Chewing gum manufacture
A chewing gum sheet is formed without substantial use of a powdered non-stick agent by extruding a slab having a tacky surface of heated chewing gum composition onto a moving conveyor; cooling the slab on the conveyor sufficiently to cool the surface of the slab; and passing the slab from the conveyor through at least one cooled roller to form a chewing gum sheet with predetermined dimensions.
1. A process for manufacturing a chewing gum sheet without substantial use of a powdered non-stick agent comprising:
a. extruding a slab having a tacky surface of heated chewing gum composition;
b. passing the slab through at least one cooled calender roller with less than or equal to 0.18 weight % non-stick agent based on the slab weight to form a chewing gum sheet with predetermined dimensions, wherein the at least one cooled calender roller is in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, wherein the environmental air around the at least one cooled calender roller has a dew point above the temperature of the at least one cooled calender roller, wherein the slab comprises a center having a center temperature and wherein the surface temperature of the slab is less than the center temperature, thereby creating a temperature differential, wherein the temperature differential is between about 4° F. to 19° F., and wherein the temperature differential is maintained through passing a forming unit.
2. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of conveying the slab on a moving conveyor to cool the surface of the slab.
3. The process of claim 2 in which the chewing gum slab is cooled on the moving conveyor with impingement air flow.
4. The process of claim 2 in which the chewing gum slab is cooled on the moving conveyor with ambient air.
5. The process of claim 1 in which the chewing gum slab is conveyed from the extruder to the cooled calender roller without contact with a static dead plate.
6. The process of claim 1 in which a chewing gum sheet is passed through laterally and/or longitudinally scoring rollers.
7. The process of claim 6 in which the chewing gum sheet is scored into pieces.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooled calender roller is maintained at a temperature of from 5° F. to 32° F.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooled calender roller has a temperature below freezing temperature, and wherein ice forms on the at least one cooled calender roller to create non-stick properties.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein slab has a surface temperature of above 80° F. and less than 122° F.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the slab has a thickness of from 0.15 cm to 3 cm.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the slab has a thickness of from 3 cm to 12 cm.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein moisture accumulates on the at least one cooled calender roller.
14. The process of claim 1 , further comprising passing the sheet through at least one scoring roller with less than or equal to 0.18 weight % non-stick agent based on the slab weight.
15. The process of claim 1 wherein the slab is passed through the at least one cooled calender roller with 0.18 weight % non-stick agent based on the slab weight, and wherein moisture accumulates on the at least one cooled calender roller.
16. The process of claim 1 , further comprising passing the sheet through at least one additional cooled roller.
17. A process for manufacturing a chewing gum sheet without substantial use of a powdered non-stick agent comprising:
a. extruding a slab having a tacky surface of heated chewing gum composition;
b. passing the slab through at least one cooled calender roller to form a chewing gum sheet with predetermined dimensions, and then passing the sheet through at least one scoring roller with 0.18 weight % non-stick agent based on the slab weight, wherein the at least one cooled calender roller is in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, wherein the environmental air around the at least one cooled calender roller has a dew point above the temperature of the at least one cooled calender roller, wherein the at least one cooled calender roller is maintained at a temperature of from 5° F. to 32° F., and wherein the at least one cooled calender roller has a temperature below freezing temperature, and wherein ice forms on the at least one cooled calender roller.
18. A process for manufacturing a chewing gum sheet, the process comprising:
a. extruding a slab having a tacky surface of heated chewing gum composition;
b. passing the slab through at least one calender roller without non-stick agent to form a chewing gum sheet with predetermined dimensions,
wherein a temperature differential is maintained between a center and a surface of the slab through passing a forming unit,
wherein at least one calender roller used to manufacture the chewing gum sheet is a cooled calender roller, wherein the cooled calender roller is in a temperature and humidity controlled environment and enclosed in an insulated and sealed closure, wherein the environmental air around the at least one cooled calender roller has a dew point above the temperature of the at least one cooled calender roller,
wherein the at least one cooled calender roller has a temperature below freezing temperature.