A conveying and separating method and a device for separating sheet-shaped objects, for example preliminary chewing-gum products or intermediate chewing-gum products in the form of chewing-gum sheets, into strip-shaped or slab-shaped object sub-units. The conveying and separating method and device for separating sheet-shaped objects preferably separates sub-units one after another from each of the sheet-shaped objects at at least one weakened region on each of the sheet-shaped objects by a conveying and separating device that preferably has a revolving conveyor belt with suction elements that can be activated and deactivated. The suction elements pick up, hold, and convey the sheet-shaped object when the suction element is activated and release the sub-units when the suction element is deactivated.

Disclosed herein are chewing gum compositions having fat polymorphs that are predominantly beta prime and/or beta over alpha. Also disclosed are methods of forming chewing gum compositions having predominantly beta prime and/or beta fat polymorphs which have sufficient textural properties to be processed into wrapped/packaged chewing gum products or coated to coated chewing gum products. Improved methods of forming and conditioning chewing gum to reduce costs, cut down on conditioning time, and to improve gum sensory properties are disclosed.

A chewing gum includes a body and a coating. The body includes a gum base polymer, an oil, an active ingredient, an insoluble cellulosic material, and a buffer system. The gum base polymer includes polyvinyl acetate (PVA) in an amount ranging from 35 weight percent to 55 weight percent of the body. The oil includes medium chain triglycerides in an amount ranging from 3 weight percent to 11 weight of the body. The buffer system is present in an amount ranging from 0.1 weight percent to 8 weight percent of the body. The coating is at least partially surrounding the body.

Disclosed is a system for cooling chewing gum, the system including a cooling housing including a relatively upper cooling environment and a relatively lower cooling environment, a conveying device configured to convey the chewing gum from an entry point to an exit point of the cooling housing, the conveying device at least partially delimiting the relatively upper cooling environment from the relatively lower cooling environment, a first cooling system configured to provide cooling output to the relatively upper cooling environment, and second cooling system configured to provide cooling output to the relatively lower cooling environment, wherein the relatively upper cooling environment and the relatively lower cooling environment are disposed in fluid separation from each other.

Disclosed is a system for cooling chewing gum, the system including a cooling housing including a relatively upper cooling environment and a relatively lower cooling environment, a conveying device configured to convey the chewing gum from an entry point to an exit point of the cooling housing, the conveying device at least partially delimiting the relatively upper cooling environment from the relatively lower cooling environment, a first cooling system configured to provide cooling output to the relatively upper cooling environment, and second cooling system configured to provide cooling output to the relatively lower cooling environment, wherein the relatively upper cooling environment and the relatively lower cooling environment are disposed in fluid separation from each other.

Disclosed herein are methods of disposing compositions (e.g., flavor compositions) onto the surface of one or more substrates and, in particular edible substrates such as chewing gums. Also disclosed herein are substrates, such as chewing gums, onto which have been disposed the compositions and/or flavorings.

A feeder for machines for wrapping sheet-like products includes a track for supplying laminar blanks, a cutting unit for dividing the blanks into sheet-like products, and a channel for supplying a respective wrapping station with the sheet-like products. The feeder includes at least two channels arranged mutually side by side, and lead to respective mutually opposite wrapping elements of distinct wrapping stations. A sorting apparatus is interposed between the channels and the cutting unit for the selective transfer of the sheet-like products that arrive from the cutting unit to one respective channel at a time.

A feeder for machines for wrapping sheet-like products includes a track for supplying laminar blanks, a cutting unit for dividing the blanks into sheet-like products, and a channel for supplying a respective wrapping station with the sheet-like products. The feeder includes at least two channels arranged mutually side by side, and lead to respective mutually opposite wrapping elements of distinct wrapping stations. A sorting apparatus is interposed between the channels and the cutting unit for the selective transfer of the sheet-like products that arrive from the cutting unit to one respective channel at a time.

A method of forming a comestible is provided including transporting the comestible to a dusting apparatus having an enclosed chamber. A dusting agent within the enclosed chamber is directed onto one or more surfaces of the comestible as the comestible passes through the enclosed chamber.

The present invention relates to the use of porous starch as bulking agent in a chewing gum. The present invention also relates to a process of fabricating the chewing gum and to a chewing gum composition comprising porous starch as bulking agent.