| 摘要 |
An apparatus (10) for producing an expanded starchy cake or cracker from a starchy granular material that undergoes a baking cycle comprising a compressive step in which a compressive force is applied to said starchy granular material while being subjected to heat, and an expansion step in which the compressive force is released from said starchy granular material to thereby cause it to expand to form said cake or cracker having a substantially self-sustaining structure, said apparatus comprising: a mold (12) defining at least one cake or cracker-forming chamber for containing starchy granular material therein, said mold (12) having at least one movable mold element (22); a heating element (29) for heating said starchy granular material within said chamber during said baking cycle; a drive mechanism (16) coupled to said moveable mold element (22); a servo motor (18) coupled to said drive mechanism (16) to operatively actuate said drive mechanism (16) for movement of said moveable mold element (22); and a controller to control said servo motor (18). The use of a servo motor to drive the mold punch in a puffed starchy cereal cake manufacturing machine provides improved control over manufacturing parameters such as cake dimensions, and increased manufacturing speed. |
