Spray-formed confectionery product, apparatus and method

Abstract

The present disclosure provides apparatuses, methods, and products, directed to confectionery products containing a melted gum base composition. A dispensing device sprays particles of a molten gum base composition onto an edible substrate. The molten gum base composition solidifies to form the melted gum base composition. The melted gum base composition may contain one or more organoleptic components and may be in layer form, in the shape of an object, or in the shape of a three-dimensional object.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for producing a confectionery product comprising:
 providing an edible substrate,   spraying particles of a molten gum base composition onto a surface of said edible substrate; and   forming a multiple phase confectionery product.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising forming a layer of the molten gum base composition on the surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  comprising forming a second layer of the molten gum base composition on the layer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  comprising forming, with molten gum base composition, an object on the surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  comprising forming, with the molten gum base composition, a three-dimensional object on the surface. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  comprising changing an ingredient of the molten gum base composition during the spraying. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  comprising dispensing an organoleptic component on the edible substrate. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  comprising changing, during the spraying, a component of the organoleptic component. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19  comprising spraying a first molten gum base composition on a first portion of the edible substrate and spraying a second molten gum base composition different than the first molten gum base composition on a second portion of the edible substrate. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19  comprising dispensing an organoleptic component on a material selected from the group consisting of the molten chewing gum base composition, the edible substrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19  comprising printing an edible ink-indicia on a material selected from the group consisting of the molten gum base composition, the edible substrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . A method for producing a chewing gum product comprising:
 providing a chewing gum substrate having a thickness less than a predetermined thickness;   spraying a layer of a molten chewing gum base composition on the chewing gum substrate to form a chewing gum product having the predetermined thickness.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  comprising repeating the spraying to obtain the predetermined thickness. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the predetermined thickness is selected from the group consisting of the thickness of a chewing gum stick, the thickness of a chewing gum tab, and the thickness of a chewing gum pellet.