Patent ID: 8244394

Claim:
A dynamic tempering furnace optimizer for production control of a tempering furnace of a glass production line, said dynamic tempering furnace optimizer coupled to the tempering furnace for dynamically scheduling furnace layouts for glass work pieces to be tempered within the furnace, wherein the furnace includes a loading station that includes a changeable set of uniquely identifiable work piece storage loading locations adjacent the loading station with each storage loading location adapted to receive a work piece therein for subsequent processing on the tempering furnace, wherein a subset of the uniquely identifiable work piece storage loading locations is moved away from the loading station when it is emptied of work pieces for the tempering furnace and a new sub-set of uniquely identifiable work piece storage loading locations is moveable adjacent the loading station to provide the changeable set of uniquely identifiable work piece storage loading locations adjacent the loading station, and wherein the dynamic furnace optimizer is adapted to schedule work pieces from uniquely identifiable work piece storage loading locations.