Disclosed is a production machine which is used in producing the cornet cone packages used in the packaging of cornet-type ice-creams and which provides for the cornet cone packages to be horizontally fed and brought into a cone shape by being crimped.

An apparatus including a mandrel assembly with a first side plate, a second side plate, first and second bars coupled to and extending between the first and second side plates, a first forming element pivotally coupled to the first bar and configured to rotate in a first direction by a first amount from a home position to a collapsed position, and a second forming element pivotally coupled to the second bar and configured to rotate in a second, opposite direction by a second amount from a home position to a collapsed position; and a folding station defining an opening that receives the mandrel assembly. Also provided is a method of forming a tapered tray from a blank.

An apparatus including a mandrel assembly with a first side plate, a second side plate, first and second bars coupled to and extending between the first and second side plates, a first forming element pivotally coupled to the first bar and configured to rotate in a first direction by a first amount from a home position to a collapsed position, and a second forming element pivotally coupled to the second bar and configured to rotate in a second, opposite direction by a second amount from a home position to a collapsed position; and a folding station defining an opening that receives the mandrel assembly. Also provided is a method of forming a tapered tray from a blank.