Patent ID: 7640717

Claim:
A packaging machine which forms a web-shaped packaging material into a tubular shape, introduces food product into the tubular-shaped packaging material, and seals the tubular-shaped packaging material at spaced apart intervals to form interconnected tilled and sealed packaging containers which are separated from one another, the packaging machine comprising: a heat seal jaw; a counter element positioned in opposition to the heat seal jaw to apply pressure to a first portion of the packaging material positioned between the heat seal jaw and the counter element in association with heating of the packaging material by the heat seal jaw to seal the first portion of the packaging material to a second portion of the packaging material, the counter element comprising an abutment surface adapted to abut at least the first portion of the packaging material, the abutment surface possessing an outer circumference, and the abutment surface comprising a plurality of indentations adapted to entrap fluid or gas present in a vicinity of the abutment surface and the first portion of the packaging material, the plurality of indentations being individually discrete indentations positioned in spaced apart relation to one another, at least some of the plurality of indentations possessing an outer periphery that does not intersect the outer circumference of the abutment surface.