Tortilla conveying system for sequentially conveying a plurality of tortillas to be warmed

Abstract

An improved tortilla conveying system, for sequentially conveying a plurality of tortillas to be warmed, is disclosed. The conveying system provides a stack of tortillas and automatically conveys tortillas sequentially through a tortilla warmer. The tortillas are stored in a container. A dragger at least frictionally engages the top side of the top tortilla, dragging the tortilla off of the top of the container for subsequent heating by a heating element of the tortilla warmer. In some embodiments, the tortilla container can automatically elevate the stack of tortillas, so a top tortilla always remains exposed at the top of the container. In other embodiments, an extractor delivers the tortilla outside of the heating system once the tortilla is sufficiently warmed. The tortillas are warmed in sequence by a heating element, via conduction, convection, and/or radiation. In some embodiments, various components of the conveyer are synchronized, via a gearbox for example.

1 . A tortilla conveying system of a tortilla warmer, the tortilla conveying system being for sequentially conveying a plurality of tortillas to a heating subsystem of the tortilla warmer to be warmed, the tortilla conveying system comprising:
 a container capable of holding a plurality of tortillas in a stacked configuration, with a top side of a top tortilla of the stacked plurality of tortillas being exposed at a top position located just above an open top of the container; and   a dragger having a dragger head, the dragger configured to:
 make direct contact between the dragger head and the top surface of the top tortilla to facilitate frictional engagement therebetween, 
 drag the top tortilla off of the top of the stacked plurality of tortillas, and 
 deliver the top tortilla to the heating subsystem of the tortilla warmer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein the dragger head includes a set of nails located on an underside of the dragger head. 
     
     
         3 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of nails are arranged along a set of lines passing through a center of the underside of the dragger head. 
     
     
         4 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of nails are configured to create perforations in the top tortilla. 
     
     
         5 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein the dragger includes a dragger head mover, the dragger head mover moving the dragger head substantially laterally, so as to facilitate the dragging of the top tortilla. 
     
     
         6 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein the dragger is driven by a rotating element that is pivotably connected to the dragger. 
     
     
         7 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 7 , wherein the rotating element is directly driven by a motor. 
     
     
         8 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating subsystem further comprises at least one heating element. 
     
     
         9 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 8 , wherein the heating element is a conductive heating platform. 
     
     
         10 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein the tortilla warmer includes an extractor capable of delivering the top tortilla outside of the heating subsystem. 
     
     
         11 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid for covering the top of the container when the top tortilla is not being warmed. 
     
     
         12 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein heating of the top tortilla is performed by convection. 
     
     
         13 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 12 , wherein heating of the top tortilla is performed by conduction produced by at least one heated roller. 
     
     
         14 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 12 , wherein heating of the top tortilla is performed by radiation produced by a resistive heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing in which to house the container and the dragger. 
     
     
         16 . The tortilla conveying system of  claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a door which provides access to the container.