METHOD OF PROCESSING AN INGREDIENT FOR A CHEWING GUM PRODUCT

摘要

A process for cooling, grinding, and packaging an ingredient material, such as an encapsulated sweetener or acid, for a chewing gum product is disclosed. The material is extruded from an extruding machine (12) directly onto a conveyor (14). The conveyor transports the liquid material, preferably in elongated strings, through a chamber (16) cooled by circulation of cooled air. The solidified material exiting the cooling chamber is cut into small pieces by a rotating cutter (18) and conveyed by a vacuum conveyor system to a grinder (22). The material is further broken up (ground) into a powder and transported to a holding bin. Thereafter, the powder is deposited in boxes or other containers (42) for storage.