Variable travel stop to increase worm gear durability

A method for controlling a machine, the method comprising:

• rotating, by a motor, a driveshaft coupled to a worm to thereby drive a worm gear to rotate in a first direction;
• stopping the motor from rotating the driveshaft in response to the worm gear rotating in the first direction to or beyond a given one of a plurality of first stop positions each having distinct locations spaced apart from one another;
• energizing the motor to drive the worm gear to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction and away from the plurality of first stop positions;
• and
• changing the given one of the plurality of first stop positions to another one of the plurality of first stop positions to cause the motor to stop rotating the driveshaft in the first direction at or beyond the another one of the plurality of stop positions during a subsequent cycle,
• wherein changing the given one of the plurality of first stop positions to another one of the plurality of first stop positions is performed each time the worm gear is driven away from the given one of the plurality of first stop positions.

A method for controlling a machine, the method comprising:

• rotating, by a motor, a driveshaft coupled to a worm to thereby drive a worm gear to rotate in a first direction;
• stopping the motor from rotating the driveshaft in response to the worm gear rotating in the first direction to or beyond a given one of a plurality of first stop positions each having distinct locations spaced apart from one another;
• energizing the motor to drive the worm gear to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction and away from the plurality of first stop positions;
• and
• changing the given one of the plurality of first stop positions to another one of the plurality of first stop positions to cause the motor to stop rotating the driveshaft in the first direction at or beyond the another one of the plurality of stop positions during a subsequent cycle,
• wherein changing the given one of the plurality of first stop positions to another one of the plurality of first stop positions comprises changing the given one of the plurality of first stop positions in a predetermined pattern.