Abstract: A pair of cooperating heating and pressing plates for converting a ball of dough into a flat baked disc, such as a tortilla, are mounted between vertical side frames of a supporting frame structure. The one heating and pressing unit is fixedly mounted at an angle to the horizontal sufficient to insure the gravitational discharge of the baked tortilla. The movable plate is shifted by a manually operable cam. All elements of the apparatus are secured in position between the side frames by a plurality of manually operable bolts, thus permitting the rapid disassembly of the apparatus for cleaning purposes and the equally rapid reassembly of the apparatus.

Abstract: A combination pressing and initial baking system is provided for converting balls of dough into thin, flat discs, such as tortillas. A box-like support structure is provided having a portion of its frontal wall open and defining a mounting for a first heated pressing plate with its dough contacting face facing downwardly and disposed at a substantial angle to the horizontal. A second heated pressing plate is mounted on horizontal pivots in the box-like support structure for pivotal movement between a pressing position adjacent to and parallel with the downwardly facing surface of the first pressing plate, and a feeding position where the upper ends of the pressing plates are spaced apart to permit the insertion of a ball of dough therebetween. Movement of the second pressing plate to its pressing position effects the pressing and initial baking of the dough in a flat disc shape. The heat input to the dough disc during pressing determines the peripheral area and thickness of the resulting disc.