Multi-jaw transverse sealer

This invention relates to a packaging machine (10) having a carriage (52) drivable in a path (99) along a work region (32) and a sealing tool (72) movably mounted to the carriage (52) connected to a sealer actuator (192,194) for moving the tool (70) with respect to the carriage (52) and performing a sealing operation on a workpiece (11). The carriage (52) can have multiple tools (70, 203, 1506) mounted to the carriage (52) which can be independently actuated to perform multiple operations on a workpiece (11). This invention also relates to a method of performing a packaging operation in which a tool (70) is driven along a path (99) with respect to a workpiece (11) and the tool (70) is aligned with respect to the workpiece (11) and the aligned tool is moved into operational association with the workpiece (11) for performing an operation on the workpiece (11).