Tortilla pressing apparatus and method

A system for converting tortilla dough to a tortilla product comprising:

• an extruder comprising:
• an input for receiving tortilla dough;
• a nozzle through which said tortilla dough is compressed;
• and
• an actuated knife controlled to slice the compressed dough into dough pucks;
• and
• a press assembly comprising:
• a press frame;
• a press infeed portion;
• a first platen having a first pressing surface, said first platen secured to said press frame;
• a second platen having a second pressing surface, said second platen secured to said press frame such that a first gap is formed between said first pressing surface and said second pressing surface;
• a first conveyor having a first conveyor belt which passes through said first gap in a first direction at a first linear speed;
• and
• a second conveyor having a second conveyor belt which passes through said first gap in said first direction at a second linear speed, said second linear speed being substantially the same as said first linear speed,
• wherein dough pucks from said extruder are received at said press infeed portion, sandwiched between said first and second conveyor belts and carried through said first gap to press each dough puck into a tortilla product.

A tortilla press assembly comprising:

• a frame;
• an infeed portion for receiving dough pucks;
• a plurality of pressure plate assemblies, each pressure plate assembly comprising:
• a first platen having a first pressing surface, said first platen secured to said frame;
• and
• a second platen having a second pressing surface, said second platen secured to said frame such that a gap is formed between said first pressing surface and said second pressing surface;
• a first conveyor having a first conveyor belt which passes through all of said gaps formed in said plurality of pressure plate assemblies in a first direction at a first linear speed;
• a second conveyor having a second conveyor belt which passes through all of said gaps formed in said plurality of pressure plate assemblies in said first direction at a second linear speed, said second linear speed being substantially the same as said first linear speed,
• wherein a dough puck received at said infeed portion are sandwiched between said first and second conveyor belts and carried successively through each of said gaps to press the dough pucks into a tortilla product.

A tortilla oven comprising:

• a frame;
• an infeed portion for receiving pressed tortilla product;
• a plurality of heated platen assemblies, each heated platen assembly comprising:
• a first platen having a first cooking surface, said first platen secured to said frame;
• a second platen having a second cooking surface, said second platen secured to said frame such that a gap is formed between said first cooking surface and said second cooking surface;
• and
• a heater element for heating said first and second platens;
• a first conveyor having a first conveyor belt which passes through all of said gaps formed in said plurality of pressure plate assemblies in a first direction at a first linear speed;
• a second conveyor having a second conveyor belt which passes through all of said gaps formed in said plurality of heated platen assemblies in said first direction at a second linear speed, said second linear speed being substantially the same as said first linear speed,
• wherein tortilla product received at said infeed portion is sandwiched between said first and second conveyor belts and carried successively through each of said gaps to cook the tortilla product.