Automated glassware manufacture controller

A glass production system that includes a glass forming machine having a multiplicity of operating mechanisms for converting gobs of molten glass into glassware, a plurality of solenoid valves responsive to valve drive signals for operating said multiplicity of operating mechanisms, electronic control means for generating said valve drive signals to operate said mechanisms in a predetermined sequence to produce the glassware, and stop means for generating a stop signal to arrest operation of said mechanisms, said electronic control means comprising:

• a plurality of valve driver circuit means individually coupled to said solenoid valves and responsive to control signals for supplying said valve drive signals to said valves,
• a controller including means having control programming prestored therein for generating first control signals in said predetermined sequence, and
• configurable logic means operatively connected between said controller and said valve driver circuit means for feeding said first control signals from said controller through to said valve driver circuit means in a normal mode of operation for producing glassware, and being responsive to said stop signal in a stop mode of operation to provide second control signals to said valve driver circuit means for controlled termination of operation of said glass forming mechanisms,
• said configurable logic means including means responsive to said controller in a programming mode of operation for selectively electronically configuring said configurable logic means to provide said second control signals to said valve driver circuit means in a predetermined manner responsive to said stop signal and independent of both said first control signals and said controller.