Continuous formation of center filled gum

• US 7,378,116 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cadbury Adams USA LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Duggan, James, Bunkers, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin; Arthur L.
• Application Number:
  US11/007,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20050100633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3, 426/5, 426/516, 426/517, 426/518
• US Class Current: 426/3
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0247 Devices for cutting, modelling of sections or plates; Embossing, punching, e.g. stamping tools
• 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 3/12 Apparatus for moulding candy in the plastic state
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/2015 the material being shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of filled or multi-layered cross-sections or plates, optionally with the associated cutting device
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/2061 Compression moulding of paste, e.g. in the form of a ball or rope or other preforms, or of powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/025 for coating or surface-finishing
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/043 for composite chewing gum coating A23G4/025
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/205 Hollow products, e.g. with inedible or edible filling, fixed or movable within the cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 7/02 Cooling or drying apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/08 co-operating with moulds carried by a turntable
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/20 Roller-and-ring machines, i.e. with roller disposed within a ring and co-operating with the inner surface of the ring
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/34 Heating or cooling presses or parts thereof

Abstract

Method and system for continuously producing pieces of liquid-filled gum material. An extruded rope of liquid-filed gum is sized and separated into individual pieces of gum. A rotating drum mechanism having a die ring and cutter ring with mating die members separate the rope of gum material into individual pieces. Pairs of cam-operated plunger members compress and form the pieces of gum material in the die cavities. Angled grooves in the die members prevent portions of the gum pieces from being chipped-off during formation. Guide pin members are positioned between rider members on the plunger members. A feed chute with air assist transfers the gum rope from a sizing table to the rotating drum mechanism. A stripper member insures that the formed pieces of gum material are removed from the drum mechanism. Portions of the drum mechanism can be selective heated and cooled, or not cooled at all. The invention provides a more efficient system for continuous, high production operation.

Claims

1. A method of continuously producing pieces of liquid-filled gum material comprising the steps of:

supplying a rope of liquid filled gum material to a sizing member;

sizing said gum material;

introducing said sized gum material into die cavities formed between a rotating drum mechanism and a rotating cutting ring mechanism having die members;

forming said gum material into separate pieces of sealed gum material in said die cavities by cam and plunger mechanisms;

said die members on said rotating cutting ring mechanism having product engaging surfaces which are slanted at a compound angle relative to the longitudinal direction of said die cavities; and

removing said formed separate pieces of gum material from said cavities.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of forming said separate pieces of gum material includes moving sets of cam-operated plunger members toward each other in said die cavities, said plunger members being operatively associated with rider members, and wherein guide pin members are positioned between said rider members.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of introducing said sized gum material into said die cavities comprises using an air-assist feed chute mechanism.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of removing said formed separate pieces of gum material comprises stripping said pieces with a stripper mechanism.