of the shaped article (1) in the region of the opening and can be slipped over the body (4) in the region of the bottom (2) and up to the flange (6). The flat sides (16, 18) of the flange stabilizer (10) extend essentially parallel to the flange (6), defining and stabilizing the cross-sectional shape of the body (4) in the region of the opening and the flange.

A thermoforming machine and a thermoforming method are provided, in particular for producing capsules for obtaining beverages. The capsules (C) are produced from a film (F) of thermoformable material by thermoforming one or more predefined portions (X) of the film. The one or more predefined portions (X) of the film of thermoformable material are pre-heated, i.e. they are heated before being subjected to thermoforming so as to minimize the probability that the film of thermoformable material tears or breaks during thermoforming or after thermoforming.

A thermoforming machine and a thermoforming method are provided, in particular for producing capsules for obtaining beverages. The capsules (C) are produced from a film (F) of thermoformable material by thermoforming one or more predefined portions (X) of the film. The one or more predefined portions (X) of the film of thermoformable material are pre-heated, i.e. they are heated before being subjected to thermoforming so as to minimize the probability that the film of thermoformable material tears or breaks during thermoforming or after thermoforming.

The aim of the invention is to further develop conventional devices for stretching and/or shaping and/or applying a lamination of a film element. This aim is achieved, according to the invention, by a device for stretching and/or shaping and/or applying a lamination of a film element, which device comprises a support frame for gripping the film element relative to a shaping tool or to a component to be laminated, and having grippers for gripping the film element, which are mounted so as to be movable relative to the support frame, said device being characterized in that grippers are arranged in a multi-axially adjustable manner relative to the support frame in order to adapt the film element more precisely to a contour of the shaping tool or of the component to be laminated.

The aim of the invention is to further develop conventional devices for stretching and/or shaping and/or applying a lamination of a film element. This aim is achieved, according to the invention, by a device for stretching and/or shaping and/or applying a lamination of a film element, which device comprises a support frame for gripping the film element relative to a shaping tool or to a component to be laminated, and having grippers for gripping the film element, which are mounted so as to be movable relative to the support frame, said device being characterized in that grippers are arranged in a multi-axially adjustable manner relative to the support frame in order to adapt the film element more precisely to a contour of the shaping tool or of the component to be laminated.