US-12616211-B1 - Automatic rotary empanada machine

US12616211B1US 12616211 B1US12616211 B1US 12616211B1US-12616211-B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic rotary machine for the automate production of empanadas, comprising up to six mold holding stations within a rotating circular deck plate on which the empanadas are filled from an automated filling dispenser and folded through electric and pneumatic motors and actuators. The invention includes a mold for folding and cutting the empanada dough.

Inventors

Emma E. Mesa-Arias

Assignees

Emma E. Mesa-Arias

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230331

Claims (6)

1 . An automatic rotary empanada manufacturing system comprising: an programmable logic control (PLC) units sensing and activating a number of rotary motion, filling and empanada mold folding components; a circular rotary deck turntable having six openings, each said opening having a replaceable folding empanada mold within said opening, each said mold comprised of: two complementary shaped halves hinged and closed by a plunger, said plunger controlled by said PLC, wherein one said shaped hinge half-moon nests into the other while leaving the back end open at the moment of closing during an intermediate partial-closing stage prior to full closure; an automatic empanada filling dosing machine, with a dispenser opening placed over the center of one said opening path of motion, said dispenser controlled by said PLC; a central holder for empanada blanks; and a finished empanada belt; wherein the PLC controls the plunger to execute a two-stage closing sequence comprising: (i) a first stage in which the complementary shaped halves partially close while maintaining said back end open to permit gravitational displacement of filling away from sealing edges of the mold; and (ii) a second stage in which the complementary shaped halves fully close to seal and trim the empanada.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein: said deck rotator motion is accomplished via an electric motor; said actuator for empanada filling dispensing and folding empanada mold is comprised of one of: a hydraulic piston, a pneumatic piston, worm gear, pinion or rack; and each said actuator for empanada filling dispensing and folding empanada mold is adjustable according to the raw material from which the dough is made.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein: at least one of each said actuator for empanada filling dispensing and folding empanada mold is under said PLC units' control.
4 . An automatic rotary empanada manufacturing method comprising: an programmable logic control (PLC) units sensing and activating a number of rotary motion, filling and empanada mold folding components; a circular rotary deck turntable having six openings, each said opening having a replaceable folding empanada mold within said opening, each said mold comprised of: two complementary shaped halves hinged and closed by a plunger, said plunger controlled by said PLC, wherein one said shaped hinge half-moon nests into the other while leaving the back end open at the moment of closing during an intermediate partial-closing stage prior to full closure; an automatic empanada filling dosing machine, with a dispenser opening placed over the center of one said opening path of motion, said dispenser controlled by said PLC; a central holder for empanada blanks; and a finished empanada belt; wherein the method further comprises: partially closing the complementary shaped halves while maintaining said back end open to permit gravitational displacement of filling away from sealing edges of the mold; and thereafter fully closing the complementary shaped halves to seal and trim the empanada.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein: said deck rotator motion is accomplished via an electric motor; said actuator for empanada filling dispensing and folding empanada mold is comprised of one of: a hydraulic piston, a pneumatic piston, worm gear, pinion or rack; and each said actuator for empanada filling dispensing and folding empanada mold is adjustable according to the raw material from which the dough is made.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein: at least one of each said actuator for empanada filling dispensing and folding empanada mold is under said PLC units' control.

Description

PATENTS CITED The following documents and references are incorporated by reference in their entirety, Mesa-Escudero (U.S. Pat. No. 9,357,788 and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2016/0316768). FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system and method for the automatic rotary machine production of empanadas. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART Empanadas or turnovers are made from mixtures of various different edible compounds, with the wrapper or skin usually made of various flours (including corn and wheat flours), and the internal fillings made from one or more of beef, pork, chicken, cheese, grains, vegetables, etc., and seasoned with various spices. They are usually hand-made, with the various processes all performed by hand. These processes include kneading the corn or wheat flour and then flattening with wooden or plastic rollers, before finally assembling them by flattening the dough and placing in the center a portion of the filling before covering the filling by typically folding the flattened dough. The ‘closing’ is typically accomplished by pressing them with your hand on their edges and then cutting the excess dough also with your hand or with a circular containers or molds. Manual manufacturing is for small productions because a lot of time is invested per unit. Empanadas are mixtures of different foods which usually have a coating of dough made from flour, with fillings of meat, vegetables and other compounds that make them a good meal replacement. Empanadas are manufactured in different ways and forms using different techniques, most conventional being processed manually, through kneading cornmeal or wheat flour and then flattening them with rollers made of wood, placing the flattened dough mass (which we term the empanada wrapper) and then placing within the center portion a filling of pre-cooked and seasoned (usually with meats or vegetables) and covering with the dough by folding it around the filling, wherein surplus dough around the edges or rim is removed or cut either by hand or with the help of a semi-circular shaped vessel. For the production of empanadas on a large scale, various machines have been designed and manufactured, some with patents, including patent numbers CO11-041168, CO12-088978 patent AR 031737 (A1) AR19750261219 and patent NC2018/0034135. Many of these machines are relatively slow, adding the filling to the dough fabric, so as to close it, cut the surplus around the edge and remove it. When we add the need to handle the product post-production, the need to account for the automatic expulsion of the finished empanada requires for the use of a double jaw mechanisms which opens and closes automatically. Such a mechanism could carry custom molds of different sizes with features that would seals and mark the empanadas, that are assembled over conveyor belts increasing their efficiency and allowing for the control by the IOT (Internet of Things) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This section is for the purpose of summarizing some aspects of the present invention and to briefly introduce some embodiments. Simplifications or omissions may be made to avoid obscuring the purpose of the section. Such simplifications or omissions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art. It is acknowledged that the term ‘comprise’ may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term ‘comprise’ shall have an inclusive meaning—i.e., that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term ‘comprised’ or ‘comprising’ is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process. In one aspect, the invention is about an automatic rotary empanada manufacturing system comprising an Internet of Things (IoT) programmable logic control (PLC) units sensing and activating a number of rotary motion, filling and empanada mold folding components, a circular rotary deck turntable having six openings, each said opening having a replaceable folding empanada mold within said opening, each said mold comprised of: two complementary shaped halves hinged and closed by a plunger, said plunger controlled by said PLC, an automatic empanada filling dosing machine, with