Overview
A carton sealer with side belts closes the top and bottom seams of a regular carton in a single pass, replacing hand taping where goods leave the packing line. Cartons ride on a roller conveyor, and belts on both sides grip each carton and carry it under the top sealing head and over the bottom head, so both seams are taped without turning the box. This article explains how the sealer works, how it is adjusted when the carton size changes, and how to estimate tape use and roll life. It is written for packaging engineers and end-of-line planners at plants that pack cartons ahead of palletizing and distribution.
The video below shows the machine and how it is set for different box sizes:
How the Side-Belt Sealer Tapes Both Seams in One Pass
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Infeed | Cartons with the top flaps folded down sit on a roller table at the infeed. |
| Feeding | The operator pushes each carton into the machine; the side belts take over. |
| Sealing | Belts on both sides carry the carton under the top head and over the bottom head, which tape the two seams in one pass. |
| Outfeed | The sealed carton leaves on a roller table at the outfeed for collection. |
The side belts grip the carton so it cannot skew and drive it through at a steady speed, so the tape is laid straight on both seams. The machine stands on castors and carries the top head on a centre column, so the head height can be set to the carton. Because belts on both sides drive the carton, light and full cartons are carried through evenly without the box sliding against a fixed conveyor.
Adjusting the Machine for a New Carton Size
Changing size on this type of sealer takes three settings, which is what the clip demonstrates:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Head height | The top head moves up or down on the column by handwheel to the carton height and is locked there, so it presses the top lightly without crushing the board. |
| Side-belt width | The belts move in or out on their guides until they grip both sides of the carton evenly. |
| Belt tension | The side belts are tensioned so they drive the carton without slipping. |
A trial carton then confirms the tape is centred on the seam and the legs are even across the front and back faces before the batch runs. Adjustments are made on the stopped machine.
Tape Use and Roll Life Per Carton
Tape use follows from the carton length plus a leg at each end. For a carton 400 mm long with a 60 mm tape leg at each end, each seam uses 400 + 2 × 60 = 520 mm of tape; with a top and a bottom seam that is 1.04 m per carton.
| Carton length | Tape per seam | Tape per carton (top and bottom) | Cartons per pair of 100 m rolls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 mm | 420 mm | 0.84 m | about 238 |
| 400 mm | 520 mm | 1.04 m | about 192 |
| 600 mm | 720 mm | 1.44 m | about 138 |
The arithmetic is illustrative; set the leg length, tape width and roll length to your own supply. Roll life tells an operator when to expect a change.
What the Footage Shows, Safety and Verification
The clip is a size-adjustment demonstration on a side-belt sealer of the type supplied in FHOPE end-of-line projects: the operator folds the flaps, pushes each carton in by hand, and the machine tapes both seams. It does not show upstream carton erecting or downstream palletizing; those stations are configured per project. Where a line runs inline, conveyors feed the sealer and take sealed cartons to palletizing and stretch wrapping instead of an operator pushing each box.
Keep hands clear of the tape cutters on both heads, stop the machine before clearing a jammed carton, and set the head height only with the belts stopped. For CE markets, the machine is designed with reference to ISO 12100 for risk assessment; confirm the applicable standards and guarding with the manufacturer for your market. As a stated manufacturer practice for this machinery family, each unit is run through sustained functional and safety testing before delivery (about 24 hours where stated), covering the control system and the emergency-stop function; treat this as the stated family practice for acceptance planning.
FAQ
Q: Does the sealer tape top and bottom at the same time?
A: Yes. The side belts carry the carton under the top head and over the bottom head, so both seams are taped in one pass.
Q: How is the machine set for a new carton size?
A: Set the head height on the column, then the side-belt width and tension, and run a trial carton to confirm the tape is centred.
Q: Does the machine fold the top flaps?
A: Not in the clip. The operator folds the flaps and pushes each carton in; automatic flap folding can be configured per project.
Q: How much tape does one carton use?
A: For a 400 mm carton with 60 mm legs, about 520 mm per seam, or 1.04 m for top and bottom (illustrative).
Q: Can the sealer run inline?
A: Yes. Conveyors can feed and take away the cartons so no operator pushes them.
Next Step
Send the carton size range (length, width and height), carton weight, taping requirement (top and bottom or top only), tape width and cartons per minute to info@fhopepack.com, so the sealer and any conveyor linking are confirmed on the approval drawing.
Related Resources
- Box Taping Machine – A taping station in the same carton-sealing family.
- Hose Coil Wrapping, Cartoning and Carton Sealing Line – A complete line that includes carton sealing at the end of the process.
