US Patent 7316642 Apparatus for forming containers

An apparatus for forming containers fed with their side walls arranged in a flattened tubular configuration, comprising a device for opening the containers that is associated with abutment-retention elements for the abutment and retention of the containers in the open configuration and with transfer elements for transferring the open containers into respective variable-geometry receptacles of a conveyance line, the receptacles being suitable to move from a first open configuration for receiving the containers to a second closed configuration for conveying the containers to a subsequent treatment station.