A molding mechanism, comprising: a) a multiple-cavity, cyclically operable mold plate which requires a given volume of food material in each cycle of operation mounted on a housing for longitudinal movement between a receiving position at which a plurality of mold cavities are aligned with an inlet and a discharge position at which the mold cavities are clear of the housing; b) a mold cover positioned over said mold plate; c) a knockout apparatus mounted on the mold cover; d) a series of knockout cups operated by the knockout apparatus; said knockout cups are aligned over said mold cavities when the molding mechanism is in the discharge position; e) a reducer gearing; f) a center pivot shaft; g) a drive linkage (132, 138) operatively connected between the reducer gearing and the center pivot shaft, the center pivot shaft is journaled to pivot and is arranged horizontally and also transverse to the movement of the mold plate; wherein the drive linkage comprises a drive arm; h) two rocker arms fixedly connected to the center pivot shaft and operatively connected to the mold plate; i) wherein the drive linkage (132, 138) rotates the center pivot shaft between a rearward position and a forward position to swing the rocker arms longitudinal to move the mold plate between the receiving position and the discharge position, characterized in that j) a servomotor is operatively connected to the reducer gearing; k) the center pivot shaft comprises a first keyway and a second keyway; l) the center pivot shaft engages said motor drive arm at said first keyway when installed in a first position; and m) the center pivot shaft engages the drive arm at said second keyway when installed in an inverted position. a) a multiple-cavity, cyclically operable mold plate which requires a given volume of food material in each cycle of operation mounted on a housing for longitudinal movement between a receiving position at which a plurality of mold cavities are aligned with an inlet and a discharge position at which the mold cavities are clear of the housing; b) a mold cover positioned over said mold plate; c) a knockout apparatus mounted on the mold cover; d) a series of knockout cups operated by the knockout apparatus; said knockout cups are aligned over said mold cavities when the molding mechanism is in the discharge position; e) a reducer gearing; f) a center pivot shaft; g) a drive linkage (132, 138) operatively connected between the reducer gearing and the center pivot shaft, the center pivot shaft is journaled to pivot and is arranged horizontally and also transverse to the movement of the mold plate; wherein the drive linkage comprises a drive arm; h) two rocker arms fixedly connected to the center pivot shaft and operatively connected to the mold plate; i) wherein the drive linkage (132, 138) rotates the center pivot shaft between a rearward position and a forward position to swing the rocker arms longitudinal to move the mold plate between the receiving position and the discharge position, characterized in that j) a servomotor is operatively connected to the reducer gearing; k) the center pivot shaft comprises a first keyway and a second keyway; l) the center pivot shaft engages said motor drive arm at said first keyway when installed in a first position; and m) the center pivot shaft engages the drive arm at said second keyway when installed in an inverted position.