Patent Publication Number: US-7223431-B2

Title: Method for shredding blocks of material

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of Ser. No. 10/372,625, filed Feb. 21, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,597 issued Apr. 20, 2004, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/022,630, filed Dec. 17, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,692, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/492,102, filed Feb. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,490, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for shredding a block of material, such as a moldable, plasticized product and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for forming shreds of a food product, such as cheese. The present invention is particularly useful for forming shreds from relatively long or continuous blocks of material, such as cheese. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Although the following description is focused on forming shreds from a block of cheese, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention encompasses forming shreds from a block of any suitable material. As used herein, the term “shredding” refers to the process of shredding a block of material into shreds or slicing a block of material into smaller pieces. 
     Traditionally, machines for shredding cheese have been designed to cut non-continuous, blocks of cheese. For example, one known method of shredding cheese takes large blocks of cheese, typically having a height of about 7 inches, a width of about 11 inches, and a length of about 14 inches, and cuts up the large blocks of cheese into small, finite cubes of cheese having a height of about 1 inch, a width of about 1 inch, and a length of about 1 inch. The cubes of cheese are then shredded using a centrifugal shredder, such as the Model CC shredder manufactured by Urschel Laboratories, Inc, of Valparaiso, Ind. (the “Urschel shredder”). In the Urschel shredder, the cubes of cheese are dropped into a stationary cylindrical chamber housing a series of blades. The cylindrical chamber is positioned around a rotating plate having a series of impellers. The blades are lined up against the wall of the cylinder. The centrifugal force caused by the rotating plate moves the cubes of cheese from the center of the rotating plate out towards the edges of the rotating plate. As the cubes of cheese approach the edges of the rotating plate, the cubes of cheese are pressed up against the wall of the cylinder and the series of impellers drag the cubes of cheese across the wall and past the blades, resulting in the cutting of the cubes of cheese. 
     Such conventional shredders have some disadvantages. Centrifugal shredders use a considerable amount of energy in cutting the cubes of cheese, since the cheese must be moved across the rotating plate, pressed firmly against the wall of the cylinder, and dragged across the wall and past the blades in order to cut the cheese. Moreover, the large blocks of cheese must be formed and then cut into small cubes of cheese in order to use a centrifugal shredder. 
     Another known method of shredding cheese is to take long, narrow blocks of cheese, typically having a height of about 3.5 inches, a width of about 5.5 inches, and a length of about 14.0 inches, and use a cheese shredder having a cutting disc to cut the long, narrow blocks of cheese. The cutting disc rotates about an axis parallel to the length of the block of cheese. Such a cheese shredder is manufactured by Hobart Manufacturing Co. of Troy, Ohio (the “Hobart shredder”). In this arrangement, the long, narrow blocks of cheese are pressed up against the cutting disc which is comprised of a series of blades. As the cutting disc rotates, the long, narrow blocks of cheese are cut. In order to shred cheese with such a device having a cutting disc, the cheese must be formed into long, narrow blocks of cheese before the cheese can be shredded. 
     It is also known that certain manufacturing processes produce products that are not as easily shredded as products produced by other processes. For example, in one known process, cheese is melted and extruded into a thin sheet upon a surface such as a moving belt. In this process, molten cheese is fed into a manifold, which distributes the molten cheese in a layer onto a continuously moving endless belt, which is commonly called a casting belt. Such a process, and the apparatus used in such a process, is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,527,551 and 5,573,805. The thin, continuous sheet of cheese may have a width of about 36 inches, for example. The thin sheet may then be cut along its width to form a plurality of thin ribbons, and then the plurality of thin ribbons may be stacked on top of each other to form continuous, stacked ribbons of cheese. The stacked ribbons of cheese form or define a continuous block of cheese (i.e., a block formed from the stack of ribbons). Although processing the cheese to form a continuous block in the manner described above provides significant manufacturing advantages, conventional shredders such as the centrifugal shredders are not designed to handle stacked ribbons of cheese. Rather, such shredders are designed to handle finite cubes of cheese. The stacked ribbons of cheese formed by the casting belt arrangement are typically too thin to be shred by a centrifugal shredder. 
     Another known shredder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,855. In the shredding device disclosed in this patent, a continuous sheet of cheese from a casting belt is shred by a comb-like arrangement. The sheet is fed in a feed direction to a rotating comb with fingers that extend radially outward. The fingers sheer the thin sheet of cheese into shreds. At the point of contact between the fingers and the sheet of cheese, the fingers of the comb are substantially parallel with the sheet and extend in the feed direction. Thus, the shreds are formed from the sheet such that the length of each shred is parallel to the feed direction. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that the shreds have a uniform, substantially rectangular configuration. The shape of the shreds is dictated by the fingers in the comb. There is little ability to change the shape of the shreds. It has been found that the consumer, however, prefers a more traditional looking shred of cheese. Traditional shreds of cheese have a more feathered look. The feathered look is provided by the blade geometry and by shredding a block, instead of a sheet, of cheese. 
     Cheese shredders of the cutting disc-type are also not designed to cut stacked ribbons of cheese. Such cutting disc-type shredders used on a stack would result in unacceptable sizes and shapes for the shreds. The reason is that the path of the cutter does not follow the plane of the ribbons. As the blade in cutting disc-type shredders rotate, shreds would be formed in an arc across the face of the ribbons. 
     Therefore, a number of characteristics are desirable for an apparatus to efficiently cut ribbons of cheese, such as a block formed from continuous, stacked ribbons of cheese. Preferably, the apparatus cuts the cheese using less energy than traditional methods. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In view of the above limitations of existing cheese shredders, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus for shredding a block of a material, such as cheese. The apparatus comprises a cutting unit having a cutting blade. The cutting blade is arranged to rotate about an axis. A feed unit moves the block of material in a feed direction toward the cutting unit. The feed direction is generally perpendicular to the axis about which the cutting edge rotates. Shreds of cheese are cut from the block such that the length of the shreds lies along the face of the block. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the block of material comprises a plurality of ribbons, wherein the ribbons are stacked atop each other. In one preferred embodiment, the cutting blade comprises a serrated blade having a plurality of teeth, and the distance between the teeth is less than the thickness of each ribbon. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a method for shredding a block of material, the method comprising moving the block of material in a feed direction toward a cutting unit. The cutting unit has at least one cutting blade. The cutting blade is rotated about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the feed direction such that as the block of material reaches the cutting blade, the cutting blade moves across the face of the block and shreds the material across the face of the block. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for shredding a block of material includes a shredding unit having a plurality of blades on a rotatably driven drum, the drum rotating about a substantially vertical axis. A drive unit rotates the drum about the axis. A feed unit moves the block of material on a feed plane toward the shredding unit in a feeding direction, the feed unit being disposed upstream of the shredding unit, and the feeding direction being substantially perpendicular to the substantially vertical axis about which the drum rotates. In operation, the plurality of blades cut shreds of material from a front face of the block. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for shredding a block of material; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a feed unit and a cutting unit from the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partial cross-sectional side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a partial cross-sectional side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a partial cross-sectional top view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 , according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an enlarged partial cross-sectional top view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 , according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a v-cut blade used in an apparatus for cutting a block of material, according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a feather blade used in an apparatus for cutting a block of material, according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an enlarged partial cross-sectional side view of an apparatus for cutting a block of material, according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an enlarged partial cross-sectional side view of an apparatus for cutting a block of material, according to one preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of an apparatus for cutting a block of material, according to one preferred embodiment; and 
         FIG. 12 . illustrates a partial cross-sectional side view of an apparatus for cutting a block of material, according to one preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the cutting unit. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a preferred embodiment of an arrangement for forming blocks of a material from a stack of ribbons of the material. 
     
    
    
     It should be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to each other for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Shown in  FIG. 1  is a shredding apparatus  20  for shredding a block of material  24 , such as a block of cheese. Although the following description is described with respect to the shredding of a block of cheese, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the block may comprise other food items to be shredded, such as meat, and processed meat. Further, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the block  24  may comprise a block of any suitable material to be shredded such a semi-solid block of material, or a stack of material, such a stack of ribbons  26 . 
     Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 1-4 , a preferred embodiment of a shredding apparatus  20  is illustrated. The shredding apparatus comprises a feed unit  70 , a shredding unit  30  and a drive unit  50 . The feed unit  70  is located upstream of the shredding unit and conveys the block to the shredding unit  30 , described in more detail below. The drive unit is used to drive the cutting blade or edge about an axis and to move the cutting blade across the downstream or front face of the block. As the cutting edge traverses the front face of the block, the front portion of the block is cut into shreds. As can be seen, the blade cuts across cross-section of the block of material  24 . The shreds are formed such that the length of the shreds is aligned with the plane of the cross-section from which the shreds are cut. 
     The feed unit  70  comprises a conveyor belt  72  that is revolvingly driven about rollers  73 A and  73 B. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the width of the belt  72  is 4.5 inches and the conveyor belt is made of a polyurethane material. As shown best in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the block of material  24 , such as a block of cheese, is supported on the surface of the belt  72  and is conveyed in the feed direction F as the belt  72  is driven about the rollers  73 A and  73 B. Thus, the surface of the belt  72  defines a conveying or feed plane on which the block of material  24  lies. In an exemplary embodiment, the feed belt  72  is driven at a linear speed of 30 ft./min. and the block of cheese  24  is moved by the feed belt  72  at the same speed. As illustrated, a plate  71  is disposed on each side of the conveying belt  72 . The plates  71  form part of the frame of the conveyor unit and are made of stainless steel. 
     Preferably, the feed unit  70  also comprises a pair of feed guides  76 . In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, each feed guide  76  comprises a gear-like roller  76  that rotates about an axis  77 . One feed guide  76  is located on each side of the feed belt  72 . The teeth on the outer surface of the feed guide rollers  76  may be comprised of any suitable material such as Delrin™. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the diameter of each feed roller guide  76  is approximately 2 inches. The distance between the outer circumferences of the feed guide rollers  76  is such that it is substantially equal to the width of the block of cheese coming in. Thus, the teeth of rollers  76  are tightly pressed against the block of cheese  24 . Suitable feed guide rollers  76  are gears manufactured commercially available from numerous sources. In this manner, as the block of cheese is fed in the feed direction, the block of cheese is engaged by the outer surfaces of the feed guide rollers  76  to assure that the block of material remains substantially centered on the feed belt  72 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the feed guide rollers  76  are driven by a suitable driving unit. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art, that the feed guides  76  may also be other suitable feed mechanisms such as a belt, a gear, or a wheel. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , preferably the feed unit  70  further comprises a top belt  74  that engages the top surface of the block of cheese  24 . The top belt  74  is revolvingly driven about rollers  75 A and  75 B. The top conveyor belt  74  engages the top surface of the block of cheese  24  to prevent the block of cheese  24  from buckling. The second drive belt is driven by a suitable drive unit. Preferably, the top belt  74  has a width of 3 inches and is made of any suitable material, such as polyurethane. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance between surfaces of belts  72  and  74  that engage the lower and upper surfaces of the block of cheese is built may of course be adjusted depending on the height of the block of cheese. Alternatively, a driven roller (not shown) may be used instead of the top belt  74 . In both embodiments, a rotating surface (i.e., the surface of the belt or the surface of the roller) opposed to the bottom belt  72  engages the top surface of block of material  24 . It is preferred that a single drive unit drive the bottom belt  72 , the top belt  74  (or the roller) and the feed guides  76 . 
     It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other suitable feed arrangements may be used. For example, the block of cheese  24  may be fed to the shredding unit  30  by a single conveyor belt, a series of rollers, a mechanical arm, or a hydraulic mechanism. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the feed unit  70  feeds the block of cheese  24  to a shredding unit  30 . The shredding unit  30  in the exemplary embodiment shown is comprised of at least one cutting blade or edge  42  that is revolvingly driven about a first shaft  60 . As illustrated, the longitudinal edge of the cutting edge  42  is rotatably driven about the shaft  60  such that it engages the front face of the block  24 . 
     The block of material has a height H and a width W. The cross-sectional surface of the block defined by the height H and the width W defines a cross-sectional surface of the block of cheese  24 . In a typical example, the height H is 2.5 inches and the width W is 3.0 inches. The most downstream cross-sectional surface of the block of material  24  that engages the cutting edge  42  is defined as the front face of the block of cheese  24 . That is, the front face of the block of cheese  24  is defined as the most downstream part or face of the block  24  relative to the cutting edge  42 . The thickness of the shreds is defined in the feed direction F. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a more detailed illustration of a preferred embodiment of the shredding unit  30  is provided. As shown in the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the shredding unit comprises a plurality of cutting edges  42  which are rotatably driven about a shaft  60 . Preferably, each cutting edge  42  is spaced at a distance that is generally equidistant from each adjacent cutting edge  42 . The axis of shaft  60  is generally or substantially perpendicular to the feed direction F. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 , a longitudinal blade (described in more detail below) defines each of the cutting edges  42 . Each cutting edge or blade  42  is mounted to a blade holding plate  40 . The cutting edges or blades  42  may be mounted to a respective blade holding plate  40  by any suitable means, such as screws. The blade holding plates  40  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the blade holding plates  40  are defined by a rectangular plate having a length of about 5 inches, a width of about 1 inch and a thickness of about 0.25 inch. Each of the blade holding plates  40  is mounted to a pair of circular plates or discs  32  and  34 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the distance between the disc  32  and the disc  34  is about 6 inches. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-12 , as illustrated, the block of cheese  24  is driven in the feed direction F by the conveying belt  72 . The cutting edge  42  is rotatably driven around a circumference  80  such that the longitudinal edge of the shredding edge or blade  42  engages the front face  25  of the block of cheese  24 . The axis  60  about which the shredding edge  42  rotates is perpendicular to the feed direction F. 
     Preferably, the circular plates  32  and  34  are constructed of a rigid material such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel or brass. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the diameter of each plate  32  and  34  is approximately 12 inches. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, eight cutting edges  42  are mounted between the circular plates  32  and  34 . As illustrated, the circular plates  32  and  34  are rotatably driven by shaft  60  about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the feed direction F. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , preferably the bottom circular plate  32  has substantially crescent shape openings  36 . As the cheese material is formed into shreds it is dispersed generally in the direction illustrated by the arrows S shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As the shred of materials fall toward the ground due to the force of gravity, the shreds are able to exit the shredding units  30  through the present shape openings  36 . It will, of course, be recognized that any suitable opening configuration may be used. 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the plates  32  and  34  are rotated by the shaft  60  at the rate of about 600 rpm. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the rate of rotation of the shaft  60  to rotate the shredding blades  42  will depend on the desired size of the shreds and the speed of the incoming block of cheese  24  in the F direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle θ of the blade  42  relative to the feed direction F is approximately 70° as the blade engages the front face of the block of cheese  24 . The angle θ of the blade  42  may be varied to suit the particular thickness of the shred desired. For example, the angle θ may be from about 60° to about 90°. 
     Although in the illustrated embodiment the plurality of blades  42  are arranged in a substantially circular arrangement, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other suitable arrangements may be used. For example, the blades may be attached on a chain or belt which is rotatably driven about rollers  164  and  166 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The rollers  164  and  166  are driven by shafts  160  and  162 , respectively. Attached to the conveying belt  132  is a plurality of blades  142  (only four illustrated) which engage the front face of the block of cheese  24  as it is driven in the direction F. 
     In the embodiment illustrated, the stack of ribbons  26  is arranged such that each ribbon  26  lies in a plane parallel to the feed plane  82 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11  (i.e., the plane of the feed belt  72 ). Alternatively, the stack may be arranged such that each ribbon  26  is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the feed plane  82 . In the embodiment where the ribbons  26  lie in a plane parallel to the feed plane, the blade  42  follows the plane of the ribbons  26  as it moves across the front face  25  of the block  24 . Thus, the shreds are formed such that the length of the shreds is parallel to the feed plane. 
     In the embodiment, when the ribbons are aligned perpendicular to the feed plane, the blade  42  follows a plane perpendicular to the plane of the ribbons  26  as it moves across the front face  25  of the block  24 . Here the shreds are formed such that the length and width of the shreds lie in a plane perpendicular to the feed plane and the thickness of the shreds is defined in the feed direction. 
     In both of the embodiments described above, the thickness of the shreds is defined in the feed direction and the length and width of the shreds lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the feed direction. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , another exemplary embodiment of the shredding unit  30  is illustrated. In this embodiment, each cutting edge  42  is mounted to a blade holding plate  40  as in the previous embodiments. In this embodiment, however, the blade holding plates  40  are attached to a single disk or circular plate  36 . The plate  36  is arranged about the shaft  60  such that the plate  36  is substantially centered about the height H of the block of cheese  24 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates another preferred embodiment of the shredding unit  30 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the cutting edges  42  are mounted to a series of chains  38  which are connected to a series of gears. The chains  38  and gears can be used to move the cutting edge  42  in any path desired. For example, the chains  38  can be arranged such that the path of the cutting edge forms a circle, an oval, a square or any other suitable regular or irregular shape. 
     A drive unit rotates the shaft  60  such that the blades  42  are moved across the front face of the block of cheese  24  to form the shreds. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the drive unit  50  comprises a motor  58  connected to the shaft  60 . The motor  58  may be any conventional motor such as an electric motor. In an exemplary embodiment, the motor  58  is an electric motor such as a 5 horsepower electric motor manufactured by Baldor. The shaft  61  of the motor  50  is connected to a pulley  54 . A pulley  56  is connected to the shaft  60  which drives the shredding unit  30 . The pulley  54  and pulley  60  are connected by any suitable means, such as the belt  52 . When the electric motor  58  is activated it causes the motor shaft  61  to rotate which in turn causes the shaft  60  to rotate. As the shaft  60  rotates, the cutting unit rotates the blades  42  about the shaft  60  in a circular paths  80 , as described above. 
     It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the drive unit  50  may comprise other suitable drive mechanisms to rotate the shaft  60 . For example, the drive unit  50  may be a gas engine, a series of electromagnets, a hydraulic pump or any other suitable mechanism known to those skilled in the art. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show preferred embodiments of the shape of the shredding or cutting blade  42 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , preferably the cutting blade or edge  42  is a serrated blade having a v-cut cross-section, forming a plurality of peaks and valleys. Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the cutting edge  42  is a blade having a feather-cut or repeated small u-shaped cross-section. In both of the embodiments shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the cutting edge  42  has teeth or folds  44  that are essentially grooves or ridges formed in the cutting edge. The teeth allow the cutting edge  42  to shred the block of cheese  24 . In one embodiment for a v-shaped blade as shown in  FIG. 7 , the distance (D) between the teeth or folds  44  is less than the thickness (T) of each ribbon  26  which defines the block of cheese  24 . In an exemplary embodiment, the blade  42  is about 6 inches long, the teeth are separated by a distance D 1  of about 0.21 inches and a depth D 2  of about 0.08 inches. In an embodiment for a feather cut blade as shown in  FIG. 8 , the distance D 3  between the teeth may be about 0.1875 inches and the depth D 4  of the teeth may be about 0.7 inches. The blade  42  may be manufactured from any suitable material such as hardened steel, stainless steel, aluminum or brass. 
     Preferably for the embodiment illustrated in the figures wherein a plurality of blades  42  are arranged on a rotating disk, every adjacent blade  42  has the teeth of the blades  42  offset by the distance D 1  (for  FIG. 7 ) or D 4  (for  FIG. 5 ). That is, the peak of one blade will coincide with the valley of an adjacent blade. 
     In the embodiment where the ribbons are stacked perpendicular to the belt  24 , the block  24  is cut into small cubes of cheese, for example, cubes or chunk of ¼ inch×⅛ inch. 
     With the arrangement of the shredding unit  30 , the shape of the shred can be determined by the shape or geometry of the particular blade used. Feathered shreds can be formed, for example, by using a blade as shown in  FIG. 8 . Thus, more traditionally shaped shreds can be formed from cheese fed from a continuous casting line. 
     Alternatively, the cutting edge  42  may have a flat or straight cross-section which can be used to cut the block of cheese  24  into slices instead of shreds. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the cutting blade  42  may comprise any other suitable cutting edges, for example, the cutting blade  42  may comprise a knife, a blade, a laser, a stream of pressurized water or other liquid, a wire, or a saw. Further, the shredding unit can comprise a rotatably driven drum and a plurality of cutting blades on the drum rotating about an axis. The cutting blades can be arranged substantially equally spaced apart on the drum. 
     As discussed above, the shredding devices and methods disclosed herein may be used to shred a block of cheese comprised of a plurality of ribbons or layers  26  of cheese stacked atop each other (as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 ). Such ribbons  26  of cheese may be formed or manufactured by techniques known in the art. For example, a process and an apparatus for manufacturing a continuous sheet of cheese is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,527,551 and 5,573,805, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. These patents disclose a process wherein molten cheese is fed into a manifold, which in turn distributes a layer of the molten cheese onto a continuously moving endless belt, commonly called a casting belt. The casting belt may be manufactured from any suitable material, such as stainless steel. 
     The molten cheese is then cooled down on the casting belt to a temperature of about 40° F. to about 50° F., for about 1 minute to about 2 minutes, and more preferably at a temperature of about 45° F. for about 1 minute. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the thin sheet of cheese  23  from the casting belt may then be sliced up along its width into a plurality of thin ribbons  26  by using cutters, such as a plurality of thin stainless steel slitter wheels  21 . The ribbons may also be scored (partially cut through the thickness of the sheet) by using scoring wheels. As illustrated, a series of rollers are used to turn the ribbons  26  90° and then layer or stack the ribbons  26  on top of each other to form a block  24 . The stacked ribbons of cheese are conveyed away by a belt in the direction shown by the arrow. In an exemplary embodiment, the total width of the sheet of cheese on the casting belt is about 36 inches. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 14 , preferably, the ribbons  26  are generally sheets of material having a thickness (T) much less then their length (L). For example, in one preferred embodiment, ribbons  26  are formed from the sheet on the casting belt and have a thickness (T) of about 1/16 inch to about ¼ inch, a width of about 2.0 inches to about 3.5 inches, and a length (L) of about 6.0 inches to about 3.0 feet. In an exemplary embodiment, block of cheese  24  is formed by stacking 10-12 ribbons of cheese to form a block having a height (H) of about 1 inch to about 3 inches, and a width (W) of about 2 inches to about 3 inches. The block comprised of the layered ribbons  26  is shred to form shreds of cheese having much smaller dimensions than the block of cheese  24 . For example, for sheets or ribbons having a thickness of ¼ inch, shreds are formed having dimensions of ⅛×⅛×1.5 inches. It will be recognized that the size of the shreds will have slight variations from shred to shred because of the physical characteristics of the cheese being shred. Also, the average shred size can be adjusted to any desired dimension depending on the particular blade  42  used, the thickness of the layers or ribbons  26 , the speed of rotation of the shaft  60 , the linear speed of the conveying unit in the feed direction F, and the overall size of the block of cheese  24 . 
     Since the ribbons are formed from the continuous sheet of cheese formed on the casing line, the ribbons  26  also have a continuous length. The ribbons from a casting belt have a length that is truly continuous as long as the casting belt continues to run. 
     Forming a block of cheese  24  from a plurality of ribbons  26  provides some significant advantages over forming a block of cheese by conventional methods. For example, it has been found that for some types of cheese the flavor characteristics change depending on the cooling rate of the cheese. It has been found that the flavor characteristics of some types of cheeses degrade when these cheeses are formed by molding the cheese into a solid block from a hot melted cheese. It is believed that the cooling time required to cool the block of cheese affects the flavor. On the other hand, it has been found that when these cheeses are cooled relatively quick, such as by the casting line method described above, the flavor of the final product improves significantly. Therefore, it is desirable to form a block of cheese from a plurality of ribbons from a casting line. The block may then be fed to the shredding unit  30  described above so that shreds can be formed by cutting across the front face of the block of stacked ribbons. Although it has been known to produce a block of cheese from a plurality of ribbons and to then cut the block of plurality of ribbons into slices by cutting the block along its length, it is novel to form shreds of cheese from such a block by forming the shreds from the front face. Forming shreds from a casting line provides significant economical advantages. The casting line is a truly continuous method of forming a sheet of cheese. With the present invention, the continuous sheet of cheese is formed into a continuous block of cheese. The continuous block of cheese is then continuously shred as described above. Unlike the prior method of forming shreds from a casting line, however, the arrangement of the present invention may be used to form shreds having a traditional feathered shape. 
     It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other suitable methods for forming a continuous block of cheese or other material may be used. For example, the block of cheese (or other material) may be formed by extruding the material into a solid block. 
     Thus, there has been disclosed in accordance with the invention, a method and apparatus for cutting a block of material that fully provides the advantages set forth above. Although the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within the invention all such variations and modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
     It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.