US 4,938,126 AGranted

Tortilla press apparatus

OwnerManuel J. Rubio, Alberto de la Vega +1inventors

InventorsManuel J. Rubio, Alberto de la Vega, Eberhard M. Lobeck

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Abstract

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for producing formed articles such as tortillas. Embodiments include apparatus comprising a non-sticking, heat tolerant, endless conveyor belt moving at desired constant speeds to position tortilla dough balls between the heated platens of a tortilla press. The press is moveable in the direction of the path of travel of the belt at the same speed as the belt when the platens are in their closed position with the dough balls squeezed between them. Thereafter, the press may be opened sufficiently for the upper platen to disengage the flattened dough and then slowed, stopped and moved counter-directionally to the direction of travel of the belt. At a pre-determined position, the press is again stopped and reversed to cause it to travel again in the direction of travel of the belt. The platens then close on the dough balls when the press has reached the same speed of travel as the belt, repeating the pressing cycle on the group of doughballs next to the last batch of tortillas that was formed by the press.

Claims10

Dependent claims

Press apparatus for pressing dough units into flat, pancake-like shapes, comprising,

a press having upper and lower platens between which is positioned a dough unit carrying conveyor belt traveling at a predetermined velocity, wherein
each of said platens has a substantially flat planar pressing surface and said surface of each is in substantially parallel, opposing, facing relationship to that of the other,
at least the upper of said platens is moveable vertically to position said surfaces of said platens in close, spaced-apart juxtaposition at a first predetermined distance from each other while said press moves in the same direction and at the same speed as said belt, and wherein, within a period of time that is sufficient for unpressed doughballs being transported by said belt to become positioned between said pressing surfaces of said platens,
the upper of said platens then moves upward until its said surface is spaced apart from said surface of said lower platen by a second predetermined distance while said press reduces its speed progressively from that of said belt until said press stops, and thereafter moves counterdirectionally to said belt to a predetermined point, and then again moves in the same direction as said belt at an increasing speed until it has attained substantially the same speed as the belt when said upper platen moves downward until its said surface reaches said first predetermined distance from said surface of the lower platen.

1 more element

Apparatus for producing tortillas comprising

dough-divider means which discharges into
proofer means which discharges into
dispenser means which discharges geometrically placed groups of dough units onto
an endless, moveable conveyor belt having an upper run that passes between heated upper and lower platens of a press which is moveable forward and backward along the path of travel of the belt, said upper platen being vertically moveable into and out of cooperative pressing relationship with said lower platen, which belt discharges onto the endless, moveable conveyor belt of an oven,
proofer drive means to drive said proofer,
press drive means to drive said belt at pre-determined speeds, said upper platen upward and downward, said press forward and backward, and said dispenser simultaneously and via mechanical interlink means by which actuation of them is speed and phase coordinated as between each other, and
electronic interlink means by which the speed and phase of said press drive means are coordinated with those of said proofer drive means,
wherein said press moves at the same speed and in the same direction as said belt while said platens are in the closed, pressing position, the platens open and the press slows down, stops, reverses direction, stops at a predetermined location, again reverses direction so as to travel in the same direction and at the same speed as the belt, and the press again closes into said pressing position, said
wherein the motions of said components as between each other and with respect to the groups of dough balls discharged onto said conveyor belt causes the press platens to press successive adjacent groups of dough units being conveyed on said belt.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.