Abstract: A disposable cardboard crate for transporting and storing goods, particularly, containers of milk. The crate is a rectangular open top container and opposed end walls (25) extend above the height of the other walls (26). The end walls (25) are each folded back on themselves at the top to form a triangular box structure or girder which extends across the end and provides a horizontal ledge (24) projecting inwardly of the crate. The ledge (24) is at a height very slightly above the height of the other walls (26). The girder contributes substantially to the strength of the crate. The end walls (25) are inclined upwardly and outwardly slightly to allow the base (20) of a further crate in a stack to fit between upwardly extending portions (27) and rest on the ledges (24).

Abstract: A machine for forming cardboard blanks into crates (open top containers) for transporting and storing goods, particularly plastic containers of milk. The machine has folding apparatus for folding opposed extended end flaps of the blank back on themselves to form a reinforcing structure including a ledge which, in a formed crate extends inwardly across each of two opposed ends of the crate towards the upper edges of the opposed ends. A first carriage member with suction means lifts a blank from a stack and places it at said folding apparatus. A second carriage member progresses the blank through the folding apparatus to forming apparatus where the goods are loaded onto the blank to form a mandrel and the carton is formed into a crate around the goods.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive system wherein a plurality of refill adaptors are spaced from an adhesive source and from each other and are connected to said source by heated pressure hoses whereby molten adhesive is supplied from said source to said refill adaptors, each refill adaptor having connection means for selective connection to a hand held applicator gun whereby a gun may be charged or recharged with molten adhesive at any one of a plurality of spaced locations remote from said source. The applicator gun includes valve actuated means externally of the gun for preventing ejection of molten adhesive through the nozzle during a filling or refilling operation. The gun also includes a plunger extending through a wall of a molten adhesive storage chamber which is adapted to be forced outwardly to a fully extended position when the chamber is full.