PACKAGING MACHINE FOR INDIVIDUAL PORTIONS, AND METHOD

A packaging machine for individual portions in which a strip of thermoplastic film is automatically releasably gripped along it s longitudinally extending marginal portions by rows of gripping elements and while so gripped, the film is moved in a forward direction and is progressively heated by a heater and progressively tautened transversely of its movement as it softens. After leaving the heater and while still gripped, the softened film is positioned over upper mold forms at a cup-forming station at one end of the upper run of an endless row of such forms which upper run is moved in said forward direction toward a filling and sealing station successively spaced from said one end. A lower mold form at said cup-forming station is moved against the upper mold form to form the cup-mold and mechanical and suction means forms a plurality of cups in the film after which the marginal grippers and the lower mold form automatically release the film for movement to the filling station where the cups in the film are filled, and the filled cups are then moved to the sealing station while the cups are still in the upper mold forms. At the sealing station a cover sheet is positioned over the cups and is heat sealed to the upper surface of the film around the cup openings during uniform application of pressure against the upper and lower sides of the film at said surface, and finally the film and filled, sealed cups are moved out of the upper mold forms and the cups are cut from the film to provide filled and sealed individual packages.