Methods and machine for forming containers having top flange with glued corners

A container forming apparatus for forming a container from a blank, the blank including a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, two opposing end panels, four corner panels, and a respective flange panel extending from a top edge of each end panel, side panel, and corner panel, the apparatus comprising:

• a blank transfer station including an adhesive assembly comprising a plurality of adhesive applicators, wherein the blank is transferred in a blank transfer direction through the adhesive assembly, where at least one of the adhesive applicators applies hot-melt adhesive to an exterior surface of the flange panels extending from the top edge of the corner panels;
• and a compression station downstream of the blank transfer station, the compression station comprising a vertically movable mandrel and a forming tool below the mandrel, wherein the forming tool defines a cavity therein and has an inner profile complementary in shape to an outer profile of the mandrel, wherein the blank is positioned beneath the mandrel, and the mandrel drives the blank downward into the cavity of forming tool, which rotates the corner panels inwardly into engagement with the mandrel and rotates the side panels and end panels inwardly into engagement with the mandrel, the compression station further comprising compression plates coupled to the mandrel, wherein the compression plates rotate the flange panels outwardly into engagement with a top edge of the forming tool, the compression panels further compressing the flange panels extending from the top edge of the corner panels against the flange panels extending from the top edge of the side and end panels to form the container having a fully formed top flange.