Executive summary
A box tape wrapping machine puts adhesive tape bands around a box or a film-wrapped stack, in line, with no operator. In an integrated line it takes the product from an upstream conveyor, holds it down, wraps 2 or 4 tape bands, and hands it on to a curved conveyor and a robot. Our equivalent solution is built for cartons, stacked parts and film-wrapped bundles. This page covers how the machine links into a line, how the cycle is built up, how much tape a roll covers, and what we need from you.
Table of Contents
- Why tape bands on boxes and stacks
- In-line mechanical and electrical integration
- How the cycle is built up
- Tape width and tape per roll
- Typical data
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
Why tape bands on boxes and stacks
A tape band holds a stack together and closes a carton in one step, and it is quicker to remove than a plastic strap. Coloured tape also marks a pack: one colour per product or per customer order. On small, light products a tape band replaces strapping and avoids strap marks on soft packs, because the tape applies its tension around the perimeter without cutting into corners the way a tensioned plastic strap can.
In-line mechanical and electrical integration
An integrated taping machine has to match the line around it:
- Infeed: A belt or telescopic raceway conveyor brings the product in at a fixed height. A photocell detects the leading edge and stops the product under the head.
- Hold-down: Arms or a pressing plate come down so the product cannot move while the tape goes on.
- Taping: The head wraps the band, cuts the tape and presses the end down.
- Outfeed: The product moves on to the next station: here a curved conveyor and a robot.
- Signals: The machine sends ready and done signals to the line controller, so upstream and downstream stations wait for each other.
The infeed and outfeed sections can be configured with an adjustable telescopic raceway conveyor [manufacturer rating] to bridge pitch gaps between upstream case packers and downstream handling systems.
Get the conveyor heights, product direction and signal list agreed early. Most integration delays come from those three points, not from the taping head: datum heights first, so infeed and outfeed pass levels match and packs transfer without catching; then the photocell positions, so reflective film does not false-trigger the index; then the handshake list, so the ready and done signals and the stop loop match the line controller.
How the cycle is built up
Time per product = number of bands × (time per band + pitch index) + product index. Each extra band adds one more index of the pack to the next band position. Take 2 s per lap, 1 s per pitch index and 2 s to change products (example) [illustrative calculation]:
| Check | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Time per product, 2 bands | 2 × (2 + 1) + 2 | 8 s |
| Products per hour, 2 bands | 3,600 ÷ 8 | 450 |
| With 4 bands | 4 × (2 + 1) + 2 | 14 s, about 257 per hour |
Match this to the line rate. If the line needs more, a second taping head or a buffer conveyor is the answer, not a faster head.
Tape width and tape per roll
Tape per band = 2 × (product width + product height) + overlap. For a 400 mm wide, 300 mm high pack with a 50 mm overlap (example) [illustrative calculation]:
| Check | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Tape per band | 2 × (400 + 300) + 50 | 1,450 mm |
| Bands per 200 m roll | 200,000 ÷ 1,450 | about 137 |
| Products per roll, 2 bands | 137 ÷ 2 | about 68 |
Use the result to plan roll changes per shift. Tape width is 24–48 mm: wider tape for heavier stacks, narrower tape on small cartons. Match the adhesive to the contact surface, since bare carton board and slick film wrappers hold tape differently.
Typical data
From our automatic box tape wrapping machine and box tape wrapper pages:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Tape bands | 2 or 4 per product |
| Application size (compact model) | width 400 mm, height 300 mm |
| Box size (box tape wrapper) | L 300–1,500 mm, W 100–500 mm, H 200–500 mm |
| Tape | 24–48 mm wide, 50–200 m per roll |
| Speed | 2 s per lap (compact model); 3 s per tape band (box tape wrapper) |
| Power supply | 220 V, 50 Hz (compact model) |
| Machine weight | 65 kg (compact standalone taping module, without line conveyors) |
Additional baseline dimensions from the product page [manufacturer rating]:
- Integrated machine length: about 2550 mm (compact footprint for stable in-line operation).
- Core module footprint: length 880 mm × width 500 mm × height 900 mm (base height 470 mm, total height 1370 mm).
- Infeed/outfeed conveyor: telescopic raceway conveyor.
- Air pressure: 0.2 Kpa.
- Compliance: CE certified / ISO 9001 / 2-year warranty.
Compressed air supply, tape tension control, line speed and the controller interface (hard-wired signals or a fieldbus) for your line are confirmed at quote.
Selection checklist
- Product size range and weight.
- Products per hour from the line.
- Bands per product and their positions.
- Tape type, width and colour.
- Conveyor heights and direction at infeed and outfeed.
- Upstream and downstream machines and their signals.
Safety
The machine is designed to EN ISO 12100:2010 for risk assessment, EN 415-10 for packaging machine safety and EN 60204-1 for electrical equipment. The hold-down arms and the rotating tape head are the main hazards. A guard covers the head and stops the machine before access, the hold-down pressure is vented on emergency stop, and a stop button sits on the panel. Where a robot works downstream, its cell guarding is planned together with the taping machine. Guarding and CE documents are agreed per project.
Engineering FAQ
Q: How many tape bands can the machine put on? A: 2 or 4 per product, at positions set on the panel.
Q: How fast is it? A: About 2–3 s per band. Two bands with indexing come to about 8 s per product, or 450 an hour [illustrative calculation]. Line throughput is confirmed based on product dimensions and conveyor arrangement.
Q: Can it tape film-wrapped stacks? A: Yes. The hold-down keeps the stack square while the tape goes around the film.
Q: How does it talk to the rest of the line? A: Through ready and done signals with the line controller, plus photocells at the infeed.
Q: How long does a tape roll last? A: Divide roll length by tape per band. A 200 m roll gives about 137 bands on a 400 × 300 mm pack.
Next step
- Send your product sizes, line rate and line layout to info@fhopepack.com.
- We set band positions, head type and conveyor interface.
- We reply within 24 hours with a proposal and quotation.
Related reading
- Automatic box tape wrapping machine (product)
- Tape wrapping and sealing machine (product)
- Box taping machine
- Automatic tape banding machine
- Integrated automatic band strapping machine for book, box, magazine
Sources
- Automatic box tape wrapping machine
- Tape wrapping and sealing machine
- EN ISO 12100:2010 Safety of machinery — General principles for design — Risk assessment and risk reduction
- EN 415-10 Safety of packaging machines — Part 10: General requirements
- EN 60204-1 Safety of machinery — Electrical equipment of machines — Part 1: General requirements
Last reviewed: 2026-10-29
