An infeed chamber or channel 12 receives fish fillets 17 from a conveyor belt 13 of an infeed system 14. A plunger 16 pushes the fish 17 upwardly from the infeed channel 12 into an upper compression chamber 18 which includes one or more cavities or lobes 20 into which the fish is pushed by the plunger 16 thereby to fill the lobes 20. Pistons 28 are advanced into the lobes to eject the formed fish cakes 24 out of the lobes and into container cans 30. The end position of the plunger 16 is monitored and measured, and the control system utilizes this information to operate the feed system wherein the fish fillets 17 are loaded into the infeed chamber. In this manner, the volume of fish 17 loaded into the infeed chamber can be controlled so that at the end of the plunger stroke, only a minimum amount of fish 17 remains within the compression chamber 18, thereby avoiding the residual fish 17 to be compressed more than twice.

A beverage brewing cartridge includes a base including a sidewall having first and second open ends and a cover sealed to a rim of the first open end, and a plug configured to be inserted into the second open end. The cartridge is configured to hold beverage brewing material when the plug is inserted. The cover is configured to be breached to allow pressurized liquid to enter the cartridge to brew a beverage. The plug includes weakened areas configured to open after the pressurized liquid enters the cartridge to allow the beverage to flow from the cartridge. A method of constructing the cartridge includes placing the base in a holder, inserting a portion of brewing material into the base through the second open sidewall end, tamping the brewing material in the base through the second open sidewall end, and inserting the plug into the second open sidewall end.

A beverage brewing cartridge includes a base including a sidewall having first and second open ends and a cover sealed to a rim of the first open end, and a plug configured to be inserted into the second open end. The cartridge is configured to hold beverage brewing material when the plug is inserted. The cover is configured to be breached to allow pressurized liquid to enter the cartridge to brew a beverage. The plug includes weakened areas configured to open after the pressurized liquid enters the cartridge to allow the beverage to flow from the cartridge. A method of constructing the cartridge includes placing the base in a holder, inserting a portion of brewing material into the base through the second open sidewall end, tamping the brewing material in the base through the second open sidewall end, and inserting the plug into the second open sidewall end.

A beverage brewing cartridge includes a base including a sidewall having first and second open ends and a cover sealed to a rim of the first open end, and a plug configured to be inserted into the second open end. The cartridge is configured to hold beverage brewing material when the plug is inserted. The cover is configured to be breached to allow pressurized liquid to enter the cartridge to brew a beverage. The plug includes weakened areas configured to open after the pressurized liquid enters the cartridge to allow the beverage to flow from the cartridge. A method of constructing the cartridge includes placing the base in a holder, inserting a portion of brewing material into the base through the second open sidewall end, tamping the brewing material in the base through the second open sidewall end, and inserting the plug into the second open sidewall end.

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a predetermined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a predetermined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

Disclosed is a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule. The capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing a beverage precursor for mixing with the liquid in the cavity, wherein the beverage precursor comprises a layer of compressed coffee precursor and a layer comprising a further substance, wherein the layer of compressed coffee precursor is more compressed than the layer comprising the further substance. Also disclosed is a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule through an outlet side of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing a beverage precursor for mixing with the liquid in the cavity, wherein the beverage precursor comprises a layer of coffee precursor and a layer comprising a further substance comprising an algae product, wherein the layer comprising the further substance is located between the layer of coffee precursor and the outlet side. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of filling a capsule, a beverage obtained from a capsule and a capsule filling apparatus.

Disclosed is a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule. The capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing a beverage precursor for mixing with the liquid in the cavity, wherein the beverage precursor comprises a layer of compressed coffee precursor and a layer comprising a further substance, wherein the layer of compressed coffee precursor is more compressed than the layer comprising the further substance. Also disclosed is a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid into the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule through an outlet side of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing a beverage precursor for mixing with the liquid in the cavity, wherein the beverage precursor comprises a layer of coffee precursor and a layer comprising a further substance comprising an algae product, wherein the layer comprising the further substance is located between the layer of coffee precursor and the outlet side. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of filling a capsule, a beverage obtained from a capsule and a capsule filling apparatus.

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.