Methods for handling masa

Abstract

Mass handling methods for the continuous processing of masa type dough in conjunction with commonly available feed processing equipment, such as a masa extruder, an oven, or cooling apparatus. One masa handling method includes a masa separator having a pair of opposed, endless belt conveyors having facing surfaces spaced apart to receive a generally continuous masa stream output from a nozzle on the masa extruder. When the masa stream moves between the conveyors, it is gripped by their facing surfaces and moved away from the nozzle, causing the masa to be separated into individual pieces, or logs. The masa handling method can also include feeding the masa to masa hoppers fed by at least two endless belt conveyors arranged in upstream and downstream positions relative to each other. The masa is transported along the conveyors and is automatically diverted into one masa hopper by a diverter gate operated by a controller that receives a signal from a sensor sensing a masa level within an associated one of the hoppers. The hopper has one or more rotating shafts having projections to remove gas bubbles from the masa and force it toward the sheeter rollers. A pair of primary rollers with scrapers can be provided within the hopper to roll the masa to an intermediate thickness before it passes between the sheeter rollers.

Description

[0001]This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08 / 192,458, filed Feb. 7, 1994.[0002]This continuation reissue application is a continuation of reissue application Ser. No. 09 / 325,122, filed on Jun. 3, 1999 and issued as reissued patent No. RE37008, which application is a reissue application of application Ser. No. 08 / 476,198 filed on Jun. 7, 1995, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,235, which application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 08 / 192,458 filed on Feb. 7, 1994 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,870. FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the commercial manufacture of food or edible material, and, more particularly, to the treatment or preparation of farinaceous dough, banter, or pastry products including sheeting, laminating, or folding.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]A tortilla is a baked grain product which originated in Mexico and is now widely consumed throughout the world. The world tortilla as used ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a masa handling system that separates masa into logs, automatically distributes masa to individual masa hoppers, removes gas bubbles from masa, and prevents the masa curtain from getting stuck to the primary rollers. The system includes a masa separator with aligned conveyors that grip masa and move it through the system. It also has a diverter gate that selectively moves between two positions to guide masa logs to the appropriate masa hopper. The system also includes sensors to monitor the level of masa in the hoppers and a mechanism to automatically adjust the diverter gate accordingly. The invention offers safer operation, automatic distribution of masa logs, and the removal of gas bubbles from masa without the need for human labor."

Problems solved by technology

However, under certain conditions, there may be some drawbacks associated with masa processing systems generally designed according to the prior art.

One such drawback can be the danger associated with the pneumatic cutter.

The pneumatic cutter has a reciprocating blade which could injure an attending worker if that worker places his or her hands under the operating blade.

Another drawback can be associated with the conveyors intended to transport the masa logs from the pneumatic cutter to the masa hoppers.

However, the conveyors designed according to the prior art simply move masa logs from the pneumatic cutter to one masa hopper.

Such a system could have evident disadvantages due to the labor cost of the attendants and the awkwardness of the manual channeling of masa to conveyor.

Furthermore, if the system utilizes only one conveyor running past the masa hoppers in series, the unwanted labor expense is also necessary because human attendants could be required to maintain the masa levels by manually carrying the masa logs from the conveyor to a near-empty masa hopper.

Yet another drawback can be associated with the masa hoppers generally designed according to the prior art.

Unwanted gas bubbles can become trapped in the masa and cause voids in the wide masa curtain output by the primary rollers.

When this occurs, the voids persist as the masa continues through the sheeter rollers and the rotary cutter, causing imperfectly formed tortillas to be produced.

To eliminate the voids, human attendants must manually compress the masa while it is in the masa hopper, resulting in undesirable increased costs.

One final drawback associated with the primary rollers designed according to the prior art can be the tendency of the masa curtain to adhere to the primary rollers after its initial compression.

As a result, the now of masa to the sheeter rollers can be substantially disrupted.

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