| abstract |
A particulated gum base comprises particulated elastomer ingredients and particulated spray congealed ingredients having a size of less than or equal to about 1 millimeters. A method of making a particulate blend gum base comprises the steps of providing at least one first gum base ingredient having a softening point of less than about 130 °F, providing a second gum base ingredient, combining at least the first and second gum base ingredients to form a combined ingredient having a particulate form, blending at room temperature the combined ingredient with a third gum base ingredient to form the powder blend gum base, the powder blend gum base comprising at least an elastomer, a softener, an antitack ingredient and a filler. An improved method for making chewing gum products and gum base products. A method of preventing agglomeration of particulate gum base products. A remotely controlled method of making a particulate blend gum plate. A method of making chewing gum products and gum base products having improved consistency from one batch to the next. An improved method for making gum base products having reduced changeover costs from the manufacture of one product to the next. An improved method of making gum base products using the same equipment having reduced contamination from one formulation to the next. An improved method of making gum base products having temperature sensitive ingredients. An improved method of making chewing gum products having temperature sensitive ingredients. An improved method of making chewing gum products using reduced temperatures. An improved method of making a batch of chewing gum. A method of making a gum and wrapping gum products without conditioning. A free-flowing, particulated gum base comprises particulated rubber ingredients having a size of less than or equal to about millimeters. The gum base is prepared by blending together particulated gum base ingredients including an elastomer, elastomer plasticizer and preferably a filler. The elastomer and elastomer plasticizer may be pre-blended and then pulverized before being blended with the other gum base ingredients to form the free-flowing, particulated gum base. |