System and method for scoring and/or cutting chewing gum

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for cutting chewing gum, the method including providing a chewing gum sheet to at least one cutting device; applying oil to said at least one cutting device; and cutting said chewing gum sheet via said at least one cutting device. Further disclosed is a method for cutting chewing gum, the method including providing a chewing gum sheet to at least one cutting device; cutting said chewing gum sheet via said at least one cutting device; and separating chewing gum from said at least one cutting device via a directing of compressed air onto said at least one cutting device.

1 . A method for cutting chewing gum, the method comprising:
 providing a chewing gum sheet to at least one cutting device;   cutting said chewing gum sheet via said at least one cutting device; and   separating chewing gum from said at least one cutting device via a directing of compressed air onto said at least one cutting device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutting device has non-stick properties. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutting device is at least one upper cutting device disposed at a relatively upper surface of said gum sheet and at least one lower cutting device disposed at a relatively second surface of said gum sheet, said compressed air being directed onto both of said upper cutting device and said lower cutting device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutting device is at least one roller including a plurality of ring knives configured for said cutting of said gum sheet in a direction parallel to a direction of gum flow towards said at least one cutting device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutting device is at least one roller including a plurality of lateral knives configured for said cutting of said gum sheet in a direction perpendicular to a direction of gum flow towards said at least one cutting device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutting device is at least one roller including a plurality of ring knives configured for said cutting of said gum sheet in a direction parallel to a direction of gum flow towards said at least one cutting device and at least one roller including a plurality of lateral knives configured for said cutting of said gum sheet in a direction perpendicular to a direction of gum flow towards said at least one cutting device, said compressed air being directed onto both of said at least one roller including said plurality of ring knives and said at least one roller including said plurality of lateral knives. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one roller including said plurality of ring knives is at least one upper roller including a plurality of ring knives disposed at a relatively upper surface of said chewing gum sheet and at least one lower roller including a plurality of ring knives disposed at a relatively lower surface of said chewing gum sheet, said compressed air being directed onto both of said upper roller including said plurality of ring knives and said lower roller including said plurality of ring knives. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one roller including said plurality of lateral knives is at least one upper roller including a plurality of lateral knives disposed at a relatively upper surface of said chewing gum sheet and at least one lower roller including a plurality of lateral knives disposed at a relatively lower surface of said chewing gum sheet, said compressed air being directed onto both of said upper roller including said plurality of lateral knives and said lower roller including said plurality of lateral knives. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutting device is an at least one reciprocating cutting device including a reciprocating knife and a cutting surface, wherein said reciprocating device is configured for said cutting of said gum sheet in a direction perpendicular to a direction of gum flow towards said at least one cutting device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutting device is at least one roller including a plurality of ring knives configured for said cutting of said gum sheet in a direction parallel to a direction of gum flow towards said at least one cutting device and an at least one reciprocating cutting device including a reciprocating knife and a cutting surface, wherein said reciprocating device is configured for said cutting of said gum sheet in a direction perpendicular to a direction of gum flow towards said at least one cutting device, said compressed air being directed onto both of said least one roller including said plurality of ring knives and said at least one reciprocating cutting device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one roller including said plurality of ring knives is at least one upper roller including a plurality of ring knives disposed at a relatively upper surface of said chewing gum sheet and at least one lower roller including a plurality of ring knives disposed at a relatively lower surface of said chewing gum sheet, said compressed air being directed onto both of said upper roller including said plurality of ring knives and said lower roller including said plurality of ring knives. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said chewing gum sheet has a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said chewing gum sheet is a pellet gum sheet with a thickness of 4.5 millimeters to 5.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cooling the chewing gum at least one of before said cutting and after said cutting. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting of said chewing gum sheet is a scoring through an incomplete height of said gum sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said scoring occurs at an upper and lower surface of said gum sheet via a first and second cutting device, wherein said scoring occurs at a combined upper and lower depth that is less than said height of said chewing gum sheet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting of said chewing gum sheet is a cut through a complete height of said chewing gum sheet, separating said chewing gum sheet into chewing gum sections or pieces. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting of said chewing gum sheet is a cut through a complete height of said chewing gum sheet along at least one edge of chewing gum sheet, and said separating is a reducing of adherence between said chewing gum sheet and said at least one cutting device while said chewing gum sheet moves across said at least one cutting device at said edge of said chewing gum sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said separating is a reducing of adherence between said chewing gum sheet and said at least one cutting device while said chewing gum sheet moves across said at least one cutting device. 
     
     
         20 . A system for cutting chewing gum, the system comprising:
 a conveyor configured to provide a chewing gum sheet to at least one cutting device;   said at least one cutting device configured to cut said chewing gum sheet; and   a compressed air delivery system configured to direct a compressed air onto said at least one cutting device.