Patent ID: 8820037

Claim:
A thermoforming packaging machine comprising: a forming station for producing packaging troughs in a bottom foil; a lateral clamping chain which grips and transports the bottom foil; a transition region for conveying the packaging troughs from a first transport plane to a second transport plane, wherein the first transport plane is located below the second transport plane and the transition region begins when the bottom foil leaves the first transport plane and ends when the bottom foil enters the second transport plane, the transition region being configured for reversing transport direction of the bottom foil by around one-hundred eighty (180) degrees; wherein the bottom foil is conveyed in the first transport plane into the forming station during intermittent infeed of the lateral clamping chain; and a filling device for filling the packaging troughs with a product, the filling device comprising a conveyor for conveying a product substantially in the second transport plane, and wherein the packaging trough is in communicating relationship with the filling device for receiving a product therein as the packaging trough is at least partially located in the transition region.