Patterned cut pouch forming machine, and method

Apparatus for forming product containing pouches from a travelling web of adhered films comprising a rotatable forming drum defining a film support surface, including a plurality of mold configurations disposed in transverse circumferentially spaced rows;

• a film retention chamber in said film support surface preceding and trailing each of said mold configurations, including at least one leading film retention chamber preceding each said row of mold configurations and at least one trailing retention chamber trailing each transverse row of mold configurations,
• wherein said film support surface includes a perimeter separation land surrounding each said mold configuration, and
• a continuous perimeter land within each said mold configuration and a continuous blade groove formed between each said continuous perimeter land and the perimeter separation land surrounding each said mold configuration, and
• a pouch separation station with separation blades in synchronous register with said blade grooves to separate individual completed pouches from the travelling web of films,
• wherein said apparatus further includes a vacuum system including passages in said drum connecting to said mold configurations and passages in said drum connecting to said film retention chambers configured to provide vacuum to said mold configurations to retain the film within said mold configurations and to said film retention chambers to retain the film during separation of said pouches from the travelling web of films.