CONTINUOUS CHEWING GUM BASE MANUFACTURING PROCESS USING ADDITION OF SOFTENING AGENTS AT A PLURALITY OF FEED INLET LOCATIONS

摘要

A process for continuously producing a chewing gum base comprises the steps of continuously adding a hard elastomer, a filler and lubricating agents comprising a softening agent into a continuous mixer, subjecting the elastomer, filler and lubricating agents to a dispersive mixing operation followed by a distributive mixing operation and continuously discharging the resulting chewing gum base from the mixer while the adding and mixing steps are in progress. The softening agent is introduced into the continuous mixer at a plurality of spatially separated feed inlets. The softening agent is selected from the group consisting of fats, oils, waxes, emulsifiers and mixtures thereof.