Technical data
PD_SysUebersSCL_us.fm
ELAU AG PacDrive page 17
3.2 Structure of the PacDrive™ Automation System
Hard-copy for correction
3.2  Structure of the PacDrive™ Automation System
The PackDrive™ automation system offers a technically and 
economically ideal solution for electronic packaging machines. 
PacDrive™ consists of an efficient PC-based control, the PacDrive 
Controller and the digital motor controllers, which include the mains 
connection unit, the end-stage power and the servo regulator of the 
individual axes(Fig. 3-2).
The PacDrive controller is the intelligent head of the system, and is 
based on an industrial PC. The PacDrive controller synchronizes 
and coordinates the motion functions of the packaging machine. 
Using an IEC 61131-3 soft-PLC, the PacDrive Controller ventures 
into applications previously reserved to classical PLCs. The 
individual PLC or positioning tasks can be broken down into several 
parallel tasks, which are implemented with the EPAS-4 
programming environment according to IEC 61131-3 standard.
The ring-shaped digital real-time bus SERCOS ensures safe data 
exchange with the motor controllers. Even in applications on rotary 
tables etc., the distributed motor controllers are reliably supplied 
with new set values. All internal states of the axes can be checked 
via the real-time bus and processed by the PacDrive controller.
In addition to digital and analog inputs and outputs, the PacDrive 
Controller has two serial interfaces and one Ethernet interface. A 
variety of process visualization and control systems can be 
connected to PacDrive™ via the integrated OPC interface. Further 
peripheral components can be connected via field bus interface 
modules. The PacDrive Controller can act as field bus master or 
slave. The built-in interfaces enable remote diagnosis via telephone 
modem or Internet.
Particularly in the beverage sector (bottle cappers, bottle labeling 
machines) it is necessary to install servo motors on a rotary table. 
The small dimensions of the rotary table require innovative 
solutions, as the switching cabinet with the standard products 
PacDrive Controller and PacDrive MC-4 can usually not be 
mounted on the rotary table. To keep additional wiring to the rotary 
table down to a minimum, ELAU developed the PacDrive SCL-055 
for such applications - a compact servo motor with integrated motor 
controller that is suitable for aseptic closing/sealing machines. The 
PacDrive SCL-055 Aseptic has a special surface coating that 
makes it resistant against many cleaners and disinfectants.
To keep the size of the SCL drives down to a minimum, the power 
supply is arranged centrally via the external power supply unit
PacDrive PS-4 in combination with PacDrive PD-8.










