HERSTELLEN UND FUELLEN VON FLEXIBLEN KUNSTSTOFFVERPACKUNGEN, VERPACKEN, ZUSAMMENSETZEN UND VERPACKEN VON ARTIKELN SOWIE UEBERFUEHREN VON PRODUKTGRUPPEN

Flexible plastics packages are formed and filled by first forming a web of plastic which is pulled through and processed in a thermoformer to provide formed receptacles, and then placing articles in the receptacles to provide filled receptacles. A cover is provided over the filled receptacles, and sealed to the web around the receptacles. The web is cut between the filled receptacles to provide separate packages. The forming step involves advancing a thin flexible web of plastic through the thermoformer. A first pressure difference is provided on opposite sides of the plastic web when heated and positioned in a mold of the thermoformer. This provides an initial contour with substantially uniform stretching of the heated, plastic web. Thereafter a second pressure difference larger than the first and sufficiently large to force the heated plastic web into the desired shape of a mold of the thermoformer provides formed receptacles with a wall thickness at least equal to a predetermined minimum thickness sufficient to maintain integrity of the packages.