James E Willbur

US Patent:

54036038, Apr 4, 1995

Filed:

Sep 10, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/120042

Inventors:

Nancy J. McCullough - Battle Creek MI
James E. Willbur - Battle Creek MI
Ronald H. Keagle - Battle Creek MI
Leon R. Harris - Battle Creek MI

Assignee:

Kraft General Foods, Inc. - Northfield IL

International Classification:

A23L 100
G01N 3300

US Classification:

426233

Abstract:

A control process and apparatus enable operation of a pressurized continuous cereal cooker and discharge auger with decreased steam utilization. An electric motor advances the cooked cereal mass through a pressurized zone comprising a quick-opening valve, preferably a butterfly valve. The current drawn by the electric motor is monitored to sense the accumulation of cooked cereal mass at the valve. A process signal, representative of the current drawn by the motor, is compared to a reference signal, representative of a selected value representative of a current higher than that required to turn an empty auger. A control signal based on the comparison of the first signal and the reference signal is then generated to open or close the valve in response to the control signal. When the process signal drops below the reference signal, the valve is closed.