Abstract: A method and apparatus for pressing tortilla dough into a tortilla product in a continuous operation including: an extruder for compressing tortilla dough through a nozzle; a knife for slicing the extruded dough into a series of dough pucks; a conveyor press assembly which sandwiches the dough puck between a pair of belts to carry the puck between a pairs of platens to gradually press the puck into its final tortilla form; and a conveyor oven which sandwiches the tortilla between a pair of belts to carry the tortilla between pairs of heated platens to cook the tortilla. The system is particularly well suited to automation and, in one embodiment, includes measuring equipment which provides feedback to produce tortillas of consistent size, shape, and quality.

Abstract: An automatic system for depalletizing or destacking items, containers or crates. The automatic depalletizing system includes an electronically controlled, automated, lift conveyor having a specialized pick mechanism at its free end, and having a self-contained hydraulic power supply system. The conveyor sequentially lifts pre-stacked crates, containers or items and places them in a single-file on a rotating conveyor automatically (hands free operation or individually controlled).