An aqueous composition for making dip-molded comestible hard capsules comprising a film forming capsule base material and one or more colorants each consisting of a hydrophilic coloring foodstuff concentrate.

This invention relates to a polymer composition that is particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of thermoformed articles, which can be biodegraded in industrial composting. This invention also relates to a process for the production of the said composition and articles obtained thereby.

An apparatus (1) for processing cups (2), adapted to be filled with coffee or other products, whether solid or liquid, and to be closed with respective lids to form corresponding capsules, comprises: a plurality of pockets (50) for housing the cups (2); an infeed station (4) for receiving the cups (2) and placing them in respective pockets (50) of the plurality of pockets (50); at least one tool (31) for applying a process to a rear face (23B) of an annular flange (23) of a cup (2) housed a respective pocket (50), to form a sealing profile (230); an outfeed station (6) configured to release the cups (2) with the sealing profile (230) formed on them.

This invention relates to a polymer composition that is particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of thermoformed articles, which can be biodegraded in industrial composting. This invention also relates to a process for the production of the said composition and articles obtained thereby.

An aqueous composition for making dip-molded comestible hard capsules comprising a film forming capsule base material and one or more colorants each consisting of a hydrophilic coloring foodstuff concentrate.

A method for applying a sealing member to a capsule intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, where the capsule includes a body having a bottom wall, a side wall and a flange-like rim which extends from the side wall, comprises a step of applying a charge of sealing composition in a viscous state on the flange-like rim and a step of compression moulding the charge of sealing composition against the flange-like rim.

An apparatus (1) for processing plastic cups (2), adapted to be filled with coffee or other products, whether solid or liquid, and to be closed with respective lids to form corresponding capsules, comprises: a plurality of pockets (50) for housing the cups (2); an infeed station (4) for receiving the cups (2) and placing them in respective pockets (50) of the plurality of pockets (50); at least one tool (31) for applying a process to a rear face (23B) of an annular flange (23) of a cup (2) housed a respective pocket (50), to form a sealing profile (230); an outfeed station (6) configured to release the cups (2) with the sealing profile (230) formed on them.

A system and method for molding, forming, and annealing an article of manufacture using a series of molds are disclosed. Such systems and methods may melt degradable thermoplastic materials that are then injected into a first mold to form an article of manufacture. This article may then be moved to a second mold where the formed article is annealed. The second mold may be heated based on operation of a heating element that heats the annealing mold. This annealing process may condition materials in the formed article to enhance properties of the article. For example, annealing may improve thermal resistance of the article. Systems of the present disclosure may employ two molds, one mold that forms articles and a second mold that anneals articles to facilitate a continuous production beverage pods using environmentally friendly materials.

A biodegradable container closure and a method for making the container closure. The biodegradable container closure includes from about 40 to about 99 weight percent of a polymer derived from random monomeric repeating units having a structure of

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wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.3 and a C.sub.3 to C.sub.19 alkyl group. The monomeric units having R.sup.1═CH.sub.3 is about 75 to about 99 mol percent of the polymer. A resin adapted for forming the closure is also disclosed.

A method for applying a sealing member to a capsule intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, where the capsule includes a body having a bottom wall, a side wall and a flange-like rim which extends from the side wall, comprises a step of applying a charge of sealing composition in a viscous state on the flange-like rim and a step of compression moulding the charge of sealing composition against the flange-like rim.