Programmable control system for glassware forming machines

A control system for controlling the actuation and deactuation timing of a plurality of functional components of individual sections of a glassware forming machine, said glassware forming machine including a plurality of said sections each independently operable in phased relationship within a cycle of operation of said machine to receive gobs of molten glass and form one or more glassware article per section, said glassware forming machine providing a machine synchronizing signal at a predetermined point within said cycle of operation, said system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of local computers, each respectively associated with one of said sections, for generating component actuating and deactuating signals and for identifying said signals with said functional components, each of said local computers comprising
• unalterable program storage means for storing a section control program to control the operation of said local computer means;
• non-volatile memory means for storing selected timing data indicative of actuation and deactuation times of said functional components within each cycle of operation, and for storing machine data which together with said timing data specify the parameters of said control program;
• and
• controller means for receiving said machine synchronizing signal and said timing data and machine data and for processing these in accordance with said control program to produce component actuating and deactuating signals;
• (b) global terminal means for permitting user display, entry, and modification and data within the non-volatile memory means of a selected local computer;
• (c) machine supervisory computer means for connecting said global terminal means to a user-selected one of said local computers via a bidirectional communications link, wherein the section control program does not provide regular ongoing communications with said machine supervisory computer means;
• (d) local terminal means for user display, entry, and modification of selected timing and machine data, wherein said local terminal means is capable handling all parameters of said section control program;
• and
• (e) a plurality of interface means each interposed respectively between one of said local computer means and its associated section for actuating and deactuating the functional components of said section in response to said component actuating and deactuating signals.

In a glassware forming machine of the "individual section" type including a plurality of sections operable in phased relationship within a cycle of operation of the machine, each of said sections having a complete set of functional components for receiving gobs of molten glass and forming glassware articles in response to control signals which actuate and deactuate said functional components, said glassware forming machine providing a machine synchronizing signal at a predetermined point of each cycle of operation,

• a control system for enabling the simultaneous and independent operation of said plurality of sections, comprising:
• a plurality of local computer means, each respectively associated with one of said sections, for producing the component actuating and deactuating signal in coordination with the machine synchronizing signal, and for identifying said component actuating and deactuating signals with said functional components, each of said local computer means comprising
• unalterable program storage means for storing a section control program to control the operation of said local computer means without regular ongoing communications with any supervisory controller;
• non-volatile memory means for storing selected timing data indicative of actuation and deactuation times of said functional components within each cycle of operation, and for storing machine data which together with said timing data specify the parameters of said control program;
• and
• controller means for receiving said machine synchronizing signal and said timing data and machine data and for processing these in accordance with said control program to produce said component actuating and deactuating signals;
• a plurality of interface means, each interposed respectively between one of said local computer means and its associated section for actuating and deactuating the functional components of said section in response to said component actuating and deactuating signals;
• local terminal means for displaying predetermined portions of said control program, and for user display entry, and modification of selected timing and machine data, said local terminal means being capable of handling all parameters of said control program;
• bidirectional communications means for connecting said local terminal means to a selected for one of aid local computer means;
• and further comprising means for controlling the actuation and deactuation of a plurality of components associated with machine functions common to all said sections, comprising a machine computer, machine terminal means, and machine interface means respectively analogous to one of said local computers, local terminals, and local interface means.