Pouch forming mold configuration, and method

Apparatus for forming a pressurized product containment pouch from a base film and a lid film adhered about a perimeter seal seam comprising:

• mechanism including a film support surface having at least one mold configuration therein, for forming a pocket in the base film comprising:
• a perimeter edge at said film support surface;
• wall surfaces extending inward from said perimeter edge defining a mold cavity;
• said wall surfaces including a bottom wall surface and transition wall surfaces;
• extending to said bottom wall surface, and
• at least one plateau surface within said mold cavity inward of said perimeter edge,
• wherein said at least one plateau surface is spaced inward of said film support surface a distance sufficient to prevent adherence of the lid film to the base film overlying said at least one plateau surface,
• mechanism supplying a base film onto said film support surface;
• mechanism applying a vacuum to said mold configuration to cause said base film to form a pocket conforming to the shape of said mold cavity;
• mechanism for filling said pocket with at least one product component;
• mechanism for adhering a lid film to the base film on said film support surface.

A method of forming a pouch having at least one sharp corner profile, using a mold configuration for forming a pocket in a film comprising:

• a film support surface;
• a perimeter edge at said film support surface;
• wall surfaces extending inward of said perimeter edge defining a mold cavity;
• said wall surfaces including transition wall surfaces extending to a bottom wall surface, said perimeter edge includes sharp corner profile perimeter edge portions defining at least one sharp corner profile;
• and a plateau surface inward of said sharp corner profile perimeter edge portions;
• the steps comprising:
• supporting a base film on said film support surface overlying said mold configuration;
• applying a vacuum to said mold configuration to cause said base film to form a pocket conforming to the shape of said mold configuration;
• filling said pocket with at least one product component;
• adhering a lid film to said base film laterally of said perimeter edge of said mold configuration.

A method of forming a pressurized product containment pouch having a base film and a lid film adhered about a perimeter seal seam using a mold configuration having

• a film support surface;
• perimeter edge at said film support surface;
• wall surfaces extending inward from said perimeter edge defining a mold cavity;
• said wall surfaces including a bottom wall surface and transition wall surfaces extending to said bottom wall surface;
• and
• at least one plateau surface within said mold cavity, inward of said perimeter edge;
• wherein said at least one plateau surface is spaced inward of said film support surface a distance sufficient to prevent adherence of the lid film to the base film overlying said at least one plateau surface;
• the steps comprising:
• supporting a base film on said film support surface overlying said mold configuration;
• applying a vacuum to said mold configuration to cause said base film to form a pocket conforming to the shape of said mold configuration;
• filling said pocket with at least one product component adhering a lid film to said base film laterally of said perimeter edge of said mold configuration;
• wherein said perimeter edge includes plural sharp corner profile perimeter edge portions defining plural sharp corner profiles, each said sharp corner profile including a plateau surface inward of said sharp corner profile perimeter edge portions.