an apparatus for packaging articles in deaerated condition . a belt - like film is tubulated to enclose a plurality of articles transported in a longitudinally aligned fashion . the articles and the film are transported together in integral relation while the air in the tubular film is evacuated by a pipe nozzle inserted in the film tube . the pipe nozzle is connected to a vacuum source via a connecting pipe . usually , the interior of the tubular film is kept in a suitable negative pressure condition by suction through a tube bypassing a normally closed valve disposed on the connecting pipe . the valve is impulsively opened immediately before seal bars press the film from opposite sides so that the air in the film is instantly discharged .