Patent ID: 7559884

Claim:
A mandrel for use with a container forming machine having a compression mechanism supported by a forming machine frame to form a container from a body blank and one or more side blanks in compression phase, said mandrel comprising: a mandrel frame having a plurality of frame members, said mandrel configured to move toward and away from said compression mechanism of said container forming machine; a female profile mechanism supported by said mandrel frame, said female profile mechanism having a female forming tool, said female profile mechanism configured to move with said mandrel; a male profile mechanism supported by said mandrel frame, said male profile mechanism having a male forming tool sized and configured to cooperatively engage said female forming tool, said male profile mechanism configured to move with said mandrel; means for engaging one of said side blanks against one of said female forming tool or said male forming tool; and means associated with one of said female profile mechanism or said male profile mechanism for actuating either of said female profile mechanism or said male profile mechanism so as to engage said male forming tool in said female forming tool with said side blank disposed therebetween to define a column in said side blank and maintaining said engaged position of the male and female forming tools while said shaped side blank is moved into position for the compression phase in the compression mechanism.