MXPA00004013A - Continuous gum base processing system with cooling towers - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for automatically cooling and further processing chewing gum base materials is disclosed. The hot molten chewing gum base material is deposited in lined or coated pans (30), the pans are picked up by an industrial robot (40) and placed into a pair of spiral cooling towers (44) where the molten material is cooled and solidified. The same or a second industrial robot picks up the pans of cooled gum base material and transports them to a final staging and processing area. The pans of cooled gum base material are placed on a conveyor system or on pallets for further handling and processing.

Description

SYSTEM OF CONTINUOUS PROCESSING OF RUBBER BASE WITH COOLING TOWERS Field of the Invention The invention is directed to an improved system for the continuous process of chewing gum bases.

Background of the Invention Typically, a chewing gum composition comprises a part of water-soluble volume material, a base portion of water-insoluble chewing gum and, generally, water-insoluble flavoring agents. The insoluble gum base generally comprises elastomers, elastomeric solvents, plasticizers, waxes, emulsifiers and inorganic fillers. The water soluble part dissipates with a part of the flavoring agent during the chewing time. The rubber base part is retained in the mouth during the time the product is chewed.

The chewing gum bases, as well as the chewing gum product per se, are generally produced by a batch method, although continuous extruders can also be used. In the batch method, Sigma blade mixers are commonly used and current. The batch process, however, tends to be labor intensive and produces chewing gums of various consistencies.

Once the gum base has formed; emulsifiers such as lecithin, softeners such as glycerin or Wesson oil, corn syrup and fillers, such as sugars or sugars of alcohols are added to the melt. Subsequently, flavorings such as flavored oils and / or powdered flavors dehydrated and sweeteners, are added during continuous mixing until a homogeneous mass is achieved. The chewing gum mass is cooled and subsequently rolled, striated and wrapped towards the final product.

The use of continuous extruders to manufacture chewing gum bases and the final product of chewing gum, has been developed in order to simplify and reduce the time required for the manufacture of gum base and chewing gum products. Continuous extrusion processes also reduce the cost of final products and produce rubber bases and more uniform and consistent rubber end products.

The use of continuous extruders to make a chewing gum end product is described in the U.S. Patent. No. 5, 135, 760 of Degady et al., In the U.S. Patent. No. 5, 045, 325 of Lesko et al. and in the U.S. Patent. No. 4, 55, 407 of Kramer et al. The use of continuous extruders to produce chewing gum bases is described, for example, in U.S. Patents. Nos. 5, 419, 919 and 5, 486, 366 both of Song et al.

The continuous gum base and chewing gum processes described in said patents typically utilize a continuous extrusion machine, such as a double-blade extruder. Said extruders can be co-rotational, counter-rotational, gear or tangential, depending on the requirements and purposes of the system involved. These extruders usually have several different feed inputs, where the ingredients are added. The mechanisms of elongated blades inside the drums of the extruders are equipped with different types of elements. Continuous extrusion machines that can be used to produce a chewing gum base or a chewing gum end product, or both, include the extruders from Japan Steel Works, Leistriztz, Werner & Pfleiderer Corp., WLS, Buss Mfg. Co., Togum and Baker Perkins.

When gum bases are produced, either by the batch method or by the use of a continuous extrusion machine, the molten gum base is usually emptied into coated or coated containers which are then placed separately to be cool. Once cooled, the rubber base plates or blocks are placed separately or packed into boxes for later use in various chewing gum manufacturing processes. It is well known that a gum base product can be used for several rubber end products, depending on the final composition of the gum.

The methods used to handle the gum base products include the steps of emptying the base into containers, transporting the containers to the cooling station, cooling the hot gum base material in the containers and processing the cooled blocks. of rubber base, same that they consume time and involve an intensive work. In general, the rubber base product takes several hours to cool sufficiently for subsequent handling and processing.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and system for the production, cooling and processing of gum base products. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for cooling a gum base product in order to facilitate the improved final processing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cooling apparatus for continuous cooling of chewing gum bases and automatic handling thereof from one stage to another.

These and other objects, benefits and advantages of the present invention are met by the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an improved apparatus, method and system for the handling and cooling of gum base products. The gum base product, which is preferably manufactured by a continuous extrusion process, is emptied into coated or coated containers which are then inserted into an automatic cooling apparatus. The cooling apparatus consists of a pair of cooling towers spiral conductors which, after passing the rubber base product therethrough, result in a cooled product of rubber base at the opposite end. The cooled rubber base product is subsequently and automatically placed in an appropriate conveyor device or platform member, so that it is ready for further processing related to the production of chewing gum.

Preferably, one or more programmed robots are used for the handling of the material, for the automatic positioning of the containers for the filling, for the placement of the liquid product of chewing gum in the spiral cooling towers, for the removal of the cooled product of the cooler and the placement of the solidified product for subsequent handling.

Other benefits, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, drawings and accompanying claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of a cooling and automatic handling system in accordance the present invention, FIGURE 1A illustrates an alternative embodiment of a part of the system shown in Figure 1, FIGURE 2 is a schematic top elevation view of a cooling and automatic handling system in accordance the present invention, FIGURE 3 is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the following letters represent: a: the Extruded rubber base material. b: placement of containers for filling. c: transport of material to the agitation tank. d: coating of the containers. e: coated containers filled material. f: placement of full containers in the cooling tower. g: cooled material. h: Remove the containers solidified material from the cooling tower. i: Separate the solidified material from the containers. j: placement of the platforms. k: place the material on the platforms. I: material storage platforms.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of a container coater mechanism.

Detailed description of the invention The present invention is particularly suitable for processing gum bases which are used for chewing gum end products. In general, the present invention provides an apparatus, method and system for the handling, cooling and further processing of the molten gum base product in order to facilitate its use for a final chewing gum product. In this regard, it should be understood that the present invention can be used for the handling, cooling and further processing of gum base products, whether they are produced by a continuous extrusion process, a conventional batch-type process or by any another conventional way.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the invention is used with a continuous extrusion process to produce the chewing gum base. In particular, the use of this in a continuous gum base process facilitates the handling, cooling and further processing of the gum base immediately after it has been extruded by the extruder.

The schematic illustrations of a system in accordance with the present invention are shown in Figures 1 and 2, with Figure 1 being a side elevation view and Figure 2 being a top elevation view. Figure 1 A illustrates an alternative embodiment of a part of the system. Figure 3 is a flow diagram depicting the key stages of a preferred embodiment of the invention and Figure 4 illustrates a container lining system. In the drawings, the system is generally referred to with the reference number 10.

A continuous extruder 12 is used to produce a gum base product 14, which is briefly stored in an accumulator tank 16. The gum base liquid product is pumped through the conduit tube 18 by the pump 20 in the stirring tank 22. Subsequently, the material is pumped by the pump 26, through the conductive tube 24 to a container filling station, which is generally referenced with the reference number 28. The rubber base material 14 is placed in containers. coated or coated 30 on a platform 32.

As standard in the conventional processes of rubber bases, the containers are covered with a pulverized material, such as talcum powder or they are covered with a plastic material in order to prevent the adherence of the base material of molten rubber and the "sticking" "of the containers and in this way, inhibit or prevent their removal once the material has solidified. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the containers are coated with pieces of plastic material and more preferably, the plastic coatings are fed by a feed mechanism 140 and automatically placed in the containers by an industrial robot. This is described in more detail below, with respect to Figure 4.

The individual containers of the rubber base material 30 are automatically picked up by an industrial robot 40, individually or in pairs and placed at the start of the conveyor mechanism 42 which transports them in and through a spiral cooling apparatus 44.

In this regard, in Figure 2, the robot 40 has an operation extension 46 which allows the rotation of the arm 48 to catch the containers 30 of the platform 32 in the station "B" and move them to the conveyor 42 in the station "C". " The arm 48 has a holding mechanism 50 at one end which allows the robot to manually hold one or more containers 30. As shown in Figure 1, the robot 40 is in the process of catching the container 30 'at the station "B " The position of the robot arm is also shown on dotted lines by reference numerals 48 'and 50' in a reservoir position of container 30 'on conveyor mechanism 42 in station "C".

Also, in accordance with the present invention, the empty containers are provided within the operation extension 46 of the robot 40. The empty containers 52 are shown in section "A" in Figure 2 and are placed on a table member 54. In this way, in use, the robot 40 is controlled to pick up empty containers 52 at station "A" of the platform 54, move them to a position at station "B" on the table or platform 32, where the containers they are filled with the rubber base material 14 and subsequently moved to the station "C", where they are placed on the conveyor 42 to enter the spiral cooling mechanism 44.

As indicated above, while a continuous extruder 12 is shown in the drawings for the manufacture of a chewing gum base 14, it should also be understood that the chewing gum base can be manufactured by a conventional batch process. In a batch process, the gum base melt can be poured into the agitation tank 22 and subsequently pumped by the pump 26 into the separate containers 30 for cooling.

According to the present invention, a pair of spiral chillers 44 and 46 are preferably used. As shown, the chillers have spiraling transport mechanisms 45 and 47, respectively, which convey to the containers 30 the material of rubber base through towers 44 and 46 as the liquid rubber base cools.

Spiral belt cooling towers of this type are commercially available in T.J. White Co. These devices are generally 6-9 m wide and several stories high. The internal temperature of the spiral coolers 44 and 46 is preferably maintained at a level of -1-15 ° C in order to rapidly cool the material 14. The two spiral conveyors 44 and 46 are positioned adjacent to each other, so that the rubber base materials can be directed upwards in the first conveyor on the spiral conveyor 45 and be transported to the upper part of the second conveyor (at point "D") and then be directed downwards in the second conveyor in spiral 47, where they can exit for further handling at the end of the conveyor mechanism 60. This is shown in the drawings as station "E".

When the containers 30 exit the spiral cooler 46, the rubber base material is in a solid condition. The time for a container 30 of the liquid gum base material to pass through the spiral coolers 44 and 46 and to be directed from point "C" to point "E" is approximately 1 to 4 hours.

When the cooled rubber base material leaves the spiral conveyor 46 at station "E", it is automatically driven by a second industrial robot 70. The robot 70 has an arc or extension 72 of operation. The robot 70 has a member of rotary arm 74 and a manual hook or holding mechanism 76 at one end.

The robots that prefer to be used in this invention are commercially available in various sources, such as Fanuc. In accordance with the present invention, it is also possible to provide a robot to perform the functions of the robots 40 and 70.

The robot 70 picks up one or two containers 30 of the cooled and solidified rubber base material and moves them to the parking area "A", where they are placed on the platform or table 54. The suction cups (not shown) in the end of the arm 74 is fixed to the solidified "blocks" of rubber base material and lifted from the containers. Then, the robot 70 moves the blocks 79 to the parking area "F", where they are placed on the platforms 80 that are placed on the conveyor mechanism 82. (The empty containers on the platform 54 are subsequently moved by the robot 40 to the area parking "B", where they are reused).

The platforms 80 move in position. A platform parking mechanism 84, supplies the platforms to the conveyor mechanism 82. Once the platforms 80 are filled with a number of blocks 79 of cooled rubber base material, they pass along the conveyor mechanism 82 to a second one. transport platform and parking mechanism 86. Once the filled platforms reach the end 88 of the conveyor and the material handling apparatus mechanism 86, the blocks are collected for further processing by an up or down mechanism 90 or the like , where they are taken for storage or further processing to a final chewing gum product.

An alternative embodiment for the handling of the individual blocks 79 of cooled material of rubber base, is shown in Figure 1 A. In this embodiment, the blocks of cooled material of rubber base are simply placed on a conveyor 100 by the robot. 70, where they are subsequently handled and removed individually for later use.

In this regard, the cooled rubber base blocks can be taken immediately to be brought to the final processing area of the chewing gum and deposited in batch-type mixers or reheated and melted for use in a continuous process of chewing gum.

In general, the process according to the present invention includes a gum base manufacturing system or an apparatus (either a continuous extruder or a batch type mixer), a container filling area, one or more industrial robots, one or more cooling towers to cool and harden the gum base liquid material and a final handling and storage area. One of the industrial robots is used to move the containers of hot rubber base material to the entrance of the first spiral tower and the second industrial robot is used to take the cooled containers of rubber base material from the entrance of the spiral conveyors to the final parking area. In the final parking area, containers of chilled rubber base material are available to be processed in various ways, individually placed on a conveyor or directed on platforms for subsequent handling on vehicles or other machinery.

The flow chart depicted in Figure 3 shows the main features of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The rubber base material 110 is first extruded and transported 1 12 to a stirring tank (22). The containers (30) that are placed 1 14 on a loading platform (32), preferably by a robot and coated 116, with a sheet of plastic material; they are filled 1 18 with the liquid material of gum base. The filled containers 120 are placed by the robot in the cooling mechanism and allowed to cool 122. The containers coming out of the cooling mechanism with the solidified gum base material are removed by an industrial robot. Subsequently, the robot separates the blocks 126 of hardened rubber base material from the containers and the "glued" containers 128 on a platform that has been previously moved to a suitable position 130. the filled platforms 132 are stored, so that the Rubber base material can then be easily used for the manufacture of a rubber end product.

Figure 4 shows a feeding mechanism 140 for the supply of sheets of plastic material for coating the empty containers. The plastic coating materials are provided in two rolls 142 and 144 of material placed on the axes143 and 145, respectively. The material 142 and 144 is fed to a cutting mechanism 146 that cuts the wound material into individual sheets 142 'and 144'. When the empty containers 30 are placed on the platform or table 32, the plastic sheets 142 'and 144' are placed on them. In this respect, the sheets can be manually pulled from the rolls of the plastic material or by the robot 40. Once the sheets of plastic material are placed on the containers, they are filled with the rubber base material. The weight of the material causes the coatings to take the shape of the containers.

It will be appreciated that the apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention are capable of being incorporated in various embodiments, only some of which have been illustrated as described above. The invention can be conformed in other modalities without departing from its spirit or scope. The described embodiments should be considered in all their aspects only from an illustrative and non-restrictive perspective and the scope of the present invention is therefore indicated in the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All the changes contemplated with respect to their meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are incorporated in their scope.

Claims (3)

Claims

1. A method for processing gum base materials, comprising the steps of: producing said gum base material in liquid form by a continuous extrusion process, depositing said gum base material in a plurality of containers, placing said containers within of a cooling mechanism for a time and temperature sufficient to cool and solidify said gum base material, said cooling mechanism has a pair of adjacent spiral conveying devices in an operative cooperative relationship with one another, a first conveyor device for transporting said containers in an upward spiral path, being subjected to a cooling air and a second conveying device for transporting said containers in a downward spiral path, being subjected to a cooling air and moving said containers with cooled material of rubber base from said apparatus of enf to a parking area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said containers are placed in said cooling mechanism by a robotic mechanism.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said containers with cooled rubber base material are moved from said cooling mechanism to said parking area by a robotic mechanism. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing said containers with cooled material of rubber base on the platforms in said parking area. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing said containers with cooled material of rubber base on a conveyor mechanism in said parking area. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing a protective coating member in said containers, before depositing therein, gum base liquid material. The method according to claim 6, wherein said protective coating material is automatically supplied by at least one feeding mechanism for supplying sheets of plastic material. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of removing said cooled rubber base material from said containers, by means of a robotic mechanism. The method according to claim 1, wherein said containers comprise metal containers and are coated with a sheet of plastic material. The method according to claim 8, wherein said cooled rubber base material is removed by vacuum suction from said containers. A system for processing and cooling chewing gum base materials comprising: a continuous extrusion machine, a pair of spiral cooling towers, positioned adjacent to said extrusion machine for accepting and cooling containers of rubber base material extruded from said extrusion machine, a feeding mechanism positioned adjacent to said extrusion machine and continuous extrusion machine for placing protective coating materials in containers, in which the liquid rubber base material is placed before being introduced into said cooling towers, said pair of cooling towers comprises a first cooling tower that transports containers filled with rubber base material in an upward spiral path, in which said containers and the material are subjected to a cooling air and a second cooling tower that transports said containers of base material of rubber in a downward spiral path wherein said containers and material are subject to a cooling air and robotic means for transporting said container filled with rubber base material from said second cooling tower to a subsequent parking area . The system according to claim 11, wherein said robotic means keeps said containers in their normal upward position and removes said gum base material from said containers by vacuum suction.