Performance monitoring system for a glass container forming machine

A plunger cycling mechanism in a glass container forming machine comprising:

• a cylinder defining an inner elongated chamber and having a bottom end and an opposite upper end;
• a hollow piston slidably disposed within the chamber and having an elongated rod projecting from the piston and coextensive with the piston axis and chamber axis;
• the rod having a first end supported by the piston and a second end projecting outwardly through an opening in the cylinder's upper end and adapted for removable attachment thereto of a plunger;
• air tube structure within the cylinder including a first tubular member disposed within the bore of the piston and having an end secured at the upper end of the rod and defining an annular space between its outer surface and the bore surface;
• a second tubular member having a first end secured to the bottom end of the cylinder and projecting, coextensive with the cylinder axis, into the annular space such that the first tubular member will telescopically slide within the second tubular member when the piston and the rod are slidably moved relative to the cylinder;
• and
• means on the mechanism for simultaneously sensing the linear position of the plunger, the air pressure within the chamber, and the temperature of exhaust air flow from the plunger.