Soft chewing gum wrapping machine and method

A gum wrapping machine which comprises:

• a wrapping tray formed with a plurality of nests having flat bottoms;
• a rotable turret;
• a chamber operatively associated with said turret;
• means for creating a partial vacuum in said chamber;
• means formed on said turret for cutting the gum into relatively thin rectangular shaped pieces having opposite flat sides with edges therebetween;
• means associated with said turret for holding said shaped pieces thereon during transport of said pieces to a wrapping position, said holding means having a base formed with a recess and said base having a stem extending therefrom, said stem being formed with an air channel therethrough and having a suction port and a relief port associated therewith to establish fluid communication between said suction port, said relief port and said recess, said holding means being slidably mounted on said turret for reciprocal motion between a first position wherein said suction port is in fluid communication with said vacuum chamber and said relief port is blocked to establish a suction at said recess for holding said piece of gum thereon, and a second position wherein said suction port is blocked and a fluid communication is established between said relief port and the ambient air to relieve the suction at said recess to release said piece of gum from said holding means, and a cam mounted in said vacuum chamber to urge against said holding means for moving said holding means between said first position and said second position;
• and
• means on said turret for individually placing said pieces, one at a time, at said wrapping position into a respective nest with a side of said piece against said bottom of said nest.