Application unit and method for applying a wall to a hollow body in a manufacturing process for producing a beverage capsule

An application unit (10;

• 12) for applying a wall (3;
• 4) to a hollow body (2) in a manufacturing process for producing a beverage capsule (1);
• the application unit (10;
• 12) comprises:
• at least one sealing conveyor (13;
• 54) which advances along a sealing path;
• at least one sealing head (15;
• 56) conveyed by the sealing conveyor (13;
• 54) and supporting a gripping device (16;
• 57) suited to grip the wall (3;
• 4) for advancing the wall (3;
• 4) along the sealing path;
• and
• a first feed station (18;
• 59) for feeding the wall (3;
• 4) to the sealing head (15;
• 56), so that the wall (3;
• 4) is gripped by the gripping device (16;
• 57);
• wherein the sealing head (15;
• 56) comprises a first retaining device (17;
• 58) suited to grip the hollow body (2) for advancing the hollow body (2) along the sealing path;
• wherein a second feed station (19;
• 60) arranged downstream from the first feed station (18;
• 59) along the sealing path, for feeding the hollow body (2) to the sealing head (15;
• 56) is provided, so that the hollow body (2) is coupled to the wall (3;
• 4) gripped by the gripping device (16;
• 57), and is retained by the first retaining device (17;
• 58);
• and
• wherein the sealing head (15;
• 56) comprises an annular sealing member (25;
• 66) surrounding the gripping device (16;
• 57) and movable between a rest position, in which the sealing member (25;
• 66) is detached from the wall (3;
• 4) gripped by the gripping device (16;
• 57), and a work position, in which the sealing member (25;
• 66) contacts the wall (3;
• 4) gripped by the gripping device (16;
• 57), on the opposite side to the hollow body (2);
• the sealing member (25;
• 66) being maintained in the rest position at the feed stations (18, 19) and being moved into the work position downstream from the second feed station (19;
• 60).