New Ideas Two-heads Multi Knives Paper Tube Winding Machine

Spiral paper tube making machine

The spiral winding method is one of the most common and versatile technologies for producing paper tubes and cores. Its key characteristic is the helical (spiral) seam that you can see winding around the finished tube.

How a Spiral Paper Tube Machine Works (The Process)

The process is continuous and can be broken down into these key stages:

1. Paper Unwinding & Preparation:

   • Multiple rolls of paper (called "slip") are mounted on an unwinding stand.

   • The paper webs are fed through a series of tensioning and guiding rollers to ensure they enter the machine straight and aligned.

2. Gluing:

   • Each paper web passes through a precision gluing unit. This is typically a roller coater that applies a controlled, even layer of adhesive (like PVA) to one entire side of the paper.

3. Spiral Winding (The Core Action):

   • The glued paper strips are fed onto a rotating mandrel (a solid steel shaft that defines the tube's inner diameter).

   • Crucially, the paper is fed at a specific angle (usually between 15° and 85°). This angle creates the spiral wrap.

   • A rotating winding carriage or a system of belts wraps the paper tightly around the mandrel, bonding each new layer to the previous one under pressure.

4. Formation & Drying:

   • As the tube travels along the length of the mandrel, the adhesive begins to cure. The mandrel's length provides the necessary "dwell time" for the bond to become strong enough for cutting.

   • Some machines have heated mandrels or integrated dryers to speed up this process.

5. Cutting & Ejection:

   • Once the tube reaches a pre-programmed length, a cutting mechanism (often a rotary cutter or a saw) slices it cleanly.

   • An ejection system then pushes the finished tube off the end of the mandrel onto a conveyor or collection table.

Key Advantages of Spiral Winding

• High Crush (Compression) Strength: The spiral structure distributes axial loads evenly throughout the tube's length, making it exceptionally resistant to being squashed end-to-end. This is critical for stacking and heavy-weight applications.

• Excellent Durability: The multi-directional layers create a robust, impact-resistant structure.

• Versatility in Size: Spiral machines can produce a very wide range of diameters, from small 10mm cores to very large 500mm+ tubes for concrete columns.

• Ability to Use Different Materials: It's easy to combine layers of different papers (e.g., a smooth outer layer, a strong kraft middle, and a liner) to achieve specific properties.