Burrito machine

A machine to form burritos from flexible tortillas, each of a general diameter with first and second side portions, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, and filling material, said machine including:

• a first belt formed in a first elongated horizontal loop, said first belt having:
• a width greater than the general diameter of the tortilla for carrying the tortillas therewith, and said first loop having:
• a first end;
• and
• a second end positioned generally horizontally from said first end of said first loop;
• means for driving said first belt to move in said first loop;
• means for supplying the burrito filling on the upper surfaces of the tortillas adjacent their leading edges as they move with said first belt;
• a second belt formed in a second elongated horizontal loop, said second belt having:
• a width greater than the general diameter of the tortilla for carrying the tortillas therewith, and said second loop having:
• a first end closely adjacent said second end of said first loop;
• and
• a second end positioned generally horizontally from said first end of said second loop;
• means for driving said second belt to move in said second loop;
• means to transfer tortillas from said second end of said first loop to said first end of said second loop;
• and
• tortilla leading edge folding means positioned between said means to transfer tortillas from said second end of said first loop to said first end of said second loop and said second belt at said first end of said second loop, said tortilla leading edge folding means including:
• a supporting fixedly positioned above said first and second loops;
• and
• a plate hingedly connected to said support with a lower edge portion extending downwardly between said means to transfer tortillas from said second end of said first loop to said first end of said second loop and said second belt at said first end of said second loop, said plate being positioned across the path of the tortillas as they transfer from said first loop to said second loop, said plate hanging freely at an angle with its lower edge portion canted toward said first loop, whereby the leading edge of the tortillas contact said plate and ride thereup to fold over the filling before said plate swings back to allow transfer to said second loop.

A machine to form burritos from a flexible tortilla of a general diameter with first and second side portions, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper surface, a lower surface, and filling material positioned on the upper surface adjacent the leading edge, said machine including:

• a belt moving in a predetermined direction having a tortilla thereon with burrito filling on the tortilla and the leading edge of the tortilla folded over the burrito filling and the first and second side portions folded over at least portions of the leading edge and the burrito filling;
• and
• means to roll the tortilla so that its leading edge is covered by the trailing edge thereof including:
• curtain means positioned over said belt to make frictional contact with tortillas moving therewith;
• and
• a large diameter wheel on which a portion of said belt is supported adjacent said curtain means, said curtain means being positioned so that a tortilla moves from generally horizontal to generally vertical as the tortilla is being rolled between said belt and said curtain means.