US5000965A — Method for the preparation of sweetening agent de…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 249 words

A method for preparing a stable sweetening agent delivery system which comprises the steps of: (A) providing the following ingredients in percentages by weight of the sweetening agent delivery system: (a) at least one solid natural or artificial high intensity sweetening agent present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 50%; (b) an emulsifying agent present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%; and (c) polyvinyl acetate present in an amount from about 40% to about 93% and having a molecular weight range from about 2,000 to about 14,000; and (B) coating the sweetening agent with a polyvinyl acetate matrix coating and granulating the coated sweetening agent by a method which comprises the steps: (a) melting and blending the polyvinyl acetate with the emulsifying agent and mixing the sweetening agent therein to form a homogeneous mixture in a heated mixing bowl containing a discharge valve in a Double Planetary Mixer; (b) transferring the mixing bowl containing the homogeneous mixture to a Direct Discharge System containing a hydraulic discharge platen, adapted to fit inside the mixing bowl, and hydraulically discharging the mixture from the mixing bowl through the discharge valve into an air and water cooled Hot Melt Granulator; (c) granulating the mixture into particles in the Hot Melt Granulator; (d) cooling and transferring the particles from the Hot Melt Granulator to an Oscillating Granulator by passing the particles through a Cyclone; and (e) granulating the particles in the Oscillating Granulator to a final desired particle size.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 249 words

A method for preparing a stable sweetening agent delivery system which comprises the steps of: (A) providing the following ingredients in percentages by weight of the sweetening agent delivery system: (a) at least one solid natural or artificial high intensity sweetening agent present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 50%; (b) an emulsifying agent present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%; and (c) polyvinyl acetate present in an amount from about 40% to about 93% and having a molecular weight range from about 2,000 to about 14,000; and (B) coating the sweetening agent with a polyvinyl acetate matrix coating and granulating the coated sweetening agent by a method which comprises the steps: (a) melting and blending the polyvinyl acetate with the emulsifying agent and mixing the sweetening agent therein to form a homogeneous mixture in a heated mixing bowl containing a discharge valve in a Double Planetary Mixer; (b) transferring the mixing bowl containing the homogeneous mixture to a Direct Discharge System containing a hydraulic discharge platen, adapted to fit inside the mixing bowl, and hydraulically discharging the mixture from the mixing bowl through the discharge valve into an air and water cooled Hot Melt Granulator; (c) granulating the mixture into particles in the Hot Melt Granulator; (d) cooling and transferring the particles from the Hot Melt Granulator to an Oscillating Granulator by passing the particles through a Cyclone; and (e) granulating the particles in the Oscillating Granulator to a final desired particle size.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the high intensity sweetening agent is selected from the group consisting of amino acid-based sweetening agents, dipeptide sweetening agents, glycyrrhizin, Saccharin and its salts, Acesulfame salts, cyclamates, steviosides, talin, dihydrochalcone compounds, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method according to claim 2, wherein the high intensity sweetening agent comprises Aspartame.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method according to claim 2, wherein the high intensity sweetening agent comprises Saccharin and its salts.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method according to claim 2, wherein the high intensity sweetening agent is a mixture of Aspartame, in an amount up to about 25%, and Saccharin, in an amount from about 1% to about 50%, by weight of the sweetening agent delivery system.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method according to claim 5, wherein the high intensity sweetening agent further comprises Acesulfame-K, in an amount from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight of the sweetening agent delivery system.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifying agent is selected from the group consisting of lecithin, esters of stearates, esters of palmitates, esters of oleates, esters of glycerides, sucrose polyesters, polyglycerol esters, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method according to claim 7, wherein the emulsifying agent is glyceryl monostearate present in amount from about 2% to about 15%, by weight of the sweetening agent delivery system.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl acetate has a molecular weight range from about 2,000 to about 12,000.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the homogeneous mixture in step (B)(a) is no higher than about 73° C.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the homogeneous mixture in step (B)(b) is between about 65° C. and about 73° C. and the mixture is hydraulically discharged from the mixing bowl into the Hot Melt Granulator at a rate of about 1.6 kg/minute.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the granulated particles in step (B)(c) are passed through a 0.25 inch screen attached to the Hot Melt Granulator.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the granulated particles in step (B)(d) transferred into the Oscillating Granulator is between about 22° C. and about 30° C.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the granulated particles in step (B)(e) are passed through a screen, having a mesh size between about 24 mesh and about 30 mesh, attached to the Oscillating Granulator.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 300 words

A method for preparing a chewing gum composition comprising a stable sweetening agent delivery system which comprises the steps of: (1) preparing a stable sweetening agent delivery system by the method which comprises the steps of: (A) providing the following ingredients in percentages by weight of the sweetening agent delivery system: (a) at least one solid natural or artificial high intensity sweetening agent present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 50%; (b) an emulsifying agent present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%; and (c) polyvinyl acetate present in an amount from about 40% to about 93% and having a molecular weight range from about 2,000 to about 14,000; and (B) coating the sweetening agent with a polyvinyl acetate matrix coating and granulating the coated sweetening agent by a method which comprises the steps: (a) melting and blending the polyvinyl acetate with the emulsifying agent and mixing the sweetening agent therein to form a homogeneous mixture in a heated mixing bowl containing a discharge valve in a Double Planetary Mixer; (b) transferring the mixing bowl containing the homogeneous mixture to a Direct Discharge System containing a hydraulic discharge platen, adapted to fit inside the mixing bowl, and hydraulically discharging the mixture from the mixing bowl through the discharge valve into an air and water cooled Hot Melt Granulator; (c) granulating the mixture into particles in the Hot Melt Granulator; (d) cooling and transferring the particles from the Hot Melt Granulator to an Oscillating Granulator by passing the particles through a Cyclone; and (e) granulating the particles in the Oscillating Granulator to a final desired particle size; and (2) admixing the stable sweetening agent delivery system into a homogeneous mixture of gum base and remaining gum ingredients; and (3) forming the mixture into suitable chewing gum shapes.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 300 words

A method for preparing a chewing gum composition comprising a stable sweetening agent delivery system which comprises the steps of: (1) preparing a stable sweetening agent delivery system by the method which comprises the steps of: (A) providing the following ingredients in percentages by weight of the sweetening agent delivery system: (a) at least one solid natural or artificial high intensity sweetening agent present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 50%; (b) an emulsifying agent present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%; and (c) polyvinyl acetate present in an amount from about 40% to about 93% and having a molecular weight range from about 2,000 to about 14,000; and (B) coating the sweetening agent with a polyvinyl acetate matrix coating and granulating the coated sweetening agent by a method which comprises the steps: (a) melting and blending the polyvinyl acetate with the emulsifying agent and mixing the sweetening agent therein to form a homogeneous mixture in a heated mixing bowl containing a discharge valve in a Double Planetary Mixer; (b) transferring the mixing bowl containing the homogeneous mixture to a Direct Discharge System containing a hydraulic discharge platen, adapted to fit inside the mixing bowl, and hydraulically discharging the mixture from the mixing bowl through the discharge valve into an air and water cooled Hot Melt Granulator; (c) granulating the mixture into particles in the Hot Melt Granulator; (d) cooling and transferring the particles from the Hot Melt Granulator to an Oscillating Granulator by passing the particles through a Cyclone; and (e) granulating the particles in the Oscillating Granulator to a final desired particle size; and (2) admixing the stable sweetening agent delivery system into a homogeneous mixture of gum base and remaining gum ingredients; and (3) forming the mixture into suitable chewing gum shapes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method according to claim 15, wherein the temperature of the homogeneous mixture in step (1)(B)(a) is no higher than about 73° C.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method according to claim 15, wherein the temperature of the homogeneous mixture in step (1)(B)(b) is between about 65° C. and about 73° C. and the mixture is hydraulically discharged from the mixing bowl into the Hot Melt Granulator at a rate of about 1.6 kg/minute.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method according to claim 15, wherein the granulated particles in step (1)(B)(c) are passed through a 0.25 inch screen attached to the Hot Melt Granulator.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method according to claim 15, wherein the temperature of the granulated particles in step (1)(B)(d) transferred into the Oscillating Granulator is between about 22° C. and about 30° C.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method according to claim 15, wherein the granulated particles in step (1)(B)(e) are passed through a screen, having a mesh size between about 24 mesh and about 30 mesh, attached to the Oscillating Granulator.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-03-18	1994-09-17	1995-03-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-03-18	1998-09-17	1999-03-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-03-18	2002-09-17	2003-03-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method for the preparation of sweetening agent delivery systems containing polyvinyl acetate

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