An apparatus for cutting off and joining a sheet element to a container includes an operating unit including a cutting device with a cutting edge surrounding a joining device. The operating unit and the container are movable with respect to one another along a movement axis between a spaced condition, in which a sheet material is interposed therebetween and is spaced therefrom, and a joined condition, in which the joining device joins the material to the container. A retaining device retains the material during joining and cutting. In the joined condition, the cutting device remains fixed relative to the joining device and the retaining device moves along the axis from tensioning to cutting positions, the sheet element being cut on the cutting edge from the material during movement of the retaining device from the tensioning to the cutting positions.

An apparatus for forming an object comprises an extruding device (2) for supplying a continuous extrudate of polymeric material, at least one separating element for cutting the continuous extrudate thereby separating a dose (6; 106) of polymeric material from the continuous extrudate, at least one mould (5; 105; 205; 305; 405) comprising a first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and a second mould part (8; 108; 508) which are movable relative to one another between an open position, in which the dose (6; 106) is rested on a receiving part selected from the first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and the second mould part (8; 108; 508), and a closed position, in which a forming chamber is defined between the first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and the second mould part (8; 108; 508), the forming chamber having a shape corresponding to said object. The apparatus further comprises a thermal conditioning device (11; 111; 211; 311; 411) configured to act on the dose (6; 106) while the dose (6; 106) is positioned in said at least one mould (5; 105; 205; 305; 405) and before the closed position is reached, by thermally conditioning at least one surface portion (20; 120) of the dose (6; 106) which is distinct from a resting portion (17; 117) of the dose (6; 106) which is resting on the receiving part.

A compartmented hard shell capsule for containing active formulations, and methods and apparatuses for forming, filling and encapsulating the compartmented hard shell capsules. The compartmented hard shell capsule includes a cap portion and a body portion. The cap portion has a hollow cavity defining a cap chamber. The body portion can be removably inserted into the cap portion. The body portion has an open end, a closed end and a sidewall defining a hollow cavity and a serrated edge along the open end. The serrated edge may be folded over to form a barrier to enclose the body portion, thereby creating a body chamber that is separate from the cap chamber when the body portion is inserted into the cap portion. The methods for filling and encapsulating the compartmented hard shell capsules can be completed in one continuous process, which increases cost-effectiveness for use of the compartmented hard shell capsules.

Method of forming, in particular a thermoforming method, a foil into a container, in particular a brewing container, especially a coffee capsule, using a plug assist and/or pressure difference in axial main forming direction, directing the foil into a forming tool creating a blank with a cavity and pressing the foil towards the forming tool bottom in order to create a floor for the blank and characterising the method in that the floor of the blank experiences a material distribution, especially a material shifting and/or material compression, during which a constant pressure difference within the blank's cavity is guaranteed and a circumferential annular gap is created.

A method for forming cellulose products from an air-formed cellulose blank having a base and one or more forming moulds attached to the base which is arranged to rotate around a rotational axis, wherein each forming mould comprises a first mould part Wand a corresponding second mould part wherein during rotational movement of the base around the rotational axis each first mould part is arranged to engage with its corresponding second mould part in a pressing direction. The method comprises arranging the cellulose blank in a position between a first mould and the second mould forming the cellulose products in the rotary forming mould system, by applying a forming pressure between the first mould and its corresponding second mould through an engaging movement of the first mould in relation to its corresponding second mould in the pressing direction, wherein the forming moulds are rotating with the base around the rotational axis.

Apparatus and methods of cleaning a sealing head (23) of a capsule filling line, comprising operating an ablation unit (10) to irradiate the sealing head (23) to ablate a residue off the sealing head (23).

An apparatus comprises: at least one mould for forming an object from a dose of polymeric material; a conveying device having a central support rotatable about a first axis the conveying device comprising at least one conveying element movable along a first closed path for collecting the dose and subsequently releasing the dose in the mould; a removing device having a central body rotatable about a second axis, the removing device comprising at least one removing element movable along a second closed path for conveying the object away from the mould.

The first axis is distinct from the second axis and at least one point exists at which one path selected from between the first closed path and the second closed path overlaps another path selected from between the second closed path and the first closed path.

Proposed is an apparatus and method for creating a formed article comprised of at least one layer of thermoplastic and at least one layer of cellulose fibers to create a composite article. The formed article may additionally be compressed to further reduce its thickness and improve its look and feel as well as mechanical properties.

A method for making a capsule provided with a body containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage, including: supplying a first film of thermoplastic material and a second film of filtering material to a forming mold according to a supplying direction, superimposing the second film on the first film, the forming mold including a lower half mold in which a plurality of cavities is obtained and an upper half mold provided with a plurality of stretching elements, one for each cavity, which are movable in one direction that is perpendicular to the supplying direction; pre-heating to a softening temperature the first film of thermoplastic material, by a pre-heating device arranged upstream of the forming mold; closing the forming mold bringing the lower half mold and the upper half mold towards one another until they clamp between one another the first film of thermoplastic material and the second film of filtering material; simultaneously forming in the cavities the bodies of the capsules and the respective filtering elements, using the stretching elements. An apparatus for making a capsule provided with a body containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage, including: one forming mold including a lower half mold wherein a plurality of cavities is obtained and an upper half mold provided with a plurality of stretching elements, one for each cavity, movable in one direction, a supplying means that is movable in one advancement direction that is perpendicular to the direction, to supply simultaneously to the forming mold and to keep taut a first film of thermoplastic material and a second film of filtering material, a pre-heating device for pre-heating at least the first film of thermoplastic material before it is supplied to the forming mold.

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.