Patent ID: 8177699

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a platen operable for moving between a first position proximate and in spaced relation to a blank and a second position downstream therefrom, the platen being biased against the blank for a driving of the blank downstream to the second position, the platen having a guide plate operable at a peripheral portion thereof for providing a compression surface; a forming rail positioned downstream the first position for receiving the blank moving against the forming rail for folding portions the blank, wherein a proximal portion of the forming rail partially folds peripheral portions of the blank and a distal portion of the forming rail secures the blank into a partially formed tray, wherein side walls of the partially formed tray are fully formed, the distal portion having a side folding rail portion opposing the guide plate for receiving the blank peripheral portions therebetween; a first folding arm movably positioned for biasing against an extended portion of the partially formed tray for a continued folding thereof, the first folding arm positioned proximate the distal portion of the forming rail and downstream the proximal portion thereof, wherein the first folding arm is movable between a first position wherein the platen can move along a path, the first folding arm movable to a second position wherein the first folding arm is within the path and generally perpendicular thereto; a compression plate movably carried in spaced relation to the partially formed tray; a fixed plate carried in spaced relation to the compression plate, the fixed plate having a surface thereof generally parallel to the path of the platen, the fixed plate and the compression plate forming a passage therebetween; and a second folding arm movable through the passage and positioned for biasing against the extended portion of the partially formed tray and for folding the extended portion through the passage, wherein the fixed plate is positioned for guiding the extended portion along the surface of the fixed plate onto a tray wall for providing a fully formed tray.