Small article packaging apparatus

In a machine for packaging items in sealed pockets of packages formed from a pair of strips of packaging material;

• means defining a continuous path of movement for one of the strips first in one direction and thereafter in a direction opposite said one direction, means disposed in the path for intermittently printing a label on one side of one of the strips when disposed for movement in said one direction, means located in the path for intermittently indenting said one strip at an opposite side thereof when disposed for movement in said opposite direction, said indenting means including a recessed punch member cooperating with an opposing die member for cold pressing spaced indentations in said one strip, means for directing the other of said strips in flat form to overlie said indented strip after the items to be packaged are loaded in said indentations, means adjacent said directing means for intermittently heat sealing said strips together along the periphery of said indentations to provide a strip of sealed packages, said sealing means including a heated platen cooperating with an opposing heat sink member, means for intermittently advancing said strip of packages along said path, and means for intermittently cutting said strip of packages between said indentations, said cutting means including a bearing block cooperating with an opposing blade member, said punch member, platen and bearing block being mounted for reciprocating movement into contact with their respective opposing members.