Apparatus and method for forming aluminum capsules for soluble beverages

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) and method for forming food-grade capsules (C), which are made from an aluminum strip or film, particularly to contain water-soluble powder substances, such as coffee, barley, ginseng-flavored coffee, teas, infusions, cocoa, food preparations, etc. The capsule (C) comprises a central cup-like portion (12) from which a conical or convex upper annulus (13) cantileverly extends on which the dispensing unit of a coffee machine is intended to move into abutment in a watertight manner, the capsule (C) for preparing the soluble beverage being inserted, in use, into the coffee machine. The central cup-like portion (12) and the upper annulus (13) are obtained by deep-drawing the aluminum strip in opposite directions by means of forming elements of the apparatus (1).

Description

[0001] Apparatus and method for forming aluminum capsules for soluble beverages

[0002] * * *

[0003] Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming aluminum capsules, particularly capsules intended for use in automatic dispensing machines or coffee machines, for dispensing soluble beverages.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] In the HoReCa industry, the expressions soluble beverages, or infusions, identify beverages made by mixing water with powder, water-soluble substances. Examples of these soluble substances are chocolate, tea, coffee, barley coffee, herbal teas and their flavored variants with ginseng, mint, peach, ginger, lemon, etc.

[0007] The use of automatic dispensing machines, such as coffee machines, which use prepackaged capsules to dispense the beverage, is also known. The most popular capsules in Europe are coffee capsules made of plastic or aluminum; however, recently, soluble beverage and infusion capsules are also becoming more popular.

[0008] Manufacturers therefore need to package soluble substances in capsules that are compatible with existing coffee machines already sold and used by end consumers. As a matter of fact, if this were not the case, they would have to supply both soluble beverage and infusion capsules and dispensing machines compatible with these capsules.

[0009] Making capsules compatible with third-party manufacturers' coffee machines is not easy: coffee machines, actually, are equipped with a dispensing unit designed to move into abutment against, and seal against, the capsule. The dispensing unit receives hot water, whose temperature is between 70°C and 90°C, from a boiler by means of a pump; the hot water passes through the dispensing unit and enters the capsule, where the coffee powder is located, resulting in the creation of the coffee drink, which in turn flows out of the capsule and is directed to a glass, ready to be served.

[0010] Manufacturers of compatible (with existing coffee machines) capsules must therefore address these requirements or limitations:

[0011] I) the shape and overall dimensions of the capsule should be compatible with the inner volume of the coffee machine,

[0012] II) the coupling between the dispensing unit of the coffee machine and the capsule must ensure water tightness in order to prevent leakage, that is, to prevent some of the dispensed water from not passing through the capsule but being poured inside the coffee machine or flowing out without having contributed to the mixing of the soluble substance, and

[0013] III) the capsule has to be made from a material which is strong enough not to flake apart during the dispensing of the soluble beverage or infusion, that is, it must resist the pressure exerted by the water flowing through the dispensing unit, while at the same time not being excessively tough, as this would make it difficult for the dispensing unit of the coffee machine to initially perforate the capsule.

[0014] Capsules made of a plastic material, aluminum capsules and pods, i.e. , tablets, made as disc-shaped pouches wrapped in paper or a multilayer foil made of aluminum and plastic materials are currently common in the market. Capsules are mostly cylindrical or conical and are rigid; pods are usually circular, disc-shaped and are rigid or semi-rigid.

[0015] The production of capsules made of plastic material requires significant investment, due to the fact that expensive injection molds, with a large number of impressions, are needed to make the capsules.

[0016] On the other hand, pods packaged in paper or multilayer films cannot guarantee the tightness of the coupling to dispensing units other than those for which they were expressly made.

[0017] Aluminum is a ductile material, relatively easy to shape, which is suitable for the industrial production of capsules, with high productivity, without encountering the high investment required to make plastic capsules. WO 2023 / 174757 discloses a method for forming, from an aluminum strip, a capsule intended to contain coffee. The method comprises: a) cutting the aluminum strip to obtain a circular portion whose size is proportional to the size of the capsule to be formed; b) deep-drawing, in a first direction, the circular portion of the aluminum strip cut during step a) to obtain a central cup-like portion of the capsule.

[0018] The method provides creating, around the central cup-like portion, a substantially flat annular projection denoted by the reference number 54 in Figure 9, that extends cantileverly in radial direction from the central cup-like portion. The annular projection is shaped with a bend denoted by number 53, that defines a circular concavity around the central cup-like portion. The annular projection 54 is obtained by bringing two shaping rings 59-60 closer to each other from opposite directions. A curled edge 55 is created outside the annular projection 54.

[0019] WO 2016 / 075318 describes a solution similar to that described in WO 2023 / 174757.

[0020] EP 4001166 describes another solution known in the art.

[0021] Objects and summary of the invention

[0022] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method of forming aluminum capsules, that is, capsules made from a thin aluminum foil, which allow inexpensive capsules with high productivity, durable and compatible with the client's coffee machines existing on the market to be obtained. In particular, the apparatus and method of forming aluminum capsules allow capsules, which create watertightness with the dispensing unit of the dispensing machine, to be made.

[0023] Therefore, the present invention, in a first aspect thereof, relates to an apparatus according to claim 1 for forming capsules intended to contain a water-soluble powder to make soluble beverages or infusions when the capsules are inserted into a coffee machine. The capsules are formed from an aluminum strip or film. The apparatus comprises a first mould half and a second mould half which are movable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis between a distal, open position and a proximal, closed position. In the closed position, the first mould half and the second mould half together delimit an impression corresponding to a capsule provided with a central cup-like portion and an annular projection, named upper annulus, the latter extending perimetrically from the cup-like portion and around it.

[0024] The central cup-like portion is concave and is intended to contain the soluble powder. The upper annulus is either conical or convex, that is, it has concavity opposite to that of the central cup-like portion. This is achieved by the apparatus that performs a double deep-drawing, in opposite directions, of the circular portion of the aluminium foil.

[0025] The capsule obtained by the just described apparatus has:

[0026] - the central cup-like portion, i.e. comprising a bottom wall and a side wall surrounding the bottom wall, and

[0027] - the annular protrusion named upper annulus, which extends above and around the side wall;

[0028] - a flat portion that extends radially outward from the upper annulus and may provide a curled perimeter edge.

[0029] Preferably, the capsule exhibits axial symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis, and so do the components of the apparatus which are intended to form the capsule.

[0030] The double deep-drawing described above, made in opposite directions and for this reason referred to as reverse drawing, is the expedient that allows the upper annulus of the capsule to be obtained, that is, it allows the aluminum foil to be shaped to obtain the upper annulus as an upper and radially outer extension of the side wall of the central portion of the capsule.

[0031] Therefore, by deep-drawing in opposite directions, the central cup-like portion can be obtained in a first direction, i.e., concave, and the upper annulus in the opposite direction, i.e., conical or convex. The upper annulus extends radially between the central cup-like portion and the flat portion. Considering the height of the capsule, the upper annulus extends in height between the flat portion and the upper edge of the central cup-like portion; this means that the lying plane of the flat portion is at a height h lower than the depth H of the central cup-like portion and thus at mid-height, below the upper annulus. This configuration exposes the upper annulus to the sealing gasket normally found in the dispensing unit of coffee machines or dispensing machines, as will now be clarified.

[0032] Preferably, reverse drawing is achieved by closing the apparatus only once, that is, by a single movement to bring the two mould halves together.

[0033] The proposed solution provides the following advantages.

[0034] First, by double-drawing in opposite directions, the capsule can be made with a conical or curved profile, even only slightly conical or curved. In other words, considering the axial section of the capsule, an upper circular portion of the capsule, precisely the upper annulus, will be inclined at an angle other than 90° relative to the bottom of the capsule, or will be convex in an umbrella fashion, and this configuration allows a conical, tight coupling to be achieved with most dispensing units used in popular coffee machines. As a matter of fact, the dispensing unit will rest on the upper annulus of the capsule precisely with a conical or substantially conical coupling, which ensures a significantly better water tightness than would be the case if the capsule were cylindrical or provided with a flat edge.

[0035] In more detail, the dispensing unit retains the flat portion of the capsule, which extends radially like a capsule skirt, and rests on the upper annulus to achieve the tightness and prevent the dispensed water from bypassing the capsule.

[0036] A second advantage of double-drawing in opposite directions is that the upper annulus of the capsule acts as a shock-absorbing element, being able to accommodate small axial movements of the central portion of the capsule relative to the perimeter edge, when the coffee machine dispensing unit rests on the capsule. This factor further helps to achieve tightness against water leakage.

[0037] A third advantage is that the apparatus is adjustable to change the size of the upper annulus so that the shape and overall dimensions of the capsule can be easily adapted to a specific coffee machine. Therefore, the same apparatus is adjustable to make capsules compatible with different existing coffee machines.

[0038] In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, a cutting blade to cut the aluminum strip and a male / female forming element are provided, concentrically and in sequence from the outside to the inside, on the first mold half. A counter cutting blade to cut the aluminum strip, a female forming element and a male forming element are provided, concentrically and in sequence from the outside to the inside, on the second mould half.

[0039] The cutting blade and the counter cutting blade are movable relative to each other on the longitudinal axis to cut a blank, i.e. a circular portion of the aluminum strip. The cut circular portion remains interposed between the two mold halves, ready to be formed.

[0040] The male forming element can be at least partially inserted into the female forming element of the second mold half and simultaneously into the male / female forming element of the first mold half to form a capsule.

[0041] Preferably, the elements described above are basically cylindrical and have axial symmetry.

[0042] In more detail, the male / female forming element and the female forming element together delimit an impression corresponding to the upper annulus of the capsule; the male forming element and the male / female forming element together delimit an impression corresponding to the central cup-like portion of the capsule.

[0043] Capsule formation is done by closing the apparatus, i.e., by bringing the two mold halves closer to each other, and by moving, preferably in sequence, the elements described above relative to the longitudinal axis starting with the innermost elements, those located on the longitudinal axis, and gradually the radially more outward elements. The formed capsule is ejected when the apparatus is opened.

[0044] In practice, double reverse drawing is made:

[0045] - in a first direction, from the male forming element of the second mold half that is inserted into the male / female forming element of the first mold half;

[0046] - in a second direction, opposite the first one, from the male / female forming element of the first mold half that is inserted into the female forming element of the second mold half.

[0047] Optionally, the apparatus is equipped with additional elements mounted on board either the first mold half or the second mold half. More in detail, preferably:

[0048] - a retaining element of the aluminum strip and a first edging element are inserted in this order between the cutting blade and the male / female forming element, on the first mold half,

[0049] - a second edging element is inserted between the counter cutting blade and the female forming element, on the second mold half.

[0050] In this apparatus arrangement, the retaining element on the first mold half cooperates with the counter cutting blade on the second mold half to temporarily retain the aluminum strip during the cutting of the circular portion. The edging elements on the two mold halves cooperate to retain a circular annulus of the previously cut portion of the aluminum strip, and thus to make a flat perimeter edge around the upper annulus of the capsule while the retaining element and the counter cutting blade move to form a curl at the outer edge of the capsule.

[0051] The present invention concerns, in a second aspect thereof, a method according to claim 4 for forming a capsule for soluble food powders from an aluminum strip.

[0052] The method comprises: a) cutting the aluminum strip to obtain a blank, i.e. a circular portion whose size is proportional to the size of the capsule to be formed; b) deep-drawing, in a first direction, the circular portion of the aluminum strip cut during step a), to obtain the central cup-like portion of the capsule, having depth H, and c) deep-drawing, in a second direction opposite the first direction, the circular portion of the aluminum strip cut during step a) to obtain the upper annulus extending from, and around, the central cup-like portion of the capsule; the upper annulus is either conical or convex, with convexity opposite to the concavity of the central cup-like portion, and d) making a flat edge around the upper annulus of the capsule, and / or e) making a curled edge at the perimeter of the capsule.

[0053] The method can be implemented by using the apparatus according to the present invention, as will be evident from the following description.

[0054] Preferably, steps b) and c) are simultaneous in time or at least are implemented during the same closing movement of the apparatus.

[0055] A third aspect of the present invention relates to the capsule obtained directly with the method described above. The capsule is characterized by the double reverse drawing, with the central concave cup-like portion and the upper convex or conical annulus on which the tight coupling with the dispensing unit of the coffee machine is made.

[0056] Brief description of the drawings

[0057] Further details of the invention will be evident from the following description made with reference to the attached non-limiting and illustrative drawings, in which:

[0058] - Figure 1A is a schematic vertical section view of an apparatus according to the present invention, in a first configuration;

[0059] - Figure 1 B is a vertical section view of a capsule obtained with the apparatus and method of the present invention;

[0060] - Figure 2A is a vertical section view of the apparatus of figure 1 , in a second configuration; - Figure 2B is an enlargement of figure 2A;

[0061] - Figure 2C is a vertical section view of a capsule being formed in the forming step shown in figures 2A and 2B;

[0062] - Figure 3 is a vertical section view of the apparatus of figure 1 , in a third configuration;

[0063] - Figure 4 is a vertical section view of the apparatus in figure 1 , in a fourth configuration.

[0064] Detailed description of the invention

[0065] Figure 1A shows an apparatus 1 according to the present invention, equipped with a first mold half 2, also referred to as a lower mold half, and a second mold half 3, also referred to as an upper mold half. The two mold halves 2 and 3 are prearranged and kept coaxial relative to a longitudinal axis X, and in particular are aligned with the first mold half 2 which is positioned below the second mold half 3.

[0066] An aluminum strip or film S is fed between the two mold halves 2 and 3. The feeding of the strip S, obtained by means external to the apparatus 1 , is intermittent and synchronized with the opening and closing movements of the apparatus 1 .

[0067] The apparatus 1 is configured to make aluminum capsules C, each capsule C, shown in Figure 1 B, being equipped with a central cup-like portion 12 intended to contain the soluble powder, an upper annulus 13 cantileverly extending from the upper edge of the central cup-like portion 12, a flat edge 14 cantileverly extending radially outward from the upper annulus 13, and a curled edge 15.

[0068] As can be seen, the central cup-like portion 12 is concave and the upper annulus 13 is convex (or conical) and surrounds the central cup-like portion 12, thus giving the capsule C the advantages described above.

[0069] In more detail, as can be seen in Figure 1 B, the upper annulus 13, whose concavity is opposite to the concavity of the central cup-like portion 12, is positioned at a greater height than the flat edge 14, which cantileverly extends from the lower edge of the upper annulus 13. The central cup-like portion 12 has a bottom 12a and a circular upper edge 12b: the upper annulus extends, inclined downward, from the upper edge 12b. The upper annulus 13 extends on a plane that is parallel to the bottom 12a of the capsule C and is at an intermediate position between the bottom 12a of the capsule C and the upper edge 12b.

[0070] Due to this configuration, the upper annulus 13 provides an effective abutment surface for the sealing gasket of the dispensing unit of the coffee machine.

[0071] In figure 1A, the apparatus 1 is shown in an initial configuration corresponding to the beginning of a forming cycle of a capsule C. Between the two mold halves 2 and 3 there is an aluminum strip S that has yet to be cut.

[0072] An annular cutting blade, equipped with a sharp inner edge, is on the first (lower) mold half 2, and a counter cutting blade 7, also annular, equipped with a sharp outer edge is on the second (upper) mold half 3; the interaction between the cutting blade 4 and the counter cutting blade 7 results in the cutting of a disc of material from the aluminum strip S. The cutting is caused by the insertion of the counter cutting blade 7 into the cutting blade 4 and, for this reason, the outer diameter of the counter cutting blade 7 is complementary to the inner diameter of the cutting blade 4. It is irrelevant whether it is the cutting blade 4 that moves along the longitudinal axis X, or the counter cutting blade 7 or both of these components 4 and 7, as long as cutting takes place.

[0073] The reference 7' denotes a cylindrical retaining element that cooperates with the counter cutting blade 7 to temporarily retain (during cutting) the circular portion of the strip S that is separated from the rest of the strip S. Optionally, the counter-cutting blade 7 and the corresponding element 7', the latter facing the former, can also act as elements that curl the edge of the capsules C, as will be explained later. The element 7' is optional but present in the preferred embodiment. The elements 7 and 7' are radially aligned.

[0074] A first edging element 9 is located on the first mold half 2 and a second edging element 10 is located on the second mold half 3, both in a radially more inward position relative to the counter cutting blade 7 and the retaining element 7'. The two edging elements 9 and 10, which are essentially cylindrical in shape, have the function of together delimiting an impression corresponding to the flat edge 14 of the capsule, that is, a skirt extending cantileverly outward in radial direction from the upper annulus 13. The two edging elements 9 and 10 are mounted to be telescopic relative to the counter cutting blade and / or relative to the retaining element 7'. The two edging elements 9 and 10 are radially aligned.

[0075] A female forming element 5 is located on the second mold half 3 and a male / female forming element 8 is located on the first mold half 2, both at a radially more inward position relative to the two edging elements 9 and 10. The elements 5 and 8 are radially aligned and telescopic relative to the first edging element 9 and / or the second edging element 10.

[0076] A male forming element 6 is mounted on the second mold half 3 and a male forming counter element 11 is mounted on the first mold half 2, both at a radially more inward position relative to the female forming element 5 and male / female forming element 8. In the closed position of the apparatus 1 , with the capsule C formed, the male forming element 6 together with the male / female forming element 8 and the male forming counter element 11 delimit an impression corresponding to the central cup-like portion 12 of the capsule C. The elements 6, 8, and 11 are telescopic relative to the elements 5, 9 and 10.

[0077] Figure 2A shows the apparatus 1 in a second configuration during the forming cycle of a capsule C, with the capsule C almost fully formed except for the curled edge 15.

[0078] A circular portion intended to form a capsule C has been cut from the aluminum strip S. The counter cutting blade 7 is lowered onto the retaining element 7', which in turn has been retracted, so that a portion 15' of the aluminum strip, oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis X and corresponding to the portion which will be curled later and which will form the curled edge 15 of the capsule C, is delimited on the outside by the elements 7, 7' and on the inside by the edging elements 9 and 10. At a later time, the combined movement of the elements 7 and 7', toward the second mold half 3, will cause the portion 15’ to be curled.

[0079] The flat edge 14 of the capsule C is delimited below by the first edging element 9 and above by the second edging element 10, both kept at a height corresponding to the final position that the flat edge 14 must have relative to the upper annulus 13 of the capsule C.

[0080] The male / female forming element 8 is partially inserted both into the second edging element 10 and into the female forming element 5 and it delimits with the latter the impression corresponding to the upper annulus 13 of the capsule C. The upper end of the male / female forming element 8 is basically wedge-shaped, and this expedient causes the upper annulus 13 to have a convex conformation, i.e., a downwardly open concavity which, however, is opposite to the concavity of the central cup-like portion 12 of the capsule C.

[0081] The upper annulus 13 corresponds to the uppermost portion of the capsule C and is immediately inside the flat edge 14.

[0082] The male forming element 6 is partially inserted into the male / female forming element 8 so as to form together with it the central cup-like portion 12.

[0083] Figure 2B is an enlargement of Figure 2A, which shows the capsule C, being formed, between the two mold halves 2 and 3.

[0084] In order to make the cup-like portion 12, the upper annulus 13 and the flat edge 14 by moving only once the elements 5, 6, 7, 7' and 11 of the two mold halves 2 and 3, that is, in a single deep-drawing step, the following movements are performed:

[0085] - lowering the counter cutting blade 7 onto the retaining element 7' which in turn is retracted, so that the portion 15' of the aluminum strip is stretched parallel to the longitudinal axis X, between the elements 7, 7', 9, 10;

[0086] - lowering the elements 9 and 10, which are in abutment against each other, to the intended height toward the first (lower) mold half 2, and then keep them stationary at that height, in order to define the flat edge 14 of the capsule C being formed;

[0087] - keeping the female forming element 5 and the male / female forming element 8 stationary, so that the upper edge 12b of the capsule being formed lies on the lying plane of the aluminum foil S, at a height clearly greater than the height of the flat edge 14.

[0088] In other words, taking as a reference the lying plane of the aluminum foil S, which plane remains stationary for the entire duration of the production process of the capsule C, the actions that are performed by the elements of the apparatus 1 are:

[0089] - the male / female forming element 8 is kept stationary, which initially, as shown in Figure 1A, is in the correct position with its upper edge at the lying plane of the aluminum foil S;

[0090] - the male forming element 6 and the male forming counter element 11 are brought into abutment against each other and together lowered by a height H along the longitudinal axis X, where H thus corresponds to the depth of the central cup-like portion 12, to deep-draw the central cup-like portion 12 of the capsule C and, at the same time

[0091] - the female forming element 5 is lowered and brought into abutment against the stationary male / female forming element 8, to form the upper annulus 13 of the capsule C;

[0092] - the first edging element 9 and the second edging element 10 are brought into abutment against each other and lowered together by a height h, where h<H, along the longitudinal axis X to make the flat edge 14 of the capsule C at a lower height than the upper annulus 13;

[0093] - the counter cutting blade 7 and the retaining element 7' are lowered to make the portion 15' vertical and parallel to the longitudinal X axis of the capsule C being formed.

[0094] Since h<H, the upper annulus 13 extends in height between the upper edge 12b of the central cup-like portion 12 and the flat edge 14. Figure 2C shows an enlargement of the capsule C being formed and located in the apparatus 1 at the time shown in Figures 2A and 2B, which is when the deep drawing, which is single, was performed.

[0095] As can be seen, the portion 15' has yet to undergo the curling that will lead to the creation of the curled edge 15. The upper annulus 13 defines a large conical resting surface to be tight with the dispensing unit of the coffee machine.

[0096] The flat edge 14 extends over a lying plane located below the upper annulus 13.

[0097] Figure 3 shows the apparatus 1 in a second configuration during the forming cycle of a capsule C, with the capsule C fully formed and ready to be ejected. As can be seen, the apparatus 1 is in the open position and the formed capsule C is inserted into the upper mold half 3. As mentioned above, the combined movement of the elements 7 and 7' relative to the other elements of the apparatus 1 allowed the curled edge 15 to be formed. The ejection of the formed capsule C can take place by partially and temporarily pulling out the element 5 and / or the element 6 from the second mold half 3, as shown in Figure 4, where the apparatus 1 is open, the capsule C has been ejected and all the elements 4-11 have been aligned each with the elements of the same mold half 2 or 3, leaving the apparatus 1 ready to perform a new forming cycle: the aluminum foil S is moved forward and then stopped again, to allow the apparatus 1 to be closed on a new portion of the aluminum foil S.

[0098] The apparatus 1 is preferably made with the elements 4-11 having axial symmetry relative to the longitudinal X axis and, as a result, the capsule C also has axial symmetry.

[0099] The elements 4-11 are sliding one relative to the adjacent element, each being operated by a proper actuator.

[0100] Preferably, the central cup-like portion 12 and the upper annulus 13 are formed at the same time or at least during the same closing movement of the apparatus 1 , i.e., in a single movement to bring the two mold halves 2 and 3 closer to each other.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus (1) for forming capsules (C) from an aluminum strip (S), the capsules being intended to contain a water-soluble powder to make soluble beverages or infusions when the capsules are inserted into a coffee machine, the apparatus (1 ) comprising a first mould half (2) and a second mould half (3) which are movable with respect to each other along a longitudinal axis (X) between a distal, open position and a proximal, closed position, and wherein:- in the closed position, the first mould half (2) and the second mould half (3) together delimit an impression corresponding to a capsule (C) provided with a concave central cup-like portion (12) and an annular projection, named upper annulus (13), the latter extending from and around the central cup-like portion(12), and wherein said upper annulus (13) is either conical or convex, with convexity opposite to the concavity of the central cup-like portion (12), and wherein- a cutting blade (4) to cut said aluminum strip (S) and a male / female forming element (8) are provided, concentrically and in sequence from the outside to the inside, on the first mold half (2),- a counter cutting blade (7) to cut said aluminum strip (S), a female forming element (5) and a male forming element (6) are provided, concentrically and in sequence from the outside to the inside, on the second mould half (3), wherein the cutting blade (4) and the counter cutting blade (7) are movable relative to each other on the longitudinal axis (X) to cut a circular portion of said aluminum strip (S), and wherein the male forming element (6) can be at least partially inserted into the female forming element (5) and simultaneously into the male / female forming element (8), and wherein the male / female forming element (8) and the female forming element (5) together delimit an impression corresponding to said upper annuluswherein the male forming element (6) and the male / female forming element (8) together delimit an impression corresponding to said central cuplike portion (12) of the capsule (C), and wherein:- a retaining element (7') and a first edging element (9) are inserted between the cutting blade (4) and the male / female forming element (8), on the first mold half (2), and- a second edging element (10) is inserted between the counter cutting blade (7) and the female forming element (5), on the second mold half (3), and wherein the retaining element (7') cooperates with the counter cutting blade (7) to retain a circular annulus of the aluminum strip (S) while cutting the circular portion of the aluminum strip (S), and wherein the first edging element (9) cooperates with the second edging element (10) to retain a circular annulus of the previously cut portion of the aluminum strip (S) and make a flat perimeter edge (14) around the upper annulus (13) of the capsule (C), and wherein, in the closed position, the male / female forming element (8) and the female forming element (5) are located at the lying plane of the aluminum strip (S), and the first edging element (9) is located in abutment against the second edging element (10), below the lying plane of the aluminum strip (S), at a height (h) less than the depth (H) of the central cup-like portion (12) of the capsule (C).

2. Apparatus (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein in the closed position, with the capsule (C) formed, the male / female forming element (8) and the female forming element (5) together delimit an impression corresponding to said upper annulus (13) of the capsule (C), and the male forming element (6) and the male / female forming element (8) together delimit an impression corresponding to said central cup-like portion (12) of the capsule (C), and wherein the impression of the upper annulus (13) extends from the upper edge of the impression of the central cup-like portion (12).

3. Apparatus (1 ) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein in the closedposition of the apparatus,- in a configuration, the retaining element (7') and the counter cutting blade (7) are in abutment against each other, a perimeter portion of the capsule (C) being formed is contained between the retaining element (7') and the counter cutting blade (7) on the outside and between the first edging element (9) and the second edging element (10) on the inside, and said perimeter portion of the capsule (C) is parallel to the longitudinal axis (X), and- in another configuration, the retaining element (7') and the counter cutting blade (7) are lifted to cause the curling (15) of said perimeter portion of the capsule (C).

4. A method for forming a capsule (C) for soluble food powders from an aluminum strip (S), the method comprising: a) cutting the aluminum strip (S) to obtain a circular portion whose size is proportional to the size of the capsule (C) to be formed; b) deep-drawing, in a first direction, the circular portion of the aluminum strip (S) cut during step a) to obtain a central cup-like portion (12) of the capsule (C), wherein the central cup-like (12) has depth (H), and c) deep-drawing, in a second direction opposite the first direction, the circular portion of the aluminum strip (S) cut during step a) to obtain an annular projection, named upper annulus (13), extending from, and around, the central cup-like portion (12) of the capsule (C), wherein said upper annulus (13) is either conical or convex, with convexity opposite to the concavity of the central cup-like portion (12), and d) making a flat edge (14) around the upper annulus (13) of the capsule (C), and / or e) making a curled edge (15) at the perimeter of the capsule (C).

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein steps b), c), d) or e) are implemented at the same time or substantially at the same time.

6. Method according to any one of preceding claims 4-5, implemented by means of the apparatus according to one of claims 1 -3, wherein:- step a) is performed by inserting the counter cutting blade (7) into the cutting blade (4);- step b) is performed by inserting the male forming element (6) into the male / female forming element (8);- step c) is performed by inserting the male / female forming element (8) into the female forming element (5) while keeping the male / female forming element (8) at the lying plane of the aluminum strip (S);- step d) is performed by bringing the first edging element (9) into abutment against the second edging element (10), below the lying plane of the aluminum strip (S), at a height (h) less than the depth (H) of the central cup-like portion (12) of the capsule (C);- step e) is performed by initially bringing the retaining element (7') and the counter cutting blade (7) into abutment against each other so that a perimeter portion of the capsule (C) being formed is contained between the retaining element (7') and the counter cutting blade (7) on the outside and between the first edging element (9) and the second edging element (10) on the inside, with said perimeter portion of the capsule (C) parallel to the longitudinal axis (X), and, at a later time, by lifting the retaining element (7') and the counter cutting blade (7) toward the lying plane of the aluminum strip (S) to cause the curling (15) of said perimeter portion of the capsule (C).

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein steps b) and c) are implemented during a single approaching movement of the two mold halves (2, 3).

8. Food-grade aluminum capsule (C), directly obtained with the method according to any one of claims 4-7 comprising a concave central cup-like portion (12) and an annular projection, named upper annulus (13), the latter extending from and around the central cup-like portion (12), and comprising a flat edge (14) cantileverly extending from the upper annulus (13), and wherein said upper annulus (13) is either conical or convex, with convexity opposite to the concavity of the central cup-like portion (12), and extends between an upper edge (12b) of the central cup-like portion (12) andsaid flat edge (14), and wherein said flat edge (14) extends over a lying plane located below the upper annulus (13).

9. Capsule (C) according to claim 8, provided with axial symmetry.

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