Tooling for forming packaging from unitary blanks

An apparatus for the formation of a self-standing packaging container from unitary blanks of a relatively rigid coated paper material having a generally rectangular form comprising:

• a forming die having an internal cavity;
• a first mandrel having a convex end surface, said convex end surface defining a first center segment having a convex shape and a pair of generally planar triangular segments sloping upward from said first center segment adjoining said center segment at rounded edges on opposite sides of said first center segment forming a first continuous curvilinear surface, said first mandrel having sides defined by a first pair of parallel center sections abutting a first pair of angled side sections adjoining said first parallel sections with said first pair of angled side sections joining at first longitudinal end edges;
• and
• a second mandrel having a concave end surface, said concave end surface defining a second center segment having a concave shape and a pair of generally planar triangular segments sloping upward from said second center segment adjoining said center segment at rounded edges on opposite sides of said second center segment forming a second continuous curvilinear surface, said second mandrel having sides defined by a second pair of parallel center sections abutting a second pair of angled side sections adjoining said second parallel sections at second longitudinal end edges, whereby said first mandrel and said second mandrel engage said unitary blanks such that said blank is compressed between said first mandrel end surface and said second mandrel end surface and cooperate with said die to force said unitary blanks into a generally upright position forming a continuous curvilinear bottom surface and, thereby, form said unitary blank into said packaging.