Apparatus for forming miniature size confectionary products

• US 5,733,587 A
• Filed: 07/23/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Corriveau, Christine, Horn, Sharon Van, Ream, Ronald L., McHale, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bushey, C. Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/685,276
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 425/96, 425/116, 425/144, 425/233, 425/237, 425/289, 425/333, 425/363, 425/378.1, 425/390, 425/395, 425/DIG. 55, 426/319, 426/512, 426/517, 426/811
• US Class Current: 425/237
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0236 Shaping of liquid, paste, powder; Manufacture of moulded articles, e.g. modelling, moulding, calendering
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0289 Compression moulding of paste, e.g. in the form of a ball or rope or other preforms, or of a powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/06 Batch-rolling, rope-forming, or sizing machines
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/04 for moulding or shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/463 corrugated, patterned or embossed surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/465 having one or more cavities, e.g. for forming distinct products
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/468 take-off rollers, i.e. arranged adjacent a material feeding device
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/226 having a corrugated section
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/46 Rollers

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for forming miniature size confectionery products. A mass of a confectionery product, such as bubble gum, is formed into a thin, flat sheet. The flat sheet is then cooled and formed into a webbed mat having a plurality of desired configurations thereon. Next, the webbed mat is tumbled to break apart the webbed mat and form a plurality of miniature size confectionery products in the form of the desired configuration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming miniature size confectionery products comprising:

means for forming a mass of confectionery product into a sheet;

means for cooling the sheet to a temperature ranging from approximately 50°

to 85°

F.;

means for forming the sheet into a webbed mat having a plurality of desired configurations thereon, the means for cooling is positioned in the apparatus to cool the sheet prior to the sheet being formed into the webbed mat; and

means for tumbling the webbed mat to break apart the webbed mat and form a plurality of miniature size confectionery products in the form of the desired configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for cooling the sheet is a cooling tunnel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for forming the sheet into a webbed mat is a forming device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the forming device comprises at least two forming rollers with a plurality of half shaped moldings.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for simultaneously cooling the sheet and the means for forming the sheet as the sheet is being formed into the webbed mat.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for slicing off scrappings and half configured moldings from the webbed mat.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for cooling is a nitrogen system.