Process and apparatus for producing miniature gum ball centers using an underwater pelletizer

A method for forming miniature size chewing gum products comprising the steps of:

• mixing a plurality of ingredients to form a chewing gum mass;
• adapting the chewing gum mass into a form receivable by a die plate;
• forcing the mass through an aperture on an input side of the die plate, the aperture being smaller than the mass;
• and
• cutting the mass on the output side of the die plate to form miniature chewing gum products.

An apparatus for forming miniature size confectionery products comprising:

• an extruder adapted to receive a confectionery product, heat the product and pressurize the product from 100 to 800 psig;
• a pelletizer adapted to receive the pressurized confectionery product from the extruder, the pelletizer having a die plate heated up to 220° F., wherein the die plate is adapted to withstand the force of the pressurized product and wherein the plate defines a plurality of apertures that are in alignment with cutting blades housed inside a waterproof chamber of the pelletizer;
• and
• means for dusting the miniature confectionery products discharged from the die plate with an anti-agglomerating compound.