Bag forming apparatus

A bag forming apparatus for forming a paper bag having a flat bottom, the bag forming apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• first and second sidewalls that extend upright relative to the base, each of the first and second sidewalls being hinged for pivotable movement relative to the base and relative to each other;
• a top having a first top portion that is hinged to the first sidewall, and a second top portion that is hinged to the second sidewall, the first and second top portions being hinged together at an intermediate pivot location between the first and second sidewalls for enabling the first and second top portions to pivot relative to each other between a collapsed state of the apparatus and an expanded state of the apparatus;
• one or more supports disposed between the first and second sidewalls, the supports being configured to engage and support the first and second sidewalls when the first and second sidewalls are in the collapsed state and disengage from the first and second sidewalls when the first and second sidewalls are in the expanded state;
• and
• a biasing member operably coupled to the first and second sidewalls, wherein the biasing member biases the apparatus toward the collapsed state;
• wherein in the collapsed state, the first and second top portions are inclined relative to the base to form a tip that is configured to facilitate inserting the top and the sidewalls in an opening of the bag;
• and
• wherein in the expanded state, the first and second top portions are coplanar with each other to form a platform that is configured to facilitate formation of the flat bottom of the bag.