What are the common malfunctions of wet wipe packaging machines? (Part 1)

Wet Wipe Packaging Machine Over extended use, especially under continuous operation or overload conditions, electrical and mechanical issues are likely to occur, such as: weak sealing, intermittent machine movement, blown fuses during startup, squeaking noises during operation, uncontrolled temperatures, deformation and bending of finished bags at the sealing area, and the appearance of bubbles or irregular markings around the seal imprint.

Based on practical experience with wet wipe packaging machines, this article analyzes the causes of several common malfunctions and provides corresponding solutions. Additionally, it discusses maintenance issues specific to continuous sealing machines, aiming to offer valuable insights and assistance to both businesses and individuals who use such equipment.

1. The seal on the wet wipe packaging machine is weak—this is one of the common malfunctions in continuous-seal machines. A weak seal can have three possible meanings:

One meaning: The sealing area of the packaging bag cannot be sealed properly.

The main reasons for this type of failure are as follows.

(1) Wet Wipe Machine The heat-sealing temperature is insufficient.

Typically, for composite bags with an OPP liner, when the total bag thickness is between 80 and 90 μm, the heat-sealing temperature should reach 170–180°C. For composite bags with a PE liner, if the total bag thickness ranges from 85 to 100 μm, the temperature should be maintained at 180–200°C. Importantly, whenever the total bag thickness increases, the heat-sealing temperature must also be adjusted upward accordingly.

(2) Excessive heat-sealing speed

Failure to achieve a proper seal also has to do with the speed of the sealing machine. If the machine operates too quickly, the sealing area doesn’t have enough time to heat up before being conveyed by the traction rollers to the cooling zone for immediate cooling—naturally resulting in a seal that fails to meet quality standards.

(3) Improper pressure on the cold-pressed adhesive roller of the wet wipe machine

There is one cold-pressed rubber wheel on the top and one on the bottom, and the pressure between them should be just right—simply adjust it by clamping the spring.

(4) The hot-sealing film used in the wet wipe packaging machine has quality issues.

Failure to properly seal the package is often linked to the quality of the heat-sealing film. If the corona treatment applied to the composite liner is uneven—resulting in poor performance—and happens to occur precisely at the sealing area, the seal will inevitably fail. While this scenario is rare, when it does happen, the product is almost always rendered unusable. That’s why, in the color-printed packaging industry, downstream processes meticulously monitor upstream ones: as soon as a quality issue is detected, it’s crucial to promptly analyze the root cause and take immediate corrective action. Additionally, moisture or contamination at the sealing area can also lead to weak seals. In general, to address the first type of sealing failure—where the seal isn’t strong enough—it’s often effective to slightly increase the heat-sealing temperature, reduce the sealing speed, and simultaneously apply greater pressure from the cooling press roller.