Method and apparatus for continuously forming coated center-filled gum products

A system for continuously producing coated pieces of liquid-filled gum material comprising:

• an extruder and center-fill mechanism for continuously producing a rope of center-filled gum material;
• a tablet-forming mechanism having a first rotating chain member with a plurality of die groove members thereon and a second chain mechanism having a second plurality of die groove members thereon, said first and second plurality of die groove members being positioned to mate forming die cavities for formation of individual pieces of tablet-type gum material;
• a cooling mechanism for cooling the formed pieces of center-filled gum material;
• and
• a coating mechanism for applying a hard coating to the formed pieces of gum material;
• said die groove members each having surfaces of substantially curved configurations wherein pieces of liquid-filled gum material are formed having curved and non-flat outer configurations.