METHOD FOR OPERATING A DEEP DRAW PACKAGING MACHINE

A thermoform packaging machine comprising a forming station for producing troughs in a bottom film, a sealing station for sealing troughs that contain a product, and at least one cutting station arranged on a machine frame. The thermoform packaging machine may include at least two clamp chains for holding and conveying the bottom film in a production direction through the packaging machine. The clamp chains may be guided by chain guides that extend at least from the forming station along an infeed line to the sealing station. Each chain guide may include an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface between which a respective one of the clamp chains is guided. In one embodiment, the chain guides are oriented horizontally at and along both the forming station and the sealing station and the chain guide ascends from the forming station to the sealing station along the infeed line.