Abstract: An intermittent motion horizontal packaging machine in which pouches made one at a time by a pouch making section operating at a high index cycle rate are filled two at a time while being advanced in a single row by a pouch filling section operating at one-half the index cycle rate of the pouch making section.

Abstract: Flexible pouches filled with product are gripped at their side margins by bag clamps and are advanced to a steaming station where steam is directed downwardly toward the pouches to drive air therefrom. As the steam is being introduced into each pouch, the pouch is held in a widely open position by the clamps. Thereafter, the pouch is closed by shifting one clamp away from the other clamp and then is sealed by heated sealing bars. To enable a substantially wrinkle-free top seal to be formed, each clamp includes upper and lower jaws which grip the pouch above and below the bottom margin of the top seal to keep the seal area tight.