Electronic servo control of glass gob distribution

Method and apparatus for electronically controlling a servo motor drive (138) for glass gob distribution apparatus (20), to provide accurate high speed motion of one or more scoops (21). At the set-up stage, the operator adjusts the scoop position with respect to each trough to align scoop (21), and trough (23), in a straight line. During automatic operation, upon receipt of a MOVE command a motion control computer (131) provides digital output signals to move the scoops through a prescribed motion profile, such profile having suitable characteristics to move the scoops over various distances without vibration or overshoot. A digitalized cubic-parabolic-cubic (CPC) cur ve or similar cam profile is scaled to the amplitude and direction of the required motion, and the motion profile computer outputs command signals on a point-by-point basis over the time span of this stored motion profile.