Patent GB-802632-A (GB)
Title: Improved method of, and means for, making filled cakes, particularly eccles cakes
IPC: A23G3/20
Filed: 1955-11-30
Abstract: 802,632. Moulding and filling Eccles cakes &c. JONES, S. A. Nov. 28, 1956 [Nov. 30, 1955], No. 34223/55. Class 87(2). A layer of paste is placed over a mould and, by the operation of a die, is shaped into a cup which is partly filled, e.g., with fruit; the surrounding edge of the cup is then gathered in and the gathered-in edge is pressed down by mechanical means. An intermittently moving conveyer 1 carries a series of moulds 2 to five stations in succession: (i) a cam-operated plunger 14 with a die 12 on its lower end, (ii) a hopper 5 containing filling material, (iii) an arrangement of inwardly-movable fingers for folding in the edge of the pastry, (iv) a cam-operated plunger 41 with a flat disc 40 on its lower end, and (v) a fixed cam 13. Each mould 2, Fig. 8, comprises an annular wall with radial slots 8 alternating with ridges 9 which have rounded nose portions 9a pointing inwards. A disc 7 fits in the enclosed circular space, being movable relatively to the wall, to form an ejector. A layer of paste 4 is laid on each mould and when the conveyer pauses at station (i) a cam 17 depresses the die 12 against the force of a spring 34. The die 12, Fig. 9, consists of a central disc from which pins 18 radiate, arranged to enter the slots 8 in the mould far enough to pleat the layer of pastry to the shape shown in Fig. 10. The pastry so formed is conveyed beneath the hopper 5, the outlets of which are controlled by a rotary distributer 22 which delivers measured quantities of filling, e.g., currants, cake crumbs, &c. An agitator 55 may be driven from the distributer. At station (iii) an assembly carried by a platform 25, Fig. 4, is lowered by cams 39 against the force of springs 47 and brings two sets of fingers 23 into position, the arrangement being suited to an embodiment in which the conveyer carries two rows of moulds. The fingers 23 are arranged around hubs 24 to which they are pivoted at 26, being curved near their pivots and fitting in a ring 28 (for each set of fingers) shaped to fit the curve and to act as a cam when moved up and down, so causing the fingers to turn on their pivots 26. A vertical rod 31 terminating in a disc 32 passes through the centre of each hub 24. When the platform 25 has been lowered, cams 29 act through rods 30 and lower the rings 28, thus causing the fingers 23 to converge and their claw-like bottom ends to engage beneath the folds of the pleated paste and close it over. Cams 33 then lower the rods 31 and the discs 32 press down the gathered-in walls of the paste cups and enclose the fillings. As the cams continue their movement the springs 47, 28 and 35 raise the platform 25, rings 28 and discs 32 and the conveyer moves on till it halts again at station (iv). Here a cam 43, for each mould, lowers a rod 41, against the force of a spring 42, and presses a disc 40, on the bottom end of each rod, on top of the closedin paste cup, pressing it into the mould 2 and conforming it to its final shape. When the disc 40 is raised again the conveyer moves forwards once more and brings a pin 10, depending from the plate 7 and fitted at its lower end with a steel ball 11, into engagement with the cam 13, the plate 7 being forced upwards and ejecting the cake 4c. The sprockets 3 over which the chains of the conveyer pass may be operated through a geneva drive and the cams and hopper mechanism through spiral gear wheels. A rod may be operated by a cam to drop in a hole in the conveyer and lock it in each new position.