Programmable automatic controller

In a programmable automatic controller for controlling at least one machine, said at least one machine including a plurality of cyclically movable components which are actuated in a timed relationship with respect to one another, said movable components each being actuated at respective relative times in each of a plurality of machine cycles, and said at least one machine including machine cycle position indicating means for cyclically moving in synchronism with the cyclic operation of said at least one machine, a method of controlling said machine comprising the steps of:

• generating a digital signal in synchronism with the movement of said cycle position indicating means, said digital signal providing an instantaneous indication of the time elapsed in each cycle of operation of said machine,
• storing the sequential relative times in a cycle of machine operation when each of the plurality of components is to be actuated,
• selectively varying the stored actuating times of selected components while said machine is operating to thereby change the relative times in each machine cycle when said selected machine components are to be actuated,
• comparing the digital signal corresponding to the time elapsed in each cycle with the stored relative component actuating times,
• generating an actuating signal when a favorable comparison results, and
• providing in response to said actuating signal a component operating command to the component whose component actuating time compared with the cycle time elapsed.

In a glassware forming machine having a plurality of sections, each of which includes a plurality of movable components which operate in timed relationship with respect to one another, means for feeding gobs of molten glass at a uniform rate from a predetermined location to each of said sections, said sections forming rigid glassware articles from the gobs taken from said feeding means, wherein said movable components are each actuated at respective relative times in each of a plurality of machine cycles, and said machine including machine cycle position indicating means for cyclically moving in synchronism with the cyclic operation of said machine, said controller comprising:

• timing means responsive to said machine cycle position indicating means for generating a digital signal in synchronism with the movement of said cycle position indicating means, said digital signal providing an instantaneous indication of the time elapsed in each cycle of operation of said machine,
• a storage means for storing the sequential relative times in a cycle of machine operation when each of the plurality of components is to be actuated,
• means coupled to said storage means for selectively varying the actuating times of selected components stored in said storage means while said machine is operating to thereby change the relative times in each machine cycle when said selected machine components are to be actuated,
• means for cyclically reading out the contents of said storage means,
• comparator means responsive to said timing means and said readout means for comparing the time elapsed in each cycle with the relative component actuating times stored in said storage means, said comparator providing an actuating signal when a favorable comparison results, and
• addressing means receiving said actuating signal from said comparator means for providing a component operating command to the component whose component actuating time compared with the cycle time elapsed.

In a glassware forming machine having a plurality of sections each of which includes a plurality of movable components which operate in timed relationship with respect to one another, means for feeding gobs of molten glass at a uniform rate from a predetermined location to each of said sections, said sections forming rigid glassware articles from the gobs taken from said feeding means, wherein said movable components are each actuated at respective relative times in each of a plurality of machine cycles, and a machine cycle position indicating means for cyclically moving in synchronism with the cyclic operation of said machine, said controller comprising:

• timing means responsive to said machine cycle position indicating means for generating digital signals in synchronism with the movement of said cycle position indicating means, said digital signals providing an instantaneous indication of the time elapsed in each cycle of operation of said machine,
• a storage means for storing the sequential relative times in a cycle of machine operation when each of the plurality of components is to be actuated,
• means coupled to said storage means for selectively varying the actuating times of selected components stored in said storage means while said machine is operating to thereby change the relative times in each machine cycle when said selected machine components are to be actuated,
• means for cyclically reading out the contents of said storage means,
• comparator means responsive to said timing means and said readout means for comparing the time elapsed in each cycle with the relative component actuating times stored in said storage means, said comparator providing an actuating signal when a favorable comparison results,
• addressing means receiving said actuating signal from said comparator means for providing a component operating command to the component whose component actuating time compared with the cycle time elapsed, and
• means for simultaneously controlling a plurality of machine sections wherein each of said machine sections operates in a preselected interdependent timed relationship with respect to one another.

In a glassware forming machine having a plurality of sections each of which includes a plurality of movable components which operate in timed relationship with respect to one another, means for feeding gobs of molten glass at a uniform rate from a predetermined location to each of said sections, said sections forming rigid glassware articles from the gobs taken from said feeding means, wherein said movable components are each actuated at respective relative times in each of a plurality of machine cycles, and machine cycle position indicating means for cyclically moving in synchronism with the cyclic operation of said machine, a programmable automatic controller for controlling said machine comprising

• generating a digital signal in synchronism with the movement of said cycle position indicating means, said digital signal providing an instantaneous indication of the time elapsed in each cycle of operation of said machine,
• storing the sequential relative times in a cycle of machine operation when each of the plurality of components is to be actuated,
• selectively varying the stored actuating times of selected components while said machine is operating to thereby change the relative times in each machine cycle when said selected machine components are to be actuated,
• comparing the time elapsed in each cycle with the stored relative component actuating times,
• generating an actuating signal when a favorable comparison results, and
• generating in response to said actuating signal a component operating command to the component whose component actuating time compared with the cycle time elapsed.