Continuous gum base manufacture using paddle mixing
First Claim
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1. A method of making chewing gum base on a continuous basis, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a paddle mixer system having a mixer system length, a maximum paddle diameter, and a ratio of mixer system length to maximum paddle diameter of at least about 4;
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b) selectively feeding about 5-95 weight percent elastomer, about 0-75 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 0.5-40 weight percent softener/emulsifier and about 1-65 weight percent filler to the paddle mixer system, at two or more locations along the mixer system length; and
c) continuously blending the ingredients using the paddle mixer system until a homogeneous gum base is obtained;
d) wherein the paddle mixer system comprises a plurality of paddles including two concave mixing surfaces intersecting at two lines.
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Abstract
A method of continuously making chewing gum base employs low pressure, adequate residence time, and the flexibility of selectively feeding different ingredients at different locations on the mixer. The method involves the use of a paddle mixer, characterized by a plurality of paddles mounted on a longitudinal rotating shaft, preferably mounted on two parallel co-rotating shafts. The paddles cover at least about 40 percent of the active length of the shafts. This configuration provides for significant residence time in the mixer and low pressure gum base manufacture.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of making chewing gum base on a continuous basis, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a paddle mixer system having a mixer system length, a maximum paddle diameter, and a ratio of mixer system length to maximum paddle diameter of at least about 4;
1;b) selectively feeding about 5-95 weight percent elastomer, about 0-75 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 0.5-40 weight percent softener/emulsifier and about 1-65 weight percent filler to the paddle mixer system, at two or more locations along the mixer system length; and c) continuously blending the ingredients using the paddle mixer system until a homogeneous gum base is obtained; d) wherein the paddle mixer system comprises a plurality of paddles including two concave mixing surfaces intersecting at two lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of making chewing gum base on a continuous basis, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a paddle mixer including a plurality of paddles arranged and supported on two parallel shafts, each of said plurality of paddles including two concave mixing surfaces intersecting at two lines; b) continuously feeding about 5-95 weight percent elastomer to the paddle mixer; c) continuously feeding about 0-75 weight percent elastomer plasticizer to the paddle mixer; d) continuously feeding about 0.5-40 weight percent softeners/emulsifiers to the paddle mixer; e) continuously feeding about 1-65 weight percent fillers/texturizers to the paddle mixer; and f) continuously blending the ingredients in the paddle mixer to produce a gum base. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18)
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14. A method of making chewing gum base on a continuous basis, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a mixer which includes a plurality of paddles arranged on one or more shafts; b) continuously feeding about 5-95 weight percent elastomer to the mixer; c) continuously feeding about 0-75 weight percent elastomer plasticizer to the mixer; d) continuously feeding about 0.5-40 weight percent softeners/emulsifiers to the mixer; e) continuously feeding about 1-65 weight percent fillers/texturizers to the mixer; and f) continuously blending the ingredients using the paddles until a homogeneous gum base is obtained; g) wherein at least some of the chewing gum base ingredients have a residence time in the mixer of at least 10 minutes.
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15. A method for preparing a chewing gum base on a continuous basis comprising:
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a) continuously providing chewing gum base ingredients, b) continuously adding said chewing gum base ingredients to a compounder, said compounder having a plurality of paddles arranged on one or more shafts, the paddles covering at least about 40 percent of the one or more shafts, and c) continuously mixing said chewing gum base ingredients within said compounder and continuously recovering the chewing gum base thus prepared.
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16. A method for producing a chewing gum base on a continuous basis comprising:
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a) continuously providing chewing gum base ingredients, b) continuously adding said chewing gum base ingredients to a paddle mixer system, the paddle mixer system having a mixer system length, a maximum paddle diameter and a ratio of mixer system length to maximum paddle diameter of at least about 4;
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17. A method for producing a chewing gum base on a continuous basis comprising:
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a) continuously providing chewing gum base ingredients, b) continuously adding said chewing gum base ingredients to a paddle mixer, said mixer including a plurality of paddles arranged and supported on two parallel shafts, each of said plurality of paddles including two concave mixing surfaces intersecting at two lines, and c) continuously mixing said chewing gum ingredients and continuously recovering the chewing gum base thus produced.
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Specification