Vending Machine Motor Solutions

In the wave of digitization and intelligence, vending machines have evolved from traditional beverage and snack dispensing equipment to efficient retail terminals covering a wide range of categories such as fresh food, pharmaceuticals and electronic products. According to Statista, a global market research organization, the global vending machine market will exceed $30 billion in 2023, with a CAGR of 8.5%, and one of its core driving forces is the continuous innovation of motor technology. 

1. The use of vending machines background and market trends 

1.1 Popularization and Intelligent Upgrade of Vending Machines 

  - Global market distribution: Japan leads the world with a density of one vending machine for every 23 people, Europe and the United States focus on intelligent interaction and contactless payment, and the Chinese market is accelerating due to urbanization, with more than 100,000 new vending machines per year. 

  - 24/7 unattended operation: requires ultra-high reliability of motors.

  - Multi-temperature zone management: needs to support the cooperative control of cooling (0-5℃), room temperature and heating (60-80℃) modules. 

  - IoT integration: Remote maintenance and inventory forecasting through motor status monitoring. 

1.2 The core role of motors in vending machines 

- Power transmission: drives mechanical actions such as aisle pushing, door valve opening and closing, and lifting platform. 

- Energy efficiency optimization: accounting for 30%-40% of the total energy consumption of the equipment, high-efficiency motors can reduce operating costs. 

- User experience: low noise (<50dB) and fast response (shipping time <3 seconds) rely on motor performance.

2. The main components of the vending machine and motor requirements 

2.1 Goods lane conveying system 

  - Function: Store the goods and push them to the pick-up port accurately. 

  - Motor requirements: 

  - High starting torque: to overcome merchandise jamming resistance (e.g. 5-10Nm torque is required for canned beverages). 

  - Precise positioning: Stepper motors or closed loop DC motors ensure a pushing error of<1mm. 

  - Compact design: miniature motors fit into narrow aisle spaces. 

2.2 Cooling and Heating Module 

  - Function: Maintains goods within a set temperature range (e.g., refrigeration of beverages, heating of meals). 

  - Motor requirements: 

  - Continuous operation capability: Compressor drive motor needs to support 24 hours continuous operation. 

  - Temperature control response: DC motor speed control with PID algorithm to achieve ±1℃ accuracy.

2.3 Payment and Recognition System 

  - Function: Handle coins, banknotes, 2D code and face recognition. 

  - Motor Requirements: 

  - Miniaturization: miniature DC motors with a diameter of 10mm or less drive the bill transfer wheel. 

  - Low power consumption: standby current<0.1mA to extend battery life (e.g. mobile payment module).

2.4 User Interactive Interface 

  - Functions: touch screen control, advertisement playback and fault indication. 

  - Motor Requirements: 

  - Quiet operation: Screen angle adjustment motor noise<40dB (A-weighted). 

  - Anti vibration: Vehicle-mounted vending machine needs motor to withstand 5G vibration shock. 

3. The working principle of vending machines and motor synergy 

3.1 Workflow decomposition 

1. User selects goods: sends commands to the main control board via touch screen or mobile APP. 

2. Inventory detection: infrared sensor confirms the status of goods in the aisle to avoid idling and energy consumption. 3. 

3. Motor-driven shipping: the main control board triggers the rotation of the motor in the aisle, and the spiral pusher or belt pushes the goods to the pick-up port. 4. 

4. Temperature control: the cooling/heating module motor dynamically adjusts its speed according to the ambient temperature. 

5. Payment Confirmation: The motor drives the change finder or QR code scanner to complete the transaction closed loop. 

3.2 Example of motor control logic 

- Goods lane motor: adopts PWM (pulse width modulation) to control the speed of DC motor, with Hall sensor feedback position signal to realize the smooth motion curve of “acceleration-uniform speed-deceleration” to reduce the impact of falling commodities.

- Refrigeration compressor motor: variable frequency DC motor automatically adjusts the speed according to the heat load (e.g. 200-2000RPM), which saves more than 30% energy compared with fixed frequency motor. 

4. Guidelines for the selection of suitable motors for vending machines 

4.1 Core selection parameters 

- Torque and speed: The cargo lane motor needs to meet the peak torque ≥ 12Nm, and the speed range is 50-300RPM.

- Protection level: IP54 (dustproof and waterproof splashproof) is suitable for most scenarios, outdoor models need IP65 or above. 

- Operating temperature: -20℃ to +60℃ wide temperature range design, adapt to extreme climate.

4.2 Recommended Motor Type and Comparison 

Brushed DC motor: ZGA37RG

Low cost, low price, simple control, accurate positioning.

DC worm gear motor: ZWL-47FP / ZWL-31ZY

Long life, high efficiency

5. Core features of DC motor for vending machine 

5.1 Compact structure and high power density 

- Miniaturized design: the miniature DC motor can output 8Nm torque, adapting to space-constrained aisles (e.g., vertically stacked shelves for bottled beverages). 

- Integrated Drive: Built-in MOSFET drive circuitry reduces the need for external controllers. 

5.2 High Reliability Design 

- Long-life brushes: Silver graphite brushes extend life to over 5,000 hours. 

- Sealed bearings: prevent grease leakage and reduce jamming caused by dust intrusion. 

5.4 Intelligent diagnostic function 

- Fault warning: detect blockage (e.g. commodity jamming) through current fluctuation, automatically shut down and send alarm to O&M platform. 

- Temperature protection: Built-in thermistor, cut off the power supply when the temperature of the winding >120℃.

6. Maintenance and Performance Optimization Program 

6.1 Preventive Maintenance Program 

- Lubrication cycle: Gearboxes are replenished with silicone-based grease (e.g. Molykote EM-30L) every 4,000 hours. 

- Brush Inspection: Brush motors measure brush length every 2000 hours and replace them if they are worn out more than 30%. 

6.2 Common Troubleshooting 

① Failure phenomenon: the cargo channel push is not in place

Cause analysis: insufficient motor torque/gear wear

Solution: upgrade the motor model or replace the gear set

② Failure phenomenon: refrigeration module noise

Reason analysis: lack of oil-bearing/fan imbalance

Solution: Clean the fan blades and replenish the lubricant.

Zhejiang Zhengke Motor Company has been deeply engaged in motor technology for 20 years, providing customized power solutions for global vending machine manufacturers. Our DC motor products are ISO 9001 certified and support: 

- Prototype motor development: Provide samples of motors that are adapted to your project. 

- Full Life Cycle Service: Full technical support from selection guidance to after-sales maintenance.