Controller for glass sheet processing system

In a glass sheet processing system, including one or more movable components each driven by a variable speed drive, a controller for monitoring one or more of the movable components and for operation with a central control system including a master computer, the controller comprising:

• a power switch connected to the power line interconnecting a power source and at least one of the movable components being monitored by the controller, said power switch being capable of disconnecting the power to the variable speed drive of the movable components;
• a position encode associated with each of the movable components monitored by the system;
• and
• a slave computer including
• two-way communication means for receiving data signals corresponding to preselected position parameters for each of the movable components monitored by the system, and for sending message to the master computer,
• a position input associated with each position encoder for receiving current position data of the movable components;
• and
• logic for continuously monitoring the current position data, comparing the current position data to the preselected position parameters for the movable components, and, if certain preselected conditions are determined to exist, generating a signal to the power switch the variable speed drive, thereby preventing further operation of the movable components.