Abstract:
A tortilla cartridge with fresh sealing capabilities and a tortilla conveying capabilities is disclosed. The tortilla cartridge allows for efficient conveying of tortillas through a tortilla warmer, and also provides for easy storage of the tortillas in a manner that keeps them fresh. The cartridge provides a stack of tortillas, ensuring that the top side a top tortilla is exposed at a top opening of the container at the appropriate time for the top tortilla to be removed from the cartridge, through the tortilla warmer. At a predetermined time interval from a previous top tortilla being removed from the container, the new top tortilla will be positioned at the top of the stack of tortillas in the cartridge, to be removed in the same manner. This configuration allows for automatic conveying of tortillas, in sequence, through the tortilla warmer.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to food preparation devices, and more specifically to tortilla warmers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Tortillas are a popular food item, usually enjoyed best when they have just been cooked. Uncooked tortillas typically do not provide the same taste appeal as warmed tortillas. Often, tortillas are eaten in combination with other hand-held food. Preparing such meals would require an added step beforehand, in order to warm the tortilla so as to optimize the tortilla&#39;s flavor and texture. 
         [0003]    Warming devices, including devices designed specifically for warming tortillas, are known in the art. Tortilla warmers are popular for their ability to warm tortillas to an appropriate temperature so as to be properly enjoyed with a meal. However, current tortilla warmer equipment has significant drawbacks. 
         [0004]    Many tortilla warmers attempt to warm multiple tortillas as a batch, rather than one at a time in series. This does not ensure that all tortillas will be heated to the same degree, and can cause sticking among tortillas. Other warmers that allow for heating of multiple tortillas require input of each tortilla into a separate compartment, which takes away from the convenience of a tortilla warmer. 
         [0005]    Still other warmers which warm tortillas in series nonetheless require insertion of one tortilla at a time, also detracting from the convenience to the user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A tortilla cartridge with fresh sealing capabilities and tortilla conveying capabilities is disclose and claimed. The tortilla cartridge allows for efficient conveying of tortillas through a tortilla warmer, and also provides for easy storage of the tortillas in a manner that keeps them fresh. The cartridge provides a stack of tortillas, ensuring that the top side a top tortilla is exposed at a top opening of the container at an appropriate time for the top tortilla to be removed from the cartridge, through the tortilla warmer. At a predetermined time interval from a previous top tortilla being removed from the container, the new top tortilla will be positioned at the top of the stack of tortillas in the cartridge, to be removed in the same manner. This configuration allows for automatic conveying of tortillas, in sequence, through the tortilla warmer. 
         [0007]    A general aspect of the invention is a tortilla cartridge for storing and loading tortillas into a tortilla warmer. The tortilla cartridge includes: a container capable of holding a stack of tortillas, the stack having a top tortilla in a top position, the container also being capable of raising the stack of tortillas after the top tortilla is removed from the top position, so as to raise a newly revealed tortilla into the top position; a lid for covering the top of the container; and a fresh sealing mechanism for sealing the lid closed against the container with an airtight seal, so as to keep the stack of tortillas fresh. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the container includes a self-leveling mechanism. In some of these embodiments, the self-leveling mechanism is mechanical or electro-mechanical. In some of these embodiments, the self-leveling mechanism includes a motor-driven elevator assembly. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the tortilla cartridge further includes at least one gear in communication with a toothed column and a worm drive. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the self-leveling mechanism can receive commands from a control unit. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the self-leveling mechanism can receive commands via hard wiring and/or wireless signal. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the self-leveling mechanism is sensor-based. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the self-leveling mechanism further includes servomechanisms to adjust the height of the stack of tortillas. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the fresh sealing mechanism includes a sealant and locking clips. In some embodiments, the fresh sealing mechanism includes a twisting seal. In some embodiments, the fresh sealing mechanism provides an airtight seal. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the fresh sealing mechanism further includes a pump capable of removing some air from inside the cartridge. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the tortilla cartridge is made from plastic. In some embodiments, the lid of the tortilla cartridge is adapted to also serve as a tortilla receiver, the tortilla receiver being capable of receiving tortillas that have been warmed by the tortilla warmer and subsequently ejected therefrom. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the container is insulated. In some embodiments, the container is at least heat-resistant. In some embodiments, the tortilla cartridge is refrigeratable and/or freezable. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the cartridge further includes a handle. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the container is shaped so as to fit into a housing of a tortilla warmer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is an expanded view of an embodiment of the tortilla cartridge being filled with a stack of tortillas; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  housed within a refrigerator; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an oblique exploded view of an embodiment of the fresh sealing components of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an oblique view of an alternative embodiment of the tortilla cartridge; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an oblique view of an embodiment of the tortilla cartridge that includes a self-leveling mechanism employing an electro-mechanical system; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an oblique isolated view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  in use; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a top view of an embodiment of a motor-driven tortilla elevator assembly containing a pair of motor-driven gears connected by an axle; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is an isolated oblique view of the pair of motor-driven gears shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9A  is an oblique illustration of the interaction between the pair of motor-driven gears of  FIG. 5 , and a pair of toothed columns and a pair of worm drives; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9B  is an oblique illustration of the motor-driven gears of  FIG. 5  intermeshed with the toothed columns and worm drives; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a profile view showing how the bottom of the tortilla cartridge can be inserted into a motor assembly in one embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11A  is an illustration of an embodiment of the tortilla cartridge ready to be inserted into a housing of a tortilla warming system; 
           [0033]      FIG. 11B  is an illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 11A  having been inserted into the housing; 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is a flow chart showing the steps involved in using the tortilla cartridge to keep tortillas fresh when not being used in a tortilla warmer; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  is a flow chart showing the steps involved in using the tortilla cartridge in a tortilla warmer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    A tortilla cartridge is disclosed, the cartridge being able to keep a stack of tortillas freshly sealed when not in use, and to raise the stack tortillas when in use, so as to feed the tortillas in series into a heating sub-system of a tortilla warmer. The cartridge includes a container capable of holding a stack of tortillas, and is capable of raising the stack of tortillas after the top tortilla is removed from the top position, so as to raise a newly revealed tortilla into the top position. The cartridge also includes a lid for covering the top of the container, and a fresh sealing mechanism for sealing the lid closed against the container with at least an airtight seal, so as to keep the stack of tortillas fresh. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is an expanded view of a tortilla cartridge being filled with a stack of tortillas. The cartridge  100  includes a fresh sealing mechanism  102  to keep the tortillas fresh when not being eaten or heated. In the embodiment shown, the fresh sealing mechanism is a set of locking clips and a sealant layer  102 . The cartridge includes a lid  103 , and a handle  105  for inserting the cartridge into a tortilla warmer. The cartridge  100  is shown being filled with a stack of tortillas  104 . The cartridge  100  can be stored in a temperature-controlled environment as well, such as a refrigerator  200  for example, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is an oblique exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . A sealant layer  300  and locking clips  102  are shown in this embodiment. The fresh sealing components  102  can provide an airtight seal. In some embodiments, the fresh seal  102  can prevent any moisture and/or condensation from entering the cartridge  100 , so as to keep the tortillas therein dry. The fresh seal of the cartridge  100  can be any fresh seal known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the fresh seal can be a twisting seal  400 ,  402 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , the lid is shown in a transparent view, revealing threads  402  around the inner circumference of the lid  103  which can twist together with the container threads  400  to create an airtight seal. 
         [0039]    The cartridge  100  is adapted so as to be capable of raising a stack of tortillas, thereby facilitating the conveying of the tortillas in sequence into a heating sub-system of a tortilla warmer. The cartridge  100  can include a self-leveling mechanism in some embodiments.  FIG. 5  is an oblique view of an embodiment of a tortilla cartridge  100  that includes an automated leveling mechanism, assembled from the components of a gear  500 , a toothed rack  502 , and a worm drive  504 . 
         [0040]    The automated leveling mechanism shown in  FIG. 5  functions as a tortilla elevator. Other embodiments will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as a spring-based self-leveling mechanism, various types of which are already known in the art. In this embodiment, a motor-driven gear  500  is shown in communication with a toothed column  502  and a worm drive  504 . The worm drive  504  can be driven by a motor in a different location, such as underneath the cartridge  100 , for example. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is an oblique isolated view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  in use. The stack of tortillas  600  is raised via the tortilla elevator assembly. In some embodiments, the motor driving the gear (see  FIG. 5 ) can be controlled by a control system, so as to calibrate the proper speed at which to raise the stack of tortillas  600  so that the tortillas  600  can be conveyed through the heating sub-system in sequence. 
         [0042]    Such a control system can be an automated control system, or a manually adjustable control system. The motor speed can be calibrated by means of a manual switch, for example, or by a remote control, or a control panel physically on the housing of the warming system. The speed at which the stack of tortillas  600  is raised can be relevant to how quickly a user finishes one tortilla and desires another. More precise regulation of the rate of elevation can also be important to accommodate a difference in thickness of tortillas of a given stack of tortillas  600 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is a top view of an embodiment of a motor-driven tortilla elevator drive assembly containing a pair of motor-driven gears. This embodiment is one potential embodiment for a tortilla elevator drive mechanism. Other embodiments of motor-driven tortilla elevators will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In this embodiment, two gears  700 ,  701  are connected to each other by a single axle  706 . Each of the gears  700 ,  701  travel vertically within a toothed column  702 ,  703  containing a toothed channel. The gears  700 ,  701  are worm gears that are each enmeshed with a corresponding worm drive  704 ,  705  that drives the respective gear  700 ,  701 . In the embodiment shown, each of the gears  700 ,  701  is indirectly driven by a motor (not shown), which drives each of the worm drives  704 ,  705 . The worm drives  704 ,  705  drive the gears, which crawl upwards through the channels of the toothed columns  702 ,  703  as the worm drives  704 ,  705  drive the gears  700 ,  701 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  is an isolated oblique view of the pair of motor-driven gears  700 ,  701  shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9A  is an oblique illustration of the relative orientation between the pair of motor-driven gears  700 ,  701 , and a pair of toothed columns  702 ,  703  and a pair of worm drives  704 ,  705 .  FIG. 9B  is an oblique illustration of the motor-driven gears  700 ,  701  intermeshed with the toothed columns  702 ,  703  and worm drives  704 ,  705 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  is a profile view showing how the bottom of the cartridge  100  can be inserted into a motor-driven assembly in a possible embodiment. In this embodiment, a pair of motors  1000 ,  1001  drive two separate rectangular rods  1002 ,  1003  which can in turn be inserted into rectangular female portions of the worm drives  704 ,  705 . In this manner, the motors  1000 ,  1001  are able to drive the worm drives  704 ,  705 , once the cartridge  100  is correctly inserted into the tortilla warmer housing. The motors  1000 ,  1001  can be wired together via an electrical power wire  1008  so that the motors  1000 ,  1001  are synchronized with each other. Furthermore, the motors  1000 ,  1001  can be controlled by a gear box which synchronizes the motors  1000 ,  1001  to other components of the tortilla feeding system as well. 
         [0046]    In the embodiment shown, or any embodiment including a motor-driven elevator assembly, the assembly can also include at least one sensor, as well as possibly a servomechanism. The servomechanism can adjust the rate and direction of the elevator movement based on sensor information indicating the height of the top of the stack of tortillas, for example. In one potential example of how such an arrangement can work, a sensor can be placed at the top of the cartridge  100  to determine the height of the top tortilla, and adjust the height of the elevator floor accordingly, so as to bring the top tortilla up to the requisite height so as to enable the top tortilla to be conveyed into a heating sub-system of the tortilla warmer. 
         [0047]    In some embodiments, a control system can control the velocity of movement of the tortilla elevator, to accommodate the desired speed of conveying the tortillas through the warming system, for example. Furthermore, if there are a variety of thicknesses of tortillas, the control system can be programmed so as to accommodate the difference in thickness of tortillas, and raise the elevator more slowly for a batch of thicker tortillas, or more quickly for a batch of thinner tortillas. 
         [0048]      FIG. 11A  is an illustration of a tortilla cartridge  100  ready to be inserted into a housing  1100  of a tortilla warming system. The tortilla warming system housing  1100  can have a door, such as a sliding door  1102 , which can open to enable the cartridge  100  to be inserted into the appropriate space  1103  and positioned in the appropriate area  1006  within the housing. In this figure, the cartridge  100  is being inserted into the housing so as to feed tortillas into a warming system. Also shown in this figure are a viewer window  1105  for viewing the conveying of tortillas through the heating sub-system, and a control panel  1104  for controlling aspects of the conveying and/or heating of the tortillas, both being located at the top of the tortilla warmer housing  1100 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 11B  is an illustration of the tortilla cartridge  100  of  FIG. 5A  having been inserted into the housing  1100 . In some embodiments, the cartridge  100  can be insulated, so as to preserve the tortillas inside the cartridge  100  at substantially room temperature. This can be important where the cartridge  100  is inserted into a location near the heating sub-system, which may cause the cartridge  100  to be exposed to high temperatures because of their proximity to the heating sub-system. This prevents tortillas which are not ultimately conveyed through the heating sub-system from being warmed up. 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  is a flow chart showing the steps of the involvement of a tortilla cartridge in keeping tortillas fresh when not being used for heating of tortillas. Tortillas are stored in the tortilla cartridge when not in use  1200 , and the cartridge is sealed with the fresh seal  1202 . The tortillas are stored in a location for optimal freshness, such as a temperature-controlled location. If the tortillas require refrigeration  1204 , for example if the tortillas will not be used again for several days and yet it is desired that they stay as fresh as possible, they are stored in a refrigerator  1206 . When the time comes for the tortillas to be warmed, the cartridge can be retrieved and inserted into a tortilla warmer feeding system  1208 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  is a flow chart showing the steps of the involvement of a tortilla cartridge in the heating of tortillas in a tortilla warmer. First, the cartridge is filled with tortillas sufficient to feed all who will be eating tortillas  1300 . The cartridge is inserted into the tortilla warmer housing  1302 , to be used to feed the tortillas in series into the heating sub-system  1304 . In some embodiments, the top side of the top tortilla is frictionally engaged with a dragger which drags the top tortilla from the cartridge, and thereupon feeding the top tortilla into a warming system to be warmed to the desired temperature for consumption. 
         [0052]    The cartridge is removed from the tortilla warmer when the heating of the desired quantity of tortillas has been completed  1306 . Finally, the cartridge is sealed with its fresh seal  1308 , and is then ready to be stored so as to keep the tortillas at optimal freshness. 
         [0053]    Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.