Patent ID: 8770960
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
1. A tortilla manufacturing system comprising: a conveyor belt configured to transport dough pieces linearly along a portion of a tortilla manufacturing line, the conveyor belt defining a circumferential periphery; an upper platen including a lower pressing surface configured and sized to press a plurality of dough pieces into tortilla shapes; a lower platen including an upper pressing surface configured to support the conveyor belt and dough pieces against the lower surface of the upper platen; a press assembly mounted adjacent the conveyor belt and supporting the upper and lower platens, the conveyor belt passing between the upper and lower platens such that the lower platen is encircled within the circumferential periphery defined by the conveyor belt, the press assembly also including a rack gear disposed on a lateral side of the press assembly; a press assembly support comprising a plurality of guides configured to support the press assembly and to allow the press assembly to reciprocate along a path parallel to a movement of the conveyor belt; a vertical drive system including a hydraulic ram configured to move the upper platen downwardly relative to the lower platen with sufficient force to flatten dough pieces into tortilla shapes; a parallel drive system configured to move the press assembly support and the upper and lower platens of the press assembly supported by the press assembly support in a direction parallel to a movement of the conveyor belt, the parallel drive system comprising a servomotor assembly and a drive gear mounted on an output shaft of the servomotor assembly, the drive gear being positioned so as to mesh with the rack gear, said drive gear and rack gear being configured to move the press assembly and the press assembly support in a direction parallel to a movement of the conveyor belt when the output shaft of the servomotor assembly rotates; a controller configured to control the parallel and vertical drives such that the upper platen is pressed against the conveyor belt and at the same time, the press assembly is moved at the same speed and in the same direction as the conveyor belt; and a support frame for supporting the press assembly; wherein the drive gear comprises a pinion gear; wherein the servomotor assembly and the drive gear are coupled to the press assembly support such that the servomotor assembly and the drive gear remain stationary relative to the support frame and do not move together with the press assembly while the system is in use; wherein, when in operation, the servomotor assembly moves the press assembly support and the upper and lower platens relative to the servomotor assembly and relative to the support frame, wherein the servomotor assembly, when in use, moves the upper and lower platens and the press assembly in unison relative to the support frame, such that the upper and lower pressing surfaces of the platens can be moved relative to one another irrespective of an operational status of the servomotor assembly; and wherein the servomotor assembly is positioned on the system such that the servomotor assembly is easily accessible by a user.