Method for continuous gum base manufacturing

Abstract

A process for continuously producing a chewing gum base comprising the steps of compounding the ingredients in a single extruder. In an embodiment, the method includes 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 and continuously discharging the resulting chewing gum base from the mixer while the adding and mixing steps are in progress.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A process for making chewing gum comprising the steps of: 
 using a single continuous mixing apparatus to perform all of the addition and compounding steps necessary to produce gum base;    adding to the single continuous mixing apparatus all of a group of components necessary to make a chewing gum base including an elastomer and a plasticizer, wherein the elastomer is added to the single continuous mixing apparatus separate and apart from the plasticizer;    providing at least two mixing zones in the mixing apparatus;    producing gum base from the mixing apparatus; and    mixing the gum base with other ingredients to produce chewing gum.    
     
     
         2 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein the at least two mixing zones include a distributive mixing zone and a dispersive mixing zone.  
     
     
         3 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein an elastomer and a filler are fed into the mixing apparatus before other components of the chewing gum base.  
     
     
         4 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein the mixing apparatus includes a first dispersive mixing zone.  
     
     
         5 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein the mixing apparatus is a high efficiency mixer.  
     
     
         6 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein the mixing apparatus includes a blade-and-pin mixer.  
     
     
         7 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein the process is carried out in a counter-rotating, intermeshing twin screw extruder.  
     
     
         8 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein the mixing apparatus includes a plurality of toothed elements counter-rotating with respect to adjacent toothed elements.  
     
     
         9 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein the gum base components are added to the mixing apparatus at least two spatially separated points.  
     
     
         10 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the chewing gum base components are subjected to a highly dispersive mixing operation prior to a highly distributive mixing operation.  
     
     
         11 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein the adding and mixing steps are controlled to operate at a steady state.  
     
     
         12 . The continuous process of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the components are added to the mixing apparatus at different locations in an order that approximately corresponds to a decreasing order of viscosity.  
     
     
         13 . A process for producing chewing gum comprising the steps of: 
 using a single extruder to perform all necessary addition and compounding steps to produce gum base;    adding to the single extruder all of a group of components necessary to make a gum base including an elastomer and a plasticizer, wherein the elastomer is added to the extruder separate and apart from the plasticizer;    mixing the components in the single extruder;    producing the gum base using the single extruder; and    adding the gum base to other ingredients to make chewing gum.    
     
     
         14 . The continuous process of  claim 13  wherein an elastomer and a filler are fed into the extruder before other components of the gum base.  
     
     
         15 . The continuous process of  claim 13  wherein the extruder includes a first dispersive mixing zone.  
     
     
         16 . The continuous process of  claim 13  wherein the extruder is a high efficiency mixer.  
     
     
         17 . The continuous process of  claim 13  wherein the extruder includes a blade-and-pin mixer.  
     
     
         18 . The continuous process of  claim 13  wherein the process is carried out in a counter-rotating, intermeshing twin screw extruder.  
     
     
         19 . A process for making chewing gum in a continuous chewing gum production line comprising the steps of: 
 using a single extruder to perform all of the addition and compounding steps necessary to produce a gum base;    adding to the single extruder components necessary to make a gum base the components including an elastomer and a plasticizer, wherein the elastomer is added to the single continuous mixing apparatus separate and apart from the plasticizer;    producing gum base from the single extruder;    adding the gum base to water-soluble ingredients; and    mixing the chewing gum base and water-soluble ingredients to produce chewing gum.    
     
     
         20 . The continuous process of  claim 19  wherein an elastomer and a filler are fed into the extruder before other components of the gum base.