초록 ▼

A manufacturing apparatus produces defined lengths of meat or other filling materials for taquitos, enchiladas, burritos, and other rolled, wrapped, or folded tortilla foods. This apparatus includes a small, upper, filling conveyor that operates in parallel with a large, lower, tortilla conveyor. Ot

A manufacturing apparatus produces defined lengths of meat or other filling materials for taquitos, enchiladas, burritos, and other rolled, wrapped, or folded tortilla foods. This apparatus includes a small, upper, filling conveyor that operates in parallel with a large, lower, tortilla conveyor. Other components include an extruder, nozzle, cutter, and various sensors that produce output signals indicating tortilla and filling position. Encoders are also provided to represent position and/or movement of at least the upper conveyor. According to the sensor outputs, a controller regulates operation of the upper conveyor, extruder, and cutter to produce and then accurately deposit segments of filling material upon tortillas as they pass by upon the lower conveyor. As needed, the controller (1) advances, reversed, and/or stops the upper conveyor, (2) directs the pump to start/stop filling production, and (3) regulates the cutter to cut extruded filling material.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A processing station for use in a manufacturing assembly line, comprising:an upper conveyor driven by an adjustable speed motor;a machine-activated portioning assembly including a filling extruder and a cutter;one or more tortilla sensors providing output signals repres

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A processing station for use in a manufacturing assembly line, comprising:an upper conveyor driven by an adjustable speed motor;a machine-activated portioning assembly including a filling extruder and a cutter;one or more tortilla sensors providing output signals representing positions of tortillas arriving on a lower conveyor;one or more filling sensors producing output signals representing positions of filling material upon the upper conveyor;a controller coupled to the motor, portioning assembly, and sensors, the controller being programmed to regulate operation of the motor, extruder, and cutter in accordance with sensor output signals to produce segments of filling material having a prescribed target length and to deposit each filling segment in prescribed relationship to a tortilla passing by upon the lower conveyor.