Abstract: A dispenser (10) for easily dispensing a plurality of products (12) contained therewithin is provided. The dispenser includes a cover (14) having a pressing opening (32) and a dispenser volume, a base (16) having an dispensing opening (36) and an engaging member (46), a blister tray (18) having at least a portion of the blister tray disposed within the dispenser volume and having a tab (56) extending from an edge of the blister tray for manually rotating the blister tray with respect to the cover and base while being retained within the dispenser volume, and a label (20) configured to be applied and adhered to the cover and the engaging member of the base to hold the dispenser together.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for forming and cooling gum, the system including a forming system configured to size the gum to include a substantially uniform thickness, a cooling device that is disposed in-line with the forming system and configured to continuously receive the gum from the forming system at an entry point of the cooling device, and a multi-pass conveying system configured to continuously transport the gum from the entry point to an exit point of the cooling device, the forming system and the cooling device being configured to form and cool the gum to be in a condition for stacking or collecting upon exiting the exit point of the cooling device.

Abstract: A chewing gum component for use in a chewing gum composition is provided including a component body and a plurality of regions of at least one active ingredient encapsulated within an encapsulating material. The plurality of regions is disposed within said component body. Less than 15% of an average active concentration in said component body is in contact with an exterior surface of said component body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for forming and cooling gum, the system including a forming system configured to size the gum to include a substantially uniform thickness, a cooling device that is disposed in-line with the forming system and configured to continuously receive the gum from the forming system at an entry point of the cooling device, and a multi-pass conveying system configured to continuously transport the gum from the entry point to an exit point of the cooling device, the forming system and the cooling device being configured to form and cool the gum to be in a condition for stacking or collecting upon exiting the exit point of the cooling device.

Abstract: A packaging material for use in a package having contents including a food item, the packaging material includes a layer including an additive transformable from a first state to a second state in response to an external stimulus and a barrier layer positionable between said layer and the contents of the package. The barrier layer restricts diffusion of said additive to the contents.

Abstract: A chewing gum component for use in a chewing gum composition is provided including a component body and a plurality of regions of at least one active ingredient encapsulated within an encapsulating material. The plurality of regions is disposed within said component body. Less than 15% of an average active concentration in said component body is in contact with an exterior surface of said component body.

Abstract: Flexible film packages having a partial, initial seal against ambient atmosphere and are easily openable and reclosable. The flexible film packages are generally resealable to extend the shelf-life or freshness of products contained therein once the package is initially opened. By one approach, the flexible film has two opposing edge portions that meet to form a longitudinal seal extending from a first end seal to a second end seal. The flexible film may have a score that defines a package opening. An elongated closure layer may extend over the score and may extend from a first end seal to a second end seal and within the opposing edge portions that form the longitudinal seal. The elongated closure layer may have a tack-free gripping portion used to release at least a portion of the elongated closure from the flexible film to form the package opening.

Abstract: A method of forming a comestible is provided including transporting the comestible to a dusting apparatus having an enclosed chamber. A dusting agent within the enclosed chamber is directed onto one or more surfaces of the comestible as the comestible passes through the enclosed chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming chewing gum, the method including providing a pair of rollers, sizing a gum mass into a gum sheet having a substantially uniform first thickness using the pair of rollers, and further sizing the gum sheet to include a substantially uniform final thickness downstream of the pair of rollers, wherein the first thickness is greater than 10% thicker than the final thickness, and the final thickness is between about 0.3 mm to 10 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming chewing gum, the method including providing a sizing device configured to size a gum mass into a gum sheet of a desirable width, providing a collecting device upstream of the sizing device, the collecting device including at least a first compartment and a second compartment, the first and second compartments being separated by separator, inputting a first gum mass into the first compartment and a second gum mass into the second compartment, outputting the first gum mass and the second gum mass from the collecting device to the sizing device, and sizing the first gum mass and the second gum mass into a gum sheet of a substantially uniform thickness, the gum sheet including the first gum mass and the second gum mass.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a chewing gum product with at least one inclusion, the method including providing a gum sizing system including a first sizing roller, a second sizing roller, and a gum mass delivery system, directing a gum mass toward a sizing gap between the first sizing roller and the second sizing roller via the delivery system, adding at least one inclusion to the gum mass at an area of the gum sizing system that is at least one of upstream or within the sizing gap, sizing the gum mass into a substantially continuous gum sheet with said at least one inclusion via transport of the gum mass through the sizing gap; and separating the gum sheet into a plurality of gum pieces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a contoured chewing gum product, the method including providing a gum sizing system including at least one roller, moving a gum mass toward and through the sizing system in a direction of flow, sizing the gum mass into a substantially continuous gum sheet via the sizing system, the gum sheet having a thickness between about 0.3 mm to 10 mm at at least a portion of the gum sheet via the sizing, creating a thickness variation in the gum sheet via the at least one roller of the sizing system, wherein the creating of the thickness variation and the sizing of the gum mass into the gum sheet occurs substantially simultaneously, and separating the gum sheet into a plurality of gum pieces, at least one of the plurality of pieces including the thickness variation.

Abstract: Pre-blend and flavor pre-blend ingredients for use in the preparation of chewing gum is described. The pre-blend and flavor pre-blend ingredients include hydrophilic and lipophilic ingredients combined prior to blending with gum base and other chewing gum ingredients.

Abstract: Chewing gum compositions comprising a chewy cooked candy ingredient exhibit improved flavor release.

Abstract: A hybrid reclosable fastener with both mechanical mating and adhesive reclosable mating elements and a method of forming the hybrid reclosable fastener is described herein. Mechanical mating elements include mating portions having cooperating coupling parts configured to provide mechanical mating along with adhesive mating elements including an adhesive material formed on the cooperating coupling parts configured to provide an adhesive mating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming gum, the method including providing a pair of rollers including a first roller and a second roller, and sizing a gum mass into a substantially continuous and flat gum sheet having a substantially uniform thickness between about 0.3 mm to 10 mm and a width of not less than 50 cm solely via a moving of the gum mass through a gap between the pair of rollers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming gum, the method including providing a pair of moving walls including a first wall and a second wall; and sizing a gum mass into a gum sheet having a substantially uniform thickness between about 0.3 mm to 10 mm using the pair of walls, the gum mass maintaining substantially continuous contact with at least one of the walls before and after the sizing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for forming and cooling gum, the system including a forming system configured to size the gum to include a substantially uniform thickness, a cooling device that is disposed in-line with the forming system and configured to continuously receive the gum from the forming system at an entry point of the cooling device, and a multi-pass conveying system configured to continuously transport the gum from the entry point to an exit point of the cooling device, the forming system and the cooling device being configured to form and cool the gum to be in a condition for stacking or collecting upon exiting the exit point of the cooling device.

Abstract: A hybrid reclosable fastener with both mechanical mating and adhesive reclosable mating elements and a method of forming the hybrid reclosable fastener is described herein. Mechanical mating elements include mating portions having cooperating coupling parts configured to provide mechanical mating along with adhesive mating elements including an adhesive material formed on the cooperating coupling parts configured to provide an adhesive mating.

Abstract: A hybrid reclosable fastener with both mechanical mating and adhesive reclosable mating elements and a method of forming the hybrid reclosable fastener is described herein. Mechanical mating elements include mating portions having cooperating coupling parts configured to provide mechanical mating along with adhesive mating elements including an adhesive material formed on the cooperating coupling parts configured to provide an adhesive mating.