US3550510A

US3550510A - Automated adjustment of envelope machines

Info

Publication number: US3550510A
Application number: US776440A
Authority: US
Inventors: James W Lenk; Arthur H Burnett; Kenneth D May
Original assignee: Berkley Machine Co
Current assignee: Berkley Machine Co
Priority date: 1968-11-18
Filing date: 1968-11-18
Publication date: 1970-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-29
Also published as: DE1957745B2; DE1957745A1

Description

United States Patent Continuation-impart of Sen No. 675,376, Oct. 16, 1967, now Patent No. 3,429,238, dated Feb. 25, 1969.

[54] ,AIJTOMATED ADJUSTMENT OF ENVELOPE MACHINES 14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 93/61 [51] Int. Cl. B3lb1/00 [50] Field ofSearchW. 93/61,

61ACF, 62, 63M, 61A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,186,316 6/1965 Lenk t. 93/62 3,379,l03 4/l968 Treff ABSTRACT: Adjustable mechanisms. of an envelope making machine each have a rotatable adjustment shaft associated therewith which is independent of any operating drive members. A rotatable master shaft having a screw thread thereon extends along the machine and cooperates with a plurality of worm gears and remotely operable clutches forming parts of respective motion transmitting takeoff structures connected between the adjustment shafts and the master shaft. Electrically operated brakes are included in respective takeoff structures where necessary for selectively disengaging the operating drive members of the adjustable mechanisms during adjustment. Counting devices are associated with the takeoff structures to monitor position changes of the adjustable mechanisms during adjustment, and homing monitors are associated with the adjustable mechanisms to signal a home or zero position attained by each mechanism as a basis for accurate readjustment A computer coordinates master shaft rotations with operating signals simultaneously directed to several brakes and clutches in accordance with a predetermined program.

ATENTEU IJECZS 19m SHEET 5 OF 5 INVENTOR,5

JAMES W.LENK,

ARTHUR H. BURNETT, BY KENNETH QMAY MM, g u

ATTORNEYS AUTOMATED ADJUSTMENT F ENVELOPE MACHINES This application is a continuation-impart of copending application Ser. No. 675,376, filed Oct. [6, 1967, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,429,238, issued Feb. 25, I969. The invention disclosed herein relates to the high speed production of envelopes, and more particularly to the rapid readjustment of envelope making machines to permit receiving and operating upon envelope blanks of altered dimensions from the previous run.

Modern envelope making machines are highly complex arrangements which are capable of operating at high speed while performing a great number of accurate operations upon envelope blanks in a predetermined sequence. With dimensional changes in the envelopes produced, it was heretofore normally necessary to halt production and conduct an extremely tedious and time-consuming manual adjustment program on the machine. Such down-time" constitutes a significant factor in the cost of finished envelopes and, in recent years, the skilled personnel necessary to efficiently perform I the necessary readjustments have become increasingly difficult to obtain, while dimensional variations in envelopes have multiplied. It is, therefore, of great economic importance to simplify and shorten the adjustment program.

In the practice of this invention, the adjustable mechanisms which sequentially operate on the envelope blanks are not altered in function, but may be selectively modified so that an adjustment thereof is performed through the simple rotation of a shaft, which, if necessary, operates in conjunction with structure for releasing the mechanism from its operating drive member during such adjustment. An adjusting member in the form of an elongated master shaft with screw threads thereon is extended along the envelope machine and is connected through motion-transmitting takeoff members to the respective mechanism adjusting shafts. The takeoff members have worm gears simultaneously engaged with the threads of master shaft and electrically operated clutches adapted to selectively engage and disengage the master shaft from the respective adjustable mechanism shaft. An adjusting motor, which may be in the form of a common reversible electric drive motor, is engaged with the master shaft to selectively rotate same. Sensing means are associated with each of the takeoff members for monitoring the rotation, and hence the position change, of the adjustable mechanism and signal producing zero position sensing means are advantageously included to remotely indicate when the adjustable mechanism has achieved a home or zero position to which the desired adjusted position may be related. A computer or suitable programmed control device is provided to translate data associated with the dimensional changes of a new blank to output signals producing coordination of the adjusting motor rotation with actuation of the clutches and brakes. The computer further may be programmed to calculate the amount of adjustment required for each mechanism from a relatively few signal inputs related to a small number of basic measurements of the blank configuration to be operated upon. The use of cooperating worm and worm gears provide sufficient mechanical advantage so that all mechanisms may be adjusted simultaneously in a single sweep with the mechanisms achieving adjustment progressively being disengaged from the adjusting motor as it continues to turn. Torque limiting slip clutches are provided to permit some mechanisms to remain at home position simultaneously with the movement of other mechanisms toward their home position in preparing for the adjustment sweep. The monitoring of position changes during the sweep to home position provides information useful to more accurately program for a subsequent production run of the blank configuration just finished, since this information will include any additional adjustment made during the run.

Thus, a large number of mechanism adjustments can be performed sequentially and/or simultaneously without direct manual contact with the envelope machine and with a great reduction in time, skilled labor, and the chances for error.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a significant reduction in the tirneand skill necessary to readjust high speed envelope machines between production runs of different envelope blank configurations; to provide automated adjusting in envelope making machines wherein highly varied mechanisms are adjusted simply through the remotely controlled rotation of respective adjusting shafts; to provide such an arrangement which permits multiple adjustments to occur simultaneously; to provide such an arrangement which does not require highly specialized devices such as stepping motors for performing remote adjustments; to provide such an arrangement which easily conforms to operation through computer programming; to provide such an arrangement which provides information regarding additional manual adjustments for more accurate subsequent programming; to provide such an arrangement wherein the adjusting members are functionally independent of the normal operating drive members of the machine; and to provide such an arrangement which renders feasible the use of complex, high speed envelope making machinery on relatively short production runs.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. I (a and b) is a schematic side elevational view depict ing a high speed envelope making machine embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view showing a lateral spacing adjustment mechanism wherein an adjusting shaft includes opposite hand lead screws.

FIG. 3 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view showing a transfer mechanism with a vacuum port pattern adjustment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the mechanism of FIG. 3, on an enlarged scale, showing the relationship between the operating drive member and the adjusting structure.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation on a further enlarged scale, showing a home position indicating detent member as used on the mechanism of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view illustrat ing a corner post blank retaining member wherein spaced posts are adjusted with respect to each other in two dimensions on a plane.

FIG. 7 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view illustrating a scoring mechanism with a rotary position adjustment.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through the mechanism of FIG. 7, showing the internal relationship between the operating drive member and the adjusting structure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view illustrating structure for the lateral adjustment of a pair of elongated parallel runner members.

FIG. I0 is a plan view of a section of punched tape illustrating a typical storage medium for informational data used in practicing this invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating key measurements on a pointed shape envelope blank to provide data used by the computer for calculating necessary adjustments in terms of shaft rotations,

FIG. 12 is a plan view similar to that of FIG. 11, but showing a booklet shaped envelope blank.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a high speed rotary envelope making machine, in this example patterned after apparatus sold under the trademark Helios Type 129- DS, by Winkler and Dunnebier, Neuwied-Rhein, West Germany This machine is described in a form modified to illustrate the practice of this invention. The machine includes a main drive motor 2, window cutting section 3, inking unit 4 for outside printing, blank feed section 5 for feeding envelope blanks 6 into the machine, and an inking unit 7 for inside printing on the blanks. The machine I also incorporates a window application station 8, seal flap gumming section 9, drying channel I0, heater II for the channel 10, folding and sticking section 12, and a delivery section ill for the finished envelopes.

The machine 1 is constructed on an elongated frame 14 defining a path of travel 15 for the blanks 6. Highly varied envelope blank contacting members are located throughout the machine for advancing the blanks 6 in predetermined relation along the path of travel 15. A plurality of adjustable mechanisms, a few selected examples of which are discussed below, are located in spaced relation along the path of travel 15 for sequentially operating on the blanks. Driving members 16 interconnect many of the respective adjustable mechanisms for coordinating the operations thereof and are themselves driven by the main motor 2.

The adjustable mechanisms are characterized as having a rotatable shaft associated therewith for effecting adjustments thereof to compensate for dimensional changes in the blanks. Selected portions of representative adjustable mechanisms are shown in FIGS. 2 to 8 and are discussed below.

Referring to FIG. 2, part of a flap separation mechanism 17 includes a pair of adjustably spaced apart guides 18. For the practice of this invention, the guides 18 are partially mounted on a rotatable shaft 19 having

screw threads

20 and 21 of opposite hand extending in opposite directions therealong from an intermediate position 22. The guides 13 respectively engage the

threads

20 and 21 on opposite sides of the intermediate portion 22 and a slide bar 23 permits lateral movement of the guides with respect to each other while preventing unwanted rotation about the shaft 19. Thus, the rotation of the shaft 19 simultaneously moves the guides in opposite lateral directions. A sprocket 24 is mounted on a free end of the shaft 19 and is engaged with a chain 25 which is engaged with a sprocket 26 mounted on a shaft 27. The shaft 27 terminates in a suitable electrically operated clutch 28, which includes an input shaft 29 upon which is supported a worm gear 30. The worm gear 30 is meshed with worm threads 31 on a rotatable master adjusting shaft 32 extending along the frame 14.

The rotation of the master shaft 32, when occurring with the actuation of the clutch 28, causes the shaft 27 to rotate, resulting in rotation of the shaft 19 and lateral movement of the guides 18. However, so long as the clutch 28 remains unactuated, the rotation of the shaft 32 has no effect on the lateral positioning adjustment of the guides 18. A disc 33 is mounted on and rotates with the shaft 27 so as to move the periphery thereof past a sensor 34 suitably'mounted adjacent thereto. The disc 33 may include suitable magnetic slugs, a signal carrying magnetic tape, cam surface variations, or other suitable means by which an appropriately matched sensor 34 is actuated to produce a signal in response to the angular rotation of the shaft 27. The resolving power of the disc 33 and sensor 34 may be varied as required, that is, to produce discrete signals in response to each complete rotation of the shaft 27 or small fractions of a single revolution, as required to satisfactorily monitor the adjustment as described below.

A home or zero position sensor 35 may take the form of a suitable switch mounted adjacent the mechanism 17 so that switch actuation occurs when the mechanism is adjusted to a position beyond any required during normal operation of the machine. The sensor 35 is preferably located in conjunction with a suitable physical stop (not shown) or the like, so that the actuation of the switch coincides with the mechanism bottoming out." In this regard, the clutch 28 is adapted to limit torque transmission during operation, that is, the clutch will slip if the rotation of the input shaft 29 continues after home position is reached.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the illustrated mechanism portion includes a vacuum cylinder 36 for grasping and moving envelope blanks as it rotates. The vacuum cylinder 36 has a plurality of vacuum ports 37 for retaining blanks thereagainst through certain angular motions. A vacuum hose 38 draws a vacuum in the hollow interior of the cylinder 36 through a suitable rotatable joint and valve 39. The cylinder 36 is rotated through a gear 40 operably connected to one of the driving members 16 when the envelopemachine is in normal operation. In order to compensate for varying dimensions in runs of subsequent blanks, selected ports 37 must be blocked or opened. To accomplish this, an internal hollow core 41 is located within the vacuum cylinder 36 and has suitable cutout portions 42 to provide communication between selected ports 37 and the vacuum hose 38. By rotating the core 41 with respect to the cylinder 36, certain ports 37 are blocked or opened.

The cylinder 36 and core 41 are mounted on a common shaft 43 with the cylinder 36 fixed with respect to the drive gear 40. During machine operation, the core 41 is driven with the cylinder 36 through a normally engaging electric brake 44. An electrically operated clutch 45, functionally similar to the clutch 28 described above in connection with FIG. 2, is mounted on the shaft 43 adjacent the brake 44 and has a suitable sprocket 46 rotatably fixed thereto. The sprocket 46 engages a chain 47 which engages a sprocket on a shaft 48. The shaft 48 terminates in a worm gear 49 which engages the worm thread 31 on the shaft 32 in spaced relation to the mechanism described in connection with FIG. 2.

The core 41 includes a flange 50 which projects radially beyond the cylinder 36. The periphery of the flange 50, in this example, has magnetic tape 51 thereon recorded with spaced magnetic lines. A sensor 52 is suitably mounted adjacent the tape 51 and is adapted to produce a signal in response to each magnetic line on the tape moving therepast. A detent device 53 includes a plunger 54 (FIG. 5) receivable into a depression 55 formed in the periphery of the radial flange 50. The plunger 54 is selectively urged against the periphery of the flange 50 by means of a magnetic coil 56, and when the plunger enters the depression 55 this fact is indicated through a suitable switch 57 contained in the detent mechanism 53 and having a switch arm 58 engaged with the plunger 54. Thus, a signal is produced indicating that the core 41 has achieved its home position.

In order to change the angular relation between the core 41 and the vacuum cylinder 36, the brake 44 is actuated to release the normally fixed connection between the core and the cylinder and the clutch 45 is actuated to engage the core 41. The cylinder 36 is maintained in a known fixed position relative to other operating mechanisms through the gear 40. The rotation of the shaft 32 will produce a relative rotation between the cylinder 36 and core 41, the degree of rotation being related to the degree of rotation of the shaft 32. Additional rotation of the clutch 45 when the plunger 54 is in the depression 55 will merely produce slipping against the flange 50. The degree of angular rotation of the core 41 during adjustment is measured through the sensor 52.

Referring to FIG. 6, the mechanism portion illustrated relates to a feed table 59 having blank engaging corner posts 60. Compensating for variations in blank dimensions requires that the posts 60 be adjustable in both directions on the plane of the table 59. To accomplish this a first rotatable shaft 61 is provided having

screw threads

62 and 63 of opposite hand extending from a point 64 intermediate the ends of the shaft 61. The

threads

62 and 63 are engaged with suitable blocks 65 which are respectively secured to supports 66 for indirectly supporting the corner posts 60. The rotation of the shaft 61 will cause the supports 66 to move laterally with respect to each other and with respect to the intermediate point 64. This causes the corner posts 60 to be symmetrically adjustable transversely of the envelope making machine.

For adjustments of the posts longitudinally of the machine, a shaft 67 is provided having a longitudinal spline structure slidably engaging screw worms 68. The worms 68 engage suitable gears 69 which are mounted on threaded shafts 70 received in blocks 71 which are slidably mounted on the supports 66. When the shaft 67 is rotated, the blocks 71 slide on the supports 66 longitudinally of the envelope making machine, thus producing a longitudinal adjustment of the corner posts 60 carried thereby.

The shafts 61 and 67, respectively, have sprockets 72 and 73 fixed thereto and engaging chains 74 and 75 which engage sprockets 76 and 77 mounted on

shafts

78 and 79. The

shafts

78 and 79 terminate in respective electrically operated clutches 80 and 81, similar to the clutch 28 described in connection with FIG. 2 and having input shafts carrying worm gears 82 and 83 which respectively engage the screw worm 31 of the master shaft 32. Thus, the rotation of the shaft 32 coupled with coordinated actuation of the clutches 80 and 81 will result in longitudinal and lateral adjustment of the comer posts 60 as required for a particular change in envelope blank dimensions.

Discs 84 are fixed on the respective shafts 61 and 67 in cooperation with sensors 85 for counting rotary changes in shaft position as described in connection with the

structure

33 and 34, FIG. 2. Likewise, sensors 86 are suitably located with respect to the mechanism in extreme positions to produce a a suitable signal upon the structures achieving a home position.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is illustrated part of a flap scoring mechanism including a cylinder 87 having a scoring blade 88 which must be adjusted in angular position with respect to the drive gear 89 when the score location is changed due to alterations in envelope blank dimensions. The scoring cylinder 87 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 90 and driven through a normally engaged brake 91 associated with the shaft 90. An electrically operated clutch 92 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 90, and when actuated engages the cylinder 87, so as to rotate therewith. The clutch 92 includes a sprocket 93 engaging a chain 94 which engages a sprocket 95 mounted on a shaft 96 supporting a worm gear 97 which engages the screw worm 31 of the master shaft 32.

Thus, by rotating the shaft 32 with the cooperative engagement and disengagement of the brake 91 and clutch 92, the scoring blade 88 may be adjusted to a new angular position with respect to the drive gear 89. An angular stop device 98, similar to the device 53 described in connection with FIG. 5, is adapted to produce a signal upon the scoring cylinder achieving home position. A sensor device 99, similar to the structure 52 described in connection with FIG. 4 operates in conjunction with magnetic tape 100, as noted with respect to said FIG. 4

Referring to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a portion of a mechanism which includes a pair of elongated parallel runners 101 which must be adjusted laterally while maintaining a parallel relation to compensate for variations in envelope blank dimensions. To accomplish this, the runners 101 have spaced apart mounting

blocks

102 and 103 thereunder which receive parallel

transverse shafts

104 and 105. The

shafts

104 and 105 each have screw threads thereon respectively of opposite hand extending in opposite directions from intermediate points and engage in the mounting

blocks

102 and 103. The

shafts

104 and 105 carry sprockets 106 and 107 which are associated by means of a chain 108, whereby they rotate in unison. The shaft 105 also has a sprocket 109 thereon, which is engaged with a chain 110, in turn engaged with a sprocket 111. The sprocket 111 is mounted on a shaft 112 terminating in an electrically operated clutch 113 having an input shaft supporting a worm gear 114 mating with the worm screw 31 of the master shaft 32.

Thus, by rotating the shaft 32 with cooperative actuation of the clutch 113, the runners 101 are moved toward and away from each other while maintaining parallel relation. A shaft rotation sensing member 115 and cooperating disc 116 on the shaft 112 are provided, as discussed in connection with the structure of FIG. 2, and a suitable home position signaling device 117 is positioned to contact a mounting block.

A master adjusting motor 118 is engaged with the master shaft 32 and may be any conventional reversible electric motor having sufficient torque to rotate the shaft 32 against the relatively light torque resistance provided by the various worm gears and necessary supporting bearings. It is to be understood that other suitable means may be used to produce home position of the mechanisms, such as suitable reversing, clutching or gearing whereupon a true reversing motor is not necessary and the term reversing motor should be construed to cover such alternate forms. The rotation of the shaft 32 is monitored by a disc 119 mounted on the shaft 32 and operating in conjunction with a suitable sensor 120 for producing a pulse or multiplicity of pulses as desired upon each shaft rotation.

A signal controlling arrangement is provided, such as a suitable computer 121, which is adapted to translate input signals related to blank dimensional changes, to output signals defining corresponding rotations of the adjusting motor 118 with coordinated actuations of the clutches and brakes.

Electrical conduits

139 and 140 carry the signals from the computer 121 to the motor 118 and the respective clutches and brakes to effect the desired adjustments simultaneously and/or sequentially. The signal controlling arrangement is desirably associated also with the control of the main drive motor 2 since, with certain mechanisms, such as the flap separation mechanism 17, the adjustment is preferably or necessarily made with the envelope machine in operation.

The output control signals may be utilized to adjust the mechanisms to a selected home or zero position prior to the new operational setting, or adjust to the difference from the prior setting. The above noted home sensors may be utilized to indicate when the home position of each mechanism is reached, and all mechanisms may be adjusted toward the home position simultaneously. Under these circumstances, certain of the mechanisms will reach the home position prior to others, and in such instances slippage will take place in the particular adjusting trains while the homed mechanisms remain stationary. Thus, by driving the adjusting motor 118 beyond the point necessary to home to the mechanism requiring the greatest number of adjusting shaft turns, all mechanisms are more or less simultaneously returned to home position in a comparatively short time. During the movement toward home position, the rotation of the respective adjusting shaft may be monitored to insure that they are actually in motion, and to obtain data regarding the prior production run setting. Such data may be valuable for later use, since prior settings may include some minor manual adjustments or fine tuning" which may desirably be incorporated in the subsequent master program for that particular envelope configuration. Upon each mechanism achieving home position, a signal is produced which may be used to indicate which, if any, mechanisms have failed to achieve the position and thus requires manual attention. Upon all home signals being received, actual readjustment of the machine for a new production run can proceed with assurance that all mechanisms are starting from a zero or home position.

In the alternative the computer controls may be arranged so that the respective clutches are released when home position is signalled, thus eliminating the need for driving the respective mechanisms against an obstruction at the end of adjusting travel. However, the provisions for permitting slippage is desired even in this case, since in an abnormal condition may cause damage in absence of torque release. Further, hand wheels or suitable control knobs are preferably retained on many of the mechanisms, to permit fine tuning manually where desirable, for example, to compensate for humidity or stock variations, although such fine tuning also may be performed through the adjusting motor if desired.

in adjusting the machine to the new settings, all mechanisms may be driven simultaneously toward adjusted positions and the actual movement thereof may be monitored through the respective counting sensors. Upon the respective positions being reached, a signal is produced releasing the respective clutches and the sequence continues until the last mechanism has achieved the desired adjusted position as indicated by the predetermined program. The program may be stored and retrieved in any convenient form, for example, conventional punched tape 122, FIG. 10.

in programming, although there may be more than separate mechanisms to adjust, each adjustment can be expressed in terms of a relatively few measurements of the envelope blank to be used. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is illustrated, respectively, a pointed shape envelope blank and a booklet shape envelope blank, each having critical dimensions shown thereon. The critical dimensions on a typical machine illustrated have been found to be 14 in number and all of the machine changeover adjustments can be described by various combinations of these, designated 123 through 137.

Measurement 129, however, does not refer to any particular measurement, but rather the basic envelope shape, that is, pointed shape or booklet shape. Measurement 138 is not a basic measurement, but a fraction of measurement H28, in some cases one-third and in some cases two-thirds of measurement 128. Measurement 13! is taken from the bottom flap fold line to a point on the bottom edge of the side flap located one-third of the side flap width from the side flap fold line. Measurement 133 is the side flap height taken one-third the distance (from side flap fold line) of the overall side flap width measurement.

From the above measurements, all adjustments may be easily calculated by the computer for use as a mechanism adjustment program.

It is to be understood that, while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited thereto.

We claim:

1. An envelope making machine adapted to selectively operate on envelope blanks of various dimensions comprising:

a. an elongated frame defining a path of travel for said blanks, blank engaging members on said frame for advancing blanks along said path of travel, a plurality of adjustable mechanisms on said frame and located in spaced relation along said path of travel for operating on said blanks, means for driving certain of said adjustable mechanisms;

b. said adjustable mechanisms each having movable means associated therewith for effecting adjustments thereof to compensate for dimensional changes in said blanks;

c. an elongated rotatable master shaft extending along said frame, means forming a worm thread on said master shaft, motion transmitting takeoff members connected to each of said movable means, said takeoff take off members each including a worm gear engaged with said worm thread and a remotely operable clutch adapted to selectively engage and disengage said worm gear with said respective movable means;

d. an adjusting motor engaged with said master shaft for moving said respective movable means upon actuation of said clutches;

e. control means adapted to translate input signals related to blank dimensional changes to control signals defining coordinated movements of said adjusting motor and actuations of said clutches; and

f. signal transmitting means connecting said control means to said adjusting motor means and respective clutches.

2. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein: slip means are included between certain of said worm gears and movable means, said slip means slipping above a predetermined torque during clutch actuation to permit certain of said adjustable mechanisms to achieve and remain in home position simultaneously with the continued rotation of said master shaft.

3. The machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said slip means are embodied in said clutches.

4. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein: home position sensing means are associated with said adjustable mechanisms and adapted to produce a signal upon said adjustable mechanisms achieving a predetermined position.

5. The machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said home position sensing means includes a plunger adapted to engage into a depression on a movable portion of the adjustable mechanism upon the latter achieving a predetermined position.

6. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein: motion sensing means are associated with said adjustable mechanisms and adapted to remotely sense changes in the position thereof.

7. The machine as set forth in claim I wherein:

a. certain of said adjustable mechanisms include an operating drive member; and

b. a remotely operable brake positioned along said drive member to selectively release said adjustable mechanism from said drive member for adjustment.

8. The method of adjusting an envelope making machine which includes a plurality of blank engaging mechanisms adjustable between a home position and a plurality of operating positions and having movable means associated therewith for effecting said adjustments, the machine including connecting means having motion transmitting takeoff members connected to each of said movable means, said takeoff members each including a remotely operable clutch adapted to selec tively engage and disengage said connecting means with said respective movable means, the machine further including reversible adjusting motor means engaged with said connecting means for selectively moving said respective movable means in opposite directions upon activation of said clutches, and control means responsive to a predetermined program to coordinate movements of said adjusting motor and actuation of said clutches for adjusting said adjusting mechanisms, said method comprising the steps of:

a. driving said adjustable mechanisms to said home position;

b. reversing said motor means; and

c. driving said adjustable mechanisms to programmed adjusted positions.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said machine has motion sensing means associated with said adjustable mechanisms and including the step of: monitoring the movement of said adjustable mechanisms during said latter driving of said adjustable mechanisms to insure achieving said programmed adjusted positions.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said machine has motion sensing means associated with said adjustable mechanisms and including the step of: monitoring the movement of said adjustable mechanisms during said first named driving of said adjustable mechanisms to obtain dt data incorporating adjustments effected following prior programmed adjustment.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said machine has home position indicating means ad associated with said adjustable mechanisms and including the step of: inhibiting the reversing of said motor means until home position has been indicated for each of said adjustable mechanisms.

12. The method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of: simultaneously driving a plurality of said adjustable mechanisms toward said home position.

13. The method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of: simultaneously driving a plurality of said adjustable mechanisms toward adjusted positions.

14. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said takeoff members slip above a predetermined torque and including the step of: overdriving said adjustable mechanisms at said home position to permit certain of said mechanisms to remain at home position while other of said mechanisms are moving toward home position.