Abstract: The present invention relates to beverage preparation capsule containing a beverage preparation ingredient, and methods for the preparation of beverages. In one aspect, these include beverage preparation capsules for use in beverage preparation apparatus comprising a clamp assembly suitable for preparing espresso-type beverages.

Abstract: A paper cup and a method of forming the same. The paper cup may include a sidewall and a floor portion that collectively define a cavity. In one aspect, the paper cup may include a rim that is coated with a rigid shell that encapsulates the rim. In another aspect, a void defined by a rim of the paper cup may be filled with a rigid filler material, and the rigid filler material may be one that expands upon application of heat thereto. In yet another aspect, the paper cup may include a separate rim component that is attached to the sidewall. The separate rim component may be formed from molded pulp fibers, and it may include a flange portion that is attached to the sidewall and a rim portion that protrudes from the sidewall.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule comprising a capsule body having a beverage preparation ingredient hermetically sealed therein, wherein a beverage outlet region of said capsule includes front and back sheets of air- and water-impermeable flexible film material arranged in face-to-face relationship along an edge, a folded strip of flexible film material in the form of a gusset extending inwardly from said edge, wherein at least a central region of said strip is provided with a plurality of perforations or a zone of weakness.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule comprising a capsule body having a beverage preparation ingredient hermetically sealed therein, wherein a beverage outlet region of said capsule includes front and back sheets of air- and water-impermeable flexible film material arranged in face-to-face relationship along an edge, a folded strip of flexible film material in the form of a gusset extending inwardly from said edge, wherein at least a central region of said strip is provided with a plurality of perforations or a zone of weakness.

Abstract: A paper cup and a method of forming the same. The paper cup may include a sidewall and a floor portion that collectively define a cavity. In one aspect, the paper cup may include a rim that is coated with a rigid shell that encapsulates the rim. In another aspect, a void defined by a rim of the paper cup may be filled with a rigid filler material, and the rigid filler material may be one that expands upon application of heat thereto. In yet another aspect, the paper cup may include a separate rim component that is attached to the sidewall. The separate rim component may be formed from molded pulp fibers, and it may include a flange portion that is attached to the sidewall and a rim portion that protrudes from the sidewall.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule comprising a capsule body having a beverage preparation ingredient hermetically sealed therein, wherein a beverage outlet region of said capsule comprises: front and back sheets of air- and water-impermeable flexible film material arranged in face-to-face relationship along an edge; a folded strip of flexible film material in the form of a gusset extending inwardly from said edge, wherein at least a central region of said strip is provided with a plurality of perforations or a zone of weakness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to beverage preparation capsule containing a beverage preparation ingredient, and methods for the preparation of beverages. In one aspect, these include beverage preparation capsules for use in beverage preparation apparatus comprising a clamp assembly suitable for preparing espresso-type beverages.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule (800) is provided comprising a hollow body suitable for containing a beverage preparation ingredient, the hollow body having a top end for receiving liquid into the hollow body, a bottom end for dispensing the beverage from the hollow body, and at least one side wall (813) between the top and bottom ends, the bottom end being in fluid communication with the top end; and the hollow body containing a filter material (830) having a variable porosity along at least one dimension of the filter material's surface area, wherein the filter material (830) is less porous closer to the top or inlet of the hollow body and more porous closer to the bottom or outlet of the hollow body, or wherein the filter material is less porous closer to the side wall of the hollow body and more porous closer the centre of the filter material, or a combination of both.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule (200) is provided comprising a hollow body suitable for containing a beverage preparation ingredient, the hollow body having a top end for receiving liquid into the hollow body, a bottom end for dispensing the beverage from the hollow body, and at least one side wall (210,212) between the top and bottom ends, the bottom end being in fluid communication with the top end; and a sheet of filter material (230) extending from a first position on a side wall (210) to a second position on a side wall (212), wherein said first position is relatively closer to the top end of the hollow body and the second position is relatively closer to the bottom end of the hollow body, such that the sheet of filter material (230) extends across the inside of the hollow body at an incline relative to the side wall. The beverage preparation capsule may be used with a beverage preparation apparatus in a method of preparing a beverage, particularly ground coffee or leaf tea.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule comprising a capsule body having a beverage preparation ingredient hermetically sealed therein, wherein a beverage outlet region of said capsule comprises: front and back sheets of air-and water-impermeable flexible film material arranged in face-to-face relationship along an edge; a folded strip of flexible film material in the form of a gusset extending inwardly from said edge, wherein at least a central region of said strip is provided with a plurality of perforations or a zone of weakness.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to manage alarm configurations of servers are disclosed. An example system includes a processor, an alarm linkage database to store information representative of alarm configurations for a plurality of servers, and a memory comprising machine readable instructions. When executed, the instructions cause the processor to perform operations comprising accessing alarm configurations in the alarm linkage database for a subset of the plurality of servers in response to a first request, initiating a change in respective alarm configurations of the subset of the plurality of the servers, and initiating propagation of the alarm configuration to the subset of the servers, the subset including more than one server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating storage usage information are disclosed. In some implementations, a method includes, at a computer system, displaying, in a first pane, a portion of a hierarchical data structure having a plurality of structural elements. A user selection of a structural element, which includes a plurality of sub-elements, is obtained. In response to the user selection of the structural element: a first grid including: (a) user identifiers, (b) storage usage information corresponding to the user identifiers, in accordance with predefined time ranges, and (c) total storage usage information corresponding to the user identifiers is displayed in a second pane. Further, a second grid including: (a) a first ranked plurality of sub-elements and (b) storage usage information corresponding to the first ranked plurality of sub-elements is also displayed in a third pane.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to manage alarm configurations of servers are disclosed. An example system includes a processor, an alarm linkage database to store information representative of alarm configurations for a plurality of servers, and a memory comprising machine readable instructions. When executed, the instructions cause the processor to perform operations comprising accessing alarm configurations in the alarm linkage database for a subset of the plurality of servers in response to a first request, initiating a change in respective alarm configurations of the subset of the plurality of the servers, and initiating propagation of the alarm configuration to the subset of the servers, the subset including more than one server.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for forming an ultrasonic weld that includes a sonotrode having an ultrasonic actuator coupled to an elongate sealing end face for delivering ultrasonic energy to the webs in the sealing gap and a rotating cylindrical anvil having at least one raised portion extending longitudinally along an outer surface thereof. The raised portion has a radially outer surface, whereby the sealing gap is defined intermittently between the end face of the sonotrode and the radially outer surface of the raised portion of the anvil as the raised portion rotates past the end face of the sonotrode. The elongate sealing end face of the sonotrode has a substantially helical surface, whereby the sealing gap travels helically along the surface as the raised portion of the anvil cylinder rotates past the end face of the sonotrode.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for forming an ultrasonic weld that includes a sonotrode having an ultrasonic actuator coupled to an elongate sealing end face for delivering ultrasonic energy to the webs in the sealing gap and a rotating cylindrical anvil having at least one raised portion extending longitudinally along an outer surface thereof. The raised portion has a radially outer surface, whereby the sealing gap is defined intermittently between the end face of the sonotrode and the radially outer surface of the raised portion of the anvil as the raised portion rotates past the end face of the sonotrode. The elongate sealing end face of the sonotrode has a substantially helical surface, whereby the sealing gap travels helically along the surface as the raised portion of the anvil cylinder rotates past the end face of the sonotrode.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a beverage preparation capsule that includes a body formed substantially from a filtration sheet material, a liquid injection nozzle for injecting liquid into the body, and a beverage preparation ingredient retained inside the capsule body. Also provided is a method of manufacturing the beverage preparation capsule.