Apparatus for forming scrolls from strip material

An apparatus for forming a strip of material into a scroll, said apparatus comprising:

• a scroll forming jig secured to a shaft and having an axis of rotation;
• the scroll forming jig having spirally aligned first and second spiral-shaped scroll forming portions mounted for rotation therewith for forming first and second revolutions of the scroll respectively as the shaft and thereby the jig and scroll forming portions are rotated;
• the first and second scroll forming portions being displaceable along the axis of rotation with respect to each other and normally urged into a common plane by a spring means connected to one of the first and second portions whereby the strip of material can be inserted into the first portion at an oblique angle with respect to the axis of rotation to thereafter be swingable into a position perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereby contacting and axially displacing the second portion against the force of the spring means such that the jig can be rotated to begin formation of the first revolution of the scroll around the first portion;
• and
• whereby when at least half of the first revolution of the scroll is formed, the second portion has a radial gap therein for accommodating the strip of material and thereby allowing the spring means to return the first and second portions back into the common plane so that the second revolution of the scroll can be formed in a continuous motion with the first revolution of the scroll.