Glass machine controller

Abstract

A glass-forming machine controller permits substantially instantaneous updating of the operating times of the machine components without the complex circuitry required of prior controllers. In the controller, a dual port random access memory (RAM) is provided for storing the on/off statuses of the machine components at each of the increments of time into which each cycle of operation of the machine may be divided. The controller accommodates simultaneous access to the RAM for changing the timing of the machine components and operating the machine components. The memory locations of the RAM may be grouped to provide multiple addressable locations for each increment of time. An address group generator develops sequential address group signals to access each of the multiple addressable memory locations in each increment of time and to obtain the on/off statuses of all of the machine components in each increment of time. The plurality of machine component actuators may be arrayed in plural groups, with the actuators of each of the plural groups sharing a common activating terminal and with one component actuator in each plural group sharing a common actuating terminal. The number of groups of component actuators are equal to the number of groups of memory locations in the RAM in each increment of time. By connecting the address group generator to the activating terminals of the component actuator array and to the RAM and connecting the data outputs of the RAM to the actuating terminals of the component actuator array, such a controller can effect the operation of a multiplicity of components with a minimal number of components.