A symmetrical preform that provides protection to an equipment component (or other fragile or breakable item), provides ease in use during pre-packing and packing of an equipment component for transport, does not require the need for additional packing components in combination with the packaging assembly, and is economically suited for its end use, is provided for. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for making an integral, one piece packing assembly having symmetrical characteristics and being comprised of a flexible, corrugated-shaped material that is capable of protectively encapsulating, in a predetermined arrangement, a fragile component to ready for further movement, transport or packaging.

Automated apparatus for forming paperboard packaging from an integral paperboard blank includes a blade for gathering a central portion of the paperboard blank, causing the width of the blank to contract. A reciprocating mandrel rams the blank into a hollow tubular former having an opening of reduced size, causing portions of the blank to form side walls properly positioned with respect to a floor portion of the blank. Pistons within the mandrel apply pressure to overlapping portions of the formed blank, to seal those portions together.

A plant for manufacturing containers, for example for food use, consisting of a number of compartments equal to or greater than one, which comprises a station for the initial shaping of a container starting from a relative punched cardboard blank, a station for the final shaping of the edges of the container already shaped by said initial shaping station and a station for closing the container with a lid, in which each blank is fed by feed means to the initial shaping station, means for transferring the shaped container being provided between the stations, the container having a number of compartments greater than one, the initial shaping station comprising a forming head assembly consisting of a number of forming heads equal to the number of compartments into which the container is divided, counteracting means cooperating with the forming heads to deform the blank, and means for discharging the thus shaped container, the forming heads being movable at least one relative to the other and the counteracting means also being movable at least one relative to the others.

An apparatus for manufacturing a paper protector comprises an upper mold, a lower mold, and a central mold. The lower mold includes a frame section and support surface, while the upper mold includes a peripheral rim and guide projections fitted into the lower surface of the peripheral rim.

A method for forming a work object including the steps of moving the work object, initially disposed in a first configuration, along a path of travel to a forming position; defining an outer boundary for the work object, disposed in a second configuration, substantially about said forming position; and expanding the work object, during moving of the work object along the path of travel, to dispose the work object in the second configuration in the forming position. An apparatus for forming a work object including a mechanism for delivering the work object, disposed in a first configuration, to a deliver position; a forming assembly adjacent to the delivery position defining a forming chamber dimensioned to receive the work object therewithin disposed in a second configuration; and a manipulating assembly operable to engage the work object in the delivery position and to transport the work object into the forming chamber to manipulate the work object from the first configuration to the second configuration.