Patent ID: 8186134

Claim:
In an indexing-motion packaging machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations including (A) a forming station for forming at least one pocket in the web, (B) a loading station for placing food product in the pocket, and (C) a closing station for closing the pocket with another web of packaging material; a packaging apparatus comprising: a forming station comprising first and second forming die members, at least one of the first and second forming die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to form the pocket; a closing station comprising first and second closing die members, at least one of the first and second closing die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to close the pocket; and wherein the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member are counterbalanced by a lift and wherein one of the forming station and the closing station is underneath the other of the forming station and the closing station in the packaging machine.