Introduction
Corrugated machine is a kind of mechanical equipment used to manufacture corrugated cardboard, which transforms ordinary cardboard into corrugated cardboard with wavy structure through a series of complex technological processes. This kind of paperboard is widely used in the packaging and printing industry because of its lightweight, strong and good cushioning properties.
What is a Corrugator Machine?
Corrugated board is a multi-layer adhesive body, which is composed of at least one layer of corrugated core paper and one layer of cardboard. The actual performance of the corrugated box depends on three factors: the characteristics of the core paper and cardboard and the structure of the box itself. The corrugator is the main equipment for producing corrugated board. The corrugated board production line consists of two relatively independent process sections: wet equipment and dry equipment. The wet equipment mainly includes base paper support racks, automatic paper splicers, preheating pre-adjusters, single-sided corrugators, paper feed bridges, glue coating machines, etc. The wet equipment makes corrugated base paper into three-, five-, and seven-layer corrugated board with different flute combinations; the dry equipment mainly includes rotary cutting machines, longitudinal cutting and creasing machines, stacking machines, etc. The dry equipment performs longitudinal cutting, creasing, cross-cutting and stacking on the corrugated board according to the order requirements.
Components of a Corrugator Machine
It mainly includes the following components:
Roll stand : roll up the straight paper.
Preheating roller: preheat the paper first to make it flexible. Corrugating roller: This is the core component of the corrugator. It presses the paper into corrugations through the bite of a pair of upper and lower rollers.
Gluing machine: apply glue on the corrugated surface of the paper. Press fit section: glue the corrugated paper with the surface paper and the core paper together to form corrugated board.
Drying section: let the glue solidify quickly to ensure the strength of the board.
Cooling section: reduce the temperature of the board to make it more stable. Cutter: cut the board neatly according to the required size.
Step-by-Step Process of How a Corrugator Machine Works
original paper preparation: The roll-shaped base paper is installed on the paper machine.
Corrugated forming: The corrugated base paper passes through the paper guide roller to adjust the tension, the upper preheating roller to control the humidity, slides over the corrugated top of the upper corrugated roller and enters the corrugated channel between the heated upper and lower corrugated rollers, and is pressed and ironed at the meshing point on the center line of the two rollers. After that, it runs closely on the corrugated shape of the lower corrugated roller to the center line of the glue coating roller and the lower corrugated roller.
Gluing and bonding: The corrugated paper is called “corrugated paper”, and then it is combined with one or more layers of smooth paper. Glue is applied in the glue coating machine, and then the smooth paper is pressed with it to form a multi-layer corrugated board.
Cutting and creasing: According to the order requirements, the corrugated board is cut longitudinally and transversely. In addition, creasing is also performed to facilitate subsequent folding and forming.
Stacking and packaging: Finally, the cut and creasing corrugated board will be neatly stacked and packaged.
Key Features of Corrugator Machines
High strength: It has high compressive strength and folding resistance, which can effectively protect the contents.
Lightweight: Compared with traditional wood or metal packaging materials, corrugated cardboard is lighter, easier to carry and store, and also reduces logistics costs.
Environmental protection: Corrugated cardboard is mainly made of plant fibers, which can be recycled and reused, in line with modern environmental protection concepts. At the same time, the production process generates less pollutants such as wastewater and waste gas, and has less impact on the environment.
Printing adaptability: The surface of corrugated cardboard is flat and suitable for color printing. It can produce beautiful and elegant packaging boxes and enhance the market competitiveness of products.
Types of Corrugator Machines
The classification of corrugated cardboard is mainly based on the shape of the corrugated core paper, the size of the corrugated cardboard, and the number of layers of the corrugated cardboard. The flute type refers to the size of the corrugated cardboard, which involves the height, width, and number of corrugations per unit length, that is, the density of the corrugated cardboard. Different flute types have very different performances. At present, the corrugated flute types commonly used in countries around the world include the four principle flute types of A, B, C, and E, and several non-principle flute types such as K and F.
Why Corrugator Machines Are Important in Packaging
Cost-effectiveness: The use of corrugated cardboard can effectively save costs and improve economic benefits. The widespread use and promotion of corrugated cardboard is obviously related to the development of modern logistics. In the process of logistics transportation, corrugated cardboard can give full play to its advantages such as high hardness, low weight, low production cost and good printing performance.
Protective performance: Corrugated cardboard is used in the value-preserving design of fragile containers, which can give full play to its excellent compressive resistance. Compared with general solid paper boxes, the compressive resistance of corrugated cardboard is significantly stronger than that of solid paper boxes under the premise of the same quality during the weighing process.
Environmental protection: Corrugated cardboard is generally made of recycled paper as raw material, which has the characteristics of non-toxicity and easy recycling, and the rich forestry resources enhance the development potential of the corrugated industry. Corrugated paper has a variety of uses and is easy to transport. It is very common in foreign retail industry.
Versatility: Corrugated cardboard is made of multiple layers of cardboard and has the characteristics of easy processing. It can be cut, slotted, punched, die-cut, joined, and folded according to the different needs of the items to form packaging and cushioning materials of different sizes and shapes.
Common Applications of Corrugated Cardboard
Construction industry: Corrugated cardboard is widely used in the construction industry. It can be used to process doors, partitions, ceilings, wall skirts, floors, sidings, mobile homes, open office partitions, etc.
Transportation industry: Corrugated cardboard is one of the ideal alternative materials for wood products and artificial boards in buses and passenger ships in the transportation industry.
Packaging field: Corrugated cardboard occupies a very important position in the packaging and turnover storage and transportation of precision machine tools, instruments and meters, tools, home appliances, electronic and computer products, auto parts, glass, food packaging, and gap filling during packaging.
Daily necessities: Corrugated paper is often used in daily life to prevent collisions and package crafts. For example, wrapping light bulbs and measuring instruments. For example, fragile glass crafts, bowls, porcelain spoons. Another example is fruit boxes, cake boxes, etc.
Art creation: Corrugated paper can also be used for artistic creation, such as making paper art, etc.
Maintenance of a Corrugator Machine
The maintenance methods of corrugated machines include daily inspection and maintenance, regular cleaning, internal monitoring, polishing and repair, and correct use and installation of limit devices.
Summary
Understanding corrugated machines is key to understanding how the packaging industry works. Whether you are a beginner or interested in learning about industrial machinery, you are interested in learning more. Let us know what you think in the comments!