Sheeter machine

A sheeter machine for processing dough into food products. A pair of rollers are mounted on offset shafts. A cutter mold is supported on pivotal arms. A wedge adjustment apparatus is provided for adjusting the position of the back roller relative to the front roller. A pivotal discharge arm is provided having a spring loaded tensioning assembly. First and second stripper wires are associated with the front roller to allow the cut and molded dough to be stripped from the front roller as it is moving downward toward the discharge arm. Collar assemblies are provided on the ends of the respective roller shafts. A release handle assembly is provided for moving the rear roller away from the front roller. The hopper saddle and the rollers are adapted for mating engagement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to food processing machinery. In particular, 
the present invention relates to a sheeter machine for processing dough 
into food products, such as tortillas and chips. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Sheeter machines or sheeter heads are utilized in food processing for 
converting a supply of prepared dough into tortillas, chips and the like. 
For example, tortillas and various chips are made from corn flour referred 
to as "masa". 
Sheeter machines typically comprise a pair of rollers through which the 
prepared dough is formed into a continuous sheet. The sheeting rollers or 
heads used in the processing of masa and like doughs employ stripper wires 
that separate the formed sheet from the rollers, as may be required. The 
typical sheeting head is comprised of back and front rollers disposed on 
horizontally spaced parallel axes. The formed sheet of dough is stripped 
from the back roller, transferred to the front roller, and cut into the 
desired shape by a cutter roller. The cut dough is stripped from the front 
roller to a conveyor or other apparatus for forward transport and further 
processing. The stripping wires typically comprise a first wire for 
stripping the dough from the back roller and a second wire for wire for 
stripping the dough from the back roller and a second wire for stripping 
the dough from the front roller onto a conveyor or other apparatus for 
transporting the formed tortillas or chips for further processing. 
The design of a typical sheeter head makes it difficult to access the 
cutting mold for changes thereof. In addition, a typical sheeting head has 
the second wire for removing dough from the forward roller positioned at 
approximately 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock relative to the roller. That is, the 
stripper wire is on the side of the forward roller shaft opposite to the 
rear roller. Such a position has the inherent disadvantage of removing the 
cut dough from the roller as it is traveling upward, thereby causing the 
dough to fall awkwardly onto the removal conveyor or belt. Further, 
typical sheeter heads provide an adjustment for the back or rearward head 
or roller comprising a threaded rod through a block which has been drilled 
and tapped. However, this has the inherent disadvantage of the threads 
being stripped due to the pressure on the threads. Accordingly, the art 
has sought a sheeting machine which overcomes the foregoing limitations. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a sheeter machine which overcomes the 
limitations of the prior art. The sheeter machine of the present invention 
comprises front and back rollers, the center lines of which are 
substantially parallel but which lie in substantially parallel horizontal 
planes such that the front roller is offset below the rear roller. This 
arrangement allows for the cutter mold to be received from the hopper end 
of the machine. The cutter mold is received within arms which are 
pivotally connected to a pneumatic rotary actuator which facilities quick 
and easy changing of the cutter mold roller. 
The present invention further comprises wedge apparatus for adjusting the 
position of the back or rear roller and variably positioning the rear 
roller relative to the front roller for accurate adjustment thereof. A 
quick release handle is also provided for the back roller for moving the 
back roller away from the front roller. The sheeter machine of the present 
invention is further provided with a rear stripper wire assembly for the 
back roller and first and second stripper wire assemblies for the front 
roller. The first and second stripper wires associated with the front 
roller are on the side of the front roller shaft adjacent to the rear 
roller. The front roller stripper wires slip between connecting bands and 
the front roller and are tightened by means of reverse pull air cylinders. 
The sheeter machine of the present invention is further provided with a 
discharge arm with a pneumatic rotary actuator for raising and lowering 
the discharge arm, thereby permitting appropriate adjustment of the 
discharge arm relative to the oven belt. A spring loaded belt tensioning 
assembly is also provided for tensioning the belt away from the discharge 
end thereof. 
The sheeter machine of the present invention is further provided with 
collar assemblies on each of the roller shafts for locking the collars in 
the desired position, thereby prohibiting the rollers from sliding 
sideways. The collar assemblies are positioned between the end of the 
respective shaft and respective bearing. A pin is pressed into the end of 
each shaft and the collar assembly is positioned between and presses 
against the pin and the bearing. 
During operation, the rollers are driven by a drive motor which is 
operatively engaged with the front roller by a chain and sprocket 
assembly. The front roller drives the rear roller through a spur gear and 
also drives the cutter roller. The discharge arm is also driven by the 
front roller through a sprocket assembly. Masa or dough is fed into a 
hopper and passes through a saddle which is in sealing engagement with the 
rollers by means of a mating shoulder and lip. The masa or dough 
thereafter passes through the rollers, is stripped from the rear roller so 
as to adhere to the front roller, and is thereafter cut by the cutter mold 
and stripped from the front roller onto the discharge arm. The position of 
the first and second stripper wires associated with the front roller 
allows the molded dough to be stripped from the front roller as it is 
moving downward toward the discharge arm rather than during its upward 
movement away from the discharge arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the sheeting machine of the present invention is 
identified by the number 20. The sheeting machine 20 comprises a front or 
forward roller 22 and a back or rear roller 24. Rollers 22 and 24 have 
shafts 26 and 28, respectively, welded thereto and extend between side 
plates 30 and 32. The rollers 22 and 24 and their respective shafts are 
journalled in bearings mounted in bearing plates. The axes of shafts 26 
and 28 are substantially parallel but the axis of shaft 26 is below the 
axis of shaft 28. That is, axis 26 lies in a substantially horizontal 
plane which is substantially parallel to a substantially horizontal plane 
within which the axis of shaft 28 lies. Rollers 22 and 24 rotate in the 
directions illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 2. 
Referring again to FIGS. 1-5, sheeting machine 20 further comprises a rear 
stripper wire assembly 36 for stripping masa or dough from the rear roller 
24 and facilitating its adherence to the front roller 22. The rear 
stripper wire assembly 36 is substantially as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,966,541, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by 
reference. However, as described in detail below, an air cylinder may be 
utilized for tensioning the rear stripper wire. The machine 20 is further 
provided with a pair of stripper wire assemblies 40 and 42 associated with 
the front roller 22. Wires 40 and 42 are positioned at approximately the 
7:00 o'clock position relative to roller 22, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and 
at approximately the 5:00 o'clock position relative to roller 22, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1. That is, wire assemblies 40 and 42 and their 
respective wires are on the side of shaft 26 adjacent to rear roller 24. 
Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, the machine 20 further comprises a cutter 
mold assembly 44 comprising cradle arms 45 and 46 pivotally connected to 
pneumatic rotary actuators 47 and 48, respectively. Actuators 47 and 48 
are bolted to side plates 30 and 32, respectively, and activated by a 
single control switch. Arms 45 and 46 are adapted to support a cutter mold 
or roller 50 by means of slots 51 and 52, respectively, which receive the 
shaft of roller 50. When it is desired to change or remove the cutter mold 
50 and replace it with an alternate cutter mold, the cutter mold arms are 
pivoted downward in the manner shown by the arrows in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, 
the cutter mold 50 is removed from the arms 45 and 46 from the hopper end 
of machine 20, a replacement cutter mold is inserted into arms 45 and 46 
from the hopper end of machine 20, and the arms 45 and 46 are pivoted back 
upward towards the front roller 22, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. 
Referring again to FIGS. 1-5, the sheeting machine 20 further comprises a 
discharge arm 53. An endless loop discharge belt or conveyor 54 is mounted 
about rollers or pulleys 56 and 58. A pair of pneumatic rotary actuators 
60 are bolted to side plate 30 and keyed to discharge arm 53. Likewise, a 
pair of pneumatic rotary actuators 62 are bolted to side plate 32 and 
keyed to arm 53. Upon activation of actuators 60 and 62, arm 53 pivots, as 
illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The discharge arm 53 is 
further provided with a tensioning assembly 68 for tensioning belt 54, as 
described in greater detail hereinbelow. Tensioning assembly 68 is 
positioned adjacent to actuators 60 and 62 and away from shaft 58 so as to 
facilitate or permit tensioning of belt 54 away from an oven or other 
processing apparatus. 
Referring again to FIGS. 1-5, the sheeting machine 20 further comprises a 
hopper 70 for receiving the masa or dough to be extruded between the 
rollers 22 and 24. A saddle 72 is received within the hopper 70 for 
prohibiting masa or dough from passing out of the hopper 70 from the 
bottom of the hopper sides. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the saddle 72 is 
provided with a shoulder 74 and lip 76 for mating engagement with roller 
edge 78 and roller shoulder 80, respectively, on each of the rollers 22 
and 24 (roller 22 being shown in FIG. 9). The mating engagement of saddle 
72 with rollers 22 and 24 prohibits masa or dough from being urged outward 
from the hopper 70 through the sides thereof. 
Referring again to FIGS. 1-5, the sheeting machine 20 may be supported by a 
cart or other housing having rollers (not shown). A drive motor (not 
shown) may be positioned within the housing or cart. The drive motor is 
operatively engaged with the front roller 22. The front roller 22 drives 
the rear roller 24 through a spur gear and drives the cutter roller or 
mold 50 through appropriate gears or sprockets. The discharge belt 54 is 
also operatively engaged with the front roller 22 through sprockets and is 
driven by the front roller 22. During operation of the machine 20, masa or 
dough is fed through the hopper and passes through the front roller 22 and 
rear roller 24. The rear stripper wire assembly 36 strips the masa or 
dough from the rear roller 24 so that it adheres to the front roller 22. 
Cutter roller 50 thereafter acts against the front roller to cut the masa 
or dough in the desired shapes and the cut and shaped masa or dough is 
thereafter stripped or separated from the front roller 22 by stripper 
wires associated with assemblies 40 and 42. First wire assembly 40 begins 
the stripping of the cut and shaped masa or dough and the second wire 
assembly 42 completes the stripping of the cut and shaped masa or dough. 
Further, the positions of assemblies 40 and 42, and their respective 
wires, toward rear roller 24 causes the cut and shaped masa or dough to be 
stripped as it is moving on roller 22 toward arm 53. The shaped and cut 
masa falls onto the discharge belt 54 and is transported thereon to an 
oven or other processing apparatus (not shown). 
Referring to FIG. 10, a collar assembly 82 is provided for each end of 
shafts 26 and 28 (shaft 26 being shown in FIG. 10) for locking the rollers 
22 and 24 in position so as to prohibit the rollers 22 and 24 from sliding 
side to side. Each collar assembly 82 is positioned between the shaft 
bearing 84 and a one half inch (1/2") pin 86 which is pressed into a 
passage in the end of each respective shaft. A locking collar or spacer 88 
is threaded onto the external threads of a sleeve 90 and presses against 
the bearing 84. A jamb nut 92 is also threaded onto sleeve 90 against 
locking collar 88. The pin 86 is received within the dimple 94 in sleeve 
90. As such, the ends of each roller shaft extend through a passage 94 in 
sleeve 90. 
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 11, the sheeting machine 20 is further provided 
with a wedge adjustment assembly 100 for adjusting the position of the 
back roller 24 relative to front roller 22. The wedge adjustment assembly 
100 comprises a linkage arm 102 which is operatively engaged with a handle 
104 and an extension 106. A collar 103 is welded to handle 104 and a 
collar 105 is welded to extension 106. Wedge adjustment assembly 100 
further comprises a first lower support or seat 108 and a substantially 
identical lower seat 110. Seat 108 has a dovetail groove 112 therein for 
locking in mating engagement with side plate 32. Seat 110 has a similar 
dovetail groove for locking in mating engagement with side plate 30. A 
first lower bushing 114 is received with seat 108. A similar lower bushing 
(not shown) is received within lower support 110. A first wedge member 116 
is provided having a lower wedge tube 118, a wedge 120 having an angled, 
convex edge 122, and an upper wedge tube 124. Tube 118 is received within 
bushing 114. A second wedge member 126 is also provided having a lower 
wedge tube 128, a wedge 130 having an angled, convex edge 132, and an 
upper wedge tube 134. Tube 128 is received within the bushing within 
support 110. A first upper support 136 has a dovetail groove 138 therein 
whereby it is in mating engagement with side plate 32. A second upper 
support 140 is similar to upper support 136 and has a dovetail groove for 
mating engagement with side plate 30 in a similar manner. A pair of 
bushings 142 and 144 extend into the passage within upper support 136. A 
similar pair of bushings (not shown) are received within the respective 
passage within upper support 140. A first slide screw 146 having external 
threads 148 and a knob 150 extends through bushings 144, 142 and into the 
passage within wedge member 116 so as to be threadably engaged with the 
threads within wedge member 116. Likewise, a second slide screw 152 has a 
knob 154 on one end thereof and threads (not shown) on the opposite end 
thereof in threaded engagement with threads within wedge member 126, with 
slide screw 152 extending through the bushings within upper support 140 
and into the passage within wedge member 126. 
Referring again to FIG. 11, the convex edge 122 of wedge 120 is in 
releasable mating engagement with a complementary concave groove within a 
wedge plate 156 which is welded or otherwise connected to movable bearing 
plate 158. Likewise, the convex edge 132 of wedge 130 is in releasable 
mating engagement with a complementary concave groove within a wedge plate 
162 which is welded or otherwise appropriately connected to movable 
bearing plate 164. The respective bearings for shaft 28 are appropriately 
mounted within plates 158 and 164. When it is desired to move roller 24 
further toward roller 22, knobs 150 and 154 are rotated so that wedges 120 
and 130, respectively, are urged or moved upward so as to thereby urge 
bearing plates 158 and 164, respectively, toward roller 22. Likewise, when 
it is desired to move roller 24 further away from roller 22, knobs 150 and 
154 are rotated so that wedges 120 and 130 move downward. That is, wedges 
120 and 130 may be variably positioned upward by rotation of knobs 150 and 
154, respectively. 
Referring again to FIG. 11, collar 103 is keyed to upper wedge tube 124. 
Likewise, collar 105 is keyed to upper wedge tube 134. Pulling on handle 
104 causes wedges 120 and 130 to rotate approximately ninety degrees and 
thereby disengage from wedge plates 156 and 162, respectively. Turning 
handle 104 in the opposite direction causes wedges 120 and 130 to reengage 
with plates 156 and 162, respectively. As further illustrated in FIG. 11, 
arm 102 is provided with a turnbuckle assembly, comprising a first 
externally threaded link 166 which is threadedly engaged with first arm 
member 168 and an adjustment knob 170. A second externally threaded link 
172 is threadedly engaged with a second arm member 174 and adjustment knob 
170. Appropriate rotation of adjustment knob 170 adjusts and varies the 
distance between the respective wedges 120 and 130 for proper alignment 
with the respective bearing plates. 
Referring again to FIG. 11, a quick release assembly 176 is provided for 
the rear roller 24. A handle 178 is connected to a shaft 180 which is 
journalled in bearings 182 and 184 within side plates 32 and 30, 
respectively. A first forked extension arm 186 has an upper groove within 
which it engages a pin 188 connected to bearing plate 158. As illustrated 
in FIG. 1, a second forked extension arm 190 has an upper groove within 
which it receives a pin 192 which is connected to bearing plate 164. When 
it is desired to back roller 24 away from roller 22, wedges 120 and 130 
are disengaged from wedge plates 156 and 162, respectively, as described 
hereinabove, and handle 178 is pivoted downward until arms 186 and 190 
strike stop pins 194 and 196, respectively, which are connected to side 
plates 32 and 30, respectively. Rear roller 24 may be moved back into 
close proximity with front roller 22 by pivoting handle 178 back into the 
position shown in FIG. 11 and turning handle 104 until wedges 120 and 130 
are reengaged with wedge plates 156 and 162, respectively. 
Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the discharge arm tensioner assembly 68 
will be described in greater detail. Assembly 68 comprises an externally 
threaded knob 200 which is threaded into a housing 202. Housing 202 has an 
extension arm 204 which is connected to the side of discharge arm 53. 
Housing 202 has a cavity 206 therein within which is received the 
lowermost end of knob 200, the uppermost end of a piston or plunger member 
208, and a spring 210 which is biased against the lowermost end of knob 
200 and the inside of plunger 208. The lowermost end of plunger 208 is 
welded to housing 211 having a bearing or bushing 212 therein within which 
belt tension shaft 214 rotates. Rotation of knob 200 in one direction 
increases the downward pressure against spring 210 and, accordingly, shaft 
214. Rotation of knob 200 in the opposite direction will correspondingly 
reduce the downward pressure against spring 210 and, accordingly, shaft 
214. Further, as the belt 54 expands, the spring loaded tensioning 
assembly 68 provides an automatic take-up or adjustment for shaft 214. 
Referring to FIGS. 12-15, front roller wire assemblies 40 and 42 will be 
described in greater detail. One side of wire assembly 40 comprises a wire 
support 218 which extends into an angular curved slot 220 and is connected 
to a back plate 222 by a screw 224 which extends though a central passage 
in wire support 218 into threaded engagement with back plate 222. A wire 
226 extends through a hole in wire support 218 and is connected thereto at 
228. Likewise, wire tension assembly 42 comprises a wire support 230 
similar to wire support 218, a back plate 232 similar to plate 222 and a 
screw 234 which connects wire support 230 to back plate 232 in the same 
manner as described in connection with wire assembly 40. A wire 236 is 
connected to wire support 230 at 238. Back plates 222 and 232 extend into 
slot 220. When screws 224 and 234 are tightened, the respective support 
plates 218, 230 and back plates 222, 232 abut firmly against side plate 
30. 
Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 15, the air cylinder tensioner assembly 
associated with the wire positioner assemblies 40 and 42 will be described 
in greater detail, with FIG. 15 illustrating one of the air cylinder 
assemblies. Wire assembly 40 comprises a cylinder mounting bracket 240. 
Cylinder mounting bracket 240 is connected to a back plate 244 by a screw 
246 which extends through a passage in mounting bracket 240 into back 
plate 244. Back plate 244 extends into curved angular slot 242. A reverse 
pull air cylinder 248 is mounted to the flange 250 of bracket 240. 
Cylinder 248 has an arm 252 which is connected to wire 226 by means of a 
hook on the end of arm 252. Likewise, wire assembly 42 comprises an air 
cylinder mounting bracket 260 which is connected to a back plate 262 by a 
screw 264 which extends through bracket 260 into back plate 262. Back 
plate 262 extends into curved angular slot 242. A reverse pull air 
cylinder 266 is connected to the flange 268 of mounting bracket 260. 
Cylinder 266 has an arm 270 which is connected on the opposite end thereof 
to wire 236 by a hook 272. Wires 226 and 236 are loosened or tightened by 
activation of cylinders 248 and 266, respectively. When screws 246 and 264 
are tightened, the respective mounting brackets 240, 260 and back plates 
244, 262 abut firmly against side plate 32. 
It is to be understood that the position of wire 226 along the 
circumference of roller 22 may be adjusted clockwise or counter clockwise 
along grooves 220 and 242 by loosening screw 224 and screw 246, sliding 
back plates 222 and 244 along grooves 220 and 242, respectively, and 
retightening screws 224 and 246 when the wire 226 is at the desired 
position. Likewise, the position of wire 236 can be adjusted clockwise or 
counter clockwise relative to the circumference of roller 22 by loosening 
screws 234 and 264, sliding back plates 232 and 262 along slots 220 and 
242, respectively, and retightening screws 234 and 264 when wire 236 is at 
the desired position. Accordingly, the sheeter machine 20 of the present 
invention permits variable positioning of each end of the front roller 
wires 226 and 236 relative to and about the circumference of front roller 
22. 
Referring to FIGS. 16-17, the rear roller wire tensioning assembly 36 will 
be described in greater detail. A rear roller stripper wire 280 is 
connected on one side of roller 24 in the manner as described in U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,966,541 whereby vertical adjustment of the stripper wire 280 is 
provided. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a rod 37 is in threaded engagement 
with a wire holder which is captive within the bracket 39 mounted to 
bearing plate 164. The opposite side of roller 24 is provided with a 
cylinder adjustment assembly 282. The cylinder adjustment assembly 282 
comprises a mounting bracket 284 which is bolted to bearing plate 158. An 
extension plate 286 is welded or otherwise connected to bracket 284 and a 
sleeve tube 288. A cylinder mounting bracket 290 having a cylindrical body 
portion 292 and a flange portion 294 is slidably engaged with sleeve tube 
288. Sleeve tube 288 has a passage 296 therein and a longitudinal slot 
298. Sleeve 292 is received within passage 296 in sliding engagement with 
flange 294 extending outward through slot 298. An adjustment rod 300 
extends into sleeve tube 288 in threaded engagement with internal threads 
302 within sleeve 292. As rod 300 is rotated, cylinder mounting bracket 
290 moves longitudinally up and down the length of tube 288. 
Referring again to FIG. 16, a reverse pull air cylinder 304 is connected to 
the flange 294 of bracket 290. Cylinder 304 has an arm 306 with a hook 308 
on the opposite end thereof which is connected to wire 280. Air may be 
supplied to cylinder 304 by line 310. When it is desired to tension or 
loose wire 280, cylinder 304 is activated so as the push or pull arm 306 
as may be desired. 
It is to be understood that front roller 22 has a larger outer diameter 
than rear roller 24. Such a design allows for a reduced speed of the drive 
such that an equivalent horsepower motor will provide more torque to 
roller 22. For example, front roller 22 has an outer diameter of 
approximately twelve and one half inches (121/2") whereas rear roller 24 
has an outer diameter of approximately ten and one half inches (101/2"). 
It is also to be understood that the wall of front roller 22 has a 
thickness of approximately one and one eighth inches (11/8"). and that the 
wall of rear roller 24 has a thickness of approximately one inch (1"). It 
is also to be understood that pneumatic rotary actuators 46, 48, 60 and 
62, may be a Pneu-Turn rotary actuator manufactured by Bimba Manufacturing 
Company. 
While the sheeter machine has been described in connection with the 
preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention to the 
particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover 
such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within 
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.