Generation of needle motion profile in an individual section glassware

Abstract

In an individual section glassware forming system that includes a plurality of operating mechanisms for performing cyclic motions, an electronic controller for controlling cyclic motion at a needle mechanism includes electronic memory for storing a plurality of motion profiles for the needle mechanism, with each of the profiles comprising a set of needle position data versus time data. Any one of the profiles so stored may be selectively displayed as a graph of position versus time. A plurality of control points, consisting of less than all data points, are highlighted on the graphic display at spaced positions along the graph. An operator may identify one of the control points and change the position data and/or time data associated with that control point. An electronic control computer is responsive to such control point change for automatically recomputing the position data and time data for the profile so as to accommodate the operator-selected changes at the control point. The recomputed position and time data is graphically displayed, including the plurality of control points at spaced positions along the recomputed graph. Most preferably, the recomputed graphic data is superimposed on the graph of the initial position versus time data so that the operator can observe the effects of changes in graphic position of the control data points.