(57) A method and apparatus for making a porous laminated sheet product having upper and
lower web members connected about their periphery and having at least one compartment
formed therein, and containing a predetermined quantity of inner product within such
compartment. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a pouch-forming surface
having at least one inner product loading area formed therein which further includes
a cavity surrounded by peripheral land areas, a passageway adapted to place the product
loading area cavity in fluid communication with a vacuum source such that suction
can be selectively applied to the cavity, and one or more apertures formed through
the peripheral land areas and adapted to be selectively placed in fluid communication
with a source of pressurized air whereby outward air flow can emanate from the peripheral
land areas. The preferred process for making the porous pouches includes placing a
first porous web of pouch material in contact with the pouch forming surface, depositing
a quantity of granular product on the upper surface of the first porous web such that
the vacuum source tends to hold the granular product against the upper surface of
the first web in the product loading area cavity while the pressurized air tends to
keep the granular product from being deposited on the upper surface of the first web
in the peripheral land areas, and supplying a second web of pouch material and laminating
the lower surface thereof to the upper surface of the first porous web along the peripheral
land areas. This process thereby forms one or more porous pouches containing a predetermined
quantity of granular product sealed about their periphery.
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