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What are the main types of corrugated box machines?

The corrugated cardboard box production equipment is a complete production line system, which can be divided into large-scale linked production lines and small and medium-sized single machine equipment according to the degree of automation and production scale.
The following are the main types and functions of corrugated cardboard box machines:

Core production line (large corrugated cardboard production line)
This is used by paper mills or large cardboard box factories to produce corrugated cardboard from raw paper, with huge investment and high degree of automation.
1. Raw paper holder: a device for carrying and unwinding raw paper (face paper, inner paper, core paper).
2. Single tile machine: The core equipment uses high-temperature steam to press corrugated paper into wavy "corrugations". The key component is the hot press corrugated roller that meshes vertically.
3. Gluing machine: Apply adhesive (usually corn starch glue) onto the pressed corrugated peaks.
4. Double sided machine: Glue the coated corrugated paper with face paper and inner paper, and dry it with a hot plate to form a sturdy corrugated cardboard.
5. Wheel cutting machine: Cut the continuously produced corrugated cardboard to a predetermined length.
6. Stacker: Automatically stack the cut cardboard neatly for transportation to the next process.

Subsequent processing equipment (cardboard box forming equipment)
The vast majority of cardboard box factories purchase ready-made corrugated cardboard and then use the following equipment to process it into cardboard boxes.
Printing process
1. Ink printing machine: This is one of the most essential equipment in cardboard box factories, used for printing patterns, text, and trademarks on cardboard.
2. Offset printing: mainly used for pre printing color boxes, with high printing accuracy and bright colors. Usually, it is first printed on tissue paper and then mounted onto corrugated cardboard.
3. Flexographic printing: The most common cardboard printing method uses water-based ink, which is fast, environmentally friendly, and suitable for printing medium to large areas of color blocks.
4. Digital printing machine: suitable for small batch, personalized customized orders, no need for plate making, flexible and fast.
Die cutting process
1. Die cutting machine: Used for making irregular cardboard boxes or windowed cardboard boxes, it can complete edge cutting, indentation, slotting, window opening and other operations in one go.
2. Flatbed die-cutting machine: High precision, suitable for small and medium-sized batch production.
3. Circular die cutting machine: fast speed, high efficiency, suitable for large-scale production, often linked with printing machines.
Slotting and nailing box process
1. Slotting machine: If the cardboard box does not require complex die-cutting, using a slotting machine can quickly complete the edge cutting and line cutting of the cardboard box.
2. Nail box machine: Use flat wire to nail the printed slotted or die cut cardboard together to form a cardboard box.
3. Semi automatic nail box machine: requires manual feeding.
4. Fully automatic box nailing machine: It can be linked with the previous process to automatically complete the box nailing.
5. Box gluing machine: uses adhesive to bond the interface of the cardboard box, which is more beautiful and stronger than nailing boxes, and is suitable for high-end e-commerce cardboard boxes.

Other auxiliary equipment
1. Paper cutting and creasing machine: Cut large corrugated cardboard and press out crease lines.
2. Thread crimping machine: specially designed to strengthen the creasing line of cardboard boxes, making them easier to fold and have beautiful corners.
3. Banding machine/strapping machine: Pack and strapping finished cardboard boxes for convenient transportation and storage.
Small and micro production equipment (entrepreneurial or small workshop level)

For startups or ultra small batch production, there are some more basic equipment:
1. Manual/semi-automatic printing slotting machine: Integrating printing and slotting functions into one machine, with a simple structure and low cost.
2. Manual die-cutting machine: usually relies on lever or hydraulic power for small area die-cutting.
3. Manual box nailing machine: It relies entirely on manual operation to nail boxes.

In general, its core principle is to use heating, pressure, and bonding to make wavy corrugated core paper from flat raw paper, which is then bonded with surface paper to form a sturdy corrugated cardboard. After printing, slotting, die-cutting, nailing/gluing, and other processes, it is finally made into a cardboard box.

Here is the process breakdown and key steps:

Phase 1: Making corrugated cardboard
This is the foundation of the entire process, completed on a large 'corrugated cardboard production line'.
1. Preparation of base paper:
The machine uses huge rolls of paper, which are divided into three types: inner paper (inner layer of the box), corrugated core paper (middle wavy shape), and face paper (outer layer of the box).
2. Pressing - The most crucial step: The corrugated core paper will pass through a high-temperature corrugated roller device. The corrugated roller has tightly interlocked gear like patterns.
Under high temperature (usually 160 ° C-180 ° C) and high pressure, flat core paper is pressed into permanent, wavy corrugations. Common types of corrugations include A-corrugations, B-corrugations, C-corrugations, E-corrugations, etc. The different heights and densities determine the cushioning and compressive properties of the cardboard.
3. Gluing and bonding: The top of the corrugated core paper formed by compression will be coated with adhesive (usually starch paste). Then, it will be bonded to the surface paper to form a single-sided corrugated cardboard (one side flat paper, one side corrugated).
If a stronger double corrugated (five layer) or triple corrugated (seven layer) cardboard is needed, this process will be repeated by applying glue on the corrugated of the single-sided cardboard, and then sticking the second core paper and inner paper.
4. Drying and shaping:
The newly formed wet corrugated cardboard will enter a large drying machine (hot plate area). Under high temperature and certain pressure, the adhesive quickly solidifies, and the cardboard is dried and shaped to achieve the final strength and flatness.
5. Cooling and cutting:
The temperature of the dried cardboard is very high, and it needs to go through a cooling section to stabilize its physical properties.
Finally, according to the size of the order, the computer-controlled longitudinal and transverse cutting machines will cut and press out creases on the continuous cardboard, and cut it into independent corrugated cardboard pieces with the correct size and crease lines.

Phase 2: Carton Forming
The cut corrugated cardboard will be sent to the "cardboard box forming equipment" for further processing.
1. Printing:
Using a flexographic printing machine is the most mainstream printing method for corrugated cardboard boxes. The principle is similar to a rubber stamp, which transfers ink to the surface of cardboard through a printing plate and prints brand logos, text, patterns, and other information. It can be monochrome or multi-color.
2. Slotting and die-cutting:
Slotting: For regular square cardboard boxes, the machine will use a round knife to cut the seams of the rocking cover (box cover and box bottom) on the cardboard.
Die cutting: For cardboard boxes with complex shapes (such as those with handles or irregular packaging), pre made die cutting plates are used to punch the cardboard into the desired shape in one go, just like stamping.
3. Nail box/adhesive box:
This is the final step in transforming flat cardboard into a three-dimensional box.
Nail box: Use metal nail wires to nail the seams of the box together. Fast speed and high intensity.
Glue box: Use a glue box machine to apply hot melt adhesive to the seams, and then apply pressure to bond. More aesthetically pleasing appearance, seamless and nail free, suitable for high-end packaging.
4. Packaging for factory delivery:
The formed cardboard boxes will be automatically counted, stacked, and tied into bundles with strapping, waiting for delivery.

Summary and Key Points

Core principle: Utilizing corrugated structures (similar to arch bridges) to disperse pressure, allowing cardboard to achieve maximum strength and cushioning performance with minimal material usage.
Highly automated: Modern corrugated cardboard box production is a complete assembly line, from raw paper to finished cardboard boxes, with minimal human intervention and extremely high efficiency.
Modular design: The production line can configure different modules according to requirements, such as printing color quantity, whether to include die-cutting, etc., which is very flexible.