Method of making tortillas

• US 5,006,358 A
• Filed: 01/03/1990
• Issued: 04/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gruma Corporation (Gruma, S.A.B. De C.V.)
• Original Assignee: Alberto De La Vega, Eberhard Mueller-Lobeck, Manuel J. Ribio
• Inventors: de la Vega, Alberto, Ribio, Manuel J., Mueller-Lobeck, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, George
• Application Number:
  US07/460,389
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 426/505, 426/512, 426/496, 99/349, 100/93 P
• US Class Current: 426/496
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 11/00 Other machines for forming the dough into its final shape before cooking or baking
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 11/006 by pressing or press-moulding A21C11/008 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1. A method of producing tortillas comprising the steps of

positioning groups of dough units on the upper surface of a conveyer belt that is traveling at a steady, pre-determined speed between the platens of a press which can be moved to and fro along the path of travel of said belt and the platens of which are moveable into and out of pressing relationship on dough units being carried by said conveyer belt,

moving said press in the direction of travel of said conveyer belt at the speed of said belt,

pressing said dough units into the form of tortillas between said platens while the speed of said press is maintained at the speed of the belt, and

terminating the pressing action of said platens on said dough units.

2. The method described in claim 1 wherein said step of terminating the pressing action comprises moving said platens away from each other.