Abstract: An improved system of speed control for glass article forming machines includes an operator's control panel which is provided with controls to feed to the system the geometry parameters of the glass article to be manufactured as well as the timing of the manufacturing cycle; a data processor capable of calculating the speed of each mechanism of the machine in response to the data received by said operator's control panel; an EPROM-erasable programmable read-only memory which is used to contain tables including sequence profiles for the opening of actuating valves and speed mechanism profiles; a table selector circuit which is coupled to said programmable memory and the said data processor to select sequence tables from said programmable memory and which is able to solve the speed equations by using the speed information that it receives from the said data processor, and which is also able to provide the starting times of the various mechanisms; a random access memory coupled to said table selector circuit and

Abstract: A valve block for glassware forming machines is rendered faster and more accurate by substituting, for the pilot air valve system, a plurality of solenoids directly coupled with the cartridge valves, the coupling between said solenoids and said valves comprising a lost motion mechanical memory which, on reception of one pulse by the solenoid, pushes the cartridge valve and forces it to remain open, until reception of the next pulse by said solenoid, when it releases the cartridge valve to be closed; and a compensating spring, which is stronger than the force necessary to open said valves but weaker than the maximum force exerted by said solenoid, between said lost motion mechanical memory and said cartridge valve.