Apparatus and method using air pressure and vacuum to form flat-paneled flower pot cover

An apparatus for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover, the apparatus comprising:

• a female die having an upper end, a lower end, and an opening with at least three forming surfaces forming vertices between the forming surface forming vertices between the forming surfaces;
• a male die having an upper end, a lower end, and at least three mating surfaces, each mating surface corresponding to one of the forming surfaces of the female die;
• means for moving at least one of the male die and the female die back and forth between a resting position wherein the male die is spaced a distance from the female die and a forming position wherein the male die is disposed in the opening of the female die;
• and
• air pressure means for introducing a blast of air directed into the opening of the female die at the vertices between the forming surfaces;
• wherein each blast of air forces a portion of the sheet of material toward the male die as the male die is moved into the opening of the female die and each forming surface of the female die cooperates with the corresponding mating surface of the male die to form a flat panel in the sheet of material disposed between the male die and the female die when the male die is moved into the opening of the female die.