Methods and apparatus for forming and sealing a container having centering tabs

A machine for forming and sealing a top of a container, the container comprising a leading centering tab and a trailing centering tab that are folded into face-contacting relationship with said top, said leading centering tab and said trailing centering tab being positionable within notches formed in a bottom of a second container for facilitating alignment of a plurality of containers, said machine comprising:

• a forming section comprising at least one bullet arm, the at least one bullet arm comprising a tip, a shaft, and an actuating cylinder, wherein the actuating cylinder moves the tip and the shaft between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the shaft is housed within the actuating cylinder when in the retracted position, wherein the tip and shaft are moved from the retracted position to the extended position, the tip strikes the trailing centering tab of the container and folds it into face-contacting relationship with the top;
• and
• a compression section downstream from said forming section and comprising a compression device that folds the leading centering tab of the container into face-contacting relationship with the top.