| Claims: 1. Method for the production of chewing gum tablets with a figurative shape (10) such as: a tooth shape (11), a heart-shape (12), a body shape, a body part shape, shape of a star, that is substantial different from the existing short rectangle chewing gum tablets (14) - so called "pellets" - where during the shaping phase of the industrial shaping- process the base for the figurative shape (11, 12) is made by punching /cutting the flattened surface of the base gum by means of one or more punching/ cutting knives which contain at least one or more of said figurative shapes (11, 12), where in the next phase the treated gum material is cooled, and broken or indivualized in single tablet units in a separation phase, after which - during the coating phase - the pre-shaped tablet bases are gradually deposited or sprinkled with emulsions or with particles of preferred liquids or substances to cover said base tablets with one or more finishing layers, whereafter the single multi-layered chewing gum tablets are singly or collectively packaged in blister form-packaging, folio- packaging or in other holding means; 2. Chewing gum tablet having a figurative outer shape that is produced after the method as described in claim 1; 3. Method for the production of chewing gum plates /sticks (16) with a figurative shape (10) such as: a tooth shape (11), a heart-shape (12), a body shape, a body part shape, shape of a star, that is substantial different from the existing long rectangle chewing gum sticks (13) where during the shaping phase of the industrial shaping-process the base for the figurative shape (11, 12) is made by punching /cutting the flattened surface of the base gum by means of one or more punching /cutting knives which contain at least one or more of said figurative shapes (10, Fig.5), where in the next phase the treated gum material is cooled, and broken or indivualized - during a separation phase - in single long-rectangled plates having at least one of said shapes in it's surface, whereafter each chewing gum is singly packaged in at least one packaging, and afterwards collected in a collective packaging means; 4. Chewing gum stick (16, Fig 5) having at least one figurative inner shape that is produced after the method as described in claim 3; 5. Method for the production of chewing gum tablets with a figurative shape (10) such as: a tooth shape (11), a heart-shape (12), a body shape, a body part shape, shape of a star, that is substantial different from the existing long rectangle chewing gum sticks (13) and the existing short rectangle chewing gum tablets (14) - so called "pellets" - where during the shaping phase of the industrial shaping-process the base for the figurative shape (11, 12) is made by cutting or slicing a shaped-extruded continuous gum material on the preferred thickness, where in the next phase the single gum piece is cooled and may be covered with at least one layer of powder, whereafter each piece of chewing gum is packaged in a single flowpack or wrap; 6. Chewing gum element having a figurative outer shape that is produced after the method as described in claim 5; 7. Method for the production of chewing gum tablets with a figurative shape (10) such as: a tooth shape (11), a heart-shape (12), a body shape, a body part shape, shape of a star, that is substantial different from the existing short rectangle chewing gum tablets (14) - so called "pellets" - where during the shaping phase of the industrial shaping- process the base for the figurative shape (11, 12) is made, either by pressing or injecting the warm gum material by pressure /pushing means, either by pouring the warm gum material by pour/ fall means, into counter-shapes (i.e. moulds), where in next phases the treated gum material is cooled and removed from the counter-shapes, whereafter the obtained chewing gum pieces are either treated (i.e. spray, coating) and / or packaged in a well-known manner; 8. Chewing gum element having a figurative outer shape that is produced after the method as described in claim 7; 9. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claims 1, 3, 5, 7, whereby at least one side is printed (i.e. by screen-print, transfer, tampon, etc.) with an edible ink, taste material or dye, so that visual information (15) is added on the said single piece; 10. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claims 1, 3, 5, 7, whereby at least in one side at least one 3D-impression (18) is made, in example a chewing gum in coffee bean shape with a lengthwise slit impression; 11. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claims 1, 3, 5, 7, having an asymmetric thickness; 12. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claim 2, whereby the same type of figurative chewing gum can have different colours, in example chewing gum shape as a tooth can be used by a manufacturer of tooth paste to market several type of tooth treatments or preparations, like a white tooth shaped chewing gum for "whitening" and a pink tooth shaped chewing gum against "periodontosis"; 13. Method to produce a two- or multi-component chewing gum (19) whereby - after a cooling process - at least two differently composed base gums (20, 21) are positioned /put on top of each other, and then are closed down or bended, whereafter the whole is coated with at least one outer layer (22) in the next production phase; 14. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claims 1, 3, 5, 7, whereby one of the sweeting substances in the base gum 5 and/ or in the coating material belongs to the Stevia family; 15. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claims 1, 3, 5, 7, whereby one of the components on the base gum and /or the coating material are particles or tincture of a natural herb, flower, IQ plant, root, leave, cortex, extract, i.e. bv. curry, clove, maca, ginseng, magnolia-cortex, muria puama, damiana, guarana, tongkat afi, catuaba, pau de cabinda, pfaffia, butea superba, ashwagandha, avena sativa, Radix Cynanchi Atrati, Fructus Arctii, Cadix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Boehmeriae, Radix Aucklandiae, Herba Schizonepetae, Caulis X 5 Bambusae in Taeniam, Rhizoma Polygonati, Gypsum Fibrosum, sage, Tilia flower, camomile, Verbena, eucalyptus, mint oil, etc.; 16. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claims 1, 3, 5, 7, whereby one of the components on the base gum and /or the 20 coating material is at least one vitamin; 17. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claims 1, 3, 5, 7, whereby one of the components on the base gum and /or the 25 coating material is at least one medicine; 18. Chewing gum having a figurative shape (10), as described in claims 1, 3, 5, 7, whereby one of the components on the base gum and /or the coating material is an alginate (i.e. E401 Sodium alginate); 0 19. Method to print - during an industrial production process - at least one side of a chewing gum tablet (14) with graphic elements (23) and /or with different type of characters by means of edible ink(s) or liquid(s) - such as flavours and /or colorants - using a know 5 technique, i.e. silkscreen, transfer, tampon print, etc. |
There are mainly four different type of chewing gum, namely chewing gums in short rectangle tablets (so called pellets), long single layered sticks of chewing gum which are packed, pieces of bubblegum and hollow chewing gum balls.
These chewing gums are manufactured in several ways. I refer here to a webpage of a chewing gum manufacturer - further called X - in which the production of said pellets and said sticks is described and presented graphically.
The manufactureres Webpage can be online consulted on link: http: / / www.betteroralhealth.info / orbit us / about-wrigley / fun- facts / making-chewing-gum / index.htm.
The full text reads as follows:
"Making chewing gum"
How Is X's Chewing Gum Made?
The X Company manufactures chewing gum using long-lasting flavor and dependable, uniform quality. This includes manufacturing your gum from spotless, air-conditioned rooms and sampling all ingredients before accepting them into any of your 14 factories. After raw ingredients are approved for quality, the first production stage begins.
1. Melting The making of X's gum begins by melting and purifying the gum base, which comes from small round balls. 2. Mixing The melted base is poured into a mixer that can hold up to one ton of ingredients. Sweeteners and flavors are added at just the right moment and from just the right amounts and then slowly mixed.
3. Rolling: From the mixers, a large "loaf" of gum is sent through a series of rollers that form it into a thin, wide ribbon. Each pair of rollers is set closer together than the previous pair, gradually reducing the thickness of the gum. A light coating of finely powdered sugar or sugar substitute is added during this process to keep the gum from sticking and to enhance flavor. 4. Scoring: At the end of the rolling process, the continuous ribbon of gum is then cut into a pattern for sticks or small rectangular gum centers, depending on what type of gum is being made.
5. Conditioning: The scored gum is then moved to a temperature-controlled environment to cool and ensure the finished gum will have the right consistency and stay fresh on store shelves.
6. Breaking and Coating (gum pellets): After tempering, the gum centers are broken into individual pieces. The pieces are then fed to a spray drier that forms the hard coating around the gum center. It tumbles the pieces while a prepared syrup mixture, made of filtered water, sweeteners, and coloring is sprayed onto the gum. This combination of tumbling and spray coating forms a candy shell around the soft gum centers. 7. Wrapping (gum sticks): After cooling and tempering, skilled operators break the sheets of sticks up into sections and feed them into the wrapping machine. In one continuous process, the wrapping machine receives and wraps the sticks, applies the outer wrapper, and seals the end of the package.
8. Packaging (gum pellets): This is where the pellet-style gum is put into the formed plastic compartments of the blister pack. The package is heat sealed using a foil a cardboard sleeve.
X's chewing gum ingredients:
Ingredients used from X's gum are extensively tested to ensure that their quality meets the standards of all local and international government food regulations. Gum Base:
Gum base puts the "chew" from chewing gum, binding all the ingredients together for a smooth, soft texture. The X Company uses synthetic gum base materials that provide longer-lasting flavor, improved texture and reduced tackiness.
Sweeteners:
The finest grades of pure powdered cane sugar, beet sugar and corn syrup are used from the production of X's sugar-sweetened chewing gums. Several types of high-intensity sweeteners are used from X's sugarfree products and as flavor enhancers from some other brands. These artificial sweeteners deliver long-lasting, noncaloric taste and do not promote tooth-decay. Acesulf ame K, Aspartame, Maltilol, Sorbitol, XyUtol Preservatives
A small amount of preservative helps maintain the freshness of all X's products.
Flavorings and Colorings
The most popular flavors for chewing gums come from the mint plant. Mint flavoring for X's chewing gums is extracted from fresh mint plants grown on farms from the United States. After the plants are harvested, they go through a distillation process that extracts the oils used for flavoring X's brands. Other X's brands are flavored by a variety of fruit and spice essences. Colorings are used to distinguish different flavors. Softeners
Glycerin and other vegetable oil products help keep the gum soft and flexible by retaining the proper amount of moisture from X's products. End to text.
I refer also to the Wikipedia-page on chewing gums: http: / / en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Chewing gum.
The full text on Wikipedia is at the day of application as follows:
"Chewing gum (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Chewing gum is a type of confectionery traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or rubber. Chewing gum has traditionally been made from chicle, but for reasons of economy and quality many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle. Chicle is nonetheless still the base of choice for some regional markets, such as in Japan. Chewing gum is a combination of a water-insoluble phase, known as gum base, and a water-soluble phase of sweeteners, flavouring and sometimes food colouring.
Manufacture
The approximate manufacturing methods are fairly constant between brands. The gum base is melted at a temperature of about 115 jC (240 jF), until it has the viscosity of thick maple syrup, then filtered through a fine mesh screen. Then it is further refined by separating dissolved particles in a centrifuge, and further filtered. Clear base, still hot and melted, is then put into mixing vats. Other ingredients that may be added include: powdered sugar (the amount and grain size of which determines the brittleness of the resulting gum), corn syrup and/ or glucose (which serve as humectants and coat the sugar particles to stabilize their suspension and keep the gum flexible), various softeners, food colourings, flavourings, preservatives and other additives. The homogenized mixture is then poured onto cooling belts and cooled with cold air. Extrusion, optional rolling and cutting, and other mechanical shaping operations follow. The chunks of gum are then put aside to set for 24 to 48 hours. Coated chewing gums then undergo other operations. The chunks are wrapped with optional undercoating for better binding with outer layers then are immersed into liquid sugar. The pellets are then coloured and coated with a suitable glazing agent, usually a wax. The coating/ glazing/ colour on gum is most often derived from animal-based sources such as resinous glaze derived from an insect or beeswax. Always contact the manufacturer of the gum to clarify the ingredients including the coating/ glazing/ colour sources. While gum was historically sweetened with cane sugar, xylitol, corn syrup or other natural sweeteners, a large number of brands now use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, or Acesulfame potassium. Non-coated varieties of gum are often covered in sweetened marble dust to prevent the wrapper from sticking to the product.
Use in military
The United States military have regularly supplied soldiers with chewing gum since World War I because it helped both to improve the soldiers' concentration and to relieve stress. In 1935, an estimated 12,000 lbs was chewed in one month. Recent studies show chewing gum can also improve one's mood. As of 2005, the U.S. military is sponsoring development of a chewing gum formulation with an antibacterial agent that could replace conventional oral hygiene methods in the battlefield. This product will not be used in the field for a wMIe.[l]
Recently the U.S. armed forces have been providing troops with caffeinated gum to keep soldiers alert for extended periods of time without experiencing fatigue or drowsiness. Each stick of gum has approximately 100 mg of caffeine in it, about the same amount in an average cup of coffee. [2] Although chewing gum is provided in the U.S. military MRE's, it is often strongly discouraged for a troop to be seen chewing gum while standing in "formation".
Gum is included in Canadian Forces Individual Meal Packs as an aid to oral hygiene. Recaldent chewing gum was introduced into New Zealand Defence Force ration packs May 2007 by New Zealand Defense Dental Services to aid oral health care for service personnel in the field. Research has shown that Recaldent gum aids remineralization to fight early tooth decay. Chewing gum also aids in relief of stress. [3] Possible health risk As mentioned above, various health benefits have been demonstrated for chewing gum, but concern has arisen about the possible carcinogenicity of the vinyl acetate (acetic acid ethenyl ester) used by some manufacturers in their gum bases. The Canadian government has classified the ingredient as a "potentially high hazard substance."
[2] (http:// www.canada.com/ topics /bodyandhealth/ story .html?id=06e4fd58- ebb9-4bd3-b239-d0f87b743155) Currently the ingredient can be hidden in the catch-all term "gum base". See also
Artificial sweeteners, Bubblegum, Chewing gum removal, Functional gum, Gum base, Gum industry List of chewing gum brands, Sodablasting
References 1. Λ BDJ I Reach for your gum
(http:/ /www.nature.com/bdj/journal/vl99/nl0/full/4813018a.html) 2. Λ Caffeine gum now in Army supply channels
(http:/ /www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php7story id key=8471) External links
Study on Evaluation of Adhesive Properties of Chewing Gum (http:/ /sciencelinks.jp/jeast/article/200613/000020061306A0404386.p hp) Snopes Article on Seven Year Chewing Gum Indigestion (http: / / www.snopes.com/ oldwives/ chewgum.asp)
End of text of Wikipedia.
It is remarkable that since the start of the industrial production of chewing gum there is related to the shapes a very limited offer on the market. Chewing gums are mostly distributed in pellets and sticks presentation and there is actually almost no variation on the market. The reason is that these most popular types of rectangle chewing gums are very easy to manufacturer. The warm, rolled-out base gum ( a mix age) is in fact punched with simple punching tools in small or longer rectangles.
In essence it is possible to create a whole new niche market - so new types of chewing gums - if these simple rectangle punching tools are replaced by more complicated knives which contain figurative shapes and /or special shapes. Chewing gum will have then basic shapes following the designs of the punching tools. De figurative shapes can be designed or drawn in such a way that the cut or lined shapes fit well together, thus providing a low lost of the basic material. The punching or cutting may result in fully separated single pieces or in pieces that are still loosely connected (i.e. dotted lined).
There are several methods to manufacturer this new type of chewing gums. First is disclosed the method for the production of chewing gum tablets with a figurative shape (10) such as: a tooth shape (H), a heart-shape (12), a body shape, a body part shape, shape of a star, that is substantial different from the existing short rectangle chewing gum tablets (14) - so called "pellets". The chewing gum pellets will then follow the shapes with added an additional layer(s) of coating. During the shaping phase of the industrial shaping-process the base for the figurative shape (11, 12) is 5 made by punching/ cutting the flattened surface of the base gum by means of one or more punching/ cutting knives which contain at least one or more of said figurative shapes (11, 12). During in the next phase the treated gum material is cooled, and broken or indivualized in single tablet units in a separation process. During the coating phase - the pre- 10 shaped tablet bases are gradually deposited or sprinkled with emulsions or with particles of preferred liquids or substances to cover said base tablets with one or more finishing layers. Hereafter the single multi- layered chewing gum tablets are singly or collectively packaged in blister form-packaging, folio-packaging or in other holding means like boxes or \ 5 pots. This way chewing gum tablet having a figurative outer shape are produced.
A second method for the production of chewing gum plates (sticks)(16) with a figurative shape (10) such as: a tooth shape (11), a heart-shape (12),
20 a body shape, a body part shape, shape of a star, that is substantial different from the existing long rectangle chewing gum sticks (13) where during the shaping phase of the industrial shaping-process the base for the figurative shape (11, 12) is made by punching /cutting the flattened surface of the base gum by means of one or more punching /cutting
25 knives which contain at least one or more of said figurative shapes (11, 12), where in the next phase the treated gum material is cooled, and broken or indivualized - during a separation phase - in single long- rectangled plates having at least one of said shapes (11) in it's surface. Hereafter each chewing gum plate is singly packaged in at least one
30 packaging, and afterwards collected in a collective packaging means. This way a chewing gum stick (16, Fig 5) having at least one figurative inner shape is produced.
A third method for the production of chewing gum tablets with a 5 figurative shape (10) such as: a tooth shape (11), a heart-shape (12), a body shape, a body part shape, shape of a star, that is substantial different from the existing long rectangle chewing gum sticks (13) and the existing short rectangle chewing gum tablets (14) - so called "pellets" - where during the shaping phase of the industrial shaping-process the 0 base for the figurative shape (11, 12) is made by cutting or slicing a shaped-extruded continuous gum material on the preferred thickness. Due to the special shape of the heads of the extrusion machine the prepared base gum receives the outer shape. That way a long continuous body is produced with at it's outside the special shape, i.e. a heart. Then 5 this long body is sliced in single or more pieces of preferred thickness. In the next phase the single gum piece is further cooled and may be covered with at least one layer of powder to avoid that the pieces stick together. Hereafter each piece of chewing gum is packaged in a single flowpack or wrap, i.e. in a pot. This way a chewing gum piece having at least one figurative outer shape is produced. These chewing gum elements can also be finished with coating layers.
A fourth method for the production of chewing gum tablets with a figurative shape (10) such as: a tooth shape (11), a heart-shape (12), a body shape, a body part shape, shape of a star, that is substantial different from the existing short rectangle chewing gum tablets (14) - so called "pellets" - where during the shaping phase of the industrial shaping-process the base for the figurative shape (11, 12) is made, either by pressing or injecting the warm gum material by pressure /pushing means, either by pouring the warm gum material by pour /fall means, into counter-shapes (i.e. moulds). These counter-shapes can be made in example of metal or man-made materials. In next phases the treated gum material is cooled and removed from the counter-shapes, whereafter the obtained chewing gum pieces are either treated (i.e. spray, coating) and /or packaged in a well-known manner. This way a chewing gum element is made having a figurative outer shape.
The chewing gums having a figurative shape (10) as described by above methods may have at least one side that is printed (i.e. by screen-print, transfer, tampon, etc.) with an edible ink, taste material or dye, so that visual information (15) is added on the said single piece. The printing can have all possible subjects, i.e. logo's, messages, slogans, cartoon figures, etc. The chewing gums having a figurative shape (10), as described by above methods may have at least in one side at least one 3D-imρression (18) is made, in example a chewing gum in coffee bean shape with a lengthwise slit impression. The chewing gums having a figurative shape (10), as described by above methods may have an asymmetric thickness, i.e. a half sphere.
A chewing gum having a figurative shape (10) as described above, whereby the same type of figurative chewing gum can have different colours, in example a chewing gum shape as a tooth can be used by a manufacturer of tooth paste to market several type of tooth treatments or preparations, like a white tooth shaped chewing gum for "whitening" and a pink tooth shaped chewing gum against "periodontosis". A new method to produce a two- or multi-component chewing gum (19) is disclosed whereby - after a cooling process - at least two differently composed base gums (20, 21) are positioned /put on top of each other, and then are closed down or bended, whereafter the whole is coated with at least one outer layer (22) in the next production phase. Each layer may contain for example different microcrystals, which can give a preferred chemical reaction when mixed during the chewing, where this chemical reaction will not occur in a dry environment. In example the first gum base layer contains a bicarbonate and the second layer contains a solid acid, like citric acid. The types of chewing gum with figurative shape (10) as mentioned above can have as one of the sweeting substances belonging to the Stevia family in the base gum and /or in the coating material. I refer to the advantages on next webpage: http: / / en.wildpedia.org/wiki / Stevia). Further these types of chewing gum with figurative shape (10) can be used in all type of application fields, such as: Diet chewing gum, Tooth pain relief chewing gum, appetite reducing chewing gum (containing anorectics), chewing gum with medical components, Viagra-gum, aphrodisiac gum, spices (curry, clove, maca, etc).
These chewing gums having a figurative shape (10) as described above may contain components in the base gum and /or in the coating material that are particles or tincture of a natural herb, flower, plant, root, leave, cortex, extract, i.e. bv. curry, clove, maca, ginseng, magnolia-cortex, muria puama, damiana, guarana, tongkat ali, catuaba, pau de cabinda, pfaffia, butea superba, ashwagandha, avena sativa, Radix Cynanchi Atrati, Fructus Arctii, Cadix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Boehmeriae, Radix Aucklandiae, Herba Schizonepetae, Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam, Rhizoma Polygonati, Gypsum Fibrosum, sage, Tilia flower, camomile, Verbena, eucalyptus, mint oil, etc.
The types of chewing gum having a figurative shape (10) as described above, can have as one of the components in the base gum and /or the coating material at least one vitamin or / and a medicine.
Finally is disclosed the method to print - during an industrial production process - at least one side of a chewing gum tablet (14) with graphic elements (23) and/ or with different type of characters by means of edible ink(s) or liquid (s) such as flavours and /or colorants. We can use a know technique, i.e. silkscreen, transfer, tampon print, etc. By this method visible information (15) is added to the single piece. This method can be interesting for advertising purposes.