An improved apparatus for making pressware features a vacuum belt feeder which accelerates and decelerates a feed blank for controlled insertion into a forming die as well as retainers to limit bounce back of the blank off of forward stops. The first circuit receives input data and provides a plurality of first signals asserted based on the input data. The first cylindrical member is configured with a stepped outer cylindrical surface that cooperates with a detent formed within the cylindrical opening of the arm to limit the pivotal range of the arm.