DE-WRAPPING PACKAGED CHEWING GUM FOR RECLAIM

Background / Requirement

A large confectionery manufacturer approached Quadro with an application to break open prepackaged chewing gum so that the gum contained within could be reclaimed. The packaging equipment presently produces approximately 200 lb/hr. (91 kg/hr.) of unacceptable product. The packages have defects such as crooked, ripped or loose labels which are rejected from the main stream by Quality Control inspectors. The packaging consists of 7 sticks of individually paper wrapped gum contained within a wax sealed tinfoil pouch to maintain product freshness. This is then covered with a paper wrap-around-sleeve printed with product identification and ingredient information. Presently the packages are reclaimed by a Hammermill. The paper is then separated from the heavier gum in a cyclone. Due to the high energy and impact action of the Hammermill, small pieces of tinfoil are often embedded into the gum pieces. This is caught by metal detectors and happens too often to be acceptable. The customer required a machine that would rip apart the package and release the gum but not embed the tinfoil in the product

Comil Performance The Comil® did exactly what was required. Close inspection proved there were no problems with the tinfoil. Further, the individual gum pieces 1/2 inch x 3/8 inch x 1/8 inch or 38mm x 9mm x 3mm) remained mostly in one piece and all product was completely de-wrapped. Summary This is a totally new and exciting Comil application. It’s the same old story “high velocity Hammermills are just too aggressive for many of the applications in which they are presently used”. The gentle, low velocity action of the Comil is ideally suited for this application.