David Madison

US Patent:

45164878, May 14, 1985

Filed:

May 5, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/375051

Inventors:

David P. Madison - Stamford CT
Michael B. Cruver - Port Townsend WA

International Classification:

A21C 900
A21C 1100

US Classification:

994506

Abstract:

A tortilla-folding machine has a series of four continuously traveling elevationally spaced belt conveyors for successively transporting a tortilla as it is being folded. Initially the leading portion of the tortilla carrying a foodstuff filler is supported beyond the discharge end of the first belt conveyor by a folding roller rotating in the same direction as the adjacent conveyor discharge end roller. As the filler approaches the nip between the folding roller and the adjacent conveyor belt roller, such folding roller is moved away from the conveyor belt and its direction of rotation is reversed. The counterrotating rollers draw the tortilla down between them to fold the tortilla under the foodstuff filler, propel the fold through the gap between such rollers and deposit the doubled tortilla onto a continuously traveling second belt conveyor with its opposite side portions overlying two quarter belts, respectively, which infold such opposite side portions over two cantilever rods. As the tortilla is transported by the second belt conveyor it is slid along such rods and over their free ends. At the discharge end of such conveyor an oscillating blade folder turns the doubled leading portion of the tortilla back onto the trailing portion behind the foodstuff filler and transfers the tortilla to the third belt conveyor.