Understanding the Horizontal Orbital Film Sealing and Wrapping Machine for 6-Side Packaging

In modern manufacturing and logistics, efficiently protecting products during transit and storage is paramount. The horizontal orbital film sealing and wrapping machine offers a robust solution, particularly designed for comprehensive 6-side coverage of various items. This automated packaging system applies a protective film, seals the edges, cuts excess material, and securely wraps products, ensuring they remain stable and shielded from environmental factors.

horizontal orbital packaging machine

1. What is a Horizontal Orbital Film Sealing and Wrapping Machine?

This specialized equipment combines several functions into one automated process:

• Film Covering: Dispenses and applies a layer of stretch film or other protective material around the product.
• Sealing: Creates secure seals along the film edges, often using heat or impulse sealing mechanisms, crucial for achieving full 6-side protection.
• Cutting: Automatically cuts the film once the wrapping and sealing cycle is complete.
• Wrapping: Utilizes an orbital ring carrying the film roll, which rotates around the product as it passes horizontally through the machine. This ensures consistent tension and coverage on all sides.

The "6-side packaging" capability means the machine is designed to fully encase the product (top, bottom, and all four sides) within the protective film, offering superior protection against dust, moisture, and scratches compared to traditional wrapping methods that might leave ends exposed.

2. How Does the Machine Operate?

The typical operational sequence involves several key steps:

1. Infeed: The product is placed onto the infeed conveyor, either manually or automatically, and transported towards the wrapping ring.
2. Film Application & Sealing: As the product enters the wrapping zone, the orbital ring begins to rotate, dispensing the film. Simultaneously or sequentially, sealing mechanisms engage to fuse the film edges, creating the initial enclosure.
3. Orbital Wrapping: The ring continues to rotate around the horizontally moving product, applying stretch film under controlled tension to tightly secure the item. The sealing process might continue along the length or occur at the start and end.
4. Film Cutting: Once the product is fully wrapped and sealed, an automated cutting unit cleanly severs the film.
5. Outfeed: The completely packaged product moves onto the outfeed conveyor, ready for palletizing, storage, or shipping.

3. Key Features and Components

While designs vary, common features include:

• Infeed and Outfeed Conveyors: Often powered roller or belt conveyors for smooth product transport.
• Orbital Wrapping Ring: The core component holding the film roll dispenser and driving the wrapping process.
• Film Carriage: Mechanism on the ring that holds the film roll and often includes tension control systems.
• Sealing System: Integrated heat bars, impulse sealers, or other technologies to fuse the film edges effectively.
• Automatic Film Cutting Unit: Ensures clean separation of the film after wrapping.
• PLC Control System: A programmable logic controller with a user interface (HMI) for setting parameters like wrap counts, tension, conveyor speed, and sealing temperature/time.
• Safety Features: Emergency stops, safety guards, and sensors to protect operators.

4. Benefits of Using a Horizontal Orbital Sealer and Wrapper

Implementing this technology offers significant advantages:

• Enhanced Product Protection: Complete 6-side coverage shields products effectively from dust, moisture, dirt, and surface damage.
• Improved Load Stability: Tightly wrapped film secures items, preventing shifting during handling and transportation, especially for long or irregularly shaped products.
• Increased Efficiency: Automates the complex process of sealing and wrapping, significantly increasing throughput compared to manual methods.
• Reduced Labor Costs: Frees up personnel previously engaged in manual wrapping and sealing tasks.
• Material Savings: Precise tension control and automated cutting can optimize film usage.
• Consistent Packaging Quality: Ensures every product is packaged to the same standard, enhancing brand presentation and reliability.

5. Common Applications

These machines are ideal for industries dealing with elongated or bulky items requiring full protection, such as:

• Building Materials: Doors, windows, panels, insulation boards, lumber packs.
• Furniture: Tabletops, cabinets, unassembled furniture components.
• Metals: Extruded profiles (aluminum, plastic), pipes, tubes, metal sheets.
• Textiles: Rolls of fabric or carpet.
• Other: Any long or large product needing robust, sealed protection on all sides.

6. Considerations for Selection

When choosing a machine, consider:

• Product Dimensions: Maximum and minimum length, width, and height the machine can handle.
• Throughput Requirements: Desired packaging speed (products per hour).
• Film Type Compatibility: Suitability for stretch film, PE, or other required materials.
• Level of Automation: Integration capabilities with existing production lines.
• Sealing Quality: Reliability and strength of the seal for specific product and environmental conditions.

7. Conclusion

The horizontal orbital film sealing and wrapping machine represents a significant advancement in protective packaging technology. By combining orbital wrapping with effective film sealing for 6-side coverage, it provides superior protection, stability, and efficiency, making it an invaluable asset for industries handling long, bulky, or sensitive products. Its ability to automate and standardize the packaging process leads to tangible benefits in cost savings, product integrity, and operational performance.