Machine for forming a skin package

Claim 1

IN A MACHINE FOR SKIN-PACKAGING AN ARTICLE ON A GENERALLY FLAT BASE HAVING A DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FLARING SKIRT EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY AROUNDTHE PERIPHERY OF THE BASE, THE COMBINATION OF, A CUP HAVING A LIP FOR SUPPORTING A SHEET OF HERMOPLASTIC FILM TO CLOSE THE CUP, A HOLLOW FRAME CLAMPING SAID SHEET AGAINST SAID CUP LIP, MEANS FOR RADIATING HEAT TO THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID SHEET THROUGH SAID FRAME FOR SOFTENING THE FILM TO A PLASTIC STATE, A PLATFORM IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID CUP NESTED WITHIN SAID SKIRT AND SUPPORTING SAID ARTICLE IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE CUP BOTTOM, THE INTERNAL WALL OF SAID CUP CONVERGING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY FROM SAID LIP AND COOPERATING WITH SAID SKIRT TO FORM A CHAMBER EXTENDING AROUND THE ENTIRE PERIPHERY OF THE SKIRT, AND MEANS FOR CREATING A MOMENTARY VACUUM IN SAID CHAMBER BELOW SAID SKIRT AND OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE TO DRAW THE SOFTENED FILM INTO SAID CUP AND DOWNWARDLY ALONG SAID WALL AND THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID ARTICLE AND SKIRT WHEREBY TO SEAL THE FILM TO THE SURFACE OF THE SKIRT.