Masa handling apparatus and method for handling masa

A masa separating apparatus for use in a food processing system utilizing masa, the food processing system being of the type requiring the creation of individual pieces of masa from a generally continuous masa stream being output from a masa producing device, such as an extruder, the masa separating apparatus comprising:

• a pair of aligned, opposed endless belt separator conveyors, each having a belt passing around a roller at one longitudinal end of said conveyor, said conveyors having their facing surfaces spaced apart and generally parallel to define a masa chamber therebetween having input and output ends;
• a nozzle connected to the masa producing device for feeding a continuous piece of masa at a predetermined speed into said input end of said masa chamber, said nozzle sized to output a continuous piece of masa of a predetermined thickness, said predetermined thickness greater than the space between said opposed conveyors so that the piece of masa is gripped between said belt surfaces and transported therebetween;
• and
• a drive mechanism connected to said endless belt separator conveyors to move the facing surfaces of said separator conveyors in the same direction away from said nozzle at a speed faster than the predetermined speed of the masa exiting said nozzle, to separate the continuous piece of masa into individual masa logs.