Patent ID: 8615973

Claim:
A thermoform packaging machine comprising: a plurality of work stations for manufacturing a multilayer package, the work stations including a first work station provided as a forming station for thermoforming a trough into a lower web and for cutting evacuation and/or gas flushing openings in the lower web, a second work station provided as a sealing station for evacuating and/or gas flushing and for sealing the lower web and all additionally supplied top webs of the multilayer package onto one another, and at least one intermediate work station arranged downstream of the forming station and upstream of the sealing station, when seen in the direction of production, the at least one intermediate work station comprising a cutting unit for cutting at least one evacuation and/or gas flushing opening in the one or more top webs applied prior to entering the at least one intermediate work station as well as a sealing unit for applying at least a partial circumferential seal between the lower web and the one or more top webs and around the at least one evacuation and/or gas flushing opening cut at the at least one intermediate work station.