Continuous chewing gum base manufacturing process using a mixing-restriction element
AssigneeWm. Wrigley Jr. Company
InventorsJoo H. Song, Donald J. Townsend
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for continuously producing a chewing gum base comprises the steps of continuously adding an elastomer, a filler and a plasticizer into a continuous mixer, subjecting the elastomer, filler and plasticizer to a highly distributive mixing operation followed by a restriction element and continuously discharging the resulting chewing gum base from the mixer while the adding and mixing steps are in progress.
Claims23
A process for continuously producing a chewing gum base comprising the steps of:
- a) continuously adding chewing gum base ingredients, including an elastomer, a filler and a plasticizer, into a continuous mixer;
- b) subjecting the elastomer, the filler and the plasticizer to a highly distributive mixing operation within said mixer,
- c) passing the highly distributively mixed elastomer, filler and plasticizer through a mixing-restriction element within said mixer, thereby producing a chewing gum base;
- and
- d) continuously discharging the chewing gum base from the mixer while chewing gum base ingredients continue to be introduced and mixed within the mixer.
A method of continuously producing a chewing gum base containing one or more elastomers and one or more plasticizers comprising the steps of:
- a) continuously adding the one or more elastomers into a continuous mixer at a first combined feed rate;
- b) continuously adding the one or more plasticizers into the continuous mixer at a second combined feed rate which is at least equal to the first combined feed rate;
- c) forcing the one or more elastomers and one or more plasticizers through a mixing-restriction element within said mixer to produce a chewing gum base, and
- d) continuously discharging the chewing gum base from the mixer while the one or more elastomers and one or more plasticizers continue to be introduced and mixed within the mixer.
A method of continuously compounding chewing gum base in a twin screw extruder comprising the steps of:
- a) feeding chewing gum base ingredients, including an elastomer and a filler into the extruder at a preselected ratio;
- b) subjecting the elastomer and the filler to a dispersive mixing processing section as the elastomer and filler pass through the extruder;
- c) adding a plasticizer to the extruder downstream of the dispersive mixing processing section, and
- d) mixing the plasticizer with the elastomer and the filler using highly distributive mixing, and using a mixing-restriction element downstream of the highly distributive mixing to complete compounding of the gum base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.