The invention concerns a manufacturing process for producing hermetic single-use food containers, including: forming a container body (30) having an peripheral rim (31), placing the container body in a sealing head having a first die (2) and a second die (8) having cooperating annular sealing surfaces (4, 10) facing the rim (31), sealing a closing lid (34) placed over the container body with the rim (31) by applying the first die (2) and the second die (8) one against the other. According to the invention, the first die (2) is provided with a continuous annular rib (6) in its sealing surface (4), the rib having a height (h) which is at least equal to a maximum depth of wrinkles that might appear on the rim upon forming the container body, whereby a sealing groove (12) is formed by the rib (6) in a side of the rim during the sealing.

An apparatus comprises: a dispensing device for dispensing at least one polymeric material; a severing element for severing a dose of polymeric material from the polymeric material dispensed by the dispensing device; a transport element for transporting the dose; a mould comprising a male mould element and a female mould element, the female mould element being positioned above the male mould element.

The transport element is configured to perform a first movement by moving along a path directed from the dispensing device towards the mould, so as to bring the dose to the mould. Moreover, the transport element is configured to perform, in addition to the first movement, a second movement by rotating about an axis, so as to turn the dose from a first orientation with which the dose is received by the transport element, to a second orientation with which the dose is released by the transport element onto the male mould element.

A mold configuration for forming a pocket in a film comprising: a film support surface; a perimeter edge at said film support surface; wall surfaces inward of the perimeter edge defining a mold cavity; the wall surfaces including transition wall surfaces extending to a bottom wall surface; and a plateau surface inward of the perimeter edge. In one form, the perimeter edge includes sharp corner profile perimeter edge portions defining at least one sharp corner profile. A method of forming a pouch, includes using the disclosed mold configuration.

An aqueous composition which is useful for producing coatings and capsule shells comprises a) dispersed particles of an esterified cellulose ether comprising (i) groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA or (ii) a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA, wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, and the total degree of ester substitution is more than 0.70, and b) an esterified cellulose ether comprising aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH, R being a divalent hydrocarbon group, wherein I) the degree of neutralization of the groups —C(O)—R—COOH is not more than 0.4, II) the total degree of ester substitution is from 0.03 to 0.70, and III) the esterified cellulose ether b) has a solubility in water of at least 2.0 weight percent at 2° C.

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.

An acid resistant capsule comprises at least one hard capsule shell, said shell comprising: an enteric polymer having acid groups; a film-forming aid; and an alkaline material, wherein said alkaline material is present in an amount such that said carboxylic acid groups of said enteric polymer have a degree of ionization of less than 15%.

The invention relates to a capsule (10) designed for food or beverage preparation, the capsule (10) comprising a cup-shaped base body (1), a top wall (2) and a bottom retaining wall (3) for holding food or beverage preparation ingredients, wherein the base body (1) is made of one single injection-molded piece and wherein a side wall (4) of the base body comprises at least one co-injected multilayer section (5) having two outer layers (5a) being made from a different polymeric material than a core layer (5b), and wherein the base body (1) further comprises a bottom structure (6) which is integrally molded with the side wall (4) and comprising opening means (7) allowing the capsule to be opened at the time of its use.

A method and apparatus for sealing a plastic enclosure is provided. The apparatus includes a handle including elements pivotally coupled together at a first end. The apparatus also includes a heating element positioned along an inner surface of an element and connected to a power source where a longitudinal axis of the heating element is oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the element. Plastic material including first and second plastic layers is positioned at an interface between the second elements. Upon pivoting the first elements from an open position to a closed position the heating element increases a temperature at the interface to melt the plastic material and form a seal between the first and second plastic layers.

The present disclosure relates to aqueous composition comprising hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) polymer dispersed in water, wherein the dispersed polymer is partially neutralized with at least one alkaline material. The instant disclosure also relates to compositions for use in methods of making capsule shells endowed with bulk enteric properties. The present disclosure also relates to capsules made according with the compositions and methods of the present disclosure.

The invention relates to a method for wrapping and sealing a flexible sheet over an insert (10) to produce a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more ingredients; the pack comprising an insert (10) and a container (20) made from the flexible sheet folded to store the one or more ingredients, the flexible sheet being arranged overwrapping and matching the shape of the insert (10) in its entirety except for the part of the insert (10) in direct communication with the inner volume of the container (20); the method comprising the following steps: —holding the insert (10) so that it is substantially perpendicular with respect to the flexible sheet; —moving the insert (10) towards the flexible sheet, until it touches a bottom sealing tool (210); —moving at least two side sealing tools (220, 230) towards the insert (10); —applying by the bottom sealing tool (210) and by the side sealing tools (220, 230) a certain required pressure and temperature to achieve a tight sealing of the flexible sheet over the entirety of the insert (10) except for the part of it in direct communication with the inner volume of the container (20). The invention further relates to a device (200) for wrapping and sealing a flexible sheet over an insert (10) to produce a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more ingredients.