If you build or maintain packaging machines, the gear motor you specify determines whether your line runs smoothly or stops for avoidable reasons. A gear motor for packaging machines must deliver a steady output speed, hold enough torque for the product being moved, survive frequent start-stop indexing, and fit inside a machine frame where space is tight. This guide covers the sizing decisions in the order they should be made: locating the driven station, defining output speed and gear ratio, estimating torque, matching motor power and frame size, and checking duty cycle, voltage, and environment.
A packaging line is not one motor — it is a chain of small drives, each moving a different station. Conveyor belts carry cartons between operations, labelers advance products past a print head, sealing units close bags or film, counters index parts into a lane, and carton erectors fold blanks into shape. Every station shares the same requirement profile:
These needs are exactly what small right-angle AC gear reducer motors are built for. Before looking at catalogs, however, define the station itself.
Output speed is the number you know first, because it comes from the machine’s required line speed. A conveyor carrying boxes to a sealing station may need 20–60 r/min at the drive shaft; an indexing wheel might need 10–30 r/min; a small filling turret can run at 100 r/min or higher. Once the target output speed is set, the gear ratio is simple to calculate:
Required gear ratio = motor rated speed ÷ required output speed
An induction motor running at roughly 1300–1550 r/min under load, combined with a 25:1 reducer, gives an output speed in the 50–60 r/min range. The Hướng dẫn tính tỷ số truyền explains this in detail, including how to account for slip and load. On a 90 mm-frame right-angle unit such as the 5GU series, standard ratios run from 3:1 to 500:1, covering output speeds from roughly 500 r/min down to 3 r/min — enough for almost every station on a typical packaging line.
Torque is where most under-sizing happens. The motor must overcome the load at start-up, not just keep it moving, and packaging stations start and stop constantly. Build the torque estimate from the real mechanics of the station:
Worked example: a small carton conveyor with a 20 kg total moving load and modest friction typically needs under 5 N·m at the output shaft. Looking at the geared-down load table for the 5GU 40–140 W right-angle gear motor, even the 40 W motor frame with a 3:1 reduction is rated for 0.72 N·m, and at higher ratios the same frame is allowed to carry far more through the gearbox — the 60 W frame carries up to 19.6 N·m at its highest rated ratios. The gearbox multiplies torque, so always compare the reduced allowable output load against your required torque, not the raw motor rating.
Motor power and frame size determine how the drive handles sustained thermal load. Packaging OEMs do not need one oversized motor for everything — they need the smallest frame that reliably covers a station class. On small-to-medium duty packaging equipment, power bands map roughly as follows:
| Machine station | Typical output speed | Load character | Typical motor band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro conveyors, sensors, small feeders | 20–200 r/min | Light, intermittent | 15–40 W |
| Labeling, sealing, bagging, small conveyors | 10–100 r/min | Light-medium, start-stop | 40–90 W |
| Carton erecting, medium conveyors, wrappers | 5–60 r/min | Medium, frequent cycling | 90–300 W |
For the middle band — the most common on packaging machines — the 5GU right-angle gear reducer motor (40–140 W) is the workhorse choice: a 90 mm frame, 90° output, rated torque of roughly 246–670 mN·m at 1300–1550 r/min, and reversible 30-minute-duty variants for indexing. Where space is extremely limited and the load is light, the 4GN 25 W right-angle gear motor covers auxiliary drives such as diverters and small feeders. On the heavy side of the spectrum, the 6GU 120–300 W right-angle unit handles larger conveyors, wrappers, and multi-row accumulators that need more sustained torque.
Two architecture choices matter on packaging machines: the motor technology and the gear geometry. Single-phase or three-phase AC induction gear motors dominate packaging equipment because they are inexpensive, rugged, and need no drive for fixed-speed stations. If the machine already uses a frequency inverter for speed adjustment, a three-phase AC gear motor gives the widest speed flexibility. DC geared motors remain a fit for battery-powered or low-voltage portable packaging aids, but for line machinery AC is usually the simpler, more durable answer. The geared DC vs geared AC comparison details the trade-offs.
For gear geometry, right-angle (90°) output is the most common packaging choice because the motor sits beside or above the drive shaft instead of in line with it, which frees up frame space. Right-angle units also deliver high reduction in one compact stage, which is exactly why conveyor and sealing stations — low speed and high torque in a small envelope — so often use them.
Before you commit to a part number, confirm the operating conditions match the motor’s rating:
For food or beverage packaging stations where the drive sits near product zones, the hygienic-positioning notes in the food-grade gear motor selection guide are worth reading before finalizing the specification.
| Question to answer | Tại sao điều này lại quan trọng |
|---|---|
| What is the driven station and its cycle pattern? | Determines duty rating and whether you need continuous or reversible 30-min duty |
| What output speed (r/min) does the station need? | Sets the gear ratio: motor speed ÷ required output speed |
| What torque does the load need at start-up? | Sets the motor power band and the required reduced output load rating |
| Which voltage and frequency does your market use? | Single-phase 110/220 V vs three-phase 220 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Is the installation compact enough for a 90° output? | Right-angle frames save space; verify shaft and flange dimensions |
| What is the ambient environment? | Dust, humidity, and washdown determine enclosure and protection needs |
Choosing a gear motor for a packaging machine comes down to five decisions made in order: define the station and its output speed, calculate the gear ratio, estimate start-up torque with margin, match the motor power band and frame size, and verify duty, voltage, and environment. For the small-to-medium duty stations that make up most packaging lines, a compact right-angle AC gear motor in the 25–300 W range covers the overwhelming majority of applications. Browse the right-angle gear reducer motor range at Tenchuan to compare 4GN, 5GU, and 6GU options side by side with published load tables — and if you share your station’s speed, torque, and voltage, a Tenchuan engineer can help lock the part number before you order.
Divide the motor’s rated speed by the required output speed. A motor running at about 1400 r/min with a 25:1 reducer delivers roughly 56 r/min at the output shaft. Start from the station’s required output speed, then pick the nearest standard ratio.
For light-medium product loads on typical conveyors, a 40–90 W motor band is usually sufficient; heavier lines or frequent start-stop indexing move up to the 90–300 W band. Sizing depends on product weight, friction, incline, and start-stop frequency, not on conveyor length alone.
For fixed-speed line stations, single-phase or three-phase AC gear motors are the standard choice — rugged, low-cost, and maintenance-free. Choose three-phase AC when you already use a frequency inverter, and reserve DC for battery-powered or low-voltage portable equipment.
Yes, when sized with a torque margin. Reversible 30-minute-duty variants are designed for intermittent cycling, but you must respect the duty rating and allow cool-down between active periods. Continuous-duty units are the right pick for stations that run all shift.
Right-angle (90°) output lets the motor sit perpendicular to the drive shaft, which saves frame space inside the machine and gives a compact single-stage high reduction — the combination most conveyor, sealing, and labeling stations need.
With standard ratios from 3:1 to 500:1 on a 90 mm frame, output speeds range from roughly 500 r/min down to about 3 r/min, so one frame covers everything from fast filling turrets to very slow indexing wheels.
