Abstract: A non-woven fabric is provided having a high strength and a low basis weight. The fabric comprises a plurality of multi-component fibers that are bonded together into a web having a basis weight of 20 gsm or less, an air porosity of at least 1600 L/M2/s and a bonding area percentage in the range of 15-50%, wherein the multi-component fibers include a sheath and at least one core that are each formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. The invention further provides a method of making the non-woven fabric as well as a filtered container or beverage capsule formed with the non-woven fabric.

Abstract: A system is provided for making a beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine. The system includes a filter station for sealing a filter to an interior space of a body for the beverage capsule to define an ingredients chamber; an ingredients station for depositing a desired volume of desired ingredients into the ingredients chamber; and a cover sealing station for sealing a cover to the body. The cover being sealed to the body to define a hinge zone and a peel zone, wherein the hinge zone has a stronger seal than the peel zone.

Abstract: A beverage capsule includes a body defining an interior space having an opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define an ingredients chamber for containing and filtering ingredients for preparing a desired beverage product. The filter is formed of a hydrophobic and non-absorbent polymer material having a basis weight of less than 40 gsm, wherein said filter has a tensile strength of less than 100 N/5 cm in the Machine Direction (MD) and 70 N/5 cm or less in the Cross Direction (CD). The ingredients are disposed in the ingredients chamber for preparing the desired beverage product. A cover is disposed on the body to close the opening.

Abstract: A system and process for forming and sealing a filter in a capsule is provided. The system includes a filter forming station having a mandrel for forming a filter preform, a capsule holder for holding a body of a capsule for receiving the mandrel with the filter preform and a filter sealing station including a sealer for sealing the filter preform to the body at a desired location within the interior surface of the body. The mandrel is adapted to hold the filter preform at a desired position for placement and sealing within the body. The process includes forming a filter preform on a mandrel from a filter material, positioning a body of a capsule for receiving the mandrel with the filter preform, the mandrel being adapted to hold the filter preform, and sealing the filter preform at a desired location to an interior surface of the body.

Abstract: A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.

Abstract: A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.

Abstract: A capsule is provided containing a dosing agent and a system and process is provided for making capsules containing a dosing agent. The capsule includes a body defining an interior space and an opening, the capsule having ingredients and a dosing agent disposed in the interior space and a cover to seal the opening. The process and system includes depositing ingredients and the dosing agent in the interior space of the capsule and then covering the opening.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine. The process includes the steps of: sealing a filter to an interior surface of a body for the beverage capsule to define an ingredients chamber; depositing a desired volume of desired ingredients into the ingredients chamber; and sealing a cover to the body to cover the opening. The cover is sealed to the body to define a hinge zone and a peel zone, wherein the hinge zone has a stronger seal than the peel zone.

Abstract: A system and process for forming and sealing a filter in a capsule is provided. The system includes a filter forming station having a mandrel for forming a filter preform, a capsule holder for holding a body of a capsule for receiving the mandrel with the filter preform and a filter sealing station including a sealer for sealing the filter preform to the body at a desired location within the interior surface of the body. The mandrel is adapted to hold the filter preform at a desired position for placement and sealing within the body. The process includes forming a filter preform on a mandrel from a filter material, positioning a body of a capsule for receiving the mandrel with the filter preform, the mandrel being adapted to hold the filter preform, and sealing the filter preform at a desired location to an interior surface of the body.

Abstract: A system is provided for making a beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine. The system includes a filter station for sealing a filter to an interior space of a body for the beverage capsule to define an ingredients chamber; an ingredients station for depositing a desired volume of desired ingredients into the ingredients chamber; and a cover sealing station for sealing a cover to the body. The cover being sealed to the body to define a hinge zone and a peel zone, wherein the hinge zone has a stronger seal than the peel zone.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine. The process includes the steps of: sealing a filter to an interior surface of a body for the beverage capsule to define an ingredients chamber; depositing a desired volume of desired ingredients into the ingredients chamber; and sealing a cover to the body to cover the opening. The cover is sealed to the body to define a hinge zone and a peel zone, wherein the hinge zone has a stronger seal than the peel zone.

Abstract: A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.

Abstract: A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.

Abstract: A capsule or beverage brewing system or fabric is provided having optimized filtration characteristics. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The filter has a basis weight of 40 gsm or less. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A portion of the ingredients have a grind size of less than 100 microns.

Abstract: A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.

Abstract: A capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. Ingredients are disposed within the interior space for preparing a desired product, a portion of the ingredients being non-permanently bound into a cluster. The cluster acts as a control member for controlling a flow of fluid for a period of time within the capsule. A cover is disposed over the opening.

Abstract: A machine for preparing a product from a capsule that contains desired ingredients is provided. The machine includes a housing, a brew chamber disposed in the housing for holding a capsule and an injection system adapted for injecting a fluid into said capsule. In one embodiment, the injection system has a plurality of injection nozzles that are each adapted for piercing a lid of a capsule. In another embodiment, the brew chamber has at least one movable portion that is adapted to move to receive different sized capsules.

Abstract: A capsule, for use in a machine for preparing consumable products from capsules includes a body defining an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. Ingredients are disposed in the chamber for preparing a desired product with at least 50% of the ingredients having a particulate size greater than a #16 mesh.

Abstract: A capsule is provided containing a dosing agent and a system and process is provided for making capsules containing a dosing agent. The capsule includes a body defining an interior space and an opening, the capsule having ingredients and a dosing agent disposed in the interior space and a cover to seal the opening. The process and system includes depositing ingredients and the dosing agent in the interior space of the capsule and then covering the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for the detection of a leak between a container and a flexible cover secured about an opening in the container. The apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber for receiving the container, a pressure indicating sensor coupled to a controller; and a sensor support. The sensor is positioned on the sensor support wherein, in operation, the sensor is located in close proximity to the container cover such that when the container is within the vacuum chamber and subjected to a vacuum condition, gases within the container cause the cover to expand at the location of a leak between the cover and the container. Upon contact with the cover the sensor generates a signal received by the controller to indicate both the detection and the location of the leak about the opening in the container.