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Education > Product Information > Market Spotlights
Tortilla Press Belts Application Spotlight
Application: A typical tortilla press has a heated top-platen covered with 7 Mil, 10 Mil, 11 Mil or 14 Mil PTFE fabrics and uses a PTFE belt made from the same or a similar product.
A flour based dough ball is placed on the PTFE-Glass belt, either mechanically or manually, at the feed-end of the press. The belt is then indexed forward to the platen area. The platen is then lowered automatically by air cylinders, pressing the dough balls into flat round tortillas. The platen is heated electrically and cooks the tortillas at approximately 400°F - 450°F. The cycle time is a few seconds. The PTFE belt and platen covers are used primarily for their release properties and high temperature performance. The PTFE belts and platen covers also meet all FDA requirements.
Due to the abrasion and poor maintenance the expected belt life is usually between 5 – 10 days. As the belt begins to wear and the PTFE begins to abrade away, the dough tends to stick to those areas. When this happens the dough collects in that area, and gets very hard after repeated heat cycling. As a result the dough punctures the belts, making a hole that will increase with use. This will also occur on the top platen when the hardened dough balls get between the platen cover and the platen. Eventually the hard dough ball will puncture through the platen cover. Another problem is wicking. Many tortillas use oils and greases in cooking. The oils and grease will penetrate the belt and get into the glass fabric in the abraded areas. This wicking will result in either delaminating or burning of the belts.
There are two basic constructions for manufacturing a tortilla belt.
- The end reinforcement is made to fit a flat bar. This bar is part of the machine. The belt is fed through or wrapped around the machine with the ends interlocking, held together by the bar. In other words the bar goes through the loops making the belt part of the machine, rather than being driven by the pulleys.
In few cases, there is a 2 bar system. In those cases, the belts are manufactured with solid loops, rather than interlocking finger ends. This system has the same concept, however, the 2 bars are side by side. The belt does not join.
In either case it is very important that we obtain the exact size of the bar and belt width and length. Blue prints prior to making belts will assist in preventing any sizes issues later.
- The other type of construction is an endless belt. These belts are made endless with a heat-sealed overlap splice. Wicking problems can show up in the splice area of this type of construction.
Common Belt Sizes:
Most Common Widths:
Most Common Sizes:
- 30” x 166.5”
- 30” x 167”
- 30” x 210”
- 32” x 162”
- 32” x 175”
- 32” x 212”
- 48” x 365.5”
- 19.5” x 160”
- 32” x 223”
- 32.5 x 163”
- 32.5” x 210 ¼”
- 33.5” x 174
- 30” x 186”
- 30” x 189”
There are a few machines that require tracking pins and edging on one side. Typical belts sizes for these are.
- 33.5” x 174”
- 33.5” x 223”
Typical top platen sizes are.
Products:
- DuraLam®
- 111GG
- 111BB
- 111AB
- 107RB
- 311BB
- DuraFab®
Key PTFE Belt and Cover Sheet Properties:
- Smooth, non-stick
- Good Release
- Easy Clean
- Durability
- Temperature Resistant
- Oil & Grease Resistant
- Non-Absorption, non-wicking
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