Apparatus and method for cutting capsules

Abstract

A cutting apparatus and method for forming a tamper-evident opening device on a closure capsule of a container is disclosed, in which the capsule engages with an engagement means and rolls over a cutting device which makes at least two vertical or diagonal cuts on the capsule located at a relatively small mutual angular distance, and performs a rotation of the capsule itself of an integer number of full rotations plus or minus said angular distance from when a first blade performs a first vertical or diagonal cut to when a second blade performs a second vertical or diagonal cut, placing the two blades at a relatively large mutual distance.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cutting capsules for closing containers, such as bottles, in particular for producing tamper-evident opening devices in plastic capsules.

[0002] In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to cutting equipment and methods suitable for producing "tethered" type capsules, i.e. capsules that remain attached to a container after opening.

[0003] WO 2021 / 186403 shows a cutting method according to the preamble of claim 1 and a cutting device for forming a tamper-evident opening device in the capsule and comprising at least one longitudinal blade for performing at least one circumferential cut and at least two transverse blades angularly spaced apart from each other at a predetermined angle and for performing at least two perpendicular or oblique cuts, where the angle is intended to be measured with reference to the geometric axis of the capsule.

[0004] Various aspects of the prior art can be improved. In particular, it would be desirable to improve the accuracy of cutting the capsules to ensure the formation of a tamper evident device that meets specifications and is fully functional. It would further be desirable to form the tamper evident device by a cutting operation that reduces the risk of causing undesirable deformations in the capsule that would induce inaccuracies in the formation of the tamper evident device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and / or method that can overcome one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0006] One object of the invention is to propose an alternative cutting device and / or cutting method to those of the prior art.

[0007] One advantage is that it allows for simple and inexpensive equipment to be made to create an opening device for the capsule.

[0008] One advantage is that it allows for precise cutting to obtain an opening device that meets the specifications of the tethered capsule.

[0009] One advantage is obtaining a perfectly functional tamper evident opening device on the container closure capsule.

[0010] One advantage is that it reduces deformation of the capsule during the cutting operation, especially for tethered capsules.

[0011] These and other objects and advantages are achieved by a cutting apparatus and / or method according to one or more of the following set of claims.

[0012] In one embodiment, the cutting method comprises the steps of advancing the capsule along an advancement path and rolling the capsule on a cutting device comprising at least two side blades which perform at least two vertical or oblique cuts on the capsule spaced apart from each other by a set angular distance in the circumferential direction with respect to the geometric axis of the capsule, the two side blades being arranged at a sufficiently large mutual distance along the advancement path such that the capsule, by rolling on the cutting device, performs one or two complete rotations, or a rotation equal to an integer number of complete rotations plus or minus the aforementioned angular distance of the cuts, from the time when the first side blade performs (in particular when it starts to perform) the first vertical or oblique cut to the time when the second side blade performs (in particular when it starts to perform) the second vertical or oblique cut.

[0013] The cutting method can in particular provide that the mutual distance of the side blades along the advancement path of the capsule is relatively large, i.e. greater than the mutual circumferential distance of the cuts performed by the blades on the side wall of the capsule, so that the performance of a first vertical or oblique cut does not prevent the performance of a second vertical or oblique cut, and vice versa.

[0014] The aforementioned angular distance of the cuts on the side wall of the capsule is equal to an angle not greater than half the rotation angle, so that the capsule, by rolling on the cutting device, can perform a rotation on itself of more than half the rotation angle, from performing a first vertical or diagonal cut to performing a second vertical or diagonal cut.

[0015] The aforementioned angular distance may in particular be an angle smaller than one-third of the rotation angle, so that the capsule, by rolling over the cutting device, can perform a rotation on itself from a first vertical or diagonal cut to a second vertical or diagonal cut of more than two-thirds of the rotation angle (in particular equal to a full rotation plus or minus the aforementioned angular distance).

[0016] In one embodiment, a cutting equipment suitable for forming a tamper evident opening device in a closure capsule of a container comprises a cutting device configured to cut the capsule with at least two vertical or diagonal cuts and an engagement means configured to rotate the capsule on the cutting device to make the two vertical or diagonal cuts, the cutting device being configured such that the capsule makes a rotation from when the first blade makes the first vertical or diagonal cut to when the second blade makes the second vertical or diagonal cut that is greater than the aforementioned angular distance, for example a rotation equal to one or two full rotations of the capsule itself (or an integer number of full rotations of the capsule itself) about its axis plus or minus the aforementioned mutual angular distance of the cuts in the side walls of the capsule.

[0017] The aforementioned mutual angular distance of the vertical or oblique cuts on the capsule may in particular be relatively small, e.g. not more than half the rotation angle and / or may be an angular distance less than one-third, one-quarter, one-fifth, one-sixth, one-seventh, one-eighth, one-ninth, one-tenth, one-twelfth, one-fifteenth of the rotation angle.

[0018] The two vertical or diagonal cuts may be located diametrically opposite each other on the capsule, i.e. at a mutual distance equal to half a rotation, in which case the rotations performed by the capsule from the execution of the first vertical or diagonal cut to the execution of the second vertical or diagonal cut may be equal to an integer number of full rotations plus half a rotation.

[0019] In one embodiment, the cutting equipment may comprise, inter alia, an engagement means adapted to engage with the capsule and a cutting device adapted to cut the capsule while the capsule is engaged with the engagement means to roll on the cutting device and control the rolling of the capsule. The cutting device comprises a first side blade and a second side blade arranged at a mutual distance so as to enable the engagement means to control the rolling of the capsule on the cutting device. From the time when the first side blade performs the first vertical or oblique cut to the time when the second side blade performs the second vertical or oblique cut, the capsule performs a rotation on itself with a rotation angle greater than half the rotation angle and / or with a rotation angle equal to one or two complete rotations of the capsule itself plus or minus the mutual angular distance that the aforementioned vertical or oblique cuts should have on the capsule.

[0020] The engagement means may in particular comprise at least one guide device configured to engage with the capsule (e.g. by friction via a friction surface and / or by meshing via a knurled or notched surface) and having at least one (fixed) abutment element arranged along the advancement path of the capsule in the cutting device.

[0021] The engagement means may in particular comprise at least one rotating engagement member configured to engage with the capsule and movable together with the capsule in the feed direction along the advancement path.

[0022] Thanks to the method and / or the device, two vertical or oblique cuts, which must be placed on the capsule at a relatively small circumferential distance (a circumferential distance less than or at most equal to half the total circumference of the side wall of the capsule in which the cuts are formed), can be formed by two transverse blades arranged along the path of the capsule at a mutual distance along a relatively large path of the capsule (for example a path distance equal to an integer multiple of the circumference of the side wall of the capsule in which the cuts are formed plus or minus the circumference of the cut on the side wall, in particular a path distance greater than at least half the circumference of the side wall of the capsule).

[0023] The proposed solution has been found to provide particularly high cutting accuracy and tamper-evident device compliance with specifications, especially in the production of tethered capsules.

[0024] Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that by arranging the two side blades at a relatively large mutual path distance, it is possible to reduce the mutual interference between the various blades operating on the capsule and also, in particular in the case of tethered capsules, to reduce undesirable deformation of the capsule during the cutting operation.

[0025] The invention may be better understood and put into practice with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting examples. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical elevated side view of one embodiment of a cutting instrument made in accordance with the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along a vertical section of a portion of the cutting device of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cutting device used in the cutting machine of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting device of FIG. 3 showing the layer structure of the cutting device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cutting device of FIG. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 shows the corresponding intermediate components of the three components of the layer structure of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows the corresponding upper components of the three components of the layer structure of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the corresponding lower components of the three components of the layer structure of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the cutting device of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] With reference to the above mentioned figures, a cutting device is generally indicated with 1. The cutting device 1 may in particular be used for cutting capsules. The cutting device 1 may for example be used for cutting capsules made of plastic. The cutting device 1 may in particular be used for cutting capsules for closing containers. The cutting device 1 may for example be used for forming a line of weakness or a preferential breaking line in an opening device of a capsule for closing a container.

[0028] The opening device may in particular be equipped with a tamper-proof opening device suitable for ensuring the indestructibility of the container, providing evidence of the opening of the container having originally occurred. The cutting apparatus 1 may in particular be used for the manufacture of opening devices for tethered capsules, i.e. capsules which remain attached to the container after opening.

[0029] The cutting device 1 may in particular comprise an advancing path along which the capsules are fed along a feed direction, in particular the advancing path may lie in a feed plane, for example a horizontal feed plane, as in this embodiment.

[0030] The cutting device 1 may in particular comprise a feeding means configured to feed the capsules along a forward path. The feeding means may in particular comprise a carousel 2 rotating about a vertical axis of rotation. The carousel 2 may in particular support a plurality of transport units each configured to transport a capsule.

[0031] Each transport unit may in particular comprise a spindle 3 adapted to rotate on itself by motor-driven control (in particular around an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the carousel) and to engage a capsule 4 in order to rotate the capsule on itself in order to carry out at least one severing of the at least one weakened line by a cutting device in order to form a tamper-evident opening device in particular in a side wall of the capsule. A plurality of spindles 3 may in particular be arranged on a rotating spindle support carousel and may be distributed at an angular interval to one another on the carousel.

[0032] The forward path of the capsules 4 may be defined by at least a portion of a circular orbit performed by the rotating carousel 2 on the spindles 3 which engage the capsules. Each spindle 3 may in particular be positioned above a lower stationary base 5 of the capsules.

[0033] Each capsule 4 may in particular comprise a closure wall for closing the mouth of the container and a side wall for joining with the neck of the container. Each base 5 may in particular be configured to engage with the closure wall of the capsule 4.

[0034] Each spindle 3 may in particular be configured to engage the interior of the capsule 4, in particular a hollow space defined by a side wall or skirt of the capsule. The base 5 may in particular be rotatable about an axis of rotation coaxial with the axis of rotation of the spindle 3.

[0035] The capsule supply means may in particular comprise supply means of known type which will not be described in more detail here.

[0036] The cutting device 1 may in particular comprise an engagement means configured to engage the capsule in order to roll it on the cutting device 6, as will be further described herein. The engagement means may in particular comprise at least one engagement member configured to engage the capsule and susceptible to rotation about an axis of rotation, which may in particular be configured to drag the capsule during rotation. This engagement member may comprise a spindle 3, as in the particular embodiment disclosed herein. In other embodiments, this engagement member may in particular comprise a lower base 5.

[0037] The engagement means may in particular comprise a fixed guide device which rolls the advancing capsule along the advancing path, for example by frictional engagement and / or by interlocking between knurlings on the guide device and knurlings on the capsule.

[0038] The cutting instrument according to the invention may comprise engagement means configured to induce rolling of the capsule on the cutting device by engaging with a rotating engagement member and / or by engaging with a fixed guide device.

[0039] The engagement members (in this example spindles 3) may in particular be rotatable by motor means about their axis of rotation (e.g. by motor means rotating the carousel 2 and by mechanical transmissions connecting the axis of rotation of the carousel to the axes of rotation of the various engagement members) and may be configured to engage in recesses of the respective capsules 4. The axes of rotation of the various engagement members may be parallel to one another and to the carousel axis about which the carousel is rotatable by motor drive.

[0040] The cutting equipment 1 may in particular comprise a cutting device 6 configured to form at least one weakened line in a capsule supplied by a supply means along an advancement path. The cutting device 6 may in particular be configured to cut the capsule 4 while the capsule rolls on the cutting device 6 and engages with an engagement means (e.g. the spindle 3 and / or a fixed guide device).

[0041] The cutting device 6 may comprise one or more longitudinal blades 7, in particular configured to perform one or more circumferential cuts in the capsule. The cutting device 6 may comprise at least one first transverse blade 8', in particular configured to perform at least one first vertical or oblique cut in the capsule. The cutting device 6 may comprise at least one second transverse blade 8'', in particular configured to perform at least one second vertical or oblique cut in the capsule. In the illustrated embodiment, the two transverse blades 8', 8'' are configured to perform two respectively corresponding vertical cuts in the capsule. However, it is also possible to use transverse blades configured to perform oblique cuts or partially vertical and partially oblique cuts.

[0042] The two side blades 8', 8'' may in particular be configured so that the two perpendicular or oblique cuts made to the capsule are located at a mutual circumferential distance on the side wall of the capsule which corresponds to a mutual angular distance in the circumferential direction, relative to the axis of the capsule, of an angle not greater than half the rotation angle and / or less than one-third, or one-quarter, or one-fifth, or one-sixth, or one-seventh, or one-eighth of the rotation angle.

[0043] The first vertical or oblique cut and the second vertical or oblique cut made in the capsule 4 may in particular be even closer to each other, for example angularly spaced apart from each other by less than 1 / 20, 1 / 15, 1 / 12, 1 / 10 or 1 / 9 of a rotation angle in the circumferential direction relative to the geometric axis of the capsule.

[0044] Nevertheless, it is also possible for the two vertical or oblique cuts to be located diametrically opposite one another in the side wall of the capsule, i.e. spaced apart from one another by half a rotation angle.

[0045] The cutting device 1 may comprise (e.g. electronic, programmable) control means configured in particular to control the supplying means by advancing the capsule along an advancement path, in particular to control the supplying means causing the engagement member to rotate itself about its axis of rotation.

[0046] The control means may in particular be adapted to control the feeding means by rolling the capsule 4 over the cutting device 6 to create the weakened line.

[0047] The control means may in particular be configured such that the engagement means (arranged to control the rolling of the capsule) rotates the capsule on itself by more than the mutual angular distance of the cuts on the capsule from when the first side blade 8' performs a first vertical or diagonal cut to when the second side blade 8'' performs a second vertical or diagonal cut.

[0048] The first and second side blades 8' and 8'' are arranged along the advancement path, in particular at a relatively large mutual distance, allowing the capsule 4 to rotate (in particular rotate without slippage) on the cutting device 6 when the engagement means are engaged (e.g. with the spindle 3 and / or with the fixed guide device) and to prevent the capsule 4 from rotating (in particular rotating without slippage) on the cutting device 6 during the period between which the two vertical or oblique cuts are performed, i.e. from when the first side blade 8' performs the first vertical or oblique cut until when the second side blade 8'' performs the second vertical or oblique cut, in particular from when the first side blade 8' performs the first vertical or oblique cut. Taking into account the path of the capsule from the moment the first side blade 8' starts to make a cut until the moment the second side blade 8'' starts to make a second vertical or oblique cut, or from the moment the first side blade 8' finishes the first vertical or oblique cut until the moment the second side blade 8'' finishes the second vertical or oblique cut, the capsule 4 may be arranged to perform a rotation about itself equal to an integer number of complete rotations plus or minus the mutual angular distance of the cuts made on the capsule and / or to perform a rotation about itself greater than the mutual angular distance of the cuts on the capsule.

[0049] Arranging the side blades 8', 8'' at relatively large intervals on the path of the capsule is also possible if the rolling of the capsule is guided by fixed guide means.

[0050] In particular, it is possible for the capsule to rotate on itself about its axis by at least half a rotation angle from the time when the first side blade 8' performs the first vertical or diagonal cut to the time when the second side blade 8'' performs the second vertical or diagonal cut, i.e. the second vertical or diagonal cut is performed after the capsule rolling on the cutting device has rotated on itself by more than half a full rotation starting from the time when the first vertical or diagonal cut is performed.

[0051] Nevertheless, the capsule can rotate an integer number of full rotations plus or minus a set distance that may be between two perpendicular or diagonal cuts of the capsule during the period that elapses between performing two perpendicular or diagonal cuts.

[0052] The forward movement path may in particular comprise at least one circular portion (defined by the rotation of the carousel 2). The first side blade 8' and the second side blade 8'' may in particular be arranged along said circular portion at an angular distance of more than 5 arcminutes (5 sexagesimal degrees) from each other, relative to the geometric center of the circular portion (in particular the axis of rotation of the carousel 2).

[0053] The first side blade 8' and the second side blade 8'' may in particular be arranged along the circular portion at a mutual angular distance of greater than 10 arc minutes, or greater than 15 arc minutes, or greater than 20 arc minutes, or greater than 25 arc minutes, or greater than 30 arc minutes, relative to the geometric center of the circular portion.

[0054] The cutting device 6 may in particular comprise at least two longitudinal blades 7 configured to perform at least two circumferential cuts in the capsule. The two longitudinal blades 7 may be respectively arranged in at least two geometric planes parallel and spaced apart from one another.

[0055] The two transverse blades 8', 8'' may in particular be arranged in the space defined between the two aforementioned geometrical planes. The first transverse blade 8' may in particular be arranged before the start of any longitudinal blade 7 (relative to the feed direction of the capsules along the forward path). The second transverse blade 8'' may in particular be arranged (as in this example) after the start of the first longitudinal blade 7 (i.e. the longitudinal blade that first contacts the capsule 4) and before the end of the last longitudinal blade 7 (i.e. the longitudinal blade that last leaves the capsule 4).

[0056] Each longitudinal blade 7 may in particular comprise a relatively thin sheet metal having two dimensions (width and length) significantly greater than the third dimension (thickness).

[0057] Each longitudinal blade 7 may be configured to form a line of weakness having a circumferential extent, or at least a partially circumferential extent, in particular due to the fact that the capsule is fed while rotating on itself. Each longitudinal blade 7 may be configured to form a line of weakness defined by a plurality of easily broken bridges, which are spaced apart at an angle to one another.

[0058] Each longitudinal blade 7 may in particular consist of at least one cutting edge that is discontinuous due to the presence of multiple chambers or recesses. Each longitudinal blade 7 may in particular comprise at least one cutting edge in the shape of a circumferential arc (for example lying on a cutting surface parallel to the plane of the capsule's advancement path).

[0059] The engagement means and the cutting device 4 may in particular be configured such that, when the capsule is fed by the feeding means to the cutting device 4, the capsule can roll (in particular over the detection means of the cutting device 4) while the blades 7, 8', 8'' respectively perform corresponding cuts in the side walls of the capsule to form a tamper-evident opening device.

[0060] In this example, an instrument with two side blades 8', 8'' is disclosed, however, it is also possible to use three or more side blades.

[0061] In operation, the cutting equipment is capable of actuating a cutting method for cutting the closure capsule of the container to form a tamper evident opening device, in which the capsule 4 rolls on the cutting device 6 and can engage with an engagement means which controls the rolling of the capsule advancing along an advancement path.

[0062] The blades 7, 8', 8'' are capable of performing at least one circumferential cut, at least one first vertical or diagonal cut and at least one second vertical or diagonal cut on the capsule 4 while it rolls on the cutting device 6, the first vertical or diagonal cut and the second vertical or diagonal cut being angularly spaced apart from each other at a determined angle in the circumferential direction on the side wall of the capsule, the mutual circumferential distance of the cuts being relatively small and in any case not greater than half the circumference of the side wall of the capsule in which the cuts are formed.

[0063] The capsule may be induced to perform a rotation about the axis of the capsule that is greater than half a rotation angle (and / or equal to an integer number of full rotations plus or minus the mutual angular distance of the cuts on the capsule) from when the first side blade 8' makes the first vertical or diagonal cut to when the second side blade 8'' makes the second vertical or diagonal cut.

[0064] In practice, the supply of the capsules 4 and the configuration of the cutting device 6 are more or less coordinated together such that the second vertical or diagonal cut is performed after the capsule has performed a full rotation (or an integer number of full rotations) due to the fact that the two vertical or diagonal cuts are not superimposed on each other but must be located at a preset distance (generally a relatively small mutual distance).

[0065] In this way, it is possible to arrange the two side blades 8', 8'' at a relatively large mutual distance, considered along the path of the capsule 4, so that the cut performed by one side blade does not hinder or interfere with the cut performed by the other side blade. This makes it possible to eliminate the risk of inaccuracies, deformations and other errors due to mutual movements that could affect the cutting operation performed by the two side blades 8', 8''.

[0066] If the rolling of the capsule is guided by a rotating engagement means, the method may include setting the side blades 8', 8'' at a suitable mutual distance and controlling the rotating engagement means (e.g. spindle 3) to perform a relatively high rotation (greater than the mutual angular distance of the capsule cuts) from when the first side blade 8' performs the first vertical or diagonal cut to when the second side blade 8'' performs the second vertical or diagonal cut.

[0067] If the rolling of the capsule is guided by fixed engagement means (e.g. by a guiding device by friction and / or interlocking), the method allows the side blades 8', 8'' to be set at a suitable mutual distance so that the capsule, rolling guided by the engagement means (in particular without slipping), performs a relatively high rotation (larger than the mutual angular distance of the capsule cuts) from the time when the first side blade 8' performs the first vertical or diagonal cut to the time when the second side blade 8'' performs the second vertical or diagonal cut.

Claims

1. A cutting method for cutting a container closure capsule (4) to form an opening device, comprising: The capsules roll over a cutting device (6) comprising at least one longitudinal blade (7), at least one first transverse blade (8') and at least one second transverse blade (8''); the blades (7, 8', 8'') respectively make at least one circumferential cut, at least one first vertical or oblique cut, and at least one second vertical or oblique cut on the capsule (4) while the capsule is rolling on the cutting device (6); the first vertical or oblique cut and the second vertical or oblique cut are angularly spaced apart from each other by an angular distance in the circumferential direction relative to a geometric axis of the capsule (4); The method is characterized in that the capsule (4) makes a rotation around the geometric axis by a distance greater than the angular distance while rolling on the cutting device (6) from the time when the first side blade (8') makes the first vertical or oblique cut to the time when the second side blade (8'') makes the second vertical or oblique cut.

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the capsule (4) rotates on itself about its own axis from the time when the first side blade (8') makes the first vertical or oblique cut to the time when the second side blade (8'') makes the second vertical or oblique cut, said rotation being equal to an integer number of complete rotations of the capsule (4) itself, in particular one or two complete rotations, plus or minus said angular distance.

3. the first vertical or oblique cut and the second vertical or oblique cut are angularly spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction by no more than one-half revolution; 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the capsule (4) performs more than half a rotation around the geometric axis while rolling on the cutting device (6) from the time when the first side blade (8') performs the first vertical or diagonal cut until the time when the second side blade (8'') performs the second vertical or diagonal cut, in particular from the time when the first side blade (8') finishes performing the first vertical or diagonal cut until the time when the second side blade (8'') starts performing the second vertical or diagonal cut.

4. the first vertical or oblique cut and the second vertical or oblique cut are angularly spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction by an angle that is less than one-third of a circumferential angle; 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the capsule (4) completes a rotation of more than two-thirds of the circumference angle around the geometric axis while rolling on the cutting device (6) from the time when the first side blade (8') makes the first vertical or oblique cut to the time when the second side blade (8'') makes the second vertical or oblique cut, in particular from the time when the first side blade (8') finishes making the first vertical or oblique cut to the time when the second side blade (8'') starts making the second vertical or oblique cut.

5. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the capsule (4) performs a rotation around the geometric axis by a greater angle than the circumference angle while rolling from when the first side blade (8') performs the first vertical or oblique cut to when the second side blade (8'') performs the second vertical or oblique cut.

6. The capsule (4) engages with an engagement means when rolling on the cutting device (6), the engagement means causes the capsule to make a desired rotation about the geometric axis from when the first side blade makes the first vertical or diagonal cut to when the second side blade makes the second vertical or diagonal cut; 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engagement means in particular comprise at least one fixed guide device and / or at least one rotating engagement member.

7. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one circumferential cut, the at least one first vertical or diagonal cut, and the at least one second vertical or diagonal cut are configured to form an opening device for a tethered capsule.

8. A cutting machine for producing opening devices for capsules, in particular for carrying out the cutting method according to claim 1, comprising: The cutting device comprises: a supply means (2, 3, 5) configured to supply at least one capsule (4) along a supply path; a cutting device (6) arranged along the feed path, for cutting the capsules while they roll on the cutting device (6), the cutting device comprising at least one longitudinal blade (7) for making at least one circumferential cut in the capsule (4), at least one first transverse blade (8') for making at least one first vertical or oblique cut in the capsule, and at least one second transverse blade (8'') for making at least one second vertical or oblique cut in the capsule, the first vertical or oblique cut and the second vertical or oblique cut being spaced apart by a circumferentially determined angular distance with respect to a geometric axis of the capsule; engagement means adapted to engage with the capsule (4) and control the rolling of the capsule on the cutting device (6); control means configured to control the engaging means so that the capsule (4) performs a rotation about its own geometric axis greater than the determined angular distance from the time when the first side blade (8') makes the first vertical or oblique cut to the time when the second side blade (8'') makes the second vertical or oblique cut; Equipped with The at least one first side blade (8') and the at least one second side blade (8'') are arranged along the feed path at a mutual distance that allows the capsule (4) to roll on the cutting device (6) without any particular slippage from the time when the first side blade (8') makes the first vertical or oblique cut to the time when the second side blade (8'') makes the second vertical or oblique cut.

9. 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the control means is configured to control the engagement means so that the capsule (4) makes a rotation, from the time when the first side blade (8') makes the first vertical or diagonal cut to the time when the second side blade (8'') makes the second vertical or diagonal cut, equal to an integer multiple of a complete rotation of the capsule (4) about its own axis plus or minus the angular distance between the first vertical or diagonal cut and the second vertical or diagonal cut.

10. the feed path comprises at least one circular portion; 10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first side blade (8') and the second side blade (8'') are arranged along the at least one circular portion at an angular distance of greater than 5 arc minutes from each other with reference to a geometric center of the circular portion.

11. the cutting device (6) comprises at least two longitudinal blades (7) for performing at least two circumferential cuts in the capsule; the at least two longitudinal blades (7) are respectively arranged at a distance from each other on two parallel geometric planes, 10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said at least two side blades (8', 8'') are arranged in the space between said two geometric planes.

12. 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the engagement means comprise at least one fixed guide device adapted to engage by frictional and / or interlocking with the capsule rolling on the cutting device (6).

13. said engagement means comprising at least one engagement member, in particular a spindle (3); 10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the spindle (3) is operable for its own rotation about an axis of rotation by motorized means and is adapted to engage in a recess in the capsule (4).

14. the supply means comprises a carousel (2) supporting a plurality of engagement members each configured to engage a respective capsule and each rotatable about a respective axis of rotation; 10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the rotation axes of the various engagement members are parallel to one another and to the carousel axis about which the carousel (2) is rotatable.

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