US4241648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for shaping and precooking of tortillas
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-04-02
•
Granted: 1980-12-30
•
Expires: 1999-04-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for processing compressible, heat settable material, and in one embodiment, useful in producing foodstuffs including so-called tortillas made from wheat flour, comprises a step-motion, rotatable, heated drum; a curved, pivotally-mounted, heated compression plate positioned in proximity to the drum for being swung into position parallel to the surface of said drum when the drum is in the stop-phase of step motion; feed means for feeding foodstuff materials into the region between the drum and the plate when the plate is swung away from the drum; and means for conveying compressed foodstuffs away from the drum surface as it rotates in the motion phase of the step motion.
Inventors
- 👤 John G. Longenecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:01
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C11/00; A21B; A21B5/00; A21B5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for processing foodstuff material comprising a drum which has a heatable arcuate outer surface and is rotatable in a desired direction about the axis of said outer surface, an associated compression plate having a heatable arcuate surface which is configured so as to be substantially equidistant throughout to the opposing portion of said outer surface of said drum when said surfaces are juxtaposed spaced apart at a distance desired for processing foodstuff material therebetween, said plate being moveable with respect to said drum into said juxtaposed, spaced-apart relationship, and out of said relationship with the end of said plate which the advancing drum surface first passes under when said drum rotates in a desired direction being moveable away from said drum while the other end of said plate remains pivotally fixed in substantially the same spaced-apart position with respect to said drum, motion means for rotating said drum in said desired direction, and means for moving said plate into said juxtaposed spaced-apart relationship and out of said relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for processing foodstuff material comprising a drum which has a heatable arcuate outer surface and is rotatable in a desired direction about the axis of said outer surface, an associated compression plate having a heatable arcuate surface which is configured so as to be substantially equidistant throughout to the opposing portion of said outer surface of said drum when said surfaces are juxtaposed spaced apart at a distance desired for processing foodstuff material therebetween, said plate being moveable with respect to said drum into said juxtaposed, spaced-apart relationship, and out of said relationship with the end of said plate which the advancing drum surface first passes under when said drum rotates in a desired direction being moveable away from said drum while the other end of said plate remains pivotally fixed in substantially the same spaced-apart position with respect to said drum, motion means for rotating said drum in said desired direction, and means for moving said plate into said juxtaposed spaced-apart relationship and out of said relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said drum is cylindrical and said surface of said plate describes an arc of a circle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus described in claim 1 including means for heating said surface of said drum, and means for heating said surface on said compression plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus described in claim 2 including means for heating said surface of said drum, and means for heating said surface on said compression plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus described in claim 3 comprising means for moving said drum in step motion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus described in claim 4 comprising means for moving said drum in step motion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus described in claim 5 including means for moving said compression plate into said juxtaposed spaced-apart relationship when said drum is in the stop phase of said step motion, and for moving said compression plate out of said relationship by one of its ends being so moved when said drum is in a phase of step motion other than said stop phase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus described in claim 6 including means for moving said compression plate into said juxtaposed spaced-apart relationship when said drum is in the stop phase of said step motion, and for moving said compression plate out of said relationship by one of its ends being so moved when said drum is in a phase of step motion other than said stop phase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus described in claim 7 including feed means for inserting masses of foodstuff material into the region between said plate and said surface of said drum at the side of said drum from which said drum moves, and scraper means for removing compressed foodstuff material from said drum at the side thereof toward which said drum moves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus described in claim 8 including feed means for inserting masses of foodstuff material into the region between said plate and said surface of said drum at the side of said drum from which said drum moves, and scraper means for removing compressed foodstuff material from said drum at the side thereof toward which said drum moves.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1509730A
Cited
GB350927A
Cited
US2812729A
Cited
US3167000A
Cited
US3223053A
Cited
US3263595A
Cited
US3401626A
Cited
US3427372A
Cited
US3397655A
Cited
US3829593A
Cited
FR2301183A1
Cited
US4197792A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-30 | 1984-06-30 | 1984-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-30 | 1988-06-30 | 1988-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-30 | 1992-06-30 | 1992-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |