System for controlling movement of rotary article conveying mechanism in glassware forming machines

A system for controlling the state of movement and operating fluid pressure of a rotary article conveying mechanism in glassware forming machines, including a rotatable transporting arm, a rotatable shaft on which said transporting arm is mounted, a glassware article handling mechanism carried by the free end of said transporting arm, an initial movement station and a terminal movement station between which the transporting arm carries an article of glassware to be formed, the improvement comprising a pinion carried by said shaft, a rack engaging said pinion, a piston rod extending from one end of said rack, a double-acting dual chamber fluid actuator for moving said piston rod to actuate the rack and pinion and shaft to move the transporting arm between its two stations, an intake and a discharge conduit for said actuator, a state of movement sensor mounted on said shaft to transmit intermittent position signals, pressure sensors for each of the chambers in the actuator, a control system means comprising a logic circuit to receive signals from the sensors of the state of movement and the chamber pressures, said logic circuit including a memory of a viscoelastic-cyloidal equation, a control panel including a mode of operation switch for transmitting signals of the mode of operation to said logic circuit, and a series of digital switches for transmitting to said logic circuit timing signals for transporting of the article being formed, a closure valve operated by a solenoid which receives signals from the logic circuit, a directional valve for determining the direction of movement of the fluid actuator, said directional valve receiving signals from the logic circuit, and a digital valve in the fluid actuator discharge conduit, the opening of said digital valve being constantly controlled by the logic circuit to regulate the discharge of fluid from the actuator in conformity with the viscoelastic equation and in conformity with the signals from said sensors of state of movement and pressure.