Patent ID: RE41573

Claim:
A method for handling masa with a food processing system having a pair of aligned, opposed separator conveyors having facing surfaces, the longitudinal ends of the separator conveyors positioned adjacent to a nozzle connected to a masa producing device, the food processing system further having at least two masa hoppers, the masa hoppers and the separator conveyors connected by at least two endless belt feed conveyors having upper surfaces moving in the same direction, the feed conveyors positioned in an upstream and downstream relationship relative to each other, at least one feed conveyor positioned adjacent to the other longitudinal ends of the separator conveyors, each masa hopper having an associated sensor for sensing, the level of the mass and an opening positioned below a diverter gate located between the feed conveyors, each diverter gate connected to an associated mechanism and pivotable between an open position, where the masa is guided from the upstream feed conveyor to the downstream conveyor, and a closed position, where the masa is guided into the masa hopper, each masa hopper located adjacent to a pair of aligned, opposed sheeter rollers, the sheeter rollers located adjacent to a masa hopper having side walls and a bottom wall defining a slot, the masa hopper also having at least one shaft above the bottom wall, each shaft having projections, the method comprising the steps of: moving the facing surfaces of the separator conveyors at equal speed away from the nozzle; feeding a generally continuous masa stream through the nozzle such that the masa stream contacts at least one of the facing surfaces of the separator conveyors and is guided between the facing surfaces of the separator conveyors; gripping the masa stream between the facing surfaces of the separator conveyors pulling the masa stream such that the masa stream is separated into masa logs; feeding the masa logs onto the upstream end of a feed conveyor; moving the masa logs from the separator conveyors along the upper surfaces of the feed conveyors; sensing the level of masa within an associated masa hopper; causing a signal to change its state when the level of masa within the masa hopper is below a predetermined level; selectively opening and closing the diverter gate to control the flow of masa logs to the masa hopper in response to said change in signal; placing the masa logs through the opening of one of the masa hoppers; feeding the masa logs to at least one shaft within the masa hopper; rotating the shaft; removing gas bubbles from the masa with the projections on at least one shaft; and forcing the masa through the slot, toward the sheeter rollers, with the projections on at least one shaft.