U.S. patent application number 12/399192 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for method for producing chewing gum products, and compressed chewing gum tablets.
This patent application is currently assigned to GUMLINK A/S. Invention is credited to Per Henrik Ertebjerg Christensen, Rikke MIKKELSEN, Kaj Hovhave Nielsen, Niels Ravn Schmidt.
Application Number | 20090169678 12/399192 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32982000 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090169678 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MIKKELSEN; Rikke ; et
al. |
July 2, 2009 |
METHOD FOR PRODUCING CHEWING GUM PRODUCTS, AND COMPRESSED CHEWING
GUM TABLETS
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for producing chewing gum
granules. The method comprises at least the steps of feeding a gum
composition including at least gum base into an extruder (2),
pressurizing the gum composition in the extruder, extruding the gum
composition through a die plate (5), and cutting the extruded gum
composition in a liquid filled chamber (4) so that the cut gum
granules have weights per granule in the range of 0.0001 g to 0.008
g
Inventors: |
MIKKELSEN; Rikke; (Vejle,
DK) ; Nielsen; Kaj Hovhave; (Otterup, DK) ;
Schmidt; Niels Ravn; (Barrit, DK) ; Christensen; Per
Henrik Ertebjerg; (Odense, DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
GUMLINK A/S
Vejle
DK
|
Family ID: |
32982000 |
Appl. No.: |
12/399192 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10555871 |
Jan 30, 2006 |
7521074 |
|
|
12399192 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/5 ;
426/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23P 10/28 20160801;
A23G 4/18 20130101; A23G 4/04 20130101; A23G 4/00 20130101; A23G
4/02 20130101; A23P 30/20 20160801; A23G 3/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/5 ;
426/282 |
International
Class: |
A23G 4/18 20060101
A23G004/18; A23G 4/04 20060101 A23G004/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 6, 2003 |
EP |
03388032.9 |
Claims
1. Compressed chewing gum tablets, wherein the compressed chewing
gum tablets are obtained by extruding a gum composition through a
die plate and cutting the extruded gum composition in a liquid
filled chamber into gum granules, conveying the extruded and cut
granules to a tablet pressing apparatus, and including the granules
in compressed chewing gum tablets, and wherein the gum granules cut
in the liquid filled chamber have average diameters below 2.5
mm.
2. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the individual tablet includes at least 35 granules of a gum
composition comprising at least 51% Wt. of gum base.
3. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the individual tablet includes at least 125 granules of gum
composition, and one or more additional components, such as bulk
sweetener powder, flavours, nutrients, pharmaceuticals, or
fillers.
4. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the tablets have a weight in the range of 0.5 g to 2.5 g per
tablet.
5. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the tablets have a weight in the range from 0.6 g to 1.5 g per
tablet.
6. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the granules are dusted or coated when conveyed to the tablet
pressing apparatus.
7. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 1, wherein,
before being conveyed to a tablet pressing apparatus, the extruded
granules are mixed with one or more ingredients selected from the
group consisting of flavours, bulk sweeteners, intense sweeteners,
colouring agents, fillers, nutrients, pharmaceuticals, and
tabletting aids.
8. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the tablets are coated.
9. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the gum composition when extruded includes at least gum base and
one or more of sweeteners and/or flavouring agents.
10. Compressed chewing gum tablets as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the gum composition includes one or more intense sweeteners when
extruded.
11. Compressed chewing gum tablets obtained by feeding a gum
composition including at least gum base into an extruder,
pressurizing the gum composition in the extruder, extruding the gum
composition through a die plate, cutting the extruded gum
composition in a liquid filled chamber, said cutting producing gum
granules of weights per granule in the range of 0.0001 g to 0.008
g, conveying the extruded and cut granules to a tablet pressing
apparatus, and including the granules in compressed chewing gum
tablets in a mixture of one or more additional components, selected
from the group consisting of bulk sweetener powder, flavours,
nutrients, pharmaceuticals, and fillers.
12. The compressed chewing gum tablets of claim 11, wherein the
tablets have a weight in the range of 0.5 g to 2.5 g per
tablet.
13. The compressed chewing gum tablets of claim 11, wherein the
tablets have a weight in the range of 0.6 g to 1.5 g per
tablet.
14. The compressed chewing gum tablets of claim 11, wherein each
individual tablet includes at least 35 granules of a gum
composition comprising at least 51% by Wt. of gum base.
15. The compressed chewing gum tablets of claim 11, wherein the gum
composition of said granules comprises flavour.
16. The compressed chewing gum tablets of claim 11, wherein the gum
composition of said granules comprises intense sweetener.
17. The compressed chewing gum tablets of claim 11, wherein each
individual tablet includes at least 125 granules of gum composition
and one or more additional components, selected from the group
consisting of bulk sweetener powder, flavours, nutrients,
pharmaceuticals, and fillers.
18. A method for producing chewing gum products, wherein the method
comprises at least the steps of: feeding a gum composition
including at least gum base into an extruder, pressurizing the gum
composition in the extruder, extruding the gum composition through
a die plate, cutting the extruded gum composition in a liquid
filled chamber, and wherein the cutting of the extruded gum
composition in the liquid filled chamber produces gum granules
having average diameters below 2.5 mm.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said weight per
granule is in the range of 0.0003 g to 0.03 g.
20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the weight per
granule for at least a first fraction of the granules is in the
range of 0.0003 g to 0.003 g.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the weight per
granule for at least a first fraction of the granules is less than
0.002 g.
22. The method as claimed in claims 18, wherein the weight per
granule for at least a second fraction of the granules is in the
range of 0.002 to 0.02 g
23. The method as claimed in claims 22, wherein the weight per
granule for at least a second fraction of the granules is the range
from 0.002 g to 0.005 g.
24. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the granules in the
first fraction has a first average weight which is lower than the
average weight of a second fraction of the extruded granules.
25. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the gum com-position
is extruded though die openings in a die plate having openings of
at least two different sizes to simultaneously obtain granules with
different average weights.
26. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cut granules are
cooled in water during transfer from the liquid filled chamber to a
de-watering device, and that the transfer time from cutting to
de-watering is less than 6 s.
27. The method as claimed in claim 18, comprising the further step
of dusting or coating the granules in between de-watering and
conveyance to the tablet pressing apparatus.
28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the dusting or
coating is made with ingredients selected from the group consisting
of magnesium stearate, cornstarch, sugar compounds, polyols,
cellulose ethers, acrylic polymers and copolymers, sweeteners,
flavours, waxes, or colours.
29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the dusting or
coating is made with the sweetener sorbitol.
30. The method as claimed in claim 18, comprising the further step
of classifying the granules prior to conveyance to the tablet
pressing apparatus.
31. The method as claimed in claim 18 and comprising the further
step of mixing the extruded granules with one or more ingredients
selected from the group consisting of flavours, bulk sweeteners,
intense sweeteners, colouring agents, fillers, nutrients,
pharmaceuticals, and tabletting aids.
32. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the gum composition
fed to the extruder is gum base.
33. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the gum composition
includes one or more flavouring agents when extruded.
34. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the gum composition
includes one or more sweeteners when extruded.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/555,871
filed Jan. 30, 2006. The entire disclosure of the prior
application, application Ser. No. 10/555,871 is considered part of
the disclosure of the accompanying continuation application and is
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for producing
chewing gum products, which method comprises at least the steps of
feeding a gum composition including at least gum base into an
extruder, pressurizing the gum composition in the extruder,
extruding the gum composition through a die means, and cutting the
extruded gum composition in a liquid filled chamber.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,645 disclose a chewing gum base
formulated as a hot viscous blend, which is extruded in an extruder
though a die plate after which the extruded product is cut into
pellets in a liquid that also cools the extruded product. The
liquid and the formed pellets are conveyed to bulk containers for
transport to further processing, i.e. dewatering and mechanical
mixing with other ingredients to produce chewing gum.
[0004] A similar process is disclosed in WO 02/094032, which
describes a process and apparatus for producing gum pellets by
extrusion through a die plate and cutting of pellets in a
liquid-filled chamber. The ingredients comprising gum base,
fillers, sweeteners, intense sweeteners and flavour are mixed
beforehand to form a mixture, e.g. a bubble gum mixture. The
mixture is feed to an extruder and extruded and pelletized. The
liquid transports the pelletized product to a centrifugal dryer
that separates the product from the liquid. The separated products
are then dusted with an anti-agglomerating compound and coated or
otherwise packaged for consumption.
[0005] In these prior art processes the produced pellets have
individual weights of about 0.1 g or larger. The gum composition
extruded through the die means contains gum base and is a high-tack
composition with very poor flow properties. In case the pellets are
dusted and coated for use as a miniature gum ball product, the
individual pellet weight of 0.1 g is very low, but however
acceptable for chewing gum products that are consumed many at the
time. In the case of mechanical mixing of the pellets with other
ingredients in order to produce chewing gum, the pellets can have a
rather high individual weight. The mixing involves heating and
mixing into a homogenous, coherent mass, which after cooling is
shaped into gum centres and coated to form the final chewing
gum.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a method
for producing chewing gum products having improved composition.
[0007] The method of the present invention is accordingly
characterized in that the cutting in the liquid filled chamber
produces gum granules of weights per granule in the range of 0.0001
g to 0008 g, and that the extruded and cut granules are conveyed in
a further step to a tablet pressing apparatus and included in
compressed chewing gum tablets.
[0008] The low weight of the granules results in a very quick
cooling of the granules in the liquid flowing through the
liquid-filled chamber. During extrusion through the die means the
gum composition is at an elevated temperature suitable for the
extrusion process. Due to the low weight of the granules their
individual capacity for holding heat is limited and the cooling
action from the liquid quickly lowers the temperature after
granules are cut off into the liquid. Gum composition has quite low
heat conductivity, but due to their low weight the granules are
nevertheless cooled right to their centre in short time.
[0009] The quick cooling acts to preserve possible fragile
ingredients in the gum composition so that their qualities are
better kept intact and conveyed into the granules included in the
final gum product. This improved quality of the gum composition in
the granules improves the general composition of the chewing gum
product.
[0010] By conveying the granules to a tablet pressing apparatus and
including them in compressed chewing gum tablets there are obtained
several further advantages contributing to improved composition of
the chewing gum product.
[0011] The improved quality of the gum composition in the granules
is maintained in the gum product because the granules are included
in the product by simply being compressed into being a part of
tablets, other parts of which can be bulk sweeteners and additional
ingredients, and possibly a coating. The previously used
combination of pellets with other ingredients by heating and mixing
pellets and ingredients into a homogenous, coherent mass is thus
avoided. The combination of various ingredients in the tabletting
apparatus is gentle and well suited for fragile ingredients.
[0012] The content of gum base in the granules results in granules
having a good tackiness, and the small weight of the individual
granule leads to use of many granules in the individual tablet and
thus to a distribution in the tablet of granules of tacky gum
composition. Although the tablet typically is composed of further
ingredients, such as bulk sweeteners etc., in addition to the
granules, the well distributed granules act to make the various
ingredients unite into a common mass during the initial chews in
the mouth.
[0013] Tabletting is also well suited for addition of further
active ingredients such as pharmaceutical agents, sweets or
nutrients, if such are desired in the compressed gum tablets, and
the small weight of the granules allows a fine distribution of the
further ingredients within the tablets and thus a better
composition and release.
[0014] Preferably the cutting in the liquid filled chamber produces
gum granules of weights per granule in the range of 0.0003 g to
0.008 g. The lower limit of 0.0003 g allows many granules to be
included in a tablet of a given weight and thus improves the
distribution of the tacky granules within the tablet.
[0015] It is possible to make granules of different weights on
purpose. For one and the same setup there will, however, also be
some variation in the weights of the cut granules, depending on
inevitable variations in gum composition, temperatures etc. at the
die means. The weight mentioned in the present context is an
average weight of granules produced with the intention of obtaining
granules of a specific intended weight.
[0016] In order to obtain a more dense packing of the granules in
the tabletting apparatus, the weight per granule for at least a
first fraction of the granules is in the range of 0.0003 g to 0.003
g, preferably less than 0.002 g.
[0017] It is also possible to provide a less light fraction by
producing the granules so that the weight per granule for at least
a second fraction of the granules is in the range of 0.002 to 0.02
g, preferably in the range from 0.002 to 0.008 g, suitable in the
range from 0.002 g to 0.005 g.
[0018] The granules in a first fraction have a first average
weight, which is lower than the average weight of a second fraction
of the extruded granules. This can be utilized to mix granules
having different weight fractions to obtain even better properties
of the compressed chewing gum tablets.
[0019] Granule fractions of different average weights can be
produced with two different setups, each producing a batch of
granules of a particular average weight, followed by a blending of
the fractions. It is also possible to design a die means with die
openings of at least two different sizes to simultaneously obtain
granules with different average diameters. Thus it is possible to
obtain granules having different weights. More than two different
average weights may be obtained, depending on the design of the die
means in use. It is for instance possible to obtain granules with
three, four or more different average weights although two
different weights are preferred.
[0020] The granules can be cut in a very large liquid filled
chamber, in which the granules are also cooled, but preferably the
cooling is combined with transfer of the granules away from the
chamber. This can be done e.g. by cooling the cut granules in water
during transfer from the liquid filled chamber to a de-watering
device. The transfer time from cutting to de-watering can be less
than 6 s. The advantage of this is that water-soluble ingredients
in the gum composition are not unnecessarily washed out of the
granules. Optionally, the total time of contact between granules
and cooling water can be further limited to less than 4 s.
[0021] It is possible to convey gum granules to the tablet pressing
apparatus without any intermediate treatment, but preferably the
granules are dusted or coated in between de-watering and conveyance
to the tablet pressing apparatus. The dusting can serve the
traditional purpose of avoiding agglomeration of granules in the
equipment leading to the tablet pressing apparatus.
[0022] The dusting or coating can be done with ingredients selected
from the group comprising magnesium stearate, cornstarch, sugar
compounds, polyols, cellulose ethers, acrylic polymers and
copolymers, sweeteners, flavours, waxes, or colours. Preferably the
dusting or coating is made with a sweetener like sorbitol. Sorbitol
has been found to also function as an anti-agglomerating agent in
addition to improving the taste of the final chewing gum
product.
[0023] In order to control in detail the properties of the
compressed chewing gum tablets it is preferred that the method
comprises a further step of classifying the granules as to weight
prior to conveyance to the tablet pressing apparatus. Too heavy
granules are separated from the remaining granules.
[0024] Before the granules are delivered to the tablet pressing
apparatus they are preferably mixed with one or more ingredients
selected from the group comprising flavours, bulk sweeteners,
intense sweeteners, colouring agents, fillers, nutrients,
pharmaceuticals, and tabletting aids. This mixing can improve the
flowability of the mixed ingredients fed to the tablet pressing
apparatus.
[0025] It is preferred that the gum composition fed to the extruder
is a gum base, and that it at least includes one or more flavouring
agents when extruded through the die means. The flavours within the
granules cause a prolonged release of taste during mastication.
[0026] The gum composition can furthermore include one or more
sweeteners, preferably intense sweeteners, when extruded through
the die means. The sweeteners within the granules cause a prolonged
release of sweetness during mastication. The gum composition can be
premixed with sweetener and/or. flavour and optionally other
ingredients before it is fed to the extruder. Alternatively, or
additionally, sweetener and/or flavour may be mixed into the gum
composition in the extruder.
[0027] Moreover, the present invention also relates to use of the
method for production of compressed chewing gum tablets.
[0028] The invention also relates to compressed chewing gum tablets
obtained by the methods described above. Although very large
tablets of 3 g or more can be made, or very small tablets of 04 g
or less can be made, the tablets preferably have a weight in the
range of 0.5 g to 2.5 g per tablet, preferably from 0.6 g to 1.5 g
per tablet.
[0029] For tablets within these weight ranges the composition of
the tablets can be chosen with a view to obtain high integrity of
the tablets in that the individual tablet includes at least 35
granules of a gum composition comprising at least 51% Wt. of gum
base. This minimum content of gum base in the granules provides a
relatively high tackiness to the granules.
[0030] An even higher degree of distributed tack in the compressed
chewing gum tablets can be obtained by including at least 125
granules of gum composition in the individual tablet, and at the
same time other desired properties of the tablets can be obtained
by including one or more additional components, such as bulk
sweetener powder, flavours, nutrients, pharmaceuticals, or
fillers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] Non-limiting examples and embodiments of the method
according to the invention are in the following described in
further detail with reference to the highly schematic drawings, in
which
[0032] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a chewing gum granulating
system, and
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates in an end view a die plate with rotary
knives for cutting extruded granules.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] As used herein the term "gum base refers in general to a
commercially available gum base suitable for production of chewing
gum. Such gum bases normally comprise natural and/or synthetic
resins and optionally other ingredients.
[0035] The term "gum composition" as used herein maybe a gum base
as defined above, a gum base comprising one or more ingredients
(e.g. sweetener, flavour, colouring agents, fillers etc.), or it
may be a chewing gum composition as defined below.
[0036] The term "chewing gum composition" is the final formulation,
which constitutes at least a part of the compressed chewing gum
tablets ready for sale to or use by the consumer. A chewing gum
composition may comprise sweetener and/or flavour and optionally
other ingredients like colouring agents, pharmaceutical agents,
enzymes, humectants, flavour enhancers, anticaking agents etc.
[0037] Furthermore "chewing gum product" or "compressed chewing gum
tablets" denote a ready for use chewing gum, e.g. comprising
compressed granules of chewing gum composition possibly mixed with
sweeteners, flavour or other ingredients and optionally coated.
[0038] The term "gum granules" or "granules" as used herein refers
to particulate material of gum composition having average diameters
below about 3 mm, such below 2.5 mm.
[0039] The term "average weight" as used herein is defined as the
average weight of at least 200 granules produced to obtain the same
intended weight (produced under practically identical
conditions).
[0040] Unless otherwise indicated all percentages are weight %
(denoted % Wt.).
[0041] In FIG. 1 a chewing gum granulating system generally denoted
1 comprises at least an extruder 2 and a granulating apparatus 3
having a chamber 4 with a die plate 5. The extruder 2 is equipped
with a first inlet with a hopper 6 for feeding gum composition to
the extruder 2. In the illustrated embodiment the extruder 2 is
further equipped with additive feeding devices 7 and 8 connected to
further inlets for feeding additives to the gum composition in the
extruder The additive feeding device 7 can e.g. be used for adding
sweetener, and the additive feeding device 8 can e.g. be used for
adding flavour.
[0042] The extruder 2 delivers pressurized gum composition to the
inlet side of die means in the form of a die plate 5, via a flow
connection between an outlet on the extruder and an inlet of the
granulating apparatus. The flow connection is provided with a valve
9, which in one position provides unrestricted passage from the
extruder to the die plate, and in another position connect the
extruder outlet with a drain pipe 10, which either leads to a
receptacle 11 for discharged gum composition or to a recycling pipe
12 by which the gum composition can be recycled to hopper 6.
[0043] The extruder 2 can be a single or double screw extruder
provided with a drive motor 13, preferably an electric motor with
settable speed, or a hydraulic motor. In another embodiment of the
extruder feeding devices 7, 8 have been omitted, and hopper 6 can
then be supplied with pre-mixed gum composition of any desired
type. The extruder has one or more heating devices 14 which can be
included in the barrel of the extruder or can be associated with
the screw. The heating device or devices. can e.g. be of electrical
heater type or heat exchanger type where the latter can be supplied
with heating fluid such as hot water or hot oil. The die plate can
also be provided with a heating device, which typically is of the
type of internal channels in the plate, and a supply of hot heating
liquid feeding the internal channels with the required amount of
heat.
[0044] The liquid-filled granulating chamber 4 has an inlet 15 for
cooling liquid and an outlet 16 for a slurry of suspended granules
and cooling liquid. The cooling liquid is supplied by a pump 17 via
an inlet pipe 18, and the pump can be fed with fresh cooling liquid
from a source 19 or it can be supplied with re-circulated cooling
liquid from a de-watering unit 20 via a pipe 21. A control valve 22
regulates the degree of re-circulation. The system can also have an
intercooler (not shown) for cooling re-circulated cooling
liquid.
[0045] Cutting means, such as rotating knives 23, act on the outlet
side of the die plate. The gum composition extruded through
openings in the die plate is cut into granules by the cutting
means. The cutting means can be reciprocating knives, but is
preferably embodied as rotating knives 23 mounted at the end of a
drive axle 24 which is driven by a motor 25, such as an electric
motor or a hydraulic drive motor. The motor 25 preferably has
settable speed.
[0046] The die plate is exchangeable so that several different die
plates with different configuration of the openings can be used in
the same granulating apparatus. The actual die plate configuration
is chosen according to the desired weight of granules. It is
possible to use a die plate with a plurality of uniformly sized
openings in order to produce a batch of gum granules with
practically uniform weight (the first average weight). Another
batch of granules with a different, second average weight can be
produced by making another run using a different die plate
configuration. It is, however, preferred to use a die plate
provided with differently sized openings so that granules of
different weights can be simultaneously produced in the same run.
Gum compositions comprising more than 51% Wt. gum base, e.g. 55%
Wt. gum base, or more than. 71% Wt., can also be extruded through
the die plate with differently sized openings.
[0047] FIG. 2 depicts an example of such a die plate 5 where an
outer row of openings 26 are larger than an inner row of openings
27. The openings can be provided in any desired configuration of
sizes and patterns, the pattern and sizes being selected so that
the desired weights of granules are obtained.
[0048] An outlet pipe 28 connects outlet 16 with a dryer device in
the form of de-watering unit 20, in which the granules are
separated from the cooling liquid. The dryer device can be of any
commercially. available type. Spent cooling liquid can be drained
off to drain 29 or be re-circulated via pipe 21. The dryer can also
be associated with a mixer 30 wherein the granules are mixed with
e.g. anti-agglomerating agent, sweetener, flavour, tabletting aids
etc. to form a mixture. The system can optionally include a
classifying unit 31 with one or more sieves. The granules can be
stored temporarily in a storage 32. Granules are either directly
after dewatering and possible dusting or coating or after a
possible intermediate storage and/or mixing with granules of
different average weights or types fed to a tablet pressing machine
32 in which the granules are included in compressed gum
tablets.
[0049] The weight of granules are controlled by several factors
such as opening sizes, the gum composition, gum temperature at and
pressure drop across the die means. Also the rotating speed of the
cutting knives and the number of knives can influence the resulting
weight of the individual granules. Larger openings and higher
temperatures and higher pressures tend to increase the weight by
increasing the extrusion speed, and higher rotating speed and more
knives tend to decrease the weight by cutting an extruded amount of
gum composition into more granules. The relation between the
diameters of the openings in the die device and the average weights
of granules produced from a specific gum composition may be
determined by the skilled person on basis of routine
experiments.
[0050] The gum base used in the method according to the invention
may be any water-insoluble gum base well known in the art.
Illustrative examples of suitable polymers for gum base include,
natural and synthetic elastomers, resins and rubbers. For example,
suitable polymers include substances of vegetable origin such as
rubber latex solids, chicle, gelutong, nispero, rosidinha, pendare,
perillo, niger gutta, tunu, gutta percha, and crown gum. Synthetic
elastomers such as butadiene-styrene copolymers,
isobutylene-isoprene copolymers, polyethylene, polyisobutylene,
petroleum wax and polyvinylacetate and mixtures thereof are also
useful in gum base.
[0051] Gum base may also contain elastomer solvents to aid in
softening the gum base. Such materials may include methyl, glycerol
or pentaerythritol esters of rosins; methyl, glycerol or
pentaerythritol esters of modified rosins, such as hydrogenated,
dimerized or polymerized rosins; mixtures thereof and the like.
Examples of such materials include pentaerythritol esters of
partially hydrogenated wood rosin, pentaerythritol esters of wood
rosin, glycerol esters of partially dimerized rosin, glycerol
esters of polymerized rosin, glycerol esters of tall oil rosin,
glycerol esters of wood rosin or partially hydrogenated wood rosin,
partially hydrogenated metal esters of rosin such as polymers of
alpha.-pinene or .beta.pinene, terpene resins including
polyterpene, mixtures thereof and the like.
[0052] A variety of traditional ingredients such as plasticizers or
softeners, such as lanolin, stearic acid, sodium stearate,
potassium stearate, glyceryl, triacetate, glycerine, natural waxes,
petroleum waxes such as polyurethane waxes, paraffin waxes and
microcrystalline waxes, may also be incorporated into a gum base to
obtain a variety of desirable textures and consistency
properties.
[0053] Other conventional ingredients that may be present in a gum
base include a hydrophilic-type detackifier that will absorb saliva
and become slippery. The hydrophilic type detackifier should
preferably be incompatible with the elastomer and solvent for the
elastomer, and may include such materials as polyvinyl acetate,
polyvinyl butyl ether, copolymers of vinyl esters and vinyl ethers,
mixtures thereof and the like.
[0054] The gum base may also include hard waxes that serve as
lubricants. Examples of such hard waxes include candelilla wax,
paraffin wax, carnauba wax, ozokerite, oricuri, microcrystalline
wax and the like.
[0055] The gum base may also include a softening agent and/or
lubricant that may comprise one or more hydrogenated vegetable or
animal fats preferably having a high melting point above about
22.degree. C.
[0056] The gum base may also include an emulsifier to impart.
hydrophilic properties to the gum base. The emulsifier causes
saliva to be absorbed into the gum base, thereby making the gum
base slippery. Examples of such emulsifiers may include glyceryl
monostearate, phosphatides such as lecithin and sephalin, mixtures
thereof and the like.
[0057] The gum base may also include particles of chalk or the like
as a bulking agent and/or texturizer. Examples of such texturizing
agents or inert fillers suitable for use in gum base include,
calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, alumina, magnesium
carbonate, talc, aluminum silicates, mixtures thereof and the
like.
[0058] Such gum bases are well known in the art, and may be
modified to provide a variety of consistency, texture and other
properties to the chewing gum product.
[0059] With regard to sweeteners, a distinguishing between bulk
sweetener and intense sweetener (high potency sweetener) is often
relevant. Bulk sweetener are well known sweeteners such as sucrose,
dextrose, dextrins, maltose, trehalose, D-tagatose, dried invert
sugar, ribose, fructose, levulose, galactose, glucose,
maltodextrin, polydextrose, isomalt, sorbitol, sorbitol syrup,
mannitol, xylitol, hexaresorcinol, maltitol, isomaltol, erythriol,
lactitol, xylose, tagatose and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates
(maltitol syrup). Intense or high potent sweeteners includes the
dipeptides aspartame, neotame and alitame; N-sulfonylamides such as
saccharin including the salts thereof and acesulfam including the
salts thereof; sulfamates such as cyclamate including the salts
thereof; chlorinated sugar derivatives such as sucralose; Terpenoid
glycosides such as RebaudiosideA, Stevioside and Glyhyrrhizin;
proteins such as thaumatin and monellin and Di-hydrochalcones. The
gum composition to be extruded and granulated is typically
substantially free of bulk sweetener. Bulk sweeteners are normally
water soluble and may to some extent be dissolved from the gum
composition granules in the liquid filled chamber.
[0060] The flavouring agents suitable for use in the present
invention can e.g. be a natural, natural identical, or artificial
flavouring substance, or a mixture thereof. At room temperature the
flavouring agent may be in solid state as a dry powder or flavour
granules, or in liquid state as an essence or oil, or mixtures
thereof. The dry flavours may include standard powder (i.e. a
liquid flavouring agent mixed homogeneously with a powder carrier
material), spray dried powder whereby the flavouring agent is
coated by a protective layer (i.e. microencapsulated), freeze dried
powder, or flavour granules. Flavour granules differ from the
powders by substantially larger particle sizes (approximately
500-1500 25 .mu.m) compared to powders (approximately 10-150
.mu.m). Optionally these flavour granules may also comprise a
colouring agent and thereby provide a visual effect in the product.
Furthermore, seeds derived from berries and fruits may also be
included as dry flavouring agents.
[0061] The liquid flavouring agents may include essences also known
as extracts which are concentrated flavouring agents produced
either by reducing a liquid until it is a syrup or by dissolving a
spice or flavouring oil in alcohol, and essential oils also known
as flavouring oils which are highly concentrated essences.
[0062] Preferably, the solid and the liquid flavouring agents are
encapsulated in a protective matrix protecting them from heat and
moisture and thereby reducing the oxidation and evaporation of the
liquid flavouring agent. As a result the stability of the
flavouring agent is markedly improved extending the shelf life of
the product. These encapsulating processes are well known to those
skilled in the art.
[0063] A variety of one or more flavouring agents may be used.
Flavouring agents suitable for use in the present invention include
natural, natural-identical, and/or artificial flavouring substance,
or mixtures thereof, in their solid and/or in their liquid
state.
[0064] The person skilled in the art will recognize that natural
and artificial flavouring agents may be combined in any sensorially
acceptable blends.
[0065] The gum composition to be extruded may, furthermore, be
mixed with colouring agents to obtain desirable visually effects.
Useful commercially available colouring agents are DUA,LAKE or EURO
LAKE, which can be provided in various colours. Natural colours
like e.g. riboflavin, beta-carotene, chlorophyll and hibiscus are
also suitable. Optionally gum granules in different colours may be
used to provide a tablet with more colours.
[0066] The gum composition may be feed to the extruder as
conventionally pellets or it may be feed to the extruder as hot
viscous coherent composition directly from the gum base production
line. The gum composition may be pure gum base or gum base mixed
with e.g. sweetener or flavour. The hot composition will normally
have a temperature in the range: of 95 to 135.degree. C.,
preferably in the range 105 to 125.degree. C., which is sufficient
to heat the extruder. In this case it is not necessary to have
heating means on the extruder. Optionally, the gum composition is
cooled before entering the extruder, suitable to a temperature of
70.degree. C. or below. After being extruded to the die plate, the
gum composition is cooled by the water in the granulating chamber.
Optionally the gum base production line may feed several extruders
in order to increase capacity or to obtain granules with different
size and characteristics.
[0067] During extrusion of the gum composition the differential
pressure between the gum composition in the extruder and the gum
composition in the liquid filled chamber, i.e. the pressure drop
across the die means is suitable above 10 bar, preferably above 18
bar, such as in the range of 25 to 90 bar. The temperature of the
gum composition in the extruder is preferably in the range of 40 to
125.degree. C., suitable in the range 50 to 115.degree. C. The
temperature of the die means is preferably, in the range of 60 to
190.degree. C., suitable in the range 80 to 180.degree. C. The
temperature of the liquid in the liquid filled chamber is
conveniently in the range of 1 to 25.degree. C. The optimum for the
pressures and temperatures in the method according to the invention
can, however, be determined by the skilled person as a matter of
routine. The optimum values for specific gum compositions, varies
of course, depending on the composition.
[0068] The tablet pressing machine may be any conventional tablet
pressing machine capable of pressing tablets comprising gum
granules. The final tablets preferably have a weight in the range
of 0.5 to 2.5 g, conveniently in the range of 0.6 to 1.5 g.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
[0069] A commercially available gum base based on synthetic resins
(DANfree T firm 1, available from Gumlink A/S, Denmark) was used
the gum base in the production of chewing gum products according to
the invention.
[0070] Gum base in the form of pellets was for a type A composition
fed directly to the extruder, and for type B or type C the gum base
was mixed with menthol flavour crystals (MENTHOL BP/USP, available
from SHARP MENTHOL INDIA LIMITED, India) aspartame powder
(Aspartame, available from ZHUN YONGXINRONG BIOCHEMICAL PRODUCTS
CO., LDT, China), and acesulfame-K (Sunett, particle size A,
available from Nutrinova GmbH, Germany) to form a gum composition
as shown in Table 1. For the, type A and type B compositions mint
oil (PD3-68H, type 1100102, available from A.M.TODD COMPANY, U.S.A)
was added in an amount of approx. 4.22% Wt. and mixed to the gum
composition in the extruder.
[0071] The gum compositions were fed individually to an extruder
(Leistrits ZSE/BL 360 kw 104, available from GALA GmbH, Germany).
The resulting gum composition was extruded to a granulator
comprising a die plate and liquid filled chamber (granulator AS PAC
6, GALA GmbH, Germany) connected to a water system comprising a
water supply for the granulator and centrifugal dryer (TWS 20,
available from GALA GmbH, Germany).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Gum composition Type A Type B Type C
Ingredient Amounts % Wt. gum base 95.8 89.24 93.35 menthol flavour
crystals 0 6.08 6.15 aspartame powder 0 0.23 0.25 acesulfame K 0
0.23 0.25 mint oil* 4.2 4.22 0 *mint oil was added in the
extruder
[0072] The type A gum composition of Table 1 was feed to the
extruder with a feed rate of 250 kg/h and an extruder screw speed
of 139 rpm. The temperature in the gum composition at the feed end
of the extruder was 44.degree. C. and the temperature of the gum
composition at the outlet of the extruder was 109.degree. C. The
gum composition was delivered by the extruder device to the inlet
side of a die plate at a pressure of 36 bar. The composition was
extruded through the die plate having a temperature of 120.degree.
C. and 24 holes of a diameter of 1.0 mm. In the granulator chamber
the extruded composition was cut to granules by a cutter with 8
blades mounted in star shape on a central axle rotating with a
cutter speed of 1801 rpm. The granules were cooled and transported
to the centrifugal dryer in water with a temperature of 17.degree.
C. and a flow rate of 22 m3/h. The average cooling and transport
time in water was approx. 2 seconds. The individual granules had an
average weight of 0.002 g. The granules were tabletted as described
below.
Example 2
[0073] The type A gum composition of Table 1 was fed to the
extruder with a feed rate of 250 kg/h and delivered to the inlet
side of the die plate at a temperature of 110.degree. C. and a
pressure of 52 bar. The composition was extruded through a die
plate having a temperature of 119.degree. C. and 24 holes of a
diameter of 1.0 mm. In the granulator chamber the extruded
composition was cut to granules by a cutter with 8 blades on a
central axle rotating with a cutter speed of 2800 rpm. The granules
were cooled and transported to the centrifugal dryer in water with
a temperature of 18.degree. C. and a flow rate of 23 m.sup.3/h. The
average cooling and transport time in water was approx. 2 seconds.
The individual granules had an. average weight of 0.008 g The
granules were tabletted as described below.
Example 3
[0074] The type A gum composition of Table 1 was fed to the
extruder with a feed rate of 200 kg/h and delivered to the inlet
side of the die plate at a temperature of 111.degree. C. and a
pressure of 72 bar. The composition was extruded through a die
plate having a temperature of 149.degree. C. and 120 holes of a
diameter of 0.5 mm. In the granulator chamber the extruded
composition was cut to granules by a cutter with 8 blades on a
central axle rotating with a cutter speed of 2200 rpm. The granules
were cooled and transported to the centrifugal dryer in water with
a temperature of 19.degree. C. and a flow rate of 23 m.sup.3/h. The
average cooling and transport time in water was approx. 2 seconds.
The individual granules had an average weight of 0.0039 g. The
granules were tabletted as described below.
Example 4
[0075] The type A gum composition of Table 1 was fed to the
extruder with a feed rate of 250 kg/h and delivered to the inlet
side of the die plate at a temperature of 109.degree. C. and a
pressure of 71 bar. The composition was extruded through a die
plate having a temperature of 177.degree. C. and 336 holes of a
diameter of 10 0.36 mm. In the granulator chamber the extruded
composition was cut to granules by a cutter with 8 blades on a
central axle rotating with a cutter speed of 1999 rpm. The granules
were cooled and transported to the centrifugal dryer in water with
a temperature 15 of 19.degree. C. and a flow rate of 22 m.sup.3/h.
The average cooling and transport time in water was approx. 2
seconds. The individual granules had an average weight of 0.0009 g.
The granules were tabletted as described below.
Example 5
[0076] The type A gum composition of Table 1 was fed to the
extruder with a feed rate of 250 kg/h and delivered to the inlet
side of the die plate at a temperature of 109.degree. C. and a
pressure of 71 bar. The composition was extruded through a die
plate having a temperature of 179.degree. C. and 336 holes of a
diameter of 0.36 mm. In the granulator chamber the extruded
composition was cut to granules by a cutter with 8 blades on a
central axle rotating with a cutter speed of 2800 rpm. The granules
were cooled and transported to the centrifugal dryer in water with
a temperature of 19.degree. C. and a flow rate of 22 m3/h. The
average cooling and transport time in water was approx. 2 seconds.
The individual granules had an average weight of 0.0009 g: The
granules were tabletted as described below.
Example 6
[0077] The type B gum composition of Table 1 was fed to the
extruder with a feed rate of 200 kg/h and delivered to the inlet
side of the die plate at a temperature of 109.degree. C. and a
pressure of 51 bar. The composition was extruded through a die
plate having a temperature of 157.degree. C. and 336 holes of a
diameter of 0.36 mm. In the granulator chamber the extruded
composition was cut to granules by a cutter with 8 blades on a
central axle rotating with a cutter speed of 2800 rpm. The granules
were cooled and transported to the centrifugal dryer in water with
a temperature of 13.degree. C. and a flow rate of 21 m.sup.3/h. The
average cooling and transport time in water was approx. 2 seconds.
The individual granules had an average weight of 0.0008 g. The
granules were tabletted as described below.
Example 7
[0078] The type C gum composition of Table 1 was fed to the
extruder with a feed rate of 200 kg/h and delivered to the inlet
side of the die plate at a temperature of 91.degree. C. and a
pressure of 80 bar. The composition was extruded through a die
plate having a temperature of 157.degree. C. and 336 holes of a
diameter of 0.36 mm. In the granulator chamber the extruded
composition was cut to granules by a cutter with 8 blades on a
central axle rotating with a cutter speed of 2800 rpm. The granules
were cooled and transported to the centrifugal dryer in water with
a temperature of 11.degree. C. and a flow rate of 21 m3/h. The
average cooling and transport time in water was approx. 2 seconds.
The individual granules had an average weight of 0.0009 g. The
granules were tabletted as described below.
[0079] Tabletting:
[0080] The gum composition granules from the above examples were
individually mixed in a standard mixer with flavour (menthol
flavour crystals) and sweeteners (intense sweeteners: aspartame
powder and acesulfame K; bulk sweetener: sorbitol, available from
CERESTAR Scandinavia A/S, Denmark) as shown in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Mixture for pressed tablets Ingredient % Wt.
gum composition granules 39.48 aspartame powder 0.13 acesulfame K
powder 0.13 sorbitol powder 58.04 menthol flavour crystals 2.22
[0081] Before pressing the mixtures passed a standard horizontal
vibration sieve for removing any particles larger than 2.6 mm. The
mixture was subsequently lead 20 to a standard tablet pressing
machine comprising dosing apparatus (P 3200 C, available from Fette
GmbH, Germany) and pressed into compressed chewing gum tablets. The
filling depth was 7.5 mm and the diameter 7.0 mm. The tablets were
precompressed to 5.0 mm and then main compressed to 3.2 mm using a
pressing pressure of 33.0-33.6 kN. There were 61 punches on the
roter, and the rotor speed used was 11 rpm. The individual
compressed tablets had a weight of approx. 1.5 g.
[0082] The products were assessed to have excellent properties with
regard to cohesion and texture during the initial phase of chewing.
All of the assessed tablets demonstrated good properties with
regard to duration of taste.
[0083] Alternative mixtures of gum granules from examples with
flavour and sweetener as shown in Table 3 were prepared.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Alternative mixture for pressed tablets
Ingredient % Wt. gum granules, example 2 23.57 gum granules,
example 3 15.91 aspartame powder 0.13 acesulfame K powder 0.13
sorbitol powder 58.04 menthol flavour crystals 2.22
[0084] The alternative mixtures of gum granules were 15 processed
and pressed into tablets as described above.
[0085] The obtained tablets had a good tight texture and provided a
very satisfactory cohesion during the initial phase of chewing.
[0086] Whether gum granules are of a single average weight or a
mixture of a plurality of average weights it is preferred that the
additional ingredients mixed with the granules (bulk sweetener,
compression aids etc.) are substantially free from fats and waxes.
The amount of possibly added fats and waxes is suitably kept below
10% Wt. of the final compressed chewing gum tablets. With respect
to the gum granules they can be without flavour or sweetener, but
preferably the gum composition in the granules include at least 1%
Wt. of flavour or sweetener.
[0087] The possible incorporation of sweetener and/or flavour in
the granules assists in providing a longlasting taste in the
tablets made from compressed granules.
[0088] Although the gum granules are useable without a coating it
is for some embodiments preferred to coat the granules, such as
with a coating comprising one or more coatings or ingredients
selected from the groups comprising magnesium stearate, cornstarch,
sugar compounds, polyols, cellulose ethers, acrylic polymers and
copolymers, sugarless/sugarfree coatings, or waxes. The coating can
be provided in any known manner within the art of coating chewing
gum. The coating may serve to act as a tabletting aid or to protect
the chewing gum composition core and retain moisture in the chewing
gum during storing. The coating can also facilitate the filling of
granules into tablet pressing forms. It is furthermore possible to
coat the compressed chewing gum tablets, if so desired. Such a
coating can be made of any suitable and known method.
* * * * *