As the pharmaceutical industry increasingly moves towards digitalization and intelligent manufacturing, pharmaceutical packaging automation has become a core link in improving production efficiency and quality control. Among them, the automatic cartoning machine, as a key node in the packaging process, not only determines the appearance quality and compliance of the drugs leaving the factory, but also affects the operating efficiency of the entire packaging line.
Cartoning machine is an automated packaging machine that integrates automatic feeding, box opening, box loading and box sealing. It is suitable for a variety of drug packaging forms, such as capsules, tablets, bottles, blister boards, etc. Its basic function is to automatically load the drugs and instructions into folding cartons and complete the box closing action. Some more comprehensive cartoning machines also have additional functions such as sealing labels or heat shrink wrapping.
Cartoning Machine Workflow
An automatic cartoning machine is a highly automated packaging equipment widely used in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, and daily necessities. It can automatically carton, seal, print batch numbers, and reject defective products. Its working process usually includes the following main stages:
1. Automatic Feeding
The machine uses an automatic feeding device to arrange and transport blister packs, bottled medicines, tubes, or other irregularly shaped products into the cartoning area in sequence.
Depending on the type of medicine, the cartoning machine adopts different feeding methods:
Blister packs: A vibration disc or pneumatic propulsion device arranges the blister packs neatly and delivers them to the cartoning opening.
Bottled medicines: A bottle conveyor belt and positioning device ensure that the medicine bottles enter the cartoning position in an orderly manner.
Tubes and other irregularly shaped medicines: Special conveying mechanisms are used to ensure proper positioning and neat arrangement.
2. Leaflet Insertion
During the medicine cartoning process, leaflet insertion is a critical step. Leaflets usually need to be multi-folded by an automatic folding device and simultaneously inserted into the carton. This process requires precise mechanical devices and control systems to ensure correct leaflet insertion.
3. Cartoning
The cartoning machine automatically picks up a carton from the carton magazine and opens it. It uses a suction cup for picking and a mechanical carton support structure to ensure stable and fast carton opening. The machine synchronously controls the entry of the medicine and leaflet into the carton according to the program, ensuring they are neatly placed and undamaged.
4. Carton Sealing
After cartoning is complete, the sealing operation is performed. The sealing method can be selected based on product requirements:
Tuck-in sealing: The carton has its own tuck-in flap structure, and the machine folds and inserts it to secure.
Hot melt glue sealing: Hot melt glue is sprayed and pressed to seal the carton, providing good sealing performance.
Tape sealing: Tape is mechanically applied to seal the carton, suitable for certain special requirements.
5. Detection and Quality Control
After the medicine carton is filled and sealed, a series of inspections are required to ensure it meets standards:
Carton detection: Sensors detect the carton's size, weight, and sealing integrity to ensure it meets requirements.
Quality control: If an anomaly is detected, the carton will be rejected or reprocessed to ensure the quality of the final product.
6. Coding + Detection
Batch numbers, QR codes, serial numbers, and other content are printed and verified by a vision recognition system.
7. Output and Integration
Finally, the finished cartons are neatly arranged and outputted, and can be seamlessly integrated with backend case packers and palletizing systems.
Main Types of Pharmaceutical Cartoning Machines
Pharmaceutical cartoning machines can be categorized in a couple of ways, primarily by their operational direction and level of automation:
1. By Operating Direction
Horizontal Cartoning Machine: In this type, the medicine and leaflet are inserted into the carton from a horizontal direction. These machines are often used for high-speed, large-volume production due to their efficiency.
Vertical Cartoning Machine: Here, the medicine is loaded into the carton vertically from above. These are more suitable for smaller batch sizes or for products with a complex structure that benefits from top-down loading.
2. By Automation Level
Semi-Automatic Cartoning Machine: These machines require manual intervention during operation, though some processes are automated. They are generally lower in cost and are a good fit for small to medium production capacities.
Fully Automatic Cartoning Machine: All operations on these machines are completed automatically without any human intervention. They are designed to support high-speed production lines and offer maximum efficiency.
Why Cartoning Machines are Essential in a Packaging Line
Cartoning machines are a crucial component of any modern packaging line, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. Here's why they're indispensable:
1. Improve Production Efficiency
The cartoning machine can significantly improve the packaging speed and reduce the time and cost of manual operation through automated operation.
2. Ensures Packaging Quality
Machine operation provides a consistent standard, effectively eliminating common human errors like mispackaging, missing items, or incorrect placement. This leads to much more stable and reliable packaging quality.
3. Complies with Regulations like GMP
Modern pharmaceutical production must adhere strictly to quality management regulations such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Cartoning machines often integrate in-line detection, traceability, and rejection functions, which are vital for achieving a standardized and traceable packaging process that meets these stringent requirements.
4. Adapts to Various Drug Types
Cartoning machines are incredibly versatile, capable of handling a wide range of pharmaceutical products including tablets, capsules, ointments, and injectables. They can package blister packs, bottled medicines, tubes, and more, accommodating different specifications and quantities. Furthermore, these machines can be easily adjusted for product size and desired packaging speed, making them suitable for switching between various products.
5. Reduces Labor Costs and Intensity
Replace manual labor to complete highly repetitive and physically demanding operations, reduce the number of operators, and improve overall management efficiency.
6. Facilitates Subsequent Automation Integration
Cartoning is the key link to realize the automation of the entire packaging line (including boxing, palletizing, and warehousing), which facilitates seamless connection with front-end and back-end equipment.
Evolution Trends in Cartoning Machine Technology
In the past, cartoning machines primarily relied on mechanical structures for motion control. Today, with the advancement of automation and intelligent manufacturing, cartoning machines are rapidly evolving towards becoming more efficient, smarter, and greener:
Fully Automatic Control System: PLC+HMI operation interface, easy switching of product parameters, and improved operation convenience.
Intelligent Detection And Rejection: Equipped with a high-precision visual system, real-time monitoring of whether the medicine box assembly is complete, and accurate rejection of unqualified products.
Data Traceability And Mes System Docking: Support serial number generation and upload to meet the needs of pharmaceutical industry drug traceability system construction.
Modular + Multi-Specification Compatible Design: One cartoning machine can adapt to a variety of box types and drug forms, saving replacement time and adapting to flexible market changes.
Energy-Saving And Environmentally Friendly Structure: Energy-saving motors and low-noise transmission systems are used, which conform to the concept of green manufacturing.
Choosing the Right Cartoning Machine for Your Factory
To choose a suitable cartoning machine for the enterprise, a comprehensive evaluation is required from the following dimensions:
1. Production Capacity
The appropriate cartoning machine depends heavily on your production scale. For factories in the small-batch trial production stage, manual or semi-automatic cartoning machines are suitable. These machines are cost-effective and offer operational flexibility, making them ideal for smaller-scale operations. However, if your factory is involved in large-scale production, an automatic cartoning machine is highly recommended to boost production efficiency and reduce labor costs.
2. Versatility for Diverse Product Forms
If the factory's product forms are diverse, for example, it is necessary to package tablets, capsules, pills and other drugs at the same time, then it is more appropriate to choose a multi-functional cartoning machine. This type of equipment can not only complete cartoning and sealing, but also integrate automatic pricing, label printing, trademark affixing and other functions to improve the level of intelligent packaging.
3. Compliance and Certification Requirements (e.g., GMP, FDA)
For the pharmaceutical industry, cartoning machine compliance is paramount. Pharmaceutical cartoning machines typically need to adhere to international standards such as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to ensure the hygiene and safety of medicines during packaging. Therefore, when selecting a cartoning machine, it's crucial to confirm that the equipment has the relevant certifications and that its materials and structure meet pharmaceutical production requirements, such as using food-grade stainless steel and easy-to-clean and disinfect designs.
4. After-Sales and Remote Technical Support
After-sales service is a critical factor that should not be overlooked when choosing a cartoning machine. A reliable supplier should not only provide high-quality equipment but also offer comprehensive after-sales support, including remote technical assistance, regular maintenance, troubleshooting, and spare parts supply.
SED Pharma: Your Trusted Cartoning Machine Experts
As a global supplier of pharmaceutical equipment, SED Pharma boasts extensive experience in the import and export sales of cartoning machines. Our products have been widely exported to markets in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, earning the trust of pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
Recommended Models:
SED-260GZH-B High-Speed Automatic Cartoning Machine: This model is a horizontal, continuous motion machine, offering stable operation and high speeds. It's suitable for the packaging of blister packs, bottles, tubes, and soaps in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and daily chemicals.
| Main Drive Performance |
140-300 boxes/min |
| Folder Performance |
140-300 sheets/min |
| Specification of box |
250-350 g/m² |
| Max. Size of box(L×W×H) |
170×87×55 mm |
| Min. Size of box(L×W×H) |
63×28×15 mm |
| Specification of leafle |
60-70g/m2 two-side Offset paper |
| Max. Size of leaflet(L×W) |
320×180 mm |
| Min. Size of leaflet(L×W) |
100×100 mm |
SED-100WZH-N Automatic Cartoning Machine: This machine is ideal for the automatic cartoning of various product types.
| Capacity |
60-100 Cartons/min |
| Paper Quality |
250-400g/m² |
| Carton Size（mm) |
L(80-210) * W(30X95) * H(20-60) |
Conclusion
In essence, a pharmaceutical cartoning machine is more than just a piece of equipment; it's a direct reflection of a company's packaging automation capabilities. In today's evolving industry, opting for a cartoning machine that offers high performance, ease of operation, and intelligent features can significantly boost your company's competitiveness.
If you're seeking efficient, safe, and smart cartoning equipment solutions, feel free to contact SED Pharma. We're ready to provide you with comprehensive packaging solutions.
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