A movement unit for articles includes a first carousel device having a first transporter member and first gripping heads mounted thereon and provided to move the articles into a single-row configuration. The movement unit further includes a second carousel device to receive the articles from the first carousel device, having a second transporter member and second gripping heads mounted thereon. Each second gripping head is configured to receive the articles from a respective first gripping head and to move the articles into a multi-row configuration.

A beverage cartridge and method for forming a beverage cartridge. An outer cup may be made of paper and a polymer liner provided at the inner space of the cup. The liner may define an interior space that is closed by a lid, and the liner and lid may be impervious to moisture and gases, e.g., to protect a beverage material in the interior space. A filter may be attached to the liner and/or lid, and the liner may be peelably removable from the cup. The liner, filter and/or lid may be removable together from the cup.

A device and a process for feeding articles to be packaged with a packaging apparatus are presented. The articles are transported on a first conveying line and can be arranged according to a desired pattern, which is repeated on a second conveying line from which the articles will be picked up in a subsequent station. For this purpose, at least one transfer device is provided for transferring the articles from the first conveying line to the second conveying line, with a self-moving transfer arm and a respective gripping device to pick up the articles. The gripping device has a plurality of gripping elements which are movable between a first configuration, in which the gripping elements are aligned with each other to grip the articles from the first conveying line, and a second configuration, in which at least two of the gripping elements are staggered with respect to each other, to lay the articles according to a predetermined pattern.

A packaging process, apparatus and control system for articles to be packaged in box-shaped packagings are presented. The flow of box-shaped packagings and the flow of articles are efficiently managed, avoiding an excessive discarding of the box-shaped packagings during the process. Articles and open box-shaped packagings are conveyed in a continuous flow. Packaging compliance with the instructions related to the box-shaped packagings and article compliance with instructions related to the deposit of the articles are verified. Upon verification of the packaging compliance, the articles are transferred to the box-shaped packagings. In case of lack of packaging compliance, the flow of articles is suspended. In case of lack of article compliance, the articles to be transferred are moved to a buffer.

An apparatus for high speed continuous thermoforming of pulp materials into pulp based products including a beverage dispensing capsule comprising a body having a side wall and a base formed entirely of moulded pulp fibres, said apparatus comprising a holding tank for water and pulp fibres in suspension, a continuous feed belt of articulated mesh toolsets contoured to the preform shape of said products, said belt being inclined to allow partial immersion and partial withdrawal from said suspension by continuous rotation of said belt, vacuum means applied to said mesh toolsets to draw said pulp fibres onto said mesh toolsets immersed in said suspension to form a preform pulp mat of said product.

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.

It is described a capsule (10) for dispensing a beverage comprising: a main body (20) suitable for containing a product (P) to be dispensed, which comprises a bottom (22) and a side wall (24), extending from said bottom (22) and ending with an edge (26); a closing member (30) suitable for sealably closing said main body (20); and at least one first valve means (40) suitable for allowing the beverage to come out from the capsule (10) or for allowing a liquid to enter into the capsule (10). The main body (20) is made from cellulose pulp, the closing member (30) is made from biocompatible material and the capsule (10) further comprises a first sealing film made from edible material comprising at least one salt of alginic acid (23) and positioned inside said bottom (22) of the main body (20) at least at said at least one first valve means (40). It is also described a method for manufacturing a capsule for dispensing a beverage, as defined above.

A machine for making capsules of the type including comprising a container and a dose of product inside the container, including comprises a feed system for feeding at least a first container along a feed path in a direction of feed; at least one filling station for supplying a dose of said product into said first container, at least one detecting station positioned along said feed path downstream of said filling station in the direction of feed and including comprising a detecting sensor operating at said first seat configured to detect the moisture of the product supplied into the first container.

A packaging device and a process for packaging articles arranged according to a predetermined pattern and supplied on a conveyor line are presented, where buffers for the preparation of layers to be packaged are eliminated, while maintaining a high degree of flexibility for a wide range of formats. The packaging device includes one or more transfer devices that pick up the articles and deposit them in layers. The transfer devices have a handling member connected to a respective gripping device, both movable along three orthogonal axes. Each gripping device has gripping elements to pick up an article from the conveyor line. The gripping elements are arranged to form, on each gripping device, a single layer of articles. Each layer is obtained with one or more pickings from the conveyor line, in order to place the articles in a single operation in a respective container of the flow.

Provided are methods for manufacturing a multi-ingredient beverage filter cartridge comprising the steps of: adding an amount of a first soluble beverage medium to the container having an internal bottom end, sidewall, and an access opening opposite the internal bottom end; leveling at least a portion of a top surface of the added first soluble beverage medium so that such top surface is substantially in the range of 1 mm to 11 mm from the internal bottom end; adhering a filter medium to the sidewall such that the filter medium does not contact the first soluble beverage medium, top surface; adding an amount of a second soluble beverage medium to the container such that the second soluble beverage medium forms a layer on top of the filter medium; and enclosing the container with a sealed lid.