US4555407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous chewing gum method
Assignee: General Foods Corp
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Filing: 1984-12-24
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Granted: 1985-11-26
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Expires: 2004-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for continuously forming wide, thin chewing gum slabs suitable for forming sheets and bands ready for packaging in an automatic wrapping machine is disclosed. The method involves compounding a chewing gum paste; extruding the formed gum paste as a wide thin slab through a die mounted on the discharge end of the extruder; cooling the extruded gum paste slab; and passing the gum paste slab through no more than two sets of calender rolls.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin Kramer
- 👤 Henderikus B. Bruins
- 👤 Joseph Giacone
- 👤 Luc L. Carbillet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:59
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/06; A23G4/02; A23G4/04; A23G4/18; A23G4/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for continuously forming a wide thin chewing gum slab suitable for forming sheets and bands ready for packaging in an automatic wrapping machine which comprises: (a) continuously compounding a chewing gum paste; (b) extruding the formed gum paste to a slab at least 0.7 meters wide and less than 3 mm thick, said extruded slab having a temperature less than 100° C.; (c) cooling the extruded gum paste slab to a temperature less than about 60° C. in less than about 60 seconds; and (d) passing the gum paste slab through calender rolls to reduce the slab to less than 2.5 mm thick.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for continuously forming a wide thin chewing gum slab suitable for forming sheets and bands ready for packaging in an automatic wrapping machine which comprises: (a) continuously compounding a chewing gum paste; (b) extruding the formed gum paste to a slab at least 0.7 meters wide and less than 3 mm thick, said extruded slab having a temperature less than 100° C.; (c) cooling the extruded gum paste slab to a temperature less than about 60° C. in less than about 60 seconds; and (d) passing the gum paste slab through calender rolls to reduce the slab to less than 2.5 mm thick.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the continuous compounding of the chewing gum paste has an average residence time of less than 2 minutes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the gum paste slab is passed through no more than two sets of calender rolls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the gum paste comprises: (a) about 15 wt% to about 30 wt% liquid or pelletized gum base; (b) about 50 wt% to about 70 wt% sugar; (c) about 5 wt% to about 15 wt% rework; (d) about 12 wt% to about 20 wt% corn syrup; and (e) about 0.1 wt% to about 2 wt% plasticizer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the gum paste is compound in a twin screw extruder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the gum paste is extruded to a slab one meter or greater wide and less than 2.5 mm thick.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the compounded gum paste is extruded through a coat hanger die.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the extruded slab is less than 75° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the extruded slab is further cooled to less than 50° C. in less than 30 seconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the cooled slab is passed through one set of calender rolls.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for continuously forming gum sheets ready for packaging in an automatic wrapper machine which comprises: (a) continuously compounding a chewing gum paste with an average residence time of less than 2 minutes; (b) extruding the compounding gum paste to a slab at least 0.7 meters wide and less than 3 mm thick, said extruded slab having a temperature less than 100° C.; (c) cooling the extruded gum paste to a temperature less than 50° C. in less than 60 seconds; (d) passing the gum paste slab through no more than two sets of calender rolls to reduce the slab to less than 2.5 mm thick; (e) slicing the slab into sheets; (f) scoring the sheets to form bands; and (g) cooling the slab to from about 18° C. to about 25° C.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for continuously forming gum sheets ready for packaging in an automatic wrapper machine which comprises: (a) continuously compounding a chewing gum paste with an average residence time of less than 2 minutes; (b) extruding the compounding gum paste to a slab at least 0.7 meters wide and less than 3 mm thick, said extruded slab having a temperature less than 100° C.; (c) cooling the extruded gum paste to a temperature less than 50° C. in less than 60 seconds; (d) passing the gum paste slab through no more than two sets of calender rolls to reduce the slab to less than 2.5 mm thick; (e) slicing the slab into sheets; (f) scoring the sheets to form bands; and (g) cooling the slab to from about 18° C. to about 25° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 11 which further comprises applying a coating material to the extruded slab prior to passing the slabs through a calender roll.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the coating material is applied in an amount from about 0.20 weight % to about 1.0 Wt% based on the slab weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the sheets contain six bands.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-11-25 | 1989-05-27 | 1989-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-25 | 1993-05-27 | 1993-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-25 | 1997-05-27 | 1997-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |