Electronic control system for a glassware forming machine

In a glassware forming machine having means responsive to a speed control signal for forming and distributing gobs of molten glass to a plurality of individual glassware forming sections, glassware forming means in each of the individual sections for forming glassware articles from the gobs of the molten glass in a series of predetermined forming steps in response to a plurality of control signals, and control means for generating the speed signal and the control signals, the control means comprising:

• a source of a signal representing a physical characteristic of the gobs of molten glass;
• a system control unit responsive to said physical characteristic signal for generating a speed control signal varying in respose to changes in the value of said physical characteristic signal;
• and
• a sectional control unit individual to each of the forming sections and responsive to said varying speed control for generating the plurality of control signals at a rate adjusting in response to changes in the value of said varying speed control signal to define a forming cycle time for each individual section.