Patent ID: 8568122

Claim:
A control and actuation system of a molding machine for producing an expanded grain cake from a charge of cereal grain, said molding machine having a grain storage unit, a grain dispensing unit, a grain transfer unit, and a mold operable between an open condition and a closed condition, said control and actuation system comprising: a control unit having a plurality of sensor inputs, a plurality of predetermined parameter settings, and at least one control output signal; a grain presence sensor disposed on said grain storage unit for sensing the presence of grain therewithin; said grain transfer unit operative for transferring grain between said grain dispensing unit and said mold; a first positional sensor at said grain dispensing unit for sensing that a first portion of said grain dispensing unit is in a home position to dispense said charge of cereal grain; a second positional sensor at said grain transfer unit for sensing that a first portion of said grain transfer unit is in a home position to receive said charge of cereal grain and then to deliver said charge of cereal grain to said mold; and, said grain presence sensor, said first positional sensor and said second positional sensor being in electronic communication with at least a portion of said sensor inputs of said control unit, whereby deviation of any of the settings of said sensor inputs from said predetermined parameter settings causes said control output of said control unit to interrupt operation of said molding machine.