Dough ball conveyor loader apparatus and method

Abstract

A dough ball conveyor loader apparatus includes a flat conveyor belt supported horizontally and a loading unit positioned above the belt. The loading unit positions each of a series of dough balls on the belt. The loading unit also forms a flat on each of the dough balls against the flat belt to prevent movement of the dough balls upon movement of the belt.

I claim: .[.1. The method of processing dough comprising 
     
       moving said conveyor belt with said dough thereon..]. .[.2.  The method of processing a series of balls of dough comprising making a plurality of balls of dough,   moving each of said balls of dough on a dough relaxation conveyor having a series of individual carrying containers, each container moving a single ball of dough to a transfer unit,   transferring said balls of dough singly in a predefined spaced position onto a conveyor belt,   forming a flat on each of said balls of dough at least on the surface thereof against said conveyor belt to prevent said balls of dough from moving during movement of said conveyor belt, and   moving said conveyor belt with said balls of dough thereon to provide said   
     
     
        predefined spaced position on said belt..]. 3. The method of processing a series of individual balls of dough comprising transferring a ball of dough into a loading tube mounted substantially vertically above a flat conveyor belt, said loading tube being closed at the lower end thereof by a slide plate, said slide plate having a lower .[.flatner.]. .Iadd.flattener .Iaddend.surface and an opening therethrough,   vertically moving said loading tube down to adjacent said conveyor belt,   then horizontally moving said slide plate to align said opening therein with said loading tube to load said ball of dough through said opening onto said conveyor belt in a predefined position,   then vertically moving said slide plate up until said lower surface of said slide plate is above said ball of dough positioned on said conveyor belt,   then horizontally moving said slide plate to close said opening at the lower end of said loading tube,   then vertically moving said slide plate down until said .[.flatner.]. .Iadd.flattener .Iaddend.surface thereof is forced against said dough ball to form at least a flat thereon against the conveyor belt and cause the dough ball to adhere to the conveyor belt to prevent said dough ball from moving during movement of said conveyor belt,   then moving said slide plate vertically until said slide plate is above said dough ball and positioned for transferring the next ball of dough into said loading tube, and   then moving said conveyor belt with said ball of dough thereon a predefined amount to permit positioning a subsequent positioned ball of dough thereon spaced from said prior ball of dough. .[.4. The method defined in claim 1 of processing a series of individual balls of dough further comprising thinning and parbaking each ball of dough to form a tortilla thereof..]. .[.5. Apparatus for processing a series of dough balls comprising   a flat conveyor belt supported substantially horizontally,   a loading unit positioned above said belt for positioning each of the series of dough balls in spaced relation on said belt, said loading unit causing a flat on each of said dough balls against said belt to prevent movement of said dough balls relative to said belt..]. .[.6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 further including   a dough ball relaxation conveyor having a series of individual carrying containers, each carrying container supplying a single dough ball to said loading unit..]. .[.7. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said loading unit including   a loading tube unit having a tube means for each dough ball, and   a slide plate positioned under said loading tube unit, said plate moveable between one position closing said loading tube unit for holding each dough ball and another position opening said loading tube unit for loading said dough balls in a predefined position on said belt between said plate and said belt..]. .[.8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said plate has a loading opening therethrough for each tube means, said loading opening aligned with said loading tube unit in said other position for said loading of said dough balls..]. .[.9. The apparatus defined in claim 5 further comprising   means for moving said loading unit for causing said positioning each of said series of dough balls on said belt and said flat on each of said dough balls..]. .[.10. The apparatus defined in claim 6 further comprising a transfer tube unit for transferring each of said dough balls from said relaxation conveyor to said loading unit..]. .[.11. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said belt is made of teflon coated fiberglass..]. .[.12. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said loading unit comprises   a loading tube unit, and   a slide plate positioned under said loading tube unit, said plate moveable horizontally between one position in which said plate closes said loading tube unit and another position in which said plate opens said loading tube unit for positioning said dough balls on said flat belt, said plate moveable vertically in said other closed position down against each said   
     
     
        positioned dough ball to provide said flat thereon..]. 13. An apparatus for precisely loading a plurality of dough balls on a conveyor belt that is intermittently moved, comprising, loading tube means positioned above the conveyor belt and having a plurality of tubes for receiving each of said plurality of dough balls, a plate positioned beneath said loading tube means for supporting said dough balls in said tubes in a first position of said plate, means for horizontally moving said plate .[.relation.]. .Iadd.relative .Iaddend.to said tube means between said first position and a second position, said plate having a plurality of openings positioned to align with said plurality of tubes in said second position for dropping the plurality of dough balls onto said conveyor belt, and means for moving said .[.place.]. .Iadd.plate .Iaddend.vertically for flattening said dough   
     
     
        balls on the conveyor belt. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said plate is vertically positioned adjacent the conveyor belt in said second position for positively locating the dough balls on the conveyor belt. 
     
     
            The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said loading tube means is moved 
     
     
        vertically in unison with said plate. .Iadd.16.  The method of processing dough comprising; substantially simultaneously positioning each of a plurality of balls of the dough in a predefined position on a stopped conveyor belt in a pattern extending both along and across the conveyor belt and physically confining each ball of dough in its said position on the conveyor belt against movement in any horizontal direction,   mechanically pressing downwardly with a flattener surface on each ball of dough substantially simultaneously while the conveyor belt remains stopped for providing a flat on each said ball of dough facing said belt and forming each ball of dough into a flattened substantially circular shape of substantially uniform thickness,   said flat being at least sufficient to prevent each said flattened ball of dough from moving relative to said conveyor belt during movement of said conveyor belt, and   accelerating and moving said conveyor belt with said flattened balls of dough thereon and decelerating said conveyor belt to another stopped condition. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The method of processing dough into tortillas comprising;   forming a plurality of balls of the dough,   substantially simultaneously positioning each ball of the plurality of balls of dough in a predefined position on a stopped conveyor belt in a pattern extending both along and across the conveyor belt and physically confining each ball of dough in its said position on the conveyor belt against movement in any horizontal direction,   mechanically pressing downwardly with a flattener surface on each ball of dough substantially simultaneously while the conveyor belt remains stopped for providing a flat on each said ball of dough facing said belt and forming each ball of dough into a flattened substantially circular shape of substantially uniform thickness,   said flat being at least sufficient to prevent each said flattened ball of dough from moving relative to said conveyor belt during movement of said conveyor belt,   accelerating and moving said conveyor belt with said flattened balls of dough thereon and decelerating said conveyor belt to another stopped condition, and   pressing and parbaking the flattened balls of dough to a thin substantially circular shape of a tortilla while the conveyor belt is in said another   
     
     
        stopped condition. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  The method of processing a series of balls of dough comprising; making a plurality of balls of dough,   moving each of said balls of dough on a dough relaxation conveyor having a series of individual carrying containers, each container moving a single ball of dough to a transfer unit,   transferring said balls of dough singly from the individual carrying containers into separate downwardly extending tubes of the transfer unit and the transfer unit substantially simultaneously depositing each of the plurality of balls of dough in a predefined spaced position onto a stopped conveyor belt in a pattern extending both along and across the conveyor belt and confining the balls of dough in that pattern on the conveyor belt against movement in any horizontal direction,   moving mechanical flattener means downwardly while the conveyor belt remains motionless for substantially simultaneously engaging and forming each ball of dough into a flattened substantially circular shape with a flat on each of said balls of dough at least on the surface thereof against said conveyor belt to prevent said balls of dough from moving during subsequent movement of said conveyor belt,   moving the mechanical flattener means upwardly to a position spaced above each of said flattened balls of dough, and   moving said conveyor belt with said flattened balls of dough thereon to provide said predefined spaced position on said belt. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The method of processing a series of balls of dough into tortillas comprising;   making a plurality of balls of dough,   moving each of said balls of dough on a dough relaxation conveyor having a series of individual carrying containers, each container moving a single ball of dough to a transfer unit,   transferring said balls of dough singly from the individual carrying containers into separate downwardly extending tubes of the transfer unit and the transfer unit substantially simultaneously depositing each of the plurality of balls of dough in a predefined spaced position onto a stopped conveyor belt in a pattern extending both along and across the conveyor belt and confining the balls of dough in that pattern on the conveyor belt against movement in any horizontal direction,   moving mechanical flattener means downwardly while the conveyor belt remains motionless for substantially simultaneously engaging and forming each ball of dough into a flattened substantially circular shape with a flat on each of said balls of dough at least on the surface thereof against said conveyor belt to prevent said balls of dough from moving during subsequent movement of said conveyor belt,   moving the mechanical flattener means upwardly to a position spaced above each of said flattened balls of dough, and   moving said conveyor belt with said flattened balls of dough thereon to a second position beneath a press and substantially simultaneously pressing and parbaking each of said balls of dough to a thin and substantially circular shape of a tortilla in said predefined spaced position on said belt while said belt is stopped in said second position. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  Apparatus for processing a series of dough balls comprising; a flat conveyor belt supported substantially horizontally,   means for intermittently moving the belt with acceleration and deceleration between stopped conditions, and   a loading unit positioned above said belt for positioning each of the series of dough balls in spaced relation on said belt during a stopped condition of the belt, said loading unit including a plurality of downwardly extending tubes equal in number to the number of dough balls in the series being processed for each said tube to guide a single dough ball toward the belt, said loading unit including means for substantially simultaneously depositing each of the dough balls on the belt and confining each dough ball on the conveyor belt from movement in any horizontal direction with the series of dough balls forming a pattern extending both along and across the belt, said loading unit having mechanical flattener means movable downwardly while the belt remains in that stopped condition and said dough balls remain in said pattern for substantially simultaneously engaging and flattening each said dough ball into a substantially circular shape and causing a flat on each of said dough balls against said belt to prevent movement of said dough balls relative to said belt during said intermittent movement of the belt between the stopped conditions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The apparatus defined in claim 20 further comprising means for moving said loading unit for causing said positioning of each of said series of dough balls on said belt and said flat on each of said dough balls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The apparatus defined in claim 20 wherein said loading unit includes a slide plate positioned under said tubes, said plate moveable horizontally between one position in which said plate closes said tubes and another position in which said plate opens said tubes for positioning said dough balls on said flat conveyor belt, said plate comprising said mechanical flattener means and being moveable vertically in said other closed position down against each said positioned dough ball to provide said flat thereon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. Apparatus for processing a series of dough balls comprising;   a flat conveyor belt supported substantially horizontally,   means for intermittently moving the belt with acceleration and deceleration between stopped conditions, and   a loading unit positioned above said belt for positioning each of the series of dough balls in spaced relation on said belt during a stopped condition of the belt, said loading unit including a plurality of downwardly extending tubes equal in number to the number of dough balls in the series being processed for each said tube to guide a single dough ball toward the belt, said loading unit including means for substantially simultaneously depositing each of the dough balls on the belt and confining each dough ball on the conveyor belt from movement in any horizontal direction with the series of dough balls forming a pattern extending both along and across the belt, said loading unit having mechanical flattener means movable downwardly while the belt remains in that stopped condition and said dough balls remain in said pattern for substantially simultaneously engaging and flattening each said dough ball into a substantially circular shape of substantially uniform thickness and causing a flat on each of said dough balls against said belt to prevent movement of said dough balls relative to said belt during said intermittent movement of the belt between the stopped conditions, and   a slide plate in said loading unit positioned under all of said tubes, said plate moveable between one position closing said tubes for holding each dough ball and another position opening said tubes for loading said dough   
     
     
        balls in said pattern on said belt. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  The apparatus defined in claim 23 wherein said plate has a loading opening therethrough for each said tube, a said loading opening aligned with each said tube in said other position for said loading of said dough balls onto the belt. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The apparatus defined in claim 24, wherein said plate is positioned adjacent the belt during loading of the dough balls on the belt for each said loading opening to cause said confining of each dough ball from movement in any direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The apparatus defined in claim 23, 24 or 25, wherein said mechanical flattener means is comprised of a flat downwardly-facing surface on said slide plate parallel to said belt for flattening all of said dough balls to substantially the same said uniform thickness. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The apparatus defined in claim 20 or 23 further including a dough ball relaxation conveyor having a series of individual carrying containers, each carrying container supplying a single dough ball to a said tube of said loading unit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The apparatus defined in claim 20 or 23 wherein said belt is made of teflon coated fiberglass. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. Apparatus for processing a series of dough balls comprising a flat conveyor belt supported substantially horizontally,   a loading unit positioned above said belt for positioning each of the series of dough balls in spaced relation on said belt, said loading unit comprising means causing a flat on each of said dough balls against said belt to prevent movement of said dough balls relative to said belt,   said loading unit including a loading tube unit having a tube means for each dough ball, and   a slide plate positioned under said loading tube unit, said plate moveable between one position closing said loading tube unit for holding each dough ball and another position opening said loading tube unit for loading said dough balls in a predetermined position on said belt between said plate and said belt. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The apparatus defined in claim 29, wherein said plate has a loading opening therethrough for each tube means, said loading opening aligned with said loading tube unit in said another position for said loading of said dough balls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The apparatus defined in claim 29 further comprising   means for moving said loading unit for causing said positioning of each of said series of dough balls on said belt and said flat on each of said dough balls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The apparatus defined in claim 29, wherein said belt is made of teflon coated fiberglass. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. Apparatus for processing a series of dough balls comprising   a flat conveyor belt supported substantially horizontally,   a loading unit positioned above said belt for positioning each of the series of dough balls in spaced relation on said belt, said loading unit comprising means causing a flat on each of said dough balls against said belt to prevent movement of said dough balls relative to said belt,   wherein said loading unit comprises a loading tube unit, and   a slide plate positioned under said loading tube unit, said plate moveable horizontally between one position in which said plate closes said loading tube unit and another position in which said plate opens said loading tube unit for positioning said dough balls on said flat belt, said plate moveable vertically in said another closed position down against each said positioned dough ball to provide said flat thereon. .Iaddend.