Machine for the automated production of tequeños (filled pastries ) or other similar culinary products

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine for the automated production of tequeños (filled pastries), which are a food product in the form of a stick (20) around which dough (21) is rolled, wherein the machine comprises: - a first stage in which a first end of the dough (21) is placed on a first end of the stick (20) of filling; - a second stage in which the stick (20) of filling is flipped over longitudinally on the dough (21); - a third stage in which the stick (20) of filling is rotated with the part of the dough (21) to arrange same transversely; - and a fourth and final stage in which the part of the stick (20) longitudinally covered by dough (21) is rotated such that the rest of the dough (21) is wrapped helically on the first transverse part. The machine allows the dough to be wrapped on the filling and enables much higher, more economical, and therefore more profitable, production.

Description

[0001] MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATED PREPARATION OF TEQUEÑOS OR OTHER SIMILAR CULINARY PREPARATIONS

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention, as stated in the present descriptive memorandum, refers to a machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, providing advantages and characteristics, which are described in detail below.

[0005] The object of the present invention is a machine whose purpose is to allow the fully automated and industrial-scale production of a type of product such as the tequeño, which consists of a culinary preparation that is fried or baked and is made up of a filling in the form of a bar, normally cheese, but without excluding other ingredients, which is wrapped in a dough, which is usually wheat, with the particularity that the dough is wrapped helically around the portion of filling, said machine being specifically equipped with a series of tools and actuators that work in a synchronized manner on various roller belts to move, rotate and position the filling and the dough so that an in-line production of said products is achieved with said helical wrapping of the dough around the portion of filling, avoiding the need for manual labor.

[0006] FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The field of application of the present invention falls within the food industry sector, focusing particularly on the manufacture of machinery for the preparation of food products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0008] As is well known, the “Tequeño” is a culinary preparation originating from Venezuela that consists of a fried wheat flour dough, filled with white cheese or mozzarella cheese, among other fillings, which has the particularity of being made in such a way that the dough is cut into elongated strips with which the filling is rolled helically, which, in turn, is presented as a portion of the product in question, cheese, ham or another product of a certain consistency, in the shape of a bar.

[0009] To roll the dough over the filling that gives it its characteristic shape, one end of the dough strip is folded over one end of the filling portion and then the dough strip is rolled from that end until it completely covers the filling portion.

[0010] The problem is that this process requires very specific handling, which, until now, has been done manually, thus limiting and increasing the cost of industrialized production of this type of product.

[0011] The objective of the present invention is the development of a specific machine to carry out said process of rolling the dough over the filling and to allow a much higher and more economical production and which, therefore, can be more profitable.

[0012] Furthermore, and with reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, although there are other types of machines on the market for the preparation of different types of food products and culinary preparations, at least as far as the applicant is concerned, there is no knowledge of any that presents technical, structural and constitutive characteristics equal or similar to those of the one claimed herein.

[0013] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations that the invention proposes is configured as an optimal solution to the objectives indicated above, with the characterizing details that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description.

[0015] Specifically, what the invention proposes, as previously mentioned, is a machine specifically designed to produce a type of product such as the tequeño, consisting of a culinary preparation, formed by a filling in the form of a bar wrapped helically in a dough that is fried or baked, said machine being intended to carry out the process of rolling the dough over the filling that is carried out prior to cooking, for which it is equipped with a series of tools and actuators that work in a synchronized manner on various roller belts to, in several stages, move, turn and place the filling and the dough in a certain way with which an in-line production of said products is achieved with said helical wrapping of the dough around the portion of filling.

[0016] More specifically, the machine that is the subject of the present invention essentially comprises four stations with different specific elements to automatically carry out each of the four stages comprising the procedure of rolling the dough, covering the filling stick with the characteristic helical shape of the tequeños, and which, starting from the filling stick arranged longitudinally on the dough near one end of it, said dough being cut in a rectangular shape with a width somewhat greater than the stick and a length about three or four times longer, are as follows:

[0017] - A first station, where the first stage of the process takes place, in which one end of the dough is placed on one end of the filling bar. This first station comprises, on a conveyor belt, an infeed guide that correctly positions the dough and filling assembly, and a tilting wedge combined with a pusher that pushes the bar towards it. When pressed by the bar, the wedge rotates and lifts the first end of the dough, placing it on the first end of the filling bar. As a complementary and optional step, and in no way a limitation, the bar is advanced by passing it through the space between two rollers. These rollers press the protruding dough from the sides of the bar against the bar itself, so that the protruding side dough is bonded to the bar.

[0018] - A second station, where a second stage of the process takes place in which the bar is turned lengthwise over the dough so that a portion of it completely covers it lengthwise.

[0019] In a first embodiment, this second station of the machine comprises a second moving conveyor belt, located behind the first conveyor belt, so that the product from the previous station falls onto it. A channel-shaped guide is included, which carries the product to the rear moving end of this second belt. A turning plate is located at a certain height at the beginning of a third conveyor belt, which is arranged further down at a lower level. The product is deposited onto this plate and turned longitudinally by a rotation of the plate, which causes the filling to be completely covered with the mass longitudinally. The mass is then deposited again onto the rear end of the second belt, after which it subsequently falls onto the beginning of the third conveyor belt.All of this is achieved because the second belt extends and compresses at the first or front end while descending and rising at the second or rear end, since the rotational movement of the turning plate is synchronized with the positioning of the bar with the mass in these elements.

[0020] In a second embodiment of this second station, where the bar is rotated longitudinally onto the dough, a tilting wedge, equipped with a counterweight at its lower end, is positioned on the conveyor belt. This second station also includes a double-action pusher that pushes the bar towards the tilting wedge, placing it on the wedge. Once the entire bar is on the wedge, the second pusher acts, causing the wedge to tilt and thus completely covering the bar longitudinally. A third station carries out a third stage of the process in which the filling bar, along with the portion of dough covering it longitudinally, is rotated to a position transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt, while the remaining dough is then placed obliquely with respect to the bar.To this end, this third station comprises, incorporated on the central area of ​​the conveyor belt, an elongated guide in the form of a tunnel with the capacity to rotate on itself on the vertical axis perpendicular to the belt, and a rotating bridge in the shape of an inverted U provided next to the rear end of the tunnel, such that, once the part of the product with the bar and the dough that covers it longitudinally has passed and emerges from the rear end of said tunnel, the rotating bridge rotates said part about 90° while the remaining strip of dough, located still on the surface of the rolling belt inside the tunnel, is displaced slightly by the side walls of the tunnel to place it obliquely.In a complementary, non-limiting embodiment, the inverted "U" shaped rotating bridge is configured as clamps, with the clamps embracing the bar so that once the part of the product with the bar and the dough covering it longitudinally has passed and emerges from the rear end of said tunnel, the clamps close and rotate about 90° and the dough contacts a limiting stop and one side of the clamp contracts, said part while the remaining strip of dough, still located on the surface of the conveyor belt inside the tunnel, is slightly displaced by the side walls of the tunnel to position it obliquely.

[0021] - And a fourth station, where a fourth and final stage of the process takes place. In this stage, the portion of the dough stick with the dough positioned transversely is rotated so that the remaining dough, positioned obliquely, spirally wraps around it, thus creating the final product, ready to be sent to the fryer or oven. This fourth station comprises two transverse rollers that rotate in the direction of the conveyor belt's forward movement and rub against the dough stick, causing it to rotate on its axis.

[0022] Additionally, the machine comprises one or more water spray systems, preferably at the beginning of the process, at the first station and between the first and second stations, in order to help the dough stay moist and adhere better to the filling bar.

[0023] In this fourth station, optionally and complementarily, in no way limiting, one of the rollers can be moved transversely with respect to its axis of rotation in order to facilitate the access and exit of the bar with the dough.

[0024] In any case, it is important to point out that the aforementioned components of each of the described stations of the machine of the invention are conveniently linked to supports, columns and actuators which, being preferably electro-pneumatic driven by corresponding motors, servomotors and pneumatic cylinders, allow the controlled operation of the same in a synchronized manner to adjust the movement of each of them at the precise moment with respect to the advance of the product on the successive conveyor belts.

[0025] In addition, preferably, the inclusion of product presence detection sensors and potentiometers to regulate said operation according to the position of the product at each point of the production line is planned, with the whole set being associated with a programmable control unit.

[0026] Furthermore, to increase production, it is possible that the machine, instead of a single production line with the aforementioned elements, may comprise more than one line that, working in parallel, shares one or more of the conveyor belts and / or other components in all or some of the stations.

[0027] Furthermore, it is important to note that, although the product's filling is preferably cheese, according to the traditional tequeño recipe, it can also consist of any other type of ingredient, whether fresh or frozen, with the sole premise that it can take the form of a bar and has a consistency sufficient to be processed by the different components of each station of the machine.

[0028] The dough, which is preferably wheat-based, may also be made with corn or other ingredients suitable for this type of product. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a drawing is attached to this descriptive document as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

[0030] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an example of the product produced by the machine of the invention once finished, showing its configuration, especially the arrangement of the dough helically wound onto the filling bar; Figures 2-A and 2-B show, in respective schematic perspective and side elevation views, the starting position in which the filling is placed on the dough at the beginning of the process for its winding with the machine of the invention; Figure 2-C shows a schematic side elevation view of the product after the first stage of the process carried out by the machine at the first station of the same; Figure 2-D shows a schematic side elevation view of the product after the second stage of the process carried out by the machine at the second station of the same; Figure 2-E.Figure 2-F shows a schematic plan view of the product after the third stage of the process executed by the machine at its third station. Figure 3 and 4 show side elevation and plan views of the schematic representation of an example of the machine of the invention, showing the main parts and elements it comprises, as well as their arrangement, some of them being represented by a smooth, dashed line in two possible positions.Figures 6-A, 6-B, and 6-C show enlarged views of the schematic representation of the first station of the machine shown in the example in Figure 3, in this case represented in section and including the product. The movement of the pusher and the tilting wedge for folding the end of the dough over the filling bar is visible. Figures 6-D and 6-E show enlarged views of the schematic representation of the second station of the machine shown in the example in Figure 3, showing the movement of the second belt and the turning plate. Figures 6-F, 6-G, 6-H, and 6-I show schematic perspective views of the rollers, tensioners, and other elements of the second belt shown in Figures 6-A to 6-C, in this case represented without the belt itself to allow observation of these elements.Figures 7-A and 7-B show enlarged views of the schematic representation of the second station of the machine shown in Figure 6-A to 6-D, in this case represented in section and including the bar with the dough, showing the movement of the second belt and the turning plate to longitudinally wrap the filling bar; Figures 7-A and 7-B show enlarged views of the schematic representation of the third station of the machine shown in the example in Figure 3, showing the movement of the tunnel guide and the rotating bridge to position the bar with the dough in a transverse position, in this case represented in section and including the bar with the dough; and Figures 8-A and 8-B show enlarged views of the schematic representation of the fourth station of the machine shown in the example in Figure 3, showing the movement of the transverse rollers that rotate the bar with the dough.

[0031] Figures 9 and 10 show two perspective views of the rollers responsible for gathering the emerging mass laterally onto the body of the bar.

[0032] Figure 11 shows a second embodiment for the complete longitudinal coverage of the bar.

[0033] Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the complementary embodiment of the inverted “U” shaped bridge in the form of clamps.

[0034] Figures 13 to 14 show several perspective views of the rollers responsible for the helical winding of the dough along the body of the bar.

[0035] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them an example of a non-limiting embodiment of the machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0037] Thus, the machine (1) of the invention is specially designed for obtaining products (2) ready for frying or baking, shaped, as shown in Figure 1, like tequeños, that is, by a filling, which can be cheese or another product, which has been shaped into a bar (20) and by a dough (21), for example of wheat or other ingredients, which, once flattened and cut into an elongated rectangle, is rolled over the bar (20) of filling so that it wraps it helically.

[0038] For this purpose, as can be seen in figures 2-A to 2-F, said machine, starting from the filling bar (20) arranged longitudinally on the dough (21) near one end thereof, as can be seen in figures 2-A and 2-B, is designed to carry out a rolling process comprising four stages:

[0039] - a first stage in which a first end (21 a) of the mass (21 ) is placed on a first end (20a) of the filling bar (20), as shown in figure 2-C;

[0040] - a second stage in which the filling bar (20) is turned longitudinally over the mass (21), so that a portion of said mass (21) longitudinally covers the entire bar (20) on both the upper and lower sides, as shown in figure 2-D;

[0041] - a third stage in which the filling bar (20) is rotated with the part of the dough (21) that covers it to position it transversely to the direction of advance of the machine (1), direction represented by arrows in some of the figures, and with the rest of the dough (21) then arranged obliquely with respect to the bar (20), as can be seen in figure 2-E; and

[0042] - a fourth and final stage in which the part of the bar (20) covered longitudinally with dough (21) and located transversely in the opposite direction to the advance of the machine is rotated, so that the rest of the dough (21) located in an oblique position is wound helically over said first transverse part, as seen in figure 2-F, achieving the finished product (2) shown in figure 1.

[0043] For all this, the machine (1) of the invention essentially comprises the following:

[0044] - A first station (I), where the first stage of the process is carried out, comprising, located on a first rolling belt (3), in addition preferably to an inlet guide (4) to correctly center the mass (21) and filling bar (20) assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis (e) of the belt (3), at least, a tilting wedge (5) and a previous pusher (51) that pushes the bar (20) and the mass (21) towards said wedge (5) and raises the first end of the mass (21) and places it on the first end of the filling bar (20).Additionally, at the first station (I), means can be provided to bring the mass closer to and join the bar along its longitudinal sides. In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, these means comprise two movable rollers (130) transverse to the advance of the bar (20), such that the intermediate space (131) between the rollers (130) is modifiable by actuators (132), and its initial position is restored by means of a restoring means, which in the embodiment shown is a spring (133). In a possible embodiment, these actuators (132) could be hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, or any type of actuator that allows this movement to be performed.

[0045] - A second station (II), where the second stage of the process takes place, in which the bar is turned longitudinally over the dough so that a portion of it completely covers it longitudinally.

[0046] This second stage, in one possible embodiment, comprises a second mobile rolling belt (6), which extends and contracts at its front end (60), bringing it closer to and further away from the first rolling belt (3) behind which it is located, while, in a synchronized manner, at its rear end (61) it descends and rises to define a final inclined or horizontal surface, there being on this mobile belt (6) a guiding guide (7), which carries the mass (21) and filling (20) assembly obtained in the first stage from one end of the belt (6) to the other and towards a turning plate (8), located at a certain height at the beginning of a third conveyor belt (9) arranged after the second (6) and at a lower level, this assembly of elements being provided to move in a synchronized manner and such that, when the bar (20) is located on the front end (60) of the belt (6), said end is extended and close to the first belt (3) (Fig.6-F), and when the bar (20) reaches the rear end (61) it is in a horizontal position, passing the bar (20) towards the turning plate (8) where it is deposited (Fig. 6-I), being then turned longitudinally by a rotation of the plate (8) which causes the total covering of the filling (20) with the mass (21) in a longitudinal direction, being deposited on the rear end (61) of the belt which will have moved down to the inclined position (Fig. 6-H), to then fall on the beginning of the third conveyor belt (9) (Fig. 6-I).

[0047] A preferred embodiment to the first embodiment described for the second station used to longitudinally cover the bar with the mass (21) is shown in Figure 11, where it can be seen that it comprises a second tilting wedge (135), which is provided with a counterweight, not shown and arranged at its lower part. On the other hand, this second station comprises a pusher with a double movement (145) responsible for pushing the bar towards the second tilting wedge (135), causing the bar to be placed on the tilting wedge so that when the entire bar is on the second tilting wedge (135), the second movement of the pusher acts, causing the second tilting wedge (135) to turn over and consequently the total covering of the bar in the longitudinal direction.Associated with the second tilting wedge (135) there are means for recovering the initial position of the second tilting wedge (135) after the turning consists of a turning actuator (137) in combination with transmitting cables (138) one end of which is attached to the actuator (137) and the other to the second tilting wedge (135).

[0048] On the second tilting wedge (135) there are guides (136) that facilitate the guided advance of the bar (20).

[0049] In this preferred embodiment, the same tape is used in the second station as in station (I).

[0050] - A third station (III), where the third stage of the process is carried out, comprising, incorporated on the central area of ​​the aforementioned third conveyor belt (9), a tunnel guide (10), capable of rotating on itself about the vertical axis perpendicular to the belt (9), and a U-shaped rotating bridge (11) provided next to the rear end of the tunnel guide (10) such that, once the bar (20) with the mass portion (21) covering it longitudinally emerges from the rear end of the tunnel guide (10) and is inserted under the rotating bridge (11), said bridge rotates about 90° placing said portion in a transverse position and, at the same time, the tunnel guide (10) rotates slightly so that the remaining strip of mass (21) is displaced slightly by the side walls of the tunnel to place it in an oblique position with respect to said transverse portion.

[0051] In a complementary embodiment of this third station (III) the rotating bridge (11) is formed by two arms in the form of movable clamps (139) where one of the arms of the movable clamps (139) is a retractable arm (140) so that once the part of the product with the bar and the dough that covers it longitudinally has passed and emerges from the rear end of said tunnel, the movable clamps (139) close and rotate approximately 90° so that the dough contacts a limiting stop (146) and then the retractable arm (140) contracts while the remaining strip of dough, still located on the surface of the conveyor belt inside the tunnel, is slightly displaced by the side walls of the tunnel to place it obliquely.

[0052] In this preferred embodiment, the same tape is used in the third station as in stations (I) and (II).

[0053] - And a fourth station (IV), where the fourth and final stage of the process takes place, comprising, located at the rear end of the third rolling belt (9), two transverse rollers (12) that rotate in the direction of the advance of the belt (9) and, by rubbing against the bar (20) with the mass (21) arranged transversely, they push it, making it rotate on itself, causing the helical winding of the remaining strip of mass (21).

[0054] This fourth station (IV) allows an optional, non-limiting complementary embodiment, which consists of one of the two rollers (12) being a fixed roller (141) that moves transversely to the direction of rotation so that when it separates from the other movable roller (142) it facilitates the access and exit of the bar with the dough.

[0055] In a possible complementary embodiment, the first belt (3), the second belt (6), and the third belt (9) of all stations are the same belt. To achieve this displacement of the movable roller (142), the machine has a displacement means (144), which in a possible non-limiting embodiment could be a linear bearing, driven by a displacement actuator (143), as shown in Figure 14. When the displacement actuator (143) is actuated, it produces the displacement of the movable roller (142) by means of the displacement means (144).

[0056] Referring to figures 3, 4 and especially figures 5-A and 5-B, it can be seen how, preferably, the tilting wedge (5), which is a piece with a rectangular plan and triangular section, is fixed in a free-spinning joint (13) to a height-adjustable support (14) so ​​that in the rest position (Fig.5-A) defines an inclined front surface (50) with a straight lower edge that is flush with the surface of the first strip (3), such that, when the pusher (51), which in turn is a piece with an inverted L-shaped cross-section, pushes the bar (20) located on the mass (21), the front end of said mass (21) hits said surface (50) of the tilting wedge (5) and is lifted over the front end of the bar (20) which, in turn, by the force of the pusher (51), pushes the tilting wedge (5) making it rotate about its point of attachment (13) so that the front surface (50) turns over and bends the front end of the mass (21) and places it above the bar (20) at the front end of the same (Fig. 5-C) thanks to the weight of the tilting wedge (5).

[0057] Preferably, this first station (I) of the machine also comprises an exit guide (15), near the end of the conveyor belt (3), which channels the bar (20) and mass (21) assembly to correct any possible deviation of it towards a guide (7) of the second station (II) of the machine.

[0058] For its part, preferably, the pusher (51) is moved by means of two pneumatic cylinders (36), one horizontal and one vertical, which move it respectively in a horizontal and vertical direction to adjust to the top of the bar (20) and push it until it hits the front surface (50) of the tilting wedge (5).

[0059] Preferably, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and especially in Figures 6-A to 6-I, the front (60) and rear (61) ends of the second moving rolling belt (6) of the second station (II) of the machine are associated with tensioners (37), incorporated on both sides of the belt (6) at the front end (60), where there is a presence sensor (16) that activates them to extend or retract this front end (60) by moving the drive roller (32) of the belt (6) when it detects or does not detect the bar (20), as well as a tension roller (35) whose ends are coupled to respective side plates (62) with an inclined slot (63) that acts as a guide for said tension roller (35) at the rear end (61) of the belt (6), in such a way that they move said tension cylinder (35) to place this rear end (61) in an inclined position, in sync with the extended position of the anterior end (60) (Fig.6-A and 6-D), or to place it in a horizontal position, in sync with the contracted position of the end (60) (Fig. 6-B and 6-G).

[0060] For its part, the guide rail (7) installed on said second belt (6) defines a channel with a front zone in the form of a converging funnel (70), where the assembly of the bar (20) and the mass (21) is received, and a rear zone of articulated parallel walls (71) that rest on the movable rear end (61) of the final part of said second belt (6), so that they go up and down with it.

[0061] In any case, preferably, the turning plate (8) of this second station (II) is made up of a rectangular piece that defines a flat upper surface (80) with a rear stop (81), where the bar (20) with the mass (21) pushed by the advance of the second belt (6) is deposited and stopped (Fig. 6-E), and this plate (8) is attached to a rotating mechanism (82) that provides a rotation of the same

[0062] Preferably, said rotating mechanism (82) is automatically activated when it detects the presence of the bar (20) on the upper surface (80), through another presence sensor (16), causing the longitudinal rotation of the bar (20) on the remaining strip of mass (21) by placing it against the inclined end (61) of the end part of the second tape (6) (Fig. 6-B).

[0063] In summary, at this second station (II), the mobile conveyor belt (6) and the turning plate (8) act in such a way that, when the bar (20) is placed on the front end (60), it is detected by the first sensor (16) provided at said front end, which causes the tensioning cylinder (35) to move to place the rear end (61) in a raised horizontal position and, at the same time, contract the tensioner (37) that moves the roller (32) of the front end (60) (Fig. 6-B and Fig. 6-E).And, when the bar (20) reaches the end of the turning plate (8), upon being detected by the second sensor (16), it causes the turning mechanism (82) of the plate (8) to begin its turning movement, at the same time, the tensioners (37) of the belt (6) move the tensioning cylinder (35) of the rear end (61) again to place it in an inclined position, to receive the bar (20) with the mass (21) turned longitudinally, which in turn causes the front end (60) of the belt to extend again (Fig. 6-C, Fig. 6-F) to approach the first belt (3), returning to its initial position awaiting a new cycle.

[0064] Preferably, the turning plate (8) with the described rotating mechanism (82) is incorporated in a movable support (17) which allows adjusting its height with respect to the belt (6) so that, once turned, the bar (20) covered longitudinally with the mass (21), there is space for it to fall by gravity from the inclined end (60) of the second belt (6) onto the third rolling belt (9) located inside (Fig. 6-G), while the turning plate (8) returns to its initial horizontal position.

[0065] Referring to figures 3 and 4 and, especially, to figures 7-A and 7-B, it can be seen how, in the third station (III), the tunnel guide (10) is defined by a body of inverted U-section, preferably formed by a set of three telescopically extendable sections (100), which, associated with a lifting and rotating support (18), rises and falls arranged in a longitudinal position and in synchrony with the passage of the bar (20) wrapped with the front portion of the mass (21 ) and rotates partially, so that, at first, the tunnel guide (10) remains parallel to the longitudinal axis (e) of the belt (9) while the bar (20) is channeled between its side walls (fig. 7-A) and, after its passage, the tunnel guide (10) rotates slightly pushing the remaining strip of mass (21 ) with the walls to position it obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis (e) of advance of the belt (9) (Fig. 7-B).

[0066] It is important to note that, thanks to the three telescopically extendable sections (100) that make up the tunnel guide (10), it has the ability to extend and retract. When lowered, these sections (100) are locked by a stem (101) to which they are attached, which in turn keeps them retracted when the tunnel guide (10) is raised to allow the rod (20) and mass (21) assembly to extend, before returning to its initial position and deploying these sections (100) again.

[0067] For its part, the rotating bridge (11) preferably comprises two parallel blades (110) joined, in an adjustable manner, to an upper crossbar (111), in order to adjust the separation between them according to the thickness of the bar (20) with the mass (21), said crossbar (111) being attached, in turn, to a lifting rotation mechanism (19), which acts in synchrony with the movement of the tunnel guide (10) to descend with the walls (110) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the belt (9) (Fig. 7-A), positioning itself on both sides of the bar (20) wrapped with the mass (21) that emerges from the tunnel guide (10), and rotating about 90° to place it transversely (Fig. 7-B).

[0068] Preferably, between the tunnel guide (10) and the rotating bridge (11) there is another presence sensor (16), for example, an optical sensor, which activates the rotating mechanism of both elements when the bar (20) emerges from the rear end of the tunnel guide (10).

[0069] For its part, taking into account figures 3 and 4, and especially figures 8-A and 8-B, it can be seen how, preferably, the rollers (12) of the fourth station (IV) of the machine are two rollers (12) that, arranged parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis (e) of the belt (9), at the end of the same, are associated with an articulated support (120) that allows both the vertical and angular movement of the same with respect to the surface of the rolling belt (9), as well as the adjustment of the separation between one and the other rollers (12), such that they adapt to the position of the bar (20) with the mass (21 ) to rub against it with the appropriate pressure to make it rotate.Preferably, the rotation and up-and-down movement of both rollers (12) is regulated by a timer integrated into the PLC program that controls the drive of the different mechanisms and actuators of the machine, and optionally, a presence sensor (16) can be used to activate the rotation of the rollers (12).

[0070] Preferably, all the elements described for each station, i.e., the entry (4) and exit (15) guides, the pusher (51) and the tilting wedge (5) of the first station (I); the guiding guide (7) and the turning plate (8) of the second station

[0071] (11); the tunnel guide (10) and the swing bridge (11) of the third station (III); and the rollers

[0072] (12) of the fourth station (IV), are incorporated on the respective belts (3, 6, 9) and on the corresponding supports (14, 17, 18, 19) comprising means for regulating their position with respect to the central longitudinal axis (e) of each of said belts (3, 6, 9) as appropriate, for example by means of lateral fixing profiles (30), to position them more or less centrally, as well as for regulating their position with respect to the beginning or end of said belts (3, 6, 9) and increasing or decreasing the separation between them, for example by means of longitudinal fixing profiles (31).

[0073] Optionally, the machine comprises one or more water sprayers (38), represented schematically in Figure 3, preferably over the initial end of the first belt (3) of the first station and / or over the second belt (6), between the first and second stations, to moisten the dough (21) and make it adhere better to the filling stick (20).

[0074] Finally, in a known manner, each of the conveyor belts (3, 6, 9) comprises at least one drive roller (32) associated with one or more electric motors (33), one or more tracking rollers (34) and / or one or more tensioning rollers (35).

[0075] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field can understand its scope and the advantages that derive from it.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, specifically products (2) consisting of a filling in the form of a bar (20) and a dough (21) cut in the form of an elongated rectangle that is helically wound around the bar (20) of filling, characterized by comprising: - a first station (I) comprising, located on a rolling belt (3), at least, a tilting wedge (5) and a pre-pusher (51) which, with the filling bar (20) arranged longitudinally on the mass (21) near one end thereof, pushes the bar (20) towards said wedge (5) and raises the first end of the mass (21) and places it on the first end of the filling bar (20); - a second station (II) where a second stage of the process is carried out in which the bar is turned longitudinally over the mass so that a portion of it completely covers it longitudinally, comprising a second tilting wedge (135), which is provided with a counterweight arranged at its lower part, on the other hand it comprises a double pusher (145) prior in charge of pushing the bar towards the second tilting wedge (135) making the bar be placed on the tilting wedge so that when the whole bar is on the second tilting wedge (135) the second pusher acts which causes the second tilting wedge (135) to turn over and consequently the total covering of the bar in the longitudinal direction.Associated with the second tilting wedge (135) there are means for recovering the initial position of the second tilting wedge (135) after the turning consists of a turning actuator (137) in combination with transmitting cables (138) one end of which is attached to the actuating cylinder and the other to the second tilting wedge (135), in addition on the second tilting wedge (135) there are guides (136) that facilitate the guided advance of the bar (20). - a third station (III) comprising, incorporated on a third conveyor belt (9), a tunnel guide (10), capable of rotating about itself on the vertical axis perpendicular to the belt (9), and an inverted U-shaped swivel bridge (11) provided next to the rear end of the tunnel guide (10), such that, once the bar (20) with the mass portion (21) that covers it longitudinally emerges from the rear end of the tunnel guide (10) and is inserted under the rotating bridge (11), said bridge rotating about 90° placing said portion in a transverse position and, at the same time, the tunnel guide (10) rotates slightly so that the remaining strip of mass (21) is displaced to place it in an oblique position with respect to the transverse portion; and - a fourth station (IV) comprising, located on the third rolling belt (9), two transverse rollers (12) that rotate in the direction of the advance of the belt (9) and rub against the bar (20) with the mass (21) arranged transversely and push it, making it rotate on itself, causing the helical winding of the remaining strip of mass (21). 2.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first station (I) comprises, on the first rolling belt (3) and prior to the tilting wedge (5), an entry guide (4), to correctly position the assembly of dough (21) and filling (20) centered with respect to the longitudinal axis (e) of the belt (3). 3.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tilting wedge (5), which is a piece with a rectangular base and triangular cross-section, is fixed in a free-rotating joint (13) to a height-adjustable support (14) so ​​that in the rest position it defines an inclined front surface (50) with a straight lower edge that is flush with the surface of the first belt (3) such that, when the pusher (51) pushes the bar (20) located on the dough (21), the front end of said dough (21) touches said surface (50) of the tilting wedge (5) and lifts it over the front end of the bar (20) 4.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to claim 3, characterized in that the pusher (51) is a piece with an inverted L-shaped cross-section.

5. Machine for the automated production of tequeños or other products similar culinary, according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pusher (51) is associated with two pneumatic cylinders (36), one horizontal and one vertical, which move it respectively in a horizontal and vertical direction to adjust to the top of the bar (20) and push it until it touches the front surface (50) of the tilting wedge (5). 6.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the first station (I) further comprises an output guide (15) near the end of the conveyor belt (3) that channels the bar (20) and dough (21) assembly. 7.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that in the first station (I) there are means that bring the dough closer and join the stick to its lateral sides in a longitudinal direction consisting of two movable rollers (130) in a transverse direction to the advance of the stick (20) so that the intermediate space (131 ) between the rollers (130) is modifiable by the action of actuators (132), its initial position being recovered by means of a spring (133). 8.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the tunnel guide (10) of the third station (III), comprises an inverted U-shaped body formed by a set of three telescopically extendable sections (100) associated with a lifting and rotating support (18), which gives it the ability to extend and contract, and a stem (101) by means of which said sections (100) are locked to rise and fall. 9.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the rotating bridge (11) comprises two parallel blades (110) joined, in an adjustable manner, to an upper crossbar (111) which is in turn attached to a lifting rotation mechanism (19). 10.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to claims 17 and 18, characterized in that between the tunnel guide (10) and the rotating bridge (11) there is a sensor (16) that activates the rotation mechanism of both elements when the bar (20) emerges from the rear end of the tunnel guide (10). 11.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the rotating bridge (11) is formed by two arms in the manner of movable clamps (139) where one of the arms of the movable clamps (139) is a retractable arm (140), also having a limiting stop (146). 12.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the rollers (12) of the fourth station (IV) are two rollers (12), arranged parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the belt (9), at the end of the same, which are associated with an articulated support (120) that allows both the vertical and angular movement of the same with respect to the surface of the rolling belt (9), as well as the adjustment of the separation between one and the other rollers (12). 13.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises one or more water sprayers (38) to moisten the dough (21) and make it adhere better to the filling stick (20). 14.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that one of the two rollers (12) is a movable roller (142) that moves in a transverse direction to the rotation when separating from the other fixed roller (141) by means of a displacement means (144), which is driven by a displacement actuator (143). 15.- Machine for the automated preparation of tequeños or other similar culinary preparations, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that all stations share the same belt.

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