Method and apparatus for applying a sealing member to a capsule for preparing a beverage

1. An apparatus for applying a sealing member to a capsule intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, where the capsule includes a body having a bottom wall, a side wall and a flange-like rim which extends from the side wall, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a metering device configured to deliver a charge of sealing composition in a viscous state onto the flange-like rim of the capsule; and

a compression moulding device, provided with a mould forming a shaping cavity which is geometrically shaped to at least partly surround the flange-like rim of the capsule with an uninterrupted inner annular portion of the shaping cavity to compress the charge of sealing composition against the flange-like rim in the shaping cavity,

wherein the flange-like rim has a rear face, directed towards the bottom wall of the body, and a front face, opposite to the rear face, and wherein the charge is applied by placing the charge itself on the front face of the flange-like rim and wherein, during the compression moulding, the compression moulding device is configured to migrate the sealing composition making up the charge around an end edge of the flange-like rim so as to adhere to the rear face of the flange-like rim.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mould has an abutment element which contributes to forming the shaping cavity and includes a plurality of teeth which are angularly spaced and project into the shaping cavity from a position round the outside of the uninterrupted inner annular portion of the shaping cavity itself.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shaping cavity of the mould is shaped to surround at least part of the rear face of the flange-like rim.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shaping cavity of the mould is shaped to surround a zone of intersection between the rear face of the flange-like rim and the side wall of the body.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shaping cavity of the mould is shaped to surround an end edge of the flange-like rim, at least part of the front face and at least part of the rear face of the flange-like rim.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the metering device is provided with:

a nozzle having an annular orifice to allow the sealing composition through the annular orifice;

a cutter positioned downstream of the annular orifice to cut the sealing composition feeding out of the annular orifice to obtain the charge.

7. The apparatus according to one claim 1 , comprising a conveyor, configured to transport a plurality of capsules along a predetermined path, wherein the compression moulding device is movable along the predetermined path in phase synchrony with the conveyor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the mould has an abutment element which contributes to forming the shaping cavity and includes a plurality of teeth which are angularly spaced and project into the shaping cavity from a position round the outside of the uninterrupted inner annular portion of the shaping cavity itself.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of moulds, for each of which the abutment element is associated with the conveyor to receive and support a corresponding capsule and move as one with the conveyor.

10. An apparatus for applying a sealing member to a capsule intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, where the capsule includes a body having a bottom wall, a side wall and a flange-like rim which extends from the side wall, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a metering device configured to deliver a charge of sealing composition onto the flange-like rim of the capsule;

a moulding device, provided with a mould forming a shaping cavity which is geometrically shaped to at least partly surround the flange-like rim of the capsule with an uninterrupted inner annular portion of the shaping cavity to apply the charge of sealing composition against the flange-like rim in the shaping cavity,

wherein the flange-like rim has a rear face, directed towards the bottom wall of the body, and a front face, opposite to the rear face, and wherein the charge is applied by placing the charge itself on the front face of the flange-like rim and wherein, during the moulding, the sealing composition making up the charge is made to migrate around an end edge of the flange-like rim so as to adhere to both the front face and the rear face of the flange-like rim.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the moulding device is a compression moulding device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the mould has an abutment element which contributes to forming the shaping cavity and includes a plurality of teeth which are angularly spaced and project into the shaping cavity from a position round the outside of the uninterrupted inner annular portion of the shaping cavity itself.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the shaping cavity of the mould is shaped to surround at least part of the rear face of the flange-like rim.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the shaping cavity of the mould is shaped to surround a zone of intersection between the rear face of the flange-like rim and the side wall of the body.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the shaping cavity of the mould is shaped to surround an end edge of the flange-like rim, at least part of the front face and at least part of the rear face of the flange-like rim.

16. An apparatus for applying a sealing member to a capsule intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, where the capsule includes a body having a bottom wall, a side wall and a flange-like rim which extends from the side wall, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a metering device configured to deliver a charge of sealing composition in a viscous state to the capsule;

a compression moulding device, provided with a mould forming a shaping cavity which is geometrically shaped to at least partly surround the flange-like rim of the capsule with an uninterrupted inner annular portion of the shaping cavity to compress the charge of sealing composition against the flange-like rim in the shaping cavity,

wherein the flange-like rim has a rear face, directed towards the bottom wall of the body, and a front face, opposite to the rear face, and wherein the charge is applied by placing the charge itself on the front face of the flange-like rim and wherein, during the moulding, the sealing composition making up the charge is made to migrate around an end edge of the flange-like rim so as to adhere to both the front face and the rear face of the flange-like rim.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the mould has an abutment element which contributes to forming the shaping cavity and includes a plurality of teeth which are angularly spaced and project into the shaping cavity from a position round the outside of the uninterrupted inner annular portion of the shaping cavity itself.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the shaping cavity of the mould is shaped to surround at least part of the rear face of the flange-like rim.