Deep-drawing apparatus and packaging machine having a deep-drawing apparatus

A packaging machine for producing filled bags, comprising:

• a deep-drawing arrangement for deep-drawing a continuously supplied film strip;
• said deep-drawing arrangement having a transporter and a cyclically timed, deep-drawing apparatus;
• said transporter being configured to revolve continuously around a fixed machine frame, said transporter having a plurality of plate elements and a plurality of mold cavities disposed in said plate elements;
• said cyclically timed, deep-drawing apparatus being configured to run from a start position to an end position with said transporter and back to said start position from said end position, wherein said mold cavities are configured to be acted on with a pressure reduction;
• said plurality of plate elements being permanently connected to each other via a plurality of connection lines, wherein a first plate element of said plurality of plate elements is a connection element having at least one pressure reduction connection;
• said pressure reduction connection being connected to a pressure reduction source;
• said plurality of plate elements being configured to be permanently acted on with pressure reduction during operation via said plurality of connection lines and said pressure reduction connection;
• each of said plurality of plate elements having at least one switching valve for connecting the pressure reduction which is permanently applied in each of said plate elements to an associated one of said plurality of mold cavities as required;
• and,
• a plurality of subsequent processing stations.