Programmable sequencer for electric valves used in a hollow glass manufacturing installation

An improved programmable sequencer for sequentially driving electric valves in a hollow glass manufacturing installation comprising:

• a processor for providing control signals for sequentially driving electric valves through fiber optic cables;
• a power supply for providing power through power cables;
• a distributor means for receiving and converting fiber optic signals from said processor into electrical signals and for receiving said power from said power supply through one of said power cables, said distributor means being connected by fiber optic cables to said processor to receive said control signals therethrough and including means to convert said control signals and transmit said control signals as electrical signals in serial form, said distributor means being located in the vicinity of hollow glass manufacturing installations;
• and
• an electronic block adapted to receive said electrical control signals from said distributor means and to transmit said received control signal to said electric valves of said hollow glass manufacturing installation to drive said electric valves sequentially, said electronic block receiving power from said distributor means by another one of said power cables, said electronic block including a series to parallel circuit and a parallel to series circuit to convert said received control signals from said distributor means from serial form to parallel form and to transmit said signals in parallel form to said electric valves.