Machine for packaging in capsules, also in vacuum and/or controlled atmosphere

1. Machine for the packaging of capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, comprising:

a cylindrical wheel (G) with horizontal axis (R), peripherally provided with rows (S) of cavities (A) integrally formed thereon, said rows (S) being parallel to said axis (R) and angularly equally distanced by a step (P), said rows (S) of cavities (A) being preset to be interchangeably equipped with moulds (F; F′) having different formats and geometrically congruent to the format of the capsules to be packaged (C; C′),

wherein cavities of the rows of cavities (A) are provided with a cavity depth forming a bottom inner surface of the cavity and a ledge adapted to support the moulds (F; F′), the ledge dividing the cavities into an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a larger diameter than the lower portion and wherein the moulds have an external mould depth less than that of the cavity depth of the cavities forming a bottom outer surface of the moulds, wherein a space is provided in the cavities between the bottom outer surface of the moulds and the bottom inner surface of the cavity to accommodate moulds having different external mould depths,

whereby the ledge securely holds the moulds elevated within a cavity permitting moulds having different external depths to be securely held within a cavity and yet facilitating easy interchangeability.

2. Machine for the packaging of capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, as in claim 1 , wherein:

in proximity of a first station (I) said wheel (G) is fed by empty capsules (C) coming from a feeding device (N).

3. Machine for the packaging of capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, as in claim 2 , wherein:

in proximity of a second station (II) empty capsules are provided with a filtering diaphragm (D) cut and simultaneously thermo-sealed inside on the bottom of each of the empty capsules (C).

4. Machine for the packaging of capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, as in claim 3 , wherein:

in proximity of a third station (III) the empty capsules are filled with hydro-soluble or infusion products (E).

5. Machine for the packaging of capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, as in claim 4 , wherein:

in the fourth station (IV) one of the capsules (C) filled with the product (E) is cut and simultaneously thermo-sealed with a filtering diaphragm (D′).

6. Machine for the packaging of capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, as in claim 4 , wherein:

in the fourth station (IV) one of the capsules (C′) is cut and simultaneously partially thermo-sealed with an hermetic film (D″).

7. Machine for the packaging of capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, as in claim 6 , wherein:

in a fifth station (V) at least one or more rows of capsules already filled and partially closed by the hermetic film (D″) transit under a bell in depression inside which operate thermosealing devices (T) that seal the capsules (C; C′) under vacuum (VACUUM) or under controlled atmosphere (GAS).

8. A machine for the packaging of capsules comprising:

a wheel having an axis;

a plurality of cavities forming rows, the rows being parallel to the axis, each cavity of said plurality of cavities having a cavity depth forming a bottom inner surface of the cavity and a ledge dividing the cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a larger diameter than the lower portion;

a mold adapted to removably fit within at least one of said plurality of cavities, said mold having an external mold depth less than that of the cavity depth of each of said plurality of cavities forming a bottom outer surface of the mold wherein a space is provided in the at least one of said plurality of cavities between the bottom outer surface of the mold and the bottom inner surface of the cavity to accommodate molds having different external mold depths and having a geometrically congruent shape of a capsule and a flange adapted to fit within the ledge, whereby capsules of different structure and format may be used and held within each cavity of said plurality of cavities without modification to the cavity;

a capsule insertion operational station placed adjacent said wheel, whereby the capsule is inserted into at least one of said plurality of cavities;

a filter diaphragm insertion operational station placed adjacent said wheel, whereby a filter diaphragm is inserted into at least one of said plurality of cavities;

a product insertion operational station placed adjacent said wheel, whereby a product is inserted into at least one of said plurality of cavities;

a thermo-sealed filtering diaphragm insertion operational station placed adjacent said wheel, whereby a thermo-sealed filtering diaphragm is inserted into at least one of said plurality of cavities; and

a thermo-sealing device placed adjacent said wheel,

whereby the capsules are packaged at very high production rhythms.

9. A machine for the packaging of capsules as in claim 8 further comprising:

a vacuum bell placed over said thermo-sealing device.

10. A machine for the packaging of capsules as in claim 8 further comprising:

a gas bell placed over said thermo-sealing device.

11. A machine for the packaging of capsules as in claim 8 further comprising: a vacuum bell placed over a portion of said plurality of cavities; and a gas bell placed over said thermo-sealing device.

12. A machine for the packaging of capsules comprising:

a wheel having an axis;

a plurality of cavities forming rows, the rows being parallel to the axis, each cavity of said plurality of cavities having a cavity depth forming a bottom inner surface of the cavity and a ledge dividing the cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a larger diameter than the lower portion;

a mold adapted to removably fit within at least one of said plurality of cavities without any attachment to the bottom, said mold having an external mold depth less than that of the cavity depth of each of said plurality of cavities forming a bottom outer surface of the mold wherein a space is provided in the at least one of said plurality of cavities between the bottom outer surface of the mold and the bottom inner surface of the cavity to accommodate molds having different external mold depths and having a geometrically congruent shape of a capsule;

a flange formed on a perimeter of said mold adapted to fit within the ledge, whereby capsules of different structure and format may be used and held within each cavity of said plurality of cavities without modification to the cavity or attachment to the bottom inner surface of a cavity of said plurality of cavities;

wherein the flange of said mold is seated in the ledge and securely held therein without any attachment to the bottom inner surface of a cavity of said plurality of cavities, whereby said mold is removable merely by disengaging the flange from the ledge and molds having different external mold depths are easily interchangeable;

a capsule insertion operational station placed adjacent said wheel, whereby the capsule is inserted into at least one of said plurality of cavities;

a filter diaphragm insertion operational station placed adjacent said wheel, whereby a filter diaphragm is inserted into at least one of said plurality of cavities;

a product insertion operational station placed adjacent said wheel, whereby a product is inserted into at least one of said plurality of cavities;

a thermo-sealed filtering diaphragm insertion operational station placed adjacent said wheel, whereby a thermo-sealed filtering diaphragm is inserted into at least one of said plurality of cavities; and

a thermo-sealing device placed adjacent said wheel,

whereby the capsules are packaged at very high production rhythms.