Abstract: The apparatus for supplying chewing gum along a path to the driven feeder of a packaging machine includes a magazine, a scoring device, a pushing device for advancing chewing gum slabs from the magazine to the scoring device and a transfer device for advancing the scored gum slabs from the scoring device to the driven feeder. The pushing device and feeder are driven in relation to one another; however the scoring device and transfer device are driven at a constant speed which is independent of the operating rate of the pushing device and feeder. As a result, the chewing gum slabs are delivered to the feeder at the same speed under all operating conditions and will not become caught, deformed or piled-up in the apparatus due to changes in the operating rate of the feeder.

Abstract: The pre-grooved plates e.g. of chewing gum are advanced over a stationary breaker edge into the path of a rotating, polygonal (preferably triangular) breaker shaft whose apices form breaker edges which rotate past the stationary breaker edge. Each facet of the shaft is provided with a stop positioned to be engaged by the leading edge of the advancing plate. The distance across a facet from the respective stop to the respective rotating breaker edge is equal to the width of a strip to be broken from the plate at the next groove in the plate. The axis of rotation of the breaker shaft is transversally displaced from the level of the plate, by an amount sufficient to provide the rotating breaker edge, at the site where the breaking occurs, a velocity component in the direction of advance of the plate which approximately matches the velocity of advance of the plate. Accordingly, the advance and rotary breaking may proceed continuously.