Objects having at least a through opening, apparatuses and methods for obtaining objects having at least a through opening

The invention relates to objects having at least a through opening and apparatuses and methods for obtaining such

■ objects. The objects having at least a through opening can be capsules suitable for containing a powder preparation from which it is possible to obtain a beverage, for example coffee, tea or the like. Alternatively, the objects having at least a through opening can be portions of containers such as necks of tubes for toothpaste or for other products, or bottle necks.

Capsules or filters are known comprising an enclosure suitable for receiving a product, for example a powder preparation for obtaining a beverage. The enclosure comprises a side wall, that extends around a longitudinal axis and is bound transversely to the longitudinal axis by an upper wall and by a lower wall. The upper wall is coupled with the side wall after the preparation has been introduced inside the capsule. The lower wall and the side wall can be obtained in a single body.

The lower wall acts as a filter and is provided with a plurality of through openings extending substantially parallelly to the longitudinal axis. These openings, during use of the capsule, enable the preparation to exit the enclosure so as to obtain a beverage such as coffee, tea, milk.

The capsules disclosed above can be made by apparatuses for injection-moulding plastics. Such apparatuses enable the openings of the lower wall to be obtained during injection- moulding inside a forming chamber, without it being necessary . to resort subsequently to further machinings . Nevertheless, apparatuses for injection-moulding are structurally very complex and therefore rather costly. Further, in order for the plastics to be able to flow correctly into the forming chamber, it is necessary for the

plastics to be heated to a temperature such as to be suitably fluid, which requires considerably expenditure of energy.

The openings of the capsules that have just been disclosed have geometries and orientations that cannot be chosen freely but depend on limits imposed by the injection- moulding apparatuses used to obtain such capsules. For example, the dimensions of the openings cannot fall below certain values due to the geometrical tolerances and resistance limits of the aforesaid apparatuses .

Compression-moulding enables many drawbacks of injection- moulding to be overcome. Nevertheless, compression-moulding cannot currently be used to form objects provided with a plurality of small openings, for example capsules containing a preparation for beverages, for the reasons disclosed below.

Known apparatuses for compression-moulding comprise a male mould element and a female mould element. During operation, a dose of plastics is introduced between the male mould element and the female mould element and compressed between these two elements, so as to be shaped according to the desired geometry. Even if high pressures are used, a thin layer of plastics ^' always remains interposed between the male mould element and the female mould element, which makes it impossible to obtain objects provided with through openings. Further cold .machinings are thus necessary that produce chip material and entail a general increase in process costs. Further, the cold machinings cause tensions in the objects that may damage the obj ects . In order to obtain objects provided with through openings of relatively large dimensions, such as necks of tubes for toothpaste, it is known to use apparatuses for compression- moulding. However, these apparatuses require annular doses of plastics to be used. The annular doses, in order to be appropriately processed, have to be positioned with a certain precision inside the mould so that the opening in

the formed object is obtained correctly. This makes the productive process more complicated and thus costly than if non-annular and compact doses are processed, for example doses with a disc or substantially spherical shape. An object of the invention is to improve the apparatuses and methods to obtain objects having at least a through opening. Another object is to provide apparatuses and methods that enable objects having at least a through opening to be obtained in a simple, fast and cheap manner without chip material being generated.

A further object is to obtain objects provided with through openings the geometry and orientation of which can be chosen more freely compared with the prior art . In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising the steps of : shaping a material by first forming means and second forming means cooperating together for forming an object, obtaining at least a through opening on said object, characterised in that said obtaining comprises moving said first forming means and said second forming means one another so as to apply to said material a cutting force that separates adjacent zones of said material for generating said at least a through opening. In an embodiment, said applying comprises moving said zones that are adjacent to one another for creating in said material a discontinuity defining the at least a through opening . Said material can be plastics that are at a temperature at which said plastics are deformable.

In a further embodiment, said shaping comprises compression- moulding said material between the first forming means and the second forming means . Said material may comprise a dose of plastics separated from an extruding device, or a mixture of at least a metal material and a plasticising substance.

In another embodiment, said shaping comprises thermoforming a sheet material interposed between the first forming means and the second forming means .

Said object can be a capsule suitable for containing a preparation for a beverage. In this case, the object comprises a plurality of through openings included in a filter of the capsule.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for forming an object having at least a through opening, comprising first forming means and second forming means that cooperate mutually for obtaining said object from a material in a forming position, characterised in that a first position of said first forming means and a second portion of said second forming means are mutually slidable in said forming position, so as to apply to said material a cutting force that separates adjacent zones of said material for generating said at least a through opening. Owing to the first and the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus and a method that is able to simplify the production of objects having at least a through opening. These objects can thus be obtained more, quickly than in the prior art, inasmuch as the at least a through opening is defined directly by the first forming means and by the second forming means, without requiring further machinings . This also enables the productive process to be made very cheap.

Further, owing to the fact that the at least a through opening is obtained by a cutting force exerted by the first forming means and by the second forming means , the drawbacks of known apparatuses are eliminated, in which known apparatuses the material is forced to flow through narrow passages for generating the> through openings . The method and the apparatus according to the first two aspects of the invention enable the at least a through opening to be formed when the material, from which the object is obtained, is heated to a temperature at which this

material is deformable. This prevents tensions forming that are generally produced when the through openings are obtained by cold machinings .

Further, the forces required for obtaining the at least a through opening are significantly reduced if compared with the forces applied during cold machinings .

Lastly, owing to the first two aspects of the invention, it is possible to obtain the at least a through opening without producing chip materials, which entails a reduction of production costs .

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a capsule that is suitable for containing a powder substance for preparing a beverage, comprising a side wall extending around an axis and a filtering wall provided with a plurality of through openings, characterised in that the through openings of said plurality of through openings lead onto at least a surface substantially parallel to said axis. In a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a capsule that is suitable for containing a powder substance for preparing a beverage, comprising a side wall extending around an axis . and a filtering wall provided with a plurality of through openings, characterised in that said capsule is obtained by compression-moulding. Owing to the third and fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain capsules fast and cheaply. Further, the through openings of the capsules according to the third and fourth aspect of the invention have geometries and orientations that can be chosen more freely than the capsules of the prior art. In a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for forming an object having a through opening, comprising the steps of: providing a precursor of said object, said precursor having a wall in a position in which it is intended to obtain said through opening;

breaking said wall for obtaining wall portions arranged around said through, opening; shaping said wall portions for defining an edge zone of said through opening. In a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for forming an object having a through opening, comprising breaking means for breaking a wall of a precursor of said object, so as to obtain wall portions arranged around said through opening, said apparatus further comprising shaping means for shaping said wall portions so as to define an edge zone of said through opening. Owing to the fifth and sixth aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain objects having a through opening, such as, for example, necks of tubes for. toothpaste, in a simplified manner with respect to the prior art. In fact, in the prior art, in the case of necks of tubes obtained by injection-moulding there are high production costs linked to the structural complexity of the moulding apparatuses and to the fact that the plastics have to be brought to a high temperature to ensure the correct fluidity thereof .

In the case of necks of tubes obtained by compression- moulding, annular doses of plastics have to be used and positioned precisely in the mould until the formed object has a through opening of good quality. The costs associated with the production of objects having a through opening are thus reduced.

The invention will be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings that show embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus for obtaining a capsule suitable for containing a preparation for beverages ;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section of a portion of the apparatus in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a schematic section view that shows an apparatus according to the invention in a first operating configuration;

Figure 4 is a schematic section view that shows the apparatus of Figure 3 in a second operating configuration;

Figure 5 is a schematic and section view that shows the apparatus of Figure 3 in a third operating configuration;

Figure 6 is a further schematic section view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3, in the first operating configuration;

Figure 7 is a further schematic section view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3, in the second operating configuration;

Figure 8 is a further schematic section view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 in the third operating configuration;

Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view that shows an embodiment of an apparatus and an object provided with through openings obtained by such apparatus ; Figure 10 is a perspective, enlarged and fragmentary view showing the apparatus and the object of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a top view of a portion of the object of

Figures 9 or 10;

Figure 12 is a view like that in Figure 11, that shows a portion of the object of Figure 9 from a side opposite the side in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view that shows another embodiment of an apparatus and another object provided with through openings obtained by such apparatus; Figure 14 is a perspective, enlarged and fragmentary view of the apparatus and of the object of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a further perspective view of the object in

Figure 13 ;

Figure 16 is a perspective, enlarged and fragmentary view showing a detail of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view that shows a further embodiment of an apparatus and a further object provided with through openings obtained by such apparatus;

Figure 18 is a perspective, enlarged and fragmentary view of the apparatus and of the object of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a perspective, enlarged and fragmentary view of the object of Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a perspective view of a container neck provided with a through opening; Figure 21 is another perspective view of the container neck in Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the container neck of Figure 20 and of an apparatus for obtaining this container neck; Figure 23 is a perspective section view that shows an apparatus for forming an object provided with a through opening, for example a container neck, in a first work configuration;

Figure 24 is a view like that of Figure 23, showing the apparatus in a second work configuration;

Figure 25 is a view like that of Figure 23, showing the apparatus in a third work configuration;

Figure 26 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the object obtained in the first work configuration shown in Figure 23;

Figure 27 is a perspective view of the object obtained in the second work configuration shown in Figure 24;

Figure 28 is a perspective view of the object finished and obtained in the third work configuration shown in Figure 25; Figure 29 is a schematic, fragmentary and section view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of Figure 1, in a first operating position;

Figure 30 is a view like that of Figure 29, showing the apparatus in a second operating position; Figure 31 is a view like that of Figure 29, showing the apparatus in a third operating position;

Figure 32 is a plan view of a portion of an object that can be obtained by the apparatus of Figure 29;

Figure 33 is a perspective view of the portion of the object of Figure 32; Figure 34 is a perspective and enlarged view that shows the object of Figure 32 from the opposite side to that of Figure 33;

Figure 35 is a plan view that shows a portion of an object that can be obtained by the apparatus of Figure 29, in an alternative embodiment;

Figure 36 is a perspective view of the portion of the object of Figure 35;

Figure 37 is a perspective and enlarged view that shows the object of Figure 35, from the side opposite to the side that is visible in Figure 36.

An apparatus 1, shown in Figures 1 and 2, is provided with first forming means, comprising for example a female mould element 2, and with second forming means, comprising for example a male mould element 3. The female mould element 2 and the male mould element 3 are mutually movable along a moulding direction S between a closed or forming position, shown in Figures 1 and 2, and an open position that is not shown. In the forming position, between the female mould element 2 and the male mould element 3 there is defined a forming chamber having a shape substantially corresponding to the object that it is desired to obtain. In the open position, the formed object can be moved away from the first forming means and from the second forming means . For example, the female mould element 2 can be movable along the moulding direction S, whilst the male mould element 3 is fixed, or vice versa the male mould element 3 can be movable whilst the female mould element 2 is fixed. The female mould element 2 and the male mould element 3 may also be both movable along the moulding direction S .

The female mould element 2 and the male mould element 3 cooperate for compression-moulding a compact dose 10 of plastics for forming an object, such as a capsule 4. The dose 10 was previously separated from a material exiting an 5 extruding device.

The dose 10 can be made entirely of plastics or, in an embodiment, may comprise a mixture of at least a metal material and a plasticising substance. The metal material may comprise aluminium. The metal material can be made ofo powder, whilst the plasticising substance acts as a binder and provides plasticity to the metal material. In all cases, whatever the metal material, the capsule, once it has been formed, can be cooled and subjected to a treatment, for example to a dewaxing treatment, to eliminate thes plasticising substance. Subsequently, the capsule can be subjected to a heat treatment such as sintering or compacting.

The capsule 4 has a circular plan shape, but can also have other geometrical shapes . o The capsule 4 acts as a container and/or a filter for a product, for example a powder preparation from which it is possible to obtain a beverage, for example coffee, tea or the like. The female mould element 2 comprises a die 5 that defines as cavity 15 intended to receive the dose 10 to be shaped.

The die 5 is provided with a shaping side wall 6, suitable for shaping an external side surface 8 of the capsule 4, and with a shaping base wall 7, suitable for shaping an external base surface 9 of the capsule 4. 0 The shaping base wall 7 is provided with a plurality of forming recesses 16 and of forming ridges 17, arranged inside the cavity 15 (shown better in a schematic manner in Figures 3 to 8) . The forming recesses 16 and the forming ridges 17 are distributed in an alternate manner according5 to methods that will be disclosed in greater detail with reference to various embodiments of the apparatus 1.

The male mould element 3 comprises a further shaping side wall 11, suitable for shaping an internal side surface 12 of the capsule 4, and a further shaping base wall 13, suitable for shaping an internal base surface 14 of the capsule 4. The further shaping base wall 13 comprises a plurality of forming protrusions 18. Between a forming protrusion 18 and a further forming protrusion 18 adjacent thereto there is defined a corresponding forming zone 19. Each forming protrusion 18 is bound by two operating surfaces 20, shown in- Figures 3 to 8, that can extend parallelly to the moulding direction S. The two operating surfaces 20 bound two faces of the forming protrusion 18 opposite one another. Each forming ridge 17 of the die 5 is bound laterally by further operating surfaces 21 intended to interact with the operating surfaces 20. In particular, the operating surfaces 20 can slide in relation to the corresponding further operating surfaces 21, or vice versa, so as to apply to the plastics a cutting force such as to separate adjacent zones of the plastics, and thus generate a through opening, as will be disclosed with greater detail below.

Figures 3 to 8 schematically show the operating principle of the apparatus 1 in various steps during compression-moulding of the dose 10. Initially, the dose 10 is introduced inside the die 5, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, after which the male mould element 3 and the female mould element 2 are moved towards one another so as to compress the dose 10 as shown in Figures 4 and 7. In the example shown, the female mould element 2 is moved upwards so as to move towards the male mould element 3, which remains fixed.

Whilst the male mould element 3 penetrates inside the die 5, each forming protrusion 18 is received in a corresponding forming recess 16. Similarly, the forming ridges 17 are received in the forming zones 19.

In the example shown, the forming recesses 16 have the shape of grooves, for example rectilinear grooves. Such grooves can be parallel to one another and to a diameter of the shaping base wall 7. Also the forming ridges 17 extend continuously between two opposite zones of the shaping side wall 6. The forming ridges 17 can be parallel to a diameter of the shaping base wall 7 and have, for example, a rectilinear shape. As shown in Figures 6 to 8 , the forming protrusions 18 do not extend continuously between two opposite zones of the shaping side wall 6. On the other hand, the forming protrusions 18 can have the shape of prismatic elements or a truncated pyramid shape that protrude from a lower surface of the male mould element 3. A plurality of forming protrusions 18, arranged along a rectilinear zone, penetrates inside the groove defined by the corresponding forming recess 16, and crushes a certain fraction of plastics that is interposed between the forming protrusions 18 and the corresponding forming recess 16, forcing the plastics to flow into the zones that are not occupied by the forming protrusions 18, i.e. into the zones that separate two adjacent forming protrusions 18 housed in the same forming recess 16. Simultaneously, the operating surfaces 20 come into contact with corresponding further operating surfaces 21, by sliding the operating surfaces 20 and the further operating surfaces 21 in relation to one another so as to subject the plastics to a cutting action that enables discontinuity to be obtained in the plastics, from which a through opening of the capsule 4 is generated. This is clearly visible from a comparison of Figures 4 and 7 respectively with Figures 4 and 8. The through opening thus obtained opens on a surface of the capsule 4 that is not perpendicular to the moulding direction S, for example on a surface of the capsule 4 parallel to the moulding direction S.

It is possible to regulate the mutual movement of the male mould element 3 and of the female mould element 2 so that each forming protrusion 18 penetrates inside the corresponding forming recess 16 by a determined amount so as to obtain through openings having desired dimensions. The extent of the through openings , in other words , is determined by sliding the operating surfaces 20 and the further operating surfaces 21 in relation to one another by a suitable amount. Owing to this it is possible to obtain capsules having through openings the extents . of which can be chosen freely by simply modifying a final closing position of the male mould element 3 and of the female mould element 2, without having to modify the apparatus. The productive process is thus simplified, reducing the costs thereof. Figures 9 and 10 schematically show a first embodiment of the apparatus 1 that operates according to the operating principle that has just been disclosed above.

In this embodiment, the forming protrusions 18 are arranged radially with respect to the moulding direction S. In other words, the forming protrusions 18 are obtained along circumferential concentric zones of the lower surface of the male mould element 3. The forming protrusions 18 are positioned so that the operating surfaces 20 extend circumferentially along concentric cylindrical surfaces. The forming ridges 17 and the forming recesses 16, in this embodiment, are of an annular and concentric shape. In other words, the forming recesses 16 have the shape of circular grooves. The forming ridges 17 have the shape of continuous circular ribs. Each forming recess 16 is interposed between two adjacent forming ridges 17.

Each forming recess 16 is thus bound by a pair of mutually facing further operating surfaces 21.

When the forming protrusions 18 arranged along the same circumference penetrate a corresponding forming recess 16, the two operating surfaces 20, with which each forming protrusion 18 is provided, come into contact with a

respective further operating surface 21 bounding the forming recess 16. The plastics interposed there are moved to the bottom of the forming recess 16 and into the space between two adjacent forming protrusions 18. The further operating surfaces 21, coming into contact with the operating surfaces 20 and sliding in relation thereto, exert a cutting action on the plastics, so as to generate in the capsule 4 a corresponding through opening 22. The capsule 4 that is thus obtained comprises a filtering wall 23 extending around an axis A, provided with a plurality of through openings 22. The dimensions of the openings 22, as disclosed above, depend on how much the forming protrusions 18 penetrate the respective forming recesses 16. On the filtering wall 23 there is defined an internal base surface 24 that faces the interior of the volume enclosed by the capsule 4.

On the filtering wall 23 annular protruding portions 28 are obtained that project parallelly to the axis A, outside the capsule 4, and are arranged concentrically to one another, as better shown in Figure 12. The annular protruding portions 28 have a shape corresponding to that of the forming recesses 16. Each opening 22 has a first open zone 25 that leads onto the internal base surface 24 (as shown in Figure 11) , and a second open zone 26 that leads onto a surface parallel to the axis A, i.e. onto a cylindrical surface 29 of a corresponding annular protruding portion 28, this cylindrical surface 29 facing a peripheral region of the filtering wall 23. Each opening 22 further comprises a third open zone 27 that leads onto a further surface parallel to the axis A, i.e. onto a further cylindrical surface 30 of the annular protruding portion 28, the further cylindrical surface 30 facing a central zone of the filtering wall 23. In other words, the second open zone 26 and the third open zone 27 define an opening portion that extends radially

through the annular protruding portions 28. Each annular protruding portion 28 comprises an annular surface 60 parallel to a plane that is transverse to the axis A, which is not traversed by the openings 22. In an embodiment, the forming protrusions 18, the forming recesses 16 and the forming ridges 17 are configured so as to obtain through openings 22 that lead onto the internal base surface 24 and onto the cylindrical surfaces 29 and do not lead onto the further cylindrical surfaces 30. In this case, of each forming protrusion 18, only the operating surface 20 that is further from a central axis of the male mould element 3 slides in contact with a corresponding further operating surface 21, so as to obtain the second open zones 26. On the other hand, the operating surface 20 of the aforesaid forming protrusion 20 that is nearer the aforesaid central axis, during forming, remains spaced apart from the further operating surface 21 facing the operating surface 20, so as to define a gap that is occupied by the plastics. In this manner the third open zones 27 are not obtained.

In another embodiment, the forming protrusions 18, the forming recesses 16 and the forming ridges 17 are. configured so as to obtain openings 22 that lead onto the internal base surface 24 and onto the further cylindrical surfaces 30 and do not lead onto the cylindrical surfaces 29. In this case, of each forming protrusion 18, only the operating surface 20 that is nearer the central axis of the male mould element 3 is shaped to slide in contact with a corresponding further operating surface 21, so as to obtain the third open zones 27. On the other hand, the operating surface 20 of the aforesaid forming protrusion 20, that is further from the aforesaid central axis, during forming, remains spaced apart from the further operating surface 21 facing the operating surface 20, so as to define a further gap that is occupied by the plastics. In this manner, the second open zones 26 are not obtained.

In a further embodiment, it is possible to obtain a capsule having any combination of the configurations of through opening disclosed above. Figures 13 and 14 schematically show a second embodiment of the apparatus 101, having many parts in common with the apparatus 1 disclosed previously.

The apparatus 101 is used to obtain a capsule 104, also shown in Figures 15 and 16, that is distinguished from the preceding capsule 4 in what will be disclosed below. The apparatus 101 comprises a female mould element 102 and a male mould element 103.

The male mould element 103 is provided with forming protrusions 118, that are shaped in a similar manner to what has been disclosed for the preceding embodiment of the apparatus but which are distributed by lines or columns, i.e. along rectilinear zones that are perpendicular to one another .

Similarly, the female mould element 102 comprises forming recesses 116 and forming ridges 117 that, unlike the previously disclosed apparatus embodiment, are not of annular shape, but are of prismatic shape and are also arranged by rows or columns, i.e. along straight lines that are perpendicular to one another. Each forming protrusion 118 is provided with operating surfaces 120 opposite one another. The operating surfaces 120 extend substantially parallelly to the moulding axis S. Each forming protrusion 118 further comprises a pair of shaping surfaces 150 opposite one another and arranged transversely to the operating surfaces 120. Each forming recess 116 is provided with further operating surfaces 121. The further operating surfaces 121 are arranged substantially parallelly to the moulding direction S, and are suitable for cooperating with the operating surfaces 120. Each forming recess 116 further comprises a pair of further shaping surfaces 151 opposite one another and arranged

transversely to the further operating surfaces 121. The further shaping surfaces 151, during forming, face the corresponding shaping surfaces 150.

During operation, each forming protrusion 118 is received in a corresponding forming recess 116.

Each shaping surface 150 is positioned so as to face a corresponding further shaping surface 151 remaining separated from the further shaping surface 151 by a certain distance. Between each shaping surface 150 and the corresponding further shaping surface 151 a gap remains defined that is occupied by the plastics, which are progressively pushed by the forming protrusion 118. In the meantime, each operating surface 120 comes into contact with a corresponding further operating surface 121 and slides with respect thereto, thus applying to the plastics a cutting action such as to separate adjacent zones of plastics to obtain an opening 122.

The capsule 104 that is obtained from the apparatus 101 comprises a filtering wall 123, extending around an axis A. The filtering wall 123 is provided with an internal base surface 124, facing inside the volume enclosed by the capsule 104, and with an external base surface 152, facing the outside of the capsule 104. On the filtering wall 123 protruding portions 153 are defined that protrude from the external base surface 152. Each protruding portion 153 comprises a first surface 154 and a second surface 155, arranged parallelly to the axis A. The first surface 154 and the second surface 155 can be parallel to one another. Each protruding portion 153 further comprises a pair of side surfaces 156, each of which is interposed transversely between a first surface 154 and a second surface 155. The side surfaces 156, in particular, are arranged in a tilted manner with respect to the axis A, and define two respective planes that can converge on a side opposite the internal base surface 124. Once forming has finished, this enables

the capsule 104 to be disengaged more easily from the female mould element 102, and in particular enables the protruding portions 153 to be extracted from the forming recesses 116. Each opening 122 comprises a first open zone 125 that leads onto the internal base surface 124, a second open zone 126 that leads onto the first surface 154 and a third open zone 127 that leads onto the second surface 155.

Each opening 122 is bound by a corresponding transverse wall 160 of the protruding portion 153 extending transversely to the axis A.

All the protruding portions 153 are orientated in the same manner, i.e. all the first surfaces 154 and all the second surfaces 155 are arranged parallelly to the same diameter of the filtering wall 123. In an embodiment, the protruding portions 153 can be orientated differently from the embodiment of capsule 104 of Figures 14, 15 and 16. It is, for example, possible to provide some protruding portions that are orientated so that the corresponding first surfaces and second surfaces are parallel to a first, diameter, and other protruding portions are orientated so that the corresponding first surfaces and second surfaces are parallel to a second diameter arranged transversely to the first diameter. Figures 17 and 18 schematically show a third embodiment of the apparatus 201, shaped in a similar manner to the apparatus 101 but which differ in what- will be disclosed below.

The apparatus 201 comprises a female mould element 202 and a male mould element 203, which cooperate to obtain a capsule 204. The capsule 204 comprises a filtering wall 223, shown also in Figure 19. ^'

The male mould element 203 comprises forming protrusions 218, whilst the female mould element 202 comprises forming recesses 216. The forming protrusions 218 and the forming recesses 216 are shaped to obtain in the capsule 204 protruding portions 253,

that are shaped similarly to the protruding portions 153 of the capsule 104, and through openings 222.

Each forming protrusion 218 comprises an operating surface

220, substantially parallel to the moulding direction S, a 5 pair of first shaping surfaces 250 opposite one another, and a second shaping surface 257, opposite the operating surface

220. The operating surface 220 and the second shaping surface 257 are arranged transversely to the shaping surfaces 250. o Each forming recess 216 comprises a further operating surface 221, arranged substantially parallelly to the moulding direction S and suitable for cooperating with a corresponding operating surface 220.

Each forming recess 216 comprises a pair of further first5 shaping surfaces 251, that during forming face first shaping surfaces 250 of a corresponding forming protrusion 218. The further first shaping surfaces 251 are arranged transversely to the further operating surface 221.

-Each forming recess 216 lastly comprises a further" secondo shaping surface 258, opposite the further operating surface

221 and suitable for cooperating with a corresponding second shaping surface 257.

During forming, when each forming protrusion 218 penetrates a corresponding forming recess 216, the first shaping5 surfaces 250 remain separated from the further shaping surfaces 251 by a certain distance, so as to define a gap that is filled by the plastics .

Similarly, the second shaping surface .257 and the further second shaping surface 258 remain mutμally separated by a0 further distance, so as to define a further gap that is occupied by plastics.

Each operating surface 220, on the other hand, comes into contact with a corresponding further operating surface 221.

The operating surface 220 slides on the corresponding5 further operating surface 221 so that a cutting action is

applied to the plastics that enables adjacent zones of plastics to be separated for obtaining an opening. The capsule 204 that is obtained is provided with through openings 222 that differ from the through openings 122 5 obtained by the preceding apparatus 101 in what will be disclosed below.

Each protruding portion 253 of the capsule 204 comprises a first surface 254, arranged substantially parallelly to a longitudinal axis A of the capsule 204, and a second surfaceo 255, arranged opposite the first surface 254. The second surface 255 can be arranged parallelly to the first surface 254.

Each opening 222 comprises a first open zone 225 (better visible in Figure 18) that leads onto an internal bases surface 224 of the filtering wall 223, and a second open zone 226, shown in Figure 19, that leads onto the first surface 254 of the corresponding protruding portion 253. Each opening 222 is bound by a corresponding transverse wall 260 of the protruding portion 253 extending transversely too the axis A.

Unlike from the capsule 104, in the capsule. 204 the openings 222 do not lead onto the second surfaces 255. In the capsule 204, the openings 222 lead only onto a side of each protruding portion 253, and not onto two sides that- - are5 opposite one another as in the capsule 104.

In the capsule 204 shown in Figure 19, the protruding portions 253 are all equally orientated, i.e. all the first surfaces 254 are parallel to a same diameter of the filtering wall 223. o In an embodiment, the protruding portions 253 can also be orientated differently from what has been shown in Figure 19. It is possible to provide, for example, some protruding portions that are orientated so that the corresponding first surfaces are parallel to a diameter of the filtering wall5 223, and other protruding portions that are orientated so that the corresponding first surfaces, in this particular

case, are parallel to a further diameter arranged transversely to the aforesaid diameter.

Further, the protruding portions 253, in one case, may not be parallelepipedon-shaped, and may, on the other hand, have the shape of a truncated pyramid.

In a further embodiment it is possible to provide a capsule having any combination of the through opening configurations of the capsule 104 and of the capsule 204. The capsules disclosed above with reference to Figures 1 to 19, owing to the fact that they are obtained by compression- moulding, are devoid of the risers that are found in known capsules obtained by injection-moulding. The risers are residues of plastics that remain in the zones into which the injection conduit- of the plastics leads and which generate protuberances that cause a displeasing aesthetic appearance. Further, such protuberances can act as initiation points for tensions and breaks in the capsules.

Alternatively to compression-moulding, it is possible to obtain the previously disclosed capsules through injection- moulding. In this case, the first forming means and the second forming means, during injection of the plastics, are already arranged in a forming position to define a forming cavity. When a desired amount of plastics has been introduced into the forming cavity, the first forming means and the second forming means are moved mutually so that the forming protrusions and the respective forming recesses, by interacting with one another, apply a cutting force to the plastics to separate adjacent zones of plastics and in this manner generate the through openings on the filtering walls. The dimension of the openings that are obtained can be modified by varying the amount of penetration of the forming protrusions with respect to the forming recesses. It is further possible for the apparatuses disclosed above, both in the compression-moulding field and in the injection- moulding field, to operate such as- to obtain a capsule provided with through openings along the thickness of the

filtering wall of the capsule, i.e. openings that extend parallelly to a longitudinal axis of the capsule. In fact, it is possible to provide portions of the first forming means and further portions of the second forming means that, in a forming position, are such as to slide mutually in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the capsule, for example through the effect of relative rotation of the first forming means in relation to the second forming means around the longitudinal axis . The portions and the further portions thus apply to the plastics a cutting force that separates adjacent zones of plastics to generate one or more through openings on the filtering wali. Figures 29 to 31 show an apparatus 501 having some similarities with apparatuses disclosed previously, but which differs therefrom in what will be disclosed below.

The apparatus 501 is provided with a female mould element 502 and with a male mould element 503.

The female mould element 502 and the male mould element 503 are mutually movable along the moulding direction S and cooperate to mould, for example in the case of compression- moulding, a compact dose 500 of plastics for forming an obj ect , such as a capsule .. In the example shown in Figures 29 to 31, the female mould element 502 is fixed, and. the male mould element 503 is movable. The female mould element 502 comprises forming recesses 516. The male mould element 503 comprises forming protrusions 518, suitable for cooperating with the forming recesses 516. The forming protrusions 518, in the disclosed example, are arranged by lines and columns. Each forming protrusion 518 comprises an operating surface 520 that, in the example shown in Figures 29 to 31, is arranged parallelly to the moulding direction S. Each forming protrusion 518 comprises a pair of first shaping surfaces 550 arranged on sides opposite one another and arranged transversely to the operating surface 520.

Each forming protrusion 518 further comprises a second shaping surface 557 arranged on an opposite side to the operating surface 520. The second shaping surface 557 is arranged transversely to the first shaping surfaces 550. In a first embodiment, the apparatus 501 is configured to obtain a capsule 590 as shown in Figures 32 to 34. In this embodiment, the female mould element 502 can be shaped in a similar manner to what was disclosed for the apparatus 201, with reference to Figures 17 and 18. Each forming recess 516 has, for example, a parallelepipedon or truncated pyramid shape, and is shaped for receiving a respective forming protrusion 518.

Each forming recess 516 comprises a further operating surface 521 that, in the example shown in Figures 29 to 31, is arranged substantially parallelly to the moulding direction S and is suitable for cooperating with a corresponding operating surface 520 of a forming protrusion 518. Each forming recess 516 further comprises further first shaping surfaces (not shown) that during forming face respective first shaping surfaces 550 of a corresponding forming protrusion 518. The further first shaping surfaces are arranged transversely to the further operating surface

521. ^{■ •} Each forming recess 516 comprises a further second shaping surface 558, opposite the further operating surface 521 and suitable for cooperating with a corresponding second shaping surface 557. The second shaping surface 558 can be arranged slightly tilted, rather than being parallel to the further operating surface 521. In this way extraction of the capsule 590 from the apparatus 501 at the end of forming can be facilitated.

During forming, each forming protrusion 518 is moved along a first linear path T, parallelly to the moulding direction S, and subsequently along a second linear path U, transversely

to the moulding direction S, for example perpendicularly to the moulding direction S.

In particular, along the first linear path T, each forming protrusion 518 penetrates a corresponding forming recess 516. The first shaping surfaces 550 remain separated from the further first shaping surfaces by a certain distance, so as to define a gap that is- filled by the plastics. Similarly, the second shaping surface 557 and the further second shaping surface 558 remain mutually separated by a further distance, so as to define a further gap that is occupied by plastics.

Each operating surface 520, on the other hand, comes into contact with a corresponding further operating surface 521. The operating surface 520, along the first linear path, slides on the corresponding further operating surface 521 so that a cutting action is applied to the plastics that is able to separate adjacent zones of plastics to obtain a through opening, similarly to what was disclosed previously for the other capsule embodiments . In this manner protruding portions .553 are obtained that protrude from an external base surface 509 of the capsule 590.

Subsequently, each forming protrusion 518 is moved along the second linear path U so as to move the operating surface 520 away from the respective further operating surface 521, and so as to move the second shaping surface 557 towards the corresponding further second shaping surface 558. Each forming' protrusion 518, whilst it moves along the second linear path U, tends to move with itself also the plastics that are contiguous therewith. In other words, the forming protrusion 518 tends to move the protruding portion 553 with itself. In this manner, the zones of plastics that surround the opening obtained previously are deformed through the effect of the cohesion of the plastics to the forming protrusion 518. The opening can thus be deformed so

as to open partially onto a surface that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis A of the capsule 590.

In order to ensure that the plastics do not flow back into the empty regions that are generated near the opening through the effect of the moving of the operating surface 520 away from the further operating surface 521, it is possible to decrease the temperature of the plastics, for example by cooling circuits included in the apparatus 501. Alternatively, or also in combination with what has just been said, it is also possible to move the female mould element 502 away from the male mould element 503 by a certain amount, parallelly to the moulding direction S, for example whilst each forming protrusion 518 moves along the second linear path U, so as to increase by a certain amount the volume occupied by the plastics and thus reduce the pressure exerted on the plastics.

In other words, each forming protrusion 518, by moving along the second linear path, deforms the respective . protruding portion 553, which then assumes the definitive shape that is better visible in Figure 34.

A through opening 522 bound by an edge 540 that is contained in a surface having a position that can vary is thus obtained. In particular, the surface that contains the edge 540 can have zones that lie substantially parallelly to the longitudinal axis A of the capsule 590 and further zones arranged transversely to the axis A. In one case, the further zones can be arranged perpendicularly to the axis A. Part of the edge 540 of the through opening 522 can extend on the external base surface 509 of the capsule 590. In a second embodiment, the apparatus 501 is configured to obtain a capsule 604, as shown in Figures 35 to 37. In this embodiment of the apparatus, the forming protrusions 518, rather than being arranged by lines and columns, are arranged circumferentially on the male mould element 503, so that the operating surfaces 520 lie on radial planes passing through a longitudinal axis X of the male mould element 503.

Similarly, the forming recesses 516, in this embodiment, are arranged circumferentially so that each of them can receive a respective forming protrusion 518. Similarly to the operating surfaces 520, also the further operating surfaces 521 are in this case contained in radial planes passing through the longitudinal axis X.

During forming, each forming protrusion 518 is moved along a first linear path T, parallelly to the moulding direction S, as disclosed for the capsule 590 of Figures 32, 33, and 34. Protruding portions 653 are thus obtained on which through openings are provided, the edges of which, in this first step, lie substantially in radial planes passing through a longitudinal axis A of the capsule 604. Subsequently, the male mould element 503 is subjected to rotation with respect to the female mould element 502, around the longitudinal axis X, by a set amount, so that each forming protrusion 518 moves along a determined circumference arc . Alternatively, the female mould element 502 can be rotated with respect to. the male mould element 502, or both the female mould element 502 and the male mould element 503 can be rotated in opposite directions.

During the aforesaid rotation, each operating surface 520 moves away from the respective ^• further operating surface 521, and each second shaping surface 557 moves towards the corresponding further second shaping surface 558.

Each forming protrusion 518, during rotation, tends to move with itself also the plastics and to deform the protruding portion 653, in a similar manner to what was already disclosed with reference to the capsule 590.

Also in this case, the plastics can be cooled and/or the female mould element 502 can be moved away from the male mould element 503, by a certain amount, parallelly to the moulding direction S, as already disclosed previously, to prevent the plastics occupying the empty zones that are generated through the effect of the detachment of the

operating surfaces 520 from the respective further operating surfaces 521.

On the capsule 604 through openings 622 are obtained that are similar to the through openings 522, but are orientated circumferentialIy.

In particular, the through openings 622 can also face a part of an external base surface 609 of the capsule 604, as better visible from Figures 35 and 37. The capsules 590 and 604, owing to the particular configuration of the respective through openings, enable a fluid product contained therein to traverse the respective filtering walls with more facility. In fact, the fluid product can flow through the filtering walls by a certain extent along directions perpendicular to the filtering walls and is then deviated in a reduced manner along its path from the inside to the outside of the capsule.

The apparatuses disclosed above can be suitably configured to produce also other types of objects other than the capsules disclosed above, for example to produce caps for sports beverage provided with openings, or other types of object, for example parts of toys.

Figures 20 and 21 show an object that can be obtained by compression-moulding by an apparatus 301, shown in Figure 22. The object can be a container neck 300, for example a bottle neck, or a tube neck for containing toothpaste or other products .

The apparatus 301 is provided with first forming means 302 and second forming means 303 that are mutually movable along the moulding direction S .

The first forming means comprises a female mould element 302, and the second forming means comprises a male mould element 303. In the female mould element 302 there is obtained a first cavity 304, comprising a first cylindrical forming surface 305 bound below by a lower forming surface 306. From the

lower forming surface 306 there protrudes a cylindrical forming portion 307 that extends by a certain amount in the first cavity 304.

The cylindrical forming portion 307 is bound above by an upper forming surface 308, and is bound laterally by a side forming surface 309.

On the side forming surface 309 recess portions 310 are obtained, that, as will be disclosed below, are used to obtain through openings in the container neck 300. The recess portions 310 extend from the upper forming surface 308 to the lower forming surface 306 by a certain amount. The recess portions 310 are distributed angularly on the cylindrical forming portion 307 in a uniform manner, but it is possible to provide that the recess portions 310 distributed according to a different desired configuration. Each recess portion 310 comprises a pair of first longitudinal operating surfaces 311, that in the example shown are arranged parallelly to the moulding direction S. The first operating surfaces 311 of each recess portion 310 can be tilted in relation to one another so as to define planes that diverge by moving away from a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical forming portion 307. Each recess portion 310 comprises a second operating surface 312 that connects the first operating surfaces 311 together. The female mould element 302 comprises a first conical surface 313 that surrounds the first cavity 304. The male mould element 303 comprises a second conical surface 314, suitable for cooperating with the first conical surface 313 for defining a conical wall 315 of the container neck 300.

From the second conical surface 314 there protrudes, towards the female mould element 302, a cylindrical forming element 316 suitable for cooperating with the first cavity 304 and with the cylindrical forming portion 307. The cylindrical forming element 316 is laterally bound by a second cylindrical forming surface 317 suitable for

cooperating with the first cylindrical forming surface 305 to define a cylindrical wall 318 of the container neck 300. On the cylindrical wall 318 a thread or other fixing means can be provided externally that is suitable for engaging a closing element, such as a cap, that is associable with the container neck.

The cylindrical forming element 316 is bound below by a further lower forming surface 319 suitable for cooperating with the lower forming surface 306 to define an annular wall 320 of the container neck 300.

In the cylindrical forming element 316 there is obtained a second cavity 321 suitable for receiving the cylindrical forming portion 307 to define a mouth wall 329 of the container neck 300. The second cavity 321 comprises a further side forming surface 323 that during forming faces the side forming surface 309 and is separated from the side forming surface 309 by a certain distance. The further side forming surface 323 is bound above by a further upper forming surface 324 suitable for cooperating with the upper forming surface 308 to define a transverse wall 325 of the container neck 300.

Ridge portions 326 extending parallelly to the moulding direction S protrude from the further upper forming surface 324 by a certain amount towards the further lower forming surface 319.

The ridge portions 326 are connected to the side forming surface 323 and protrude from the side forming surface 323 radially towards a central zone of the second cavity 321. Each ridge portion 326 is shaped for being received in a corresponding recess portion 310.

Each ridge portion 326 comprises further first operating surfaces 327 shaped for sliding in contact on respective first operating surfaces 311. Each ridge portion 326 comprises a further second operating surface 328 that connects the further first operating

surfaces 327 and is shaped to slide in contact on a respective second operating surface 312.

In the female mould element 302 and/or in the male mould element 303 conduits can be provided that are traversable by a cooling fluid to cool the plastics and to enable rapid shape stabilisation of the container neck 300. During forming, once a dose of plastics, or another material as disclosed previously, has been introduced into the apparatus 301, the female mould element 302 and the male mould element 303 are moved towards one another along the moulding direction S for shaping the dose .

The ridge portions 326 are received in the recess portions 310. The first operating surfaces 311 and the respective further first operating surfaces 327, sliding in relation to one another, apply a cutting force to the plastics such as to separate , adjacent zones of the plastics. Similarly, each second operating surface 312 and the respective further second operating surface 328, by sliding -in relation to one another, apply to the plastics a cutting force such as to separate adjacent zones of the plastics.

Openings 322 are thus generated that pass through the thickness of the mouth wall 329 and, in this particular case, are distributed circumferentially at a certain angular distance from one another. For each of the apparatuses disclosed with reference to Figures 1 to 10, 13 and 14, 17 and 18, and 22, and Figures 29 to 31, it is possible to provide that the respective female mould element is fixed and that the male mould element is movable. In an embodiment, the male mould element is fixed and the female mould element is movable. In a further embodiment both the male mould element and the female mould element are movable one another. Figures 23 to 25 show an apparatus 401 for forming an object 400 provided with a through opening 422.

The finished object 400 is shown in Figure 28 and may comprise, for example, a container neck.

The apparatus 401 comprises a first mould element 402 and a second mould element 403 that can be mutually movable along 5 a forming direction F.

The first mould element 402 comprises a first body 405 having a hole 406, for example having a cylindrical shape, that extends parallelly to the forming direction F. A breakage element 407 is provided, for example having ao cylindrical shape, that can slide along the hole 406.

The breakage element 407 is provided above with a breaking surface 408, arranged transversely to the forming direction F. The breakage element 407 is provided laterally with a first cylindrical surface 412. s On the breaking surface 408 notching ridges 416 are obtained, that may extend radially.

The second mould element 403 comprises a second body 409, for example of an annular shape. The second body 409 has a second hole 410, for example having a cylindrical shape,0 that extends parallelly to the forming direction F and is coaxial with the first hole 406. The second hole 410 has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the first hole 406. The second hole 410 is bound by a second cylindrical surfaces 413.

The breakage element 407 can protrude by a certain amount outside the first body 405 to penetrate the second hole 410. In this way, between the first cylindrical surface 412 and the second cylindrical surface 413 there is defined an0 annular cavity C, which is better visible in Figure 24.

In the second hole 410 a shaping element 411 is housed having an annular shape that is movable along the forming direction F. The shaping element 411 has a thickness T such as to enables the shaping element 411 to slide in the5 annular cavity C.

There is provided an internal element 414, for example cylindrical in shape, that can slide longitudinally inside the shaping element 411. The internal element 414 is bound below by a transverse surface 415, arranged transversely to the forming direction F.

On the transverse surface 415 further notching ridges 417 are provided, that are suitable for cooperating with the notching ridges 416. In an embodiment of the apparatus 401 it is possible to provide only the notching ridges 416, or only the further notching ridges 417.

During operation, a dose of plastics to be shaped is interposed between the first mould element 402 and the second mould element 403. The dose may have a compact shape, for example a substantially spherical or disc shape.

The first mould element 402 and the second mould element 403 are moved towards one another for shaping the dose in a first operating position D, shown in Figure 23, so as to,. obtain a precursor 419 (shown better in Figure 26) of the object 400.

In the first operating position D the first body 405 and the second body 409 cooperate for shaping a conical wall .418 of the -precursor 419, whilst .the shaping element 411 and the internal element 414 are near the first body 405 and the breakage element 407 to define a transverse wall 420 of the precursor 419, on which the opening 422 has to be obtained. The breakage element 407 and the internal element 414 are at a distance from one another corresponding to the thickness of the transverse wall 420.

In the first operating position D, the notching ridges 416, and the further notching ridges 417 cooperate to generate on the transverse wall 420 intended separating lines 421 that facilitate the breakage of the transverse wall 420. Subsequently, the breakage element 407, the internal element 414 and the shaping element 411 are positioned in a second

operating position E, shown in Figure 24. To reach the second operating position E, the internal element 414 and the shaping element 411 are moved away from the first body 405. The breakage element 407 is pushed against the 5 transverse wall 420 that has just been formed and towards the inside of the second hole 410. The breakage element 407 breaks the transverse wall 420, owing to the help of the intended separating lines 421, and generates the opening 422 and wall portions 423 that extend around the opening 422 ando parallelly to the forming direction F. The precursor is in this manner transformed into the object shown in Figure 27. In the second operating position E the wall portions 423 are interposed between the first cylindrical surface 412 of the breakage element 407, and the second cylindrical surface 413s of the second body 409. The wall portions 423 thus extend into the annular cavity C.

Subsequently, a third operating position G shown in Figure 25 is reached, in which the shaping element 411 is moved towards the first body 405 and made to penetrate the annularo cavity C to act on the wall portions 423. The shaping element 411 shapes the wall portions 423 so as to obtain therefrom an annular edge 424 that surrounds the opening 422. • Before the apparatus 401 reaches the second operating5 position E, or before the apparatus 401 reaches the third operating position G, the precursor can be heated, for example by ultrasounds, so as to be better processable by the apparatus 401. After reaching the third operating position G, the first0 mould element 402 and the second mould element 403 are disengaged from one another to enable the obtained object 400 to be moved away therefrom.

In an embodiment, the dose, rather than being made of plastics, can be made of another material, for example a5 mixture of at least a metal material and a plasticising substance. The metal material may comprise aluminium. The

metal material can be made of powder and the plasticising substance acts as a binder and provides plasticity to the metal material. In all cases, whatever the metal material, the object 400, once it has been formed, can be cooled and subjected to a treatment to eliminate the plasticising substance, for example to a dewaxing treatment. Subsequently, the object 400 can be subjected to a heat treatment such as sintering or compacting. In another embodiment, it is possible to generate the object 400 starting from a precursor that was already previously obtained from another apparatus, for example obtained by compression-moulding or injection-moulding. The apparatus 401 can thus operate according to the steps disclosed with reference to Figure 24 (second operating position E) and to Figure 25 (third operating position G) . In this case, the precursor can be heated to a temperature such as to be able to be processed by the apparatus 401. In particular, before the steps E and G, the precursor can be heated, for example by ultrasounds.

In one case, it is possible to provide that the precursor, before being processed by the apparatus 401, is already provided with intended separating lines. In another case, the intended separating lines are generated on this precursor by the apparatus 401.