Improvements relating to the production of swiss rolls

996,132. Making swiss rolls. BAKER PERKINS Ltd. Dec. 16, 1963 [Dec. 10, 1962], No. 46546/62. Headings A2A and A2B. In making swiss rolls, a strip 1 of sponge, Fig. 1, coated with a jam and/or cream filling, is carried, on a conveyer band 2, beneath reciprocating cutting mechanism 3 comprising a rotary cutting blade, which mechanism is moved across the moving strip to cut it along a line 4, then raised and returned across the strip and lowered to make another cut. These cutting operations are repeated, so that the strip is cut into rectangular pieces of sponge 5. These are carried, on the conveyer band, to apparatus 6, which rolls individual pieces 5 across the conveyer band successively into swiss rolls 55. The rolling apparatus 6 moves on rails 7 and is actuated, through cam-lever mechanism 8, by mechanism 9 driving the conveyer band. The cutting mechanism is driven by a servo-controlled, variable speed, electric motor, and the cutting and rolling operations are synchronized with the movement of the conveyer band 2. The rolling apparatus 6 is moved, by reciprocating mechanism, at the same speed as the conveyer band 2 and, on completion of its rolling action, is returned at an increased speed, to start another rolling operation on the next piece of sponge. The rolling apparatus 6, Fig. 2, comprises a carriage 12 provided with pairs of rollers 13 running on the rails 7, and is actuated by a shaft 14 driven by the reciprocating mechanism. The apparatus 6 also comprises a flat plate 15 fitted with a layer of rubber of like material 16. The plate 15 is supported, at its rear end, by an arm 17 carrying a roller 18 running in a guide track 19 and, at its leading end, by an arm 20 connected to an inclined endless chain 21, which is driven by a sprocket 22 and passes round an idler sprocket 23. The sprocket 22 is driven from the shaft 14 through gears 29 and 30, a sprocket 28 and an endless chain 27. The leading edges of the plate 15 engages the corresponding edge of a piece of sponge 5 just before the arm 20 meets a circular guide bar 32. When the arm passes over this bar, the leading edge of the plate 15 is raised a little and carries with it the edge of the piece of sponge. The adjacent upper surface of the piece of sponge is also engaged by a blade 37 on an arm 38 pivoting on a shaft 39, to which is secured a lever 40 connected, by an adjustable link 41, to one end of a lever 42, pivoted at 43, which lever carries, at its other end, a roller 44 engaging a surf