Abstract: A machine for making capsules containing a product includes a forming station for forming in a sheet of thermoformable plastic material at least a casing of a capsule having a cavity, a shearing station with a punch and a die for cutting the sheet so as to separate the capsule along a respective edge, and a filling station for dosing the product into the cavity. During the cutting, the punch moves to cut the sheet with the die and then lift and detach the capsule from the sheet. The punch and the die are movable away from each other for placing the capsule on the sheet, and a through opening is created in the sheet by separating the capsule. The through opening has a passage section smaller than external dimensions of the edge to allow the sheet to support and move the capsule along an advancing direction.

Abstract: A capsule for beverages includes a casing made by forming a sheet of thermoformable plastic material, the casing including: a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity suitable for containing an initial product to be combined with a fluid to obtain a final product in the form of a beverage, a first opening of the cavity opposite the base wall, an edge extending from the side wall and surrounding the first opening and a second opening made in the base wall. The first opening is closed hermetically by a cover element fixed to the edge, said the cover element being perforable by an injection arrangement of a dispensing machine in which the capsule is usable. The second opening is closed hermetically by a closing element) suitable for tearing when pressure inside the cavity exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a capsule provided with a shell containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage or the like includes a superimposing assembly for applying a film of filtering material to at least one shell with a cavity in order to cover an opening of the cavity. The shell is moved along a first advancement direction and the apparatus further includes a locking assembly to lock the film to the shell, and a first stretching device included in a first stretching station for heating and stretching a portion of the film facing the cavity in order to obtain a filtering element.

Abstract: A method for making objects by forming a thermoformable sheet material includes forming the objects by interaction of a die assembly and a forming assembly. The method further includes, compressing and crushing a first portion of the sheet material by a crushing punch device before forming the objects and maintaining the first portion crushed during the forming operation to reduce the thickness thereof and to orientate chains of molecules that compose a structure of the sheet material at the first portion, in order to weaken the structure and the first portion. The first portion is thus easily perforable, tearable and breakable.

Abstract: A capsule includes a deformable and/or compressible casing provided with a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity suitable for containing an initial product to be combined with a fluid to make a final product. The deformable base wall is provided with an outlet passage for the outflow and dispensing of the final product, and when the casing is compressed and/or crushed, it changes from an initial configuration to a final configuration. The capsule further includes a closing device inside the cavity, substantially facing and adjacent to the base wall and provided with a closing portion arranged inside the cavity for engaging and closing the outlet passage in the initial configuration of the base wall, and for disengaging and opening the outlet passage, so as to dispense the final product through the outlet passage in the final configuration of the base wall.

Abstract: A forming apparatus for forming objects by forming a sheet of thermoformable material includes a thermal conditioning station including a kiln for heating the material to an operating temperature, and a heating station positioned downstream of the thermal conditioning station and including a heating device to heat set portions of the material to a temperature near a softening temperature of the material. In order to reduce reject material at the restart of the apparatus following machine downtime, the kiln and the heating device are positioned near one another in such a manner that a part of the material interposed between the thermal conditioning station and the heating station is heated by the heat generated by a kiln and/or by the heating device.

Abstract: A method for making a capsule usable in a brewing machine including the steps of: making a filtering element intended for containing the initial product and having at least one gripping portion; fixing the filtering element to a casing; filling the filtering element with a dose of the initial product; fixing a covering element to the casing to close hermetically inside the cavity the filtering element and the initial product; and reinforcing the gripping portion to enable a user grasping the latter to remove at least the filtering element from the casing after use.

Abstract: A capsule includes a casing provided with a base wall and with a side wall defining an open cavity for containing a product to be combined with a fluid to produce a final product. The base wall has such a thickness as to be perforable. The capsule further includes a stiffening element connected with an inner surface of the base wall within the cavity to stiffen the base wall. The base wall includes at least one through opening at a preset portion to be perforated for the outflow of the final product.

Abstract: A capsule includes a casing provided with a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity that is suitable for containing an initial product to be combined with a fluid for making a final product. The base wall is provided with an outlet for dispensing the final product. The base wall is deformable and transitions from an initial configuration to a final configuration following a pressure increase inside the cavity. The capsule includes a closing element positioned inside the cavity, facing and adjacent to the base wall and provided with a closing portion arranged for engaging and closing the outlet in the initial configuration of the base wall, and for disengaging and opening the outlet in the final configuration so as to enable the final product to exit and be dispensed through the outlet of the base wall when it is in the final configuration.

Abstract: A machine for making capsules containing a product includes a forming station for forming in a sheet of thermoformable plastic material at least a casing of a capsule having a cavity, a shearing station with a punch and a die for cutting the sheet so as to separate the capsule along a respective edge, and a filling station for dosing the product into the cavity. During the cutting, the punch moves to cut the sheet with the die and then lift and detach the capsule from the sheet. The punch and the die are movable away from each other for placing the capsule on the sheet, and a through opening is created in the sheet by separating the capsule. The through opening has a passage section smaller than external dimensions of the edge to allow the sheet to support and move the capsule along an advancing direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming objects, in particular containers, and for applying respective labels thereto, includes a forming arrangement provided with a punch cooperating with a cavity of a die to make the objects by forming a sheet of thermoformable material. The cavity includes a first wall element and second walls. The first wall element is movable between a first operating position in which it receives a label and a second operating position in which it bounds the cavity in cooperation with the second walls, and supports the label in such a manner that during a subsequent forming operation the label is fixed to, in particular substantially incorporated in, the object.

Abstract: A capsule for beverages includes a casing made by forming a sheet of thermoformable plastic material, the casing including: a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity suitable for containing an initial product to be combined with a fluid to obtain a final product in the form of a beverage, a first opening of the cavity opposite the base wall, an edge extending from the side wall and surrounding the first opening and a second opening made in the base wall. The first opening is closed hermetically by a cover element fixed to the edge, said the cover element being perforable by an injection arrangement of a dispensing machine in which the capsule is usable. The second opening is closed hermetically by a closing element) suitable for tearing when pressure inside the cavity exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A forming apparatus for forming objects by forming a sheet of thermoformable material includes a thermal conditioning station including a kiln for heating the material to an operating temperature, and a heating station positioned downstream of the thermal conditioning station and including a heating device to heat set portions of the material to a temperature near a softening temperature of the material. In order to reduce reject material at the restart of the apparatus following machine downtime, the kiln and the heating device are positioned near one another in such a manner that a part of the material interposed between the thermal conditioning station and the heating station is heated by the heat generated by a kiln and/or by the heating device.

Abstract: Capsule for beverages includes a casing with a base and side wall defining a cavity suitable for containing an initial product for combining a fluid to obtain a final product, and a flange rim extending from the side wall. The base wall has an opening bounded by a base rim extending up to the side wall; the capsule includes a cover element, fixed to the flange rim to seal hermetically the cavity which is perforable by an extracting or injecting arrangement of a dispensing machine having a usable capsule, and a closing element fixed to the base rim to seal hermetically the capsule, which is respectively perforable by an injecting or extracting arrangement of the dispensing machine; wherein the closing element has greater dimensions than the base wall and is fixed to the side wall remaining joined to the capsule in the presence of a pressure increase inside the capsule.

Abstract: A forming apparatus for forming objects by forming a sheet of thermoformable material includes a thermal conditioning station including a kiln for heating the material to an operating temperature, and a heating station positioned downstream of the thermal conditioning station and including a heating arrangement to heat set portions of the material to a temperature near a softening temperature of the material. In order to reduce reject material at the restart of the apparatus following machine downtime, the kiln and the heating arrangement are positioned near one another in such a manner that a part of the material interposed between the thermal conditioning station and the heating station is heated by the heat generated by a kiln and/or by the heating arrangement.

Abstract: A method for making a capsule usable in a brewing machine including the steps of: making a filtering element intended for containing the initial product and having at least one gripping portion; fixing the filtering element to a casing; filling the filtering element with a dose of the initial product; fixing a covering element to the casing to close hermetically inside the cavity the filtering element and the initial product; and reinforcing the gripping portion to enable a user grasping the latter to remove at least the filtering element from the casing after use.

Abstract: A method for making a filtering element from a film of non-woven material, the filtering element being associable with a container for containing and/or retaining a product, including hot pressing at least one defined portion of the film or of the filtering element so as to obtain a pressed portion in which fibres, in particular synthetic and/or plastic fibres, of at least one external surface layer of the non-woven material are compacted and pressed together and in which a thickness of the non-woven material is reduced by a percentage between 30 and 50%.

Abstract: A method for making objects by forming a thermoformable sheet material includes forming the objects by interaction of a die assembly and a forming assembly. The method further includes, compressing and crushing a first portion of the sheet material by a crushing punch device before forming the objects and maintaining the first portion crushed during the forming operation to reduce the thickness thereof and to orientate chains of molecules that compose a structure of the sheet material at the first portion, in order to weaken the structure and the first portion. The first portion is thus easily perforable, tearable and breakable.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a capsule provided with a shell containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage or the like includes a superimposing assembly for applying a film of filtering material to at least one shell with a cavity in order to cover an opening of the cavity. The shell is moved along a first advancement direction and the apparatus further includes a locking assembly to lock the film to the shell, and a first stretching device included in a first stretching station for heating and stretching a portion of the film facing the cavity in order to obtain a filtering element.

Abstract: A capsule includes a casing provided with a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity that is suitable for containing an initial product to be combined with a fluid for making a final product. The base wall is provided with an outlet for dispensing the final product. The base wall is deformable and transitions from an initial configuration to a final configuration following a pressure increase inside the cavity. The capsule includes a closing element positioned inside the cavity, facing and adjacent to the base wall and provided with a closing portion arranged for engaging and closing the outlet in the initial configuration of the base wall, and for disengaging and opening the outlet in the final configuration so as to enable the final product to exit and be dispensed through the outlet of the base wall when it is in the final configuration.