Foods and beverages: apparatus – Edible laminated product making apparatus – Shell forming means and filling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-01-09
Simone, Timothy F. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Edible laminated product making apparatus
Shell forming means and filling means
C099S450100, C099S450200, C099S450700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170391
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of food processing and more particularly to a method and apparatus for preparing a folded food product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, specialty food products, particularly Mexican food products, have become increasingly popular in the United States. Moreover, the increasing time demands upon families has caused an increase in the demand for heat and serve products. Particularly popular are frozen enchiladas, burritos, and other types of food products such as egg rolls that are offered for sale in the frozen food section of supermarkets. These foods are often sold individually or in packages containing several enchiladas or burritos. Typically the products need only be removed from the package, heated and served.
Historically, such products have been prepared manually by physically folding tortillas or other food wraps around a filling or fillings. This manual approach is time consuming, costly, and often produces products having an inconsistent or uneven appearance. In addition, manual preparation of these folded food-products introduces sanitation concerns.
In order to solve these problems, attempts have been made in the past to fabricate automated folding systems. However, such systems have typically been large and complex. For example, one automated folding system uses a series of plates that support the food wraps as they travel through the folding system. An individual plate supports each food wrap, and each plate has numerous folding parts that allow the plate to be manipulated to fold the food wrap supported by the plate. The plates travel through the system on a type of conveyor or drive, and then are reused once the food wrap that they support has been completely folded and removed from the plate. Due to the large number of moving parts in such a system creates, many complexities are created, which leads to malfunctions in the system and non-uniform folding of the food wraps.
Therefore, a need has arisen for a new method and apparatus for preparing a folded food product that overcome the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method for preparing a folded food product is disclosed. The method includes providing a food wrap, and depositing a filling on the food wrap. A first fold is created in the food wrap using a mechanical folding mechanism that folds a section of the food wrap over the filling. A second fold is created in the food wrap using a folding belt. A third fold is created in the food wrap using a mechanical lifting mechanism. The mechanical lifting mechanism lifts a section of the food wrap that contains a portion of the filling over the remaining section of the food wrap. A crease is placed in the food wrap along the desired location of one or more of these folds before creating the folds.
In another embodiment, an apparatus for preparing a folded food product in accordance with the invention is disclosed. The apparatus includes a filling machine that deposits a filling on a food wrap. The apparatus further includes a first folding element that is configured to fold a first section of the food wrap over the filling. Additionally, the apparatus has a creasing device that places creases in the food wrap, and a folding belt that folds the food wrap along the creases formed by the creasing device. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a first crease plate that places a third crease in the food wrap after the food wrap exits the folding belt, and a second folding element configured to fold the food wrap along the third crease. The apparatus also has a second crease plate that places a fourth crease in the food wrap, and a third folding element configured to fold the food wrap along the fourth crease.
A technical advantage of the present invention is that a method and apparatus are provided that satisfy the need for a fast and fully automatic process for the continuous preparation of high quality folded food products. By utilizing the present invention, labor costs and personnel requirements are greatly reduced. Food wraps are placed on the apparatus of the present invention, and the filling and folding of the food product is done automatically, without assistance from human operators. In addition, embodiments of the present invention produce folded food products that have a consistent quality, form and appearance.
Furthermore, because the present invention is continuous and completely automatic, operator handling of the food product and its ingredients is eliminated, thereby providing superior sanitation and cleanliness over manual processes. In addition, the present invention may be utilized in either single or multiple row fashion for producing large quantities of food products at a rapid rate.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3757676 (1973-09-01), Pomara, Jr.
patent: 3782272 (1974-01-01), Cooper
patent: 3901137 (1975-08-01), Jimenez
patent: 3946656 (1976-03-01), Hsu
patent: 4014254 (1977-03-01), Ohkawa
patent: 4047478 (1977-09-01), Trostmann et al.
patent: 4084493 (1978-04-01), Quintana
patent: 4334464 (1982-06-01), Shinriki
patent: 4388059 (1983-06-01), Ma
patent: 4393758 (1983-07-01), Anmahian
patent: 4439124 (1984-03-01), Watanabe
patent: 4457225 (1984-07-01), Bakker
patent: 4516487 (1985-05-01), Madison et al.
patent: 4517785 (1985-05-01), Masuda
patent: 4608919 (1986-09-01), Prows et al.
patent: 4637304 (1987-01-01), Suzuki
patent: 4638729 (1987-01-01), Woodworth et al.
patent: 4691627 (1987-09-01), Roberts
patent: 4913043 (1990-04-01), Chueng
patent: 4953455 (1990-09-01), Figueras et al.
patent: 5263407 (1993-11-01), Pomara, Jr.
patent: 5268188 (1993-12-01), Diem et al.
Video tape, Solbern Machine, undated.
Brochure, Solbern Burrito Folder, undated, May 18, 1998.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Industrial Catering, Inc.
Simone Timothy F.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for preparing a folded food product does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for preparing a folded food product, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for preparing a folded food product will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2484375