A beverage capsule machine for making single use capsules (1) for extract or infusion beverages, such as coffee or tea, comprising:
- a rigid, cup-shaped container (2) comprising a bottom (3) and an upper aperture (4) provided with a rim (5);
- a dose (6) of product for extraction or infusion contained within the rigid container (2) and a length of flexible sheet (7) for sealing the upper aperture (4) of the rigid container (2),
- characterized in that the beverage capsule machine comprises:
- a transport element (8) for transporting the rigid containers (2) and being closed in a loop around movement means (9) which rotate continuously about vertical axes (Z9) for continuously moving the transport element (8);
- the loop defining a loop pathway which extends in a horizontal plane;
- the transport element (8) being configured to define a plurality of pockets (10) for receiving the rigid containers (2) and which are positioned one after the other, in succession, each pocket (10) having a respective pocket vertical axis (Z10) which extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the loop pathway;
- a plurality of operating stations which are positioned along a path (P) followed by the transport element (8) and which are configured for operating continuously in phase with the transport element (8) and comprising:
- a feeding station (11) for feeding the rigid containers (2) into respective pockets (10) of the transport element (8);
- a dosing station (12) for dosing the product into the rigid container (2);
- a closing station (13) where the upper aperture (4) of the rigid container (2) is closed with the length of sheet (7);
- an outfeed station (14) which withdraws from the transport element (8) each capsule (1) formed;
- wherein the transport element (8) is a chain having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of links (8m) hinged to one another in succession about corresponding hinge vertical axes (Z8), the longitudinal axis of the chain intersecting each pocket vertical axis (Z10);
- each pocket (10) extending through an upper portion of a respective link (8m) so that, when a respective rigid container (2) is received in a respective pocket (10), the respective rigid container (2) extends through an opening in an upper portion of the respective link (8m);
- wherein the transport element (8) defines a non-linear portion of the path (P) at least when the rigid containers (2) are dosed with the product by the dosing station (12) or at least when the upper aperture (4) of the rigid containers (2) are closed with the length of flexible sheet (7) for hermetic sealing the upper aperture (4) of the rigid container (2) by the closing station (13);
- wherein at least the dosing station (12) and the closing station (13) comprise a corresponding circular shaped distributing/actuating element (12a, 13a) movable about a vertical axis (Z12, Z13) and in phase with the transport element (8) so as to carry out corresponding dosing and closing operations along at least one circular arc where the distributing/actuating element (12a, 13a) and the transport element (8) are movable in phase along the same path;
- and
- wherein each of the dosing station (12) and the closing station (13) define an arcuate pathway for the transport element (8) to follow.