Patent EP0320522A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0320522A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making controlled release products for chewing gum
Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Co
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Filing: 1987-12-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A process is disclosed wherein an ingredient is treated so that it will exhibit a controlled release when incorporated in chewing gum. According to the method, a quantity of a powdered ingredient is mixed with an agglomerating agent, such as a modified cellulose, and a limited quantity of a solvent for the agglomerating agent, such as water. The quantity of solvent is limited so as to produce a mixture which is only moist or damp. This damp mixture is characterized as being dust-free, non-flowing and crumbly. The damp mixture is then dried and the dried mixture is treated, e.g. by grinding and/or screening, to produce the desired particle size range in the agglomerated ingredient particles. These agglomerated particles comprise collections or clusters of ingredient particles which have been bound together by the agglomerating agent.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven B. Zibell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:27
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/18; A23G4/20; A23V; A23V2002/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for producing a controlled release ingredient for chewing gum comprising the following steps: mixing a quantity of an ingredient with a quantity of an agglomerating agent and a limited quantity of solvent to produce a damp mix, the damp mix being characterized as being dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly; drying said damp mix; and particle sizing said dried mix to thereby obtain agglomerated particles of the ingredient within a predetermined particle size range; said agglomerated particles being adapted to produce a controlled release of the ingredient when used in chewing gum.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for producing a controlled release ingredient for chewing gum comprising the following steps: mixing a quantity of an ingredient with a quantity of an agglomerating agent and a limited quantity of solvent to produce a damp mix, the damp mix being characterized as being dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly; drying said damp mix; and particle sizing said dried mix to thereby obtain agglomerated particles of the ingredient within a predetermined particle size range; said agglomerated particles being adapted to produce a controlled release of the ingredient when used in chewing gum.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for producing a controlled release ingredient for chewing gum comprising the following steps: dry blending a quantity of the ingredient with a quantity of a powdered agglomerating agent; gradually adding a limited quantity of solvent to the mixture of ingredient and agglomerating agent in an amount sufficient to create a damp mix, the damp mix being characterized as being dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly; drying said damp mix; and comminuting said dried mix to thereby create particles of the ingredient which are adapted to produce a controlled release when incorporated in chewing gum.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for producing a controlled release ingredient for chewing gum comprising the following steps: dry blending a quantity of the ingredient with a quantity of a powdered agglomerating agent; gradually adding a limited quantity of solvent to the mixture of ingredient and agglomerating agent in an amount sufficient to create a damp mix, the damp mix being characterized as being dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly; drying said damp mix; and comminuting said dried mix to thereby create particles of the ingredient which are adapted to produce a controlled release when incorporated in chewing gum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of Claim 1 or 2 wherein said ingredient is selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, flavors, acidulants, and medicaments, as well as mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said ingredient is a high-potency sweetener.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of Claim 4 wherein said high-potency sweetener is aspartame.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
35 words
The method of one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein said agglomerating agent is selected from the group consisting of modified celulose, gums, shellac, zein, maltodextrins. gelatins, starches, and lactose, as well as mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
32 words
The method of one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said agglomerating agent is added in an amount between about 1 percent and about 65 percent by weight of the agglomerated ingredient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of Claim 6 wherein said agglomerating agent is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of Claim 8, wherein said hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is added in an amount between about 5 percent and about 50 percent by weight of the agglomerated ingredient.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of Claim 8 wherein the solvent is added in an amount between about 20 and about 55 percent by weight of the damp mix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein said agglomerating agent and said solvent are combined in a carbohydrate syrup.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for treating aspartame to produce a controlled release when used in chewing gum comprising the steps of: dry blending a quantity of powdered aspartame with a quantity of a powdered hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as an agglomerating agent; adding a limited amount of solvent to the mixture of aspartame and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in an amount sufficient to produce a damp mix, the damp mix being characterized by a solvent content between about 30 and about 40 percent by weight of the damp mix; drying said damp mix to remove substantially all of said solvent; and comminuting said dried mix to thereby produce agglomerated particles of aspartame which are adapted to produce a controlled release when used in chewing gum.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for treating aspartame to produce a controlled release when used in chewing gum comprising the steps of: dry blending a quantity of powdered aspartame with a quantity of a powdered hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as an agglomerating agent; adding a limited amount of solvent to the mixture of aspartame and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in an amount sufficient to produce a damp mix, the damp mix being characterized by a solvent content between about 30 and about 40 percent by weight of the damp mix; drying said damp mix to remove substantially all of said solvent; and comminuting said dried mix to thereby produce agglomerated particles of aspartame which are adapted to produce a controlled release when used in chewing gum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 12 wherein the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is added in an amount between about 10 and about 30 percent of the agglomerated aspartame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An agglomerated ingredient adapted to produce a controlled release when used in chewing gum which agglomerated ingredients is made according to the method of Claims 1 - 13.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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