A method for separating a comestible structure into a plurality of comestible structures includes providing at least one comestible structure including at least one score line to a clamping device, clamping a portion of said at least one comestible structure in said clamping device, and separating said portion from a remainder of said at least one comestible structure at said at least one score line via said clamping device.

A method for separating a trim section from a body of comestible structure includes forming a trim score line in the body of the comestible structure to define the trim section in the body of comestible structure and actively applying a force to the trim section via a force generating device to separate the trim section from the body of comestible structure along said trim score line.

There is provided a cutter or mold having at least one sidewall defining a cavity, wherein the cavity draft angle varies. In some embodiments, the cutter may also include a base, i.e., the cutter can be a mold. The cutter or mold exhibits better release properties of food products molded or cut therewith than conventional cutters or molds having no cavity draft angle, or a uniform cavity draft angle. Rotary cutting wheels, that in some embodiments may be ultrasonically activated, as well as systems incorporating the cutters or molds are also provided, as are methods of forming food products using the cutters or molds.

An edible decoration is laser kiss cut from an edible decorating sheet by optically sensing at least one printed edible design on the edible decorating sheet relative to a laser cutting tool coordinate system and driving a laser along a circuit of cutting locations defined in the laser cutting tool coordinate system. The laser beam forms a separation channel by laser ablation of at least a portion of the edible decorating sheet at the cutting locations while leaving intact the non-adhesive releasable backing upon which the edible decorating sheet rests.

An edible decoration is laser kiss cut from an edible decorating sheet by optically sensing at least one printed edible design on the edible decorating sheet relative to a laser cutting tool coordinate system and driving a laser along a circuit of cutting locations defined in the laser cutting tool coordinate system. The laser beam forms a separation channel by laser ablation of at least a portion of the edible decorating sheet at the cutting locations while leaving intact the non-adhesive releasable backing upon which the edible decorating sheet rests.

An edible decoration is laser kiss cut from an edible decorating sheet by optically sensing at least one printed edible design on the edible decorating sheet relative to a laser cutting tool coordinate system and driving a laser along a circuit of cutting locations defined in the laser cutting tool coordinate system. The laser beam forms a separation channel by laser ablation of at least a portion of the edible decorating sheet at the cutting locations while leaving intact the non-adhesive releasable backing upon which the edible decorating sheet rests.

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.

An edible decoration is laser kiss cut from an edible decorating sheet by optically sensing at least one printed edible design on the edible decorating sheet relative to a laser cutting tool coordinate system and driving a laser along a circuit of cutting locations defined in the laser cutting tool coordinate system. The laser beam forms a separation channel by laser ablation of at least a portion of the edible decorating sheet at the cutting locations while leaving intact the non-adhesive releasable backing upon which the edible decorating sheet rests.

A method for separating a comestible structure into a plurality of comestible structures includes providing at least one comestible structure including at least one score line to a clamping device, clamping a portion of said at least one comestible structure in said clamping device, and separating said portion from a remainder of said at least one comestible structure at said at least one score line via said clamping device.