Patent ID: 7313900

Claim:
A vacuum skin packaging method for manufacturing an easy-to-open package provided with a device for initiating the opening thereof, the method comprising: a) the step of sealing a top web ( 113 ) to a bottom web ( 104 ) in a first area (A) all around a product (P) that is arranged on the bottom web, in a sealing station having an upper sealing dome and a die bottom, said sealing step comprising the steps of i) drawing the top web by vacuum into the upper sealing dome, ii) drawing the bottom web by vacuum into the die bottom, iii) heating the top web, iv) evacuating air between the top and bottom webs, and v) releasing the top web from the upper sealing dome such that the top web is sealed to the bottom web in the first area (A) all around the product (P) in a fundamentally closed chamber formed between the upper sealing dome and the die bottom, and b) the step of inhibiting the sealing between the top and bottom webs ( 113 , 104 ) in at least a second area (B) by arranging at least one removable local sealing inhibition tool ( 150 ) between the top and bottom webs ( 113 , 104 ), in said second area, by moving the at least one removable local sealing inhibition tool ( 150 ) in a working position cooperating with the sealing station ( 115 ) and back to a position not cooperating with the sealing station ( 115 ), where the working position is a position between the top and bottom webs ( 113 , 104 ) and at least partially within the fundamentally closed chamber of the sealing station ( 115 ).