Patent ID: 8287263

Claim:
A molding machine for producing an expanded grain cake from a charge of cereal grain, said cereal grain having a known moisture content, said molding machine comprising: a frame; an induction motor disposed on said frame for transmitting rotational force; a first cam disposed in said frame, said first cam driven rotatorily by said induction motor and configured to sequence said molding machine between a mold-open condition and a mold-closed condition; a mold mounted on said frame for receiving said charge of cereal grain in the mold-open condition and for forming a preform with entrained high-pressure steam during the mold-closed condition, said mold comprising: a lower mold portion fixedly disposed on said frame; an upper mold portion mounted atop said lower mold portion, said upper mold portion reciprocally movable between an open and a closed condition; said lower mold portion with said upper mold portion in a closed condition defining a mold cavity therebetween; a pivot disposed on said frame; a pressure arm mounted on said pivot having a coupled end extending substantially vertically between said pivot and said upper mold portion and a free end extending from said pivot away from said coupled end, said pressure arm for applying a clamping force to said upper mold portion during a mold-closed condition and for lifting said upper mold portion away from said lower mold portion upon completion thereof; a first heating element in said lower mold portion for delivering a predetermined amount of thermal energy to convert said moisture content of said charge of cereal grain to high pressure steam; a second heating element in said upper mold portion for delivering a predetermined amount of thermal energy to convert said moisture content of said charge of cereal grain to high pressure steam; and, a controller in functional cooperative relation to said first heating element and said second heating element for programmatic control thereof and for compensating for local variations in power supplied and compensating for heat loss during a mold-open condition, said controller, upon sensed deviation from the program, interrupting operation of said molding machine.