METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS GUM BASE MANUFACTURING
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.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A process for making chewing gum wherein all necessary addition and compounding steps are performed using a single continuous mixing apparatus consisting essentially of:
adding to a 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.
22 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein the at least two mixing zones include a distributive mixing zone and a dispersive mixing zone.
23 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein an elastomer and a filler are fed into the mixing apparatus before other components of the chewing gum base.
24 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein the mixing apparatus includes a first dispersive mixing zone.
25 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein the mixing apparatus is a high efficiency mixer.
26 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein the mixing apparatus includes a blade-and-pin mixer.
27 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein the process is carried out in a counter-rotating, intermeshing twin screw extruder.
28 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein the mixing apparatus includes a plurality of toothed elements counter-rotating with respect to adjacent toothed elements.
29 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein the gum base components are added to the mixing apparatus at least two spatially separated points.
30 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein a portion of the chewing gum base components are subjected to a highly dispersive mixing operation prior to a highly distributive mixing operation.
31 . The continuous process of claim 21 wherein the adding and mixing steps are controlled to operate at a steady state.
32 . The continuous process of claim 21 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.
33 . A process for producing chewing gum wherein all necessary addition and compounding steps are performed using a single continuous mixing apparatus consisting essentially of:
adding to a 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.
34 . The continuous process of claim 33 wherein an elastomer and a filler are fed into the extruder before other components of the gum base.
35 . The continuous process of claim 33 wherein the extruder includes a first dispersive mixing zone.
36 . The continuous process of claim 33 wherein the extruder is a high efficiency mixer.
37 . The continuous process of claim 33 wherein the extruder includes a blade-and-pin mixer.
38 . The continuous process of claim 33 wherein the process is carried out in a counter-rotating, intermeshing twin screw extruder.
39 . A process for making chewing gum in a continuous chewing gum production line wherein all necessary addition and compounding steps are performed using a single continuous mixing apparatus consisting essentially of:
adding to a 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.
40 . The continuous process of claim 39 wherein an elastomer and a filler are fed into the extruder before other components of the gum base.