Folding apparatus and folding method for folding a flap arrangement of a capsule

Folding apparatus for folding a flap arrangement of a capsule, wherein said capsule includes:

• a cup body defined by a side wall and by an end wall that bounds, at one end, said side wall;
• a tamper-evident band connected to said side wall by connecting elements and having an edge from which said flap arrangement leads;
• and an outer protrusion extending laterally outside said capsule;
• said folding apparatus including:
• a support element arranged for restingly receiving and supporting said capsule with one end facing upwards, said support element being movable along an operating direction;
• a punch element configured to be inserted inside said cup body and movable along a centring direction having at least one component parallel to and opposite said operating direction, said punch element being provided with a centring element arranged for interacting with clearance, in particular a radial clearance <0.30 mm or <0.15 mm or <0.05 mm, with inner portions of said capsule when said punch element is inserted inside said cup body so as to block, or limit, a movement of said capsule along a plane perpendicular to said centring direction;
• an abutting arrangement configured to interact with said flap arrangement to rotate said flap arrangement from an initial configuration extending outwardly said cup body to an end configuration folded inwardly said cup body;
• in which, when said centring element interacts with said inner portions of said capsule, a main axis of said capsule and a longitudinal axis of said abutting arrangement coincide so that said support element can drag said capsule along said operating direction in a centred position of said capsule with respect to said abutting arrangement wherein said outer protrusion remains spaced apart from said abutting arrangement.

Combination of a capsule and of a folding apparatus for folding a flap arrangement of said capsule, said capsule further including:

• a cup body defined by a side wall and by an end wall that bounds, at one end, said side wall;
• a tamper-evident band connected to said side wall by connecting elements and having an edge from which said flap arrangement leads;
• and
• an outer protrusion extending laterally outside said capsule;
• said folding apparatus including:
• a support element arranged for restingly receiving and supporting said capsule with one end facing upwards, said support element being movable along an operating direction;
• a punch element configured to be inserted inside said cup body and movable along a centring direction having at least one component parallel to and opposite said operating direction, said punch element being provided with a centring element arranged for interacting with clearance, in particular a radial clearance <0.30 mm or <0.15 mm or <0.05 mm, with inner portions of said capsule when said punch element is inserted inside said cup body so as to block, or limit, a movement of said capsule along a plane perpendicular to said centring direction;
• and
• an abutting arrangement configured to interact with said flap arrangement to rotate said flap arrangement from an initial configuration extending outwardly said cup body to an end configuration folded inwardly said cup body;
• in which, when said centring element interacts with said inner portions of said capsule, a main axis of said capsule and a longitudinal axis of said abutting arrangement coincide so that said support element can drag said capsule along said operating direction in a centred position of said capsule with respect to said abutting arrangement wherein said outer protrusion remains spaced apart from said abutting arrangement.