POLYVINYL ACETATE PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR CHEWING GUM

摘要

A process and apparatus for processing polyvinyl acetate and other similar ingredients of a gum base or chewing gum product are disclosed. The ingredient materials are separated into individual pieces by a lump breaker (40) and conveyed through a pneumatic conveying system (46) to a cyclone receiver (42) and holding bin. A volumetric feeder (22) feeds the material into a side feeder which in turn introduces and feeds the material to the main continuous extruder used for making the final gum base or gum product. A unique adapter (30) connects the side feeder to the main extruder which allows repair and/or modification of the side feeder without separating it from the main extruder.