Michael A Herrera

US Patent:

7156644, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Dec 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/325369

Inventors:

Michael Herrera - Los Alamitos CA, US

Assignee:

Casa Herrera, Inc. - Pomona CA

International Classification:

A21C 3/02

US Classification:

425363, 425367

Abstract:

A saddle for a sheeting head includes a pair of semi-circular concave edges configured to seal a pair of rollers. The oppositely facing concave edges each include a tongue that fits in a corresponding groove in the roller and a retracted concave edge adapted to wrap around half the roller surface. The saddle includes a top portion wherein the concave edges downwardly converge, and a bottom portion wherein the concave edges downwardly diverge. A narrow waist is provided at the proximal-most position of the concave edges and adapted to fit in a pinch point between the rollers. A sheeting head assembly incorporating the saddle may include a sidewall to which the saddle need not be fastened. The self-locking characteristics of the saddle enable an assembly to omit sidewalls altogether.

US Patent:

7824722, Nov 2, 2010

Filed:

Dec 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/616732

Inventors:

Michael Herrera - Los Alamitos CA, US

Assignee:

Casa Herrera, Inc. - Pomona CA

International Classification:

A21C 3/02

US Classification:

426502, 426517

Abstract:

A saddle for a sheeting head includes a pair of semi-circular concave edges configured to seal a pair of rollers. The oppositely facing concave edges each include a tongue that fits in a corresponding groove in the roller and a retracted concave edge adapted to wrap around half the roller surface. The saddle includes a top portion wherein the concave edges downwardly converge, and a bottom portion wherein the concave edges downwardly diverge. A narrow waist is provided at the proximal-most position of the concave edges and adapted to fit in a pinch point between the rollers. A sheeting head assembly incorporating the saddle may include a sidewall to which the saddle need not be fastened. The self-locking characteristics of the saddle enable an assembly to omit sidewalls altogether.

US Patent:

7828543, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Jul 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/829858

Inventors:

Michael L. Herrera - Los Alamitos CA, US

Assignee:

Casa Herrera, Inc. - Pomona CA

International Classification:

A21C 3/02

US Classification:

425196, 83662, 83932, 425310

Abstract:

An improved dough sheeter having a pair of counterrotating sheeter rollers and a cutter roller rotating against a front one of the sheeter rollers to cut a pattern into a sheet of dough therebetween. The improvement is the cutter roller being formed from an oil-impregnated wear resistant plastic that results in a much longer cutter life. The dough sheeter's cutter roller may have axial shaft, a pair of cutter lift arms including a U-shaped end, and a pair of needle bearing assemblies, each needle bearing assembly located on a corresponding end of the axial shaft. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a cutter roller for a dough sheeter where the crown is formed before the cutting pattern is cut into the cutter roller.

US Patent:

8434404, May 7, 2013

Filed:

Mar 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/730044

Inventors:

Michael L. Herrera - Los Alamitos CA, US

Assignee:

Casa Herrera, Inc. - Pomona CA

International Classification:

A23L 1/01
A21D 6/00
A21C 3/02

US Classification:

99330, 99537, 426439, 426502, 425310

Abstract:

A sheeter includes an internally grooveless front roller, a rear roller configured to rotate counter to the front roller, a partially spiraled stripper wire coupled across the front roller, and a conveyer belt connected to a proximal conveyer roller and a distal conveyer roller. The conveyer belt includes a landing zone configured to prevent damage to a received product. The conveyer belt includes a raised portion adjacent to the proximal end and flat portion towards the distal end.

US Patent:

20040142062, Jul 22, 2004

Filed:

Jan 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/346362

Inventors:

Michael Herrera - Los Alamitos CA, US

International Classification:

A21C011/10

US Classification:

425/298000, 425/363000

Abstract:

In a dough stripping assembly and method, stripping elements are supported in relatively spaced relation on the sheeting machine with an edge of the crosspieces parallel to and abutting an outer surface of the roller. As the roller turns, the stripping element scrapes shaped dough from the roller and leaves a remaining web of dough adhered to the roller. With many cut patterns, the crosspiece separates a portion of the web from the roller as well. However, the portion of the web that remains adhered to the roller pulls the separated portion of the web along with the adhered portion. Thus, the separated portion of the web is permitted to move past the stripping elements and continues to move with the outer surface of the roller and is returned with the rest of the web to a point upstream of the sheet forming pinch point.

US Patent:

20050175728, Aug 11, 2005

Filed:

Mar 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/078111

Inventors:

Michael Herrera - Los Alamitos CA, US

International Classification:

B29C043/08

US Classification:

425363000

Abstract:

In a dough stripping assembly and method, stripping elements are supported in relatively spaced relation on the sheeting machine with an edge of the crosspieces parallel to and abutting an outer surface of the roller. As the roller turns, the stripping element scrapes shaped dough from the roller and leaves a remaining web of dough adhered to the roller. With many cut patterns, the crosspiece separates a portion of the web from the roller as well. However, the portion of the web that remains adhered to the roller pulls the separated portion of the web along with the adhered portion. Thus, the separated portion of the web is permitted to move past the stripping elements and continues to move with the outer surface of the roller and is returned with-the rest of the web to a point upstream of the sheet forming pinch point.

US Patent:

20110016718, Jan 27, 2011

Filed:

Jun 29, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/826432

Inventors:

Michael L. Herrera - Los Alamitos CA, US

Assignee:

Casa Herrera, Inc. - Pomona CA

International Classification:

B21K 1/02

US Classification:

2989521

Abstract:

An improved dough sheeter having a pair of counterrotating sheeter rollers and a cutter roller rotating against a front one of the sheeter rollers to cut a pattern into a sheet of dough therebetween. The improvement is the cutter roller being formed from an oil-impregnated wear resistant plastic that results in a much longer cutter life. The dough sheeter's cutter roller may have axial shaft, a pair of cutter lift arms including a U-shaped end, and a pair of needle bearing assemblies, each needle bearing assembly located on a corresponding end of the axial shaft. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a cutter roller for a dough sheeter where the crown is formed before the cutting pattern is cut into the cutter roller.

US Patent:

50655183, Nov 19, 1991

Filed:

Aug 21, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/570334

Inventors:

Michael L. Herrera - Pomona CA

International Classification:

G01B 314

US Classification:

33 1BB

Abstract:

A measuring device for allowing a user to rapidly determine that an article such as a tortilla is properly sized and shaped. The measuring device consists of a transparent disc that is supported by a handle. The transparent disc includes a minimum size line and a maximum size line such that the user may place the transparent disc over the tortilla and then rapidly verify whether or not the edge of the tortilla falls between the minimum and maximum lines. The device may further include an optimum size line. The central portion of the disc is preferably transparent so that the user can inspect the surface of the tortilla. However, the central portion of the disc may also be opaque so that the user may focus his attention on whether or not the edge of the tortilla lies between the minimum and maximum lines.