Executive summary This clip shows a carton sealer with side drive belts. An operator pushes each carton in, the belts carry it through, and the top and bottom heads tape both seams in one pass. There is no FHOPE marking on the machine, so we describe it as an equivalent of the carton sealing we supply in our end-of-line projects. Below we cover the steps, how to set the machine for a new carton size and a worked example for tape use.
Table of Contents
- What the clip shows
- Setting the machine for a new carton size
- Tape use per carton
- Semi-automatic feed or a full line
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the clip shows
The clip shows a carton sealer with side drive belts working with an operator. There is no FHOPE marking on the machine, so we describe it as an equivalent of the carton sealing we supply as part of our end-of-line projects.
| Step | What you see |
|---|---|
| Infeed | Cartons with the top flaps folded down sit on a roller table to the left of the machine |
| Feeding | The operator pushes each carton into the machine by hand |
| Sealing | Belts on both sides carry the carton under the top head and over the bottom head, which tape the top and bottom seams in one pass |
| Outfeed | Sealed cartons leave on a roller table on the right, and a second operator lifts them off |
| Result | Close-ups at the end show the sealed cartons stacked on the floor |
The machine stands on castors and has a tall centre column that carries the top head, so the head height can be set to the carton height.
Setting the machine for a new carton size
The YouTube title of the clip is about adjusting the sealer for different box sizes. On this type of machine that takes three settings:
- Height. The top head moves up or down on the column to the carton height and is locked there, so it presses the top lightly without crushing the board.
- Width. The side belts move in or out until they grip both sides of the carton.
- Tape. The tape width suits the seam, and the tape legs run over the front and back faces.
A trial carton then confirms the seam is centred and the legs are even before the batch runs.
Tape use per carton
Worked example (illustrative). A carton 400 mm long with a 60 mm tape leg at each end uses 400 + 2 × 60 = 520 mm of tape per seam. With a top and a bottom seam that is 1.04 m per carton. A pair of 100 m rolls, one on each head, therefore seals about 100 ÷ 0.52 ≈ 192 cartons before the roll changes.
The same arithmetic for three carton lengths, with 60 mm legs:
| Carton length (mm) | Tape per seam (mm) | Tape per carton, top and bottom (m) | Cartons per pair of 100 m rolls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 420 | 0.84 | about 238 |
| 400 | 520 | 1.04 | about 192 |
| 600 | 720 | 1.44 | about 138 |
Semi-automatic feed or a full line
- Hand feed, as in the clip. One operator folds and pushes, the machine tapes. This suits mixed carton sizes at modest output.
- Inline. Conveyors bring the cartons in and take them to palletising, so no one pushes the carton.
- After sealing. Sealed cartons often go on to a pallet and a stretch wrapper, as in our turntable pallet wrapper with auto film cutting. For inline lines we supply the B200 automatic pallet wrapping machine after palletising.
Selection checklist
- Smallest and largest carton length, width and height.
- Carton weight and board type.
- Top and bottom taping, or top only.
- Tape width.
- Cartons per minute.
- Hand feed or inline with conveyors.
Safety
- Keep hands away from the tape cutters on both heads.
- Stop the machine before clearing a jammed carton.
- Set the head height with the belts stopped.
- For CE markets, the machine is designed to ISO 12100 for risk assessment.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Does the sealer tape the top and bottom seams at the same time? A: Yes. It tapes the top and bottom seams of a carton in one pass while side belts carry it through.
Q: How is the machine set for a new carton size? A: Set the top head height on the column, then the side belt width, then run a trial carton.
Q: Does it fold the top flaps? A: Not in the clip. The operator folds the flaps and pushes the carton in.
Q: How much tape does one carton use? A: About 520 mm per seam for a 400 mm carton with 60 mm legs, so 1.04 m for top and bottom.
Q: How many cartons does a pair of 100 m rolls seal? A: About 192 cartons in the worked example, with one roll on the top head and one on the bottom head.
Q: How many operators does the clip show? A: Two: one folds the flaps and pushes cartons in, the other lifts sealed cartons off the outfeed table.
Q: Can it run inline? A: Yes. Conveyors can feed and take away the cartons so no operator pushes them.
Q: Which standard applies? A: For CE markets, ISO 12100 for risk assessment.
Next step
We size carton sealing for your line in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with carton sizes, carton weight and cartons per minute, to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours with the machine data and layout.
- Book a site survey so we confirm the feed, conveyors and palletising.
Related reading
- Hose Coil Wrapping, Cartoning and Carton Sealing Line
- Turntable Pallet Wrapper with Auto Film Cutting for Carton Pallets
- Orbital Wrapper for Carton Box Bundles
- 6-Side Sealed Furniture Packaging
Sources
- Clip: the video on YouTube
- Setup steps: general practice for side-belt carton sealers
- Tape use: our worked arithmetic
- Pallet wrapping after sealing: B200 automatic pallet wrapping machine
- Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010
- Proposal timing: approved house CTA (proposal within 48 hours)
Last reviewed: 2026-10-10
