Machine for cutting pouches with shaped perimeter edge, and method

A rotary blade drum and forming drum assembly for separating product containing pouches from a travelling web of adhered films comprising:

• a film support surface on said forming drum provided with a plurality of pouch forming mold configurations having a perimeter edge of said film support surface defining the cavity of each mold configuration and groove portions, including intersecting generally longitudinal groove portions and generally transverse groove portions between said mold configurations;
• a rotary blade drum assembly having a plurality of blade configurations each with blade portions including intersecting generally longitudinal blade portions and generally transverse blade portions arranged to form the entire perimeter edge of the flange of a pouch;
• said blade portions arranged to interengage with the groove portions in the film support surface in the forming drum, with distal ends arranged to enter said groove portions of said film support surface,
• rotation of said forming drum and said rotary blade drum causing said distal ends of said blade portions to enter said groove portions through the travelling web of adhered films and form the perimeter edge of the flange of the pouch and separate pouches from the travelling web of adhered films.