Automatic Tube Cartoning Machine
Dedicated high-speed cartoning system engineered for collapsible aluminum, plastic, and laminated tubes for pharmaceutical ointments, topical creams, toothpastes, and cosmetics.
Description & Operating Principle
HMEC’s Automatic Tube Cartoning Machines are engineered to couple directly with automatic tube filling and sealing machines (aluminum crimpers or hot-air plastic tube sealers). As filled and sealed tubes discharge from the tube filler, a synchronized robotic pick-and-place or continuous bucket infeed transfers the tubes into the cartoner’s transport pockets with consistent cap orientation.
The machine extracts flat carton blanks using multi-point vacuum cups, positively breaks the carton folds to achieve perfect right angles, and delivers folded patient information leaflets directly over the tube pocket. A contoured servo pusher inserts the tube (cap-first or crimp-first as required) and wrapped leaflet into the carton. The carton ends are tucked in or glued, inspected for presence and coding, and discharged with high repeatability.
Target Products & Applications
Specialized for semi-solid packaging across pharmaceutical, veterinary, oral hygiene, and cosmetic lines:
💊 Pharma Ointments & Gels
Antibiotic creams, pain relief gels, burn ointments, ophthalmic ointments, and antifungal treatments in aluminum/plastic tubes.
💄 Cosmetics & Skincare Creams
Facial moisturizers, sunscreens, hand creams, anti-aging serums, and foundation tubes in laminated packaging.
🪥 Toothpastes & Oral Care
Lami-tube toothpastes, dental gels, denture adhesives, and whitening paste tubes.
🧪 Adhesives & Chemical Pastes
Superglues, sealant pastes, silicone lubricants, and specialized epoxy resins.
Pros & Cons Comparison
✅ Advantages (Pros)
- Prevents Tube Crimp Deformation: Custom-profiled pusher heads cradle delicate tube crimps and caps without bending or flattening.
- Automatic Filler Synchronization: Connects directly to linear or rotary tube fillers to eliminate manual tube transfer.
- Orientation Control: Guarantees uniform cap-first or tail-first orientation into the carton.
- High-Speed Capability: Speeds from 60 to 150+ CPM easily matching high-output automated tube fillers.
- Leaflet Wrapper Guide: Wraps folded leaflets around the curved tube body so both enter narrow cartons without snagging.
⚠️ Considerations & Limitations (Cons)
- Tube Crimp Width Variance: Wide flattened crimps require properly sized carton openings to avoid catching on carton dust flaps.
- Change Parts for Tube Length: Significant changes in tube length or diameter require changing infeed pocket cradles and pusher stroke settings.
- Requires Solid Tube Seals: Upstream tube seal integrity must be maintained to prevent cream leakage inside cartoning buckets.
Type & Range of Tube Cartoners
On basis of tube material
- ✅ Collapsible Aluminum Tube Cartoner
- ✅ Laminated (ABL / PBL) Tube Cartoner
- ✅ Plastic / Polyfoil Tube Cartoner
On basis of automation & motion
- ✅ Intermittent Motion Tube Cartoner (50 - 90 CPM)
- ✅ High-Speed Continuous Tube Cartoner (100 - 160+ CPM)
- ✅ Integrated Tube Filling & Cartoning Monoblock
On basis of closure
- ✅ Reverse Tuck-in Closure
- ✅ Straight Tuck-in Closure
- ✅ Hot-Melt Adhesive Glue Seal
- Automated tube transfer from upstream filler directly into cartoner bucket chain
- Contoured insertion pusher guides collapsible tubes without deforming crimped tails
- Integrated automatic leaflet folder (GUK type, 1-4 folds) with optical presence check
- Vacuum rotary carton extraction with positive pre-breaking for crisp rectangular cartons
- Overload sensors automatically disengage drive in case of product obstruction
- "No Tube - No Carton Pick" and "No Leaflet - Reject Carton" safety logic
- Embossing / Inkjet / Laser batch coder with optical character recognition (OCR)
- Pneumatic rejection lockbox for cartons missing tubes, leaflets, or batch codes
| Output Speed | 50 to 150+ Tubes / Cartons Per Minute (CPM) |
|---|---|
| Tube Diameter Range | Ø 13 mm to Ø 50 mm | Tube Length: 50 mm to 210 mm |
| Carton Dimension Range | Length: 60 - 220 mm | Width: 20 - 65 mm | Height: 20 - 55 mm |
| Carton Board Weight | 250 - 400 GSM (SBS, Duplex, or Virgin Paperboard) |
| Leaflet Folding Capability | 1 to 4 folds | Paper: 50 - 75 GSM | Dimensions: (80-210) x (100-300) mm |
| Closure Types | Reverse Tuck-in, Straight Tuck-in, Hot-Melt Adhesive Sealing |
| Main Drive | AC Geared Motor with Frequency Inverter (VFD) & Servo Pusher |
| Control Architecture | Siemens / Delta PLC with 7" / 10" Color Touchscreen HMI |
| Power Consumption | 3.0 kW to 5.0 kW / 415V / 3 Phase / 50 Hz |
| Pneumatic Requirement | 5 to 6 Bar Clean Compressed Air | 150 - 200 L/min |
| Machine Footprint | Approx. (L) 3,500 mm x (W) 1,400 mm x (H) 1,750 mm | Weight: 2,000 kg |
Tooling change parts for different tube diameters, lengths, and carton sizes include:
- Tube Infeed Pocket Adapters & Transfer Chutes
- Contoured Pusher Heads & Insertion Funnel Guides
- Carton Magazine Infeed Plates & Vacuum Cups
- Leaflet Folding Rollers & Delivery Guides
- Carton Conveyor Pocket Carrier Lugs
- Flap Closing & Tucking Guide Rails
How does the machine prevent bent or scratched tube crimps during insertion?
The pusher head is precision-machined to match the exact profile of the tube (whether pushing against the rigid cap or the crimped tail). A guide funnel opens the carton flaps fully before entry, ensuring the tube slides inside without contacting carton flap edges.
Can the machine link directly with any standard tube filling machine?
Yes, HMEC tube cartoners feature universal link conveyors compatible with automatic tube fillers from leading Indian and international manufacturers.
Videos of Tube Cartoning Machine
Automatic Ointment Tube Filling & Cartoning Line
High-Speed Tube Cartoner with Leaflet Folder & Batch Coder
Related Cartoning Machines
Automatic Blister Cartoning Machine
Dedicated blister stacking and cartoning line with leaflet inserter.
View MachineAutomatic Bottle & Vial Cartoning Machine
Automated cartoning for glass/PET bottles, dropper vials, and ampoules.
View MachineHorizontal Intermittent Motion Cartoner
Flexible horizontal cartoning for pharmaceutical and cosmetic cartons.
View Machine