System and method for processing material

A method of processing material comprising the steps of

• providing first and second parallel conveying portions;
• providing at least first and second cakes of material;
• positioning the first and second cakes of material sequentially on the first conveying portion;
• providing a crust cutting station positioned along the first conveying portion;
• advancing the first cake to the crust cutting station and cutting a crust therefrom;
• providing a crust removal station spanning across the first and second conveying portions;
• advancing the first cake to the crust removing station and removing the crust therefrom;
• providing a stacking station spanning the first and second conveying portions;
• advancing the first and second cakes of material sequentially to the stacking station;
• providing a first cutting station positioned along the second conveying portion;
• transferring the first cake to the first cutting station;
• transferring the second cake to the first cutting station by stacking the second cake directly on top of the first cake;
• performing a first cutting of the first and second cakes;
• providing a second cutting station positioned along the second conveying portion;
• advancing the first and second cakes to the second cutting station;
• and
• performing a second cutting of the first and second cakes.

A system for processing material comprising:

• first and second parallel conveying portions;
• a crust cutting station positioned along the first conveying portion;
• a crust removal station spanning across the first and second conveying portions;
• a stacking station configured to directly stack first and second cakes of materials spanning the first and second conveying portions and including a translatable grab crane configured to lift, transfer, and lower materials to be processed;
• a first cutting station configured to cut the stacked first and second cakes of materials positioned along the second conveying portion station including first and second sets of cutting wires oriented in an orthogonal manner and mounted to a cutting frame, which is vertically movable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a second cutting station configured to cut the stacked first and second cakes of materials positioned along the second conveying portion including a drive frame and a gate frame connected thereto, the gate frame includes a lift frame having a pusher connected thereto, and cutting wires are positioned between vertical stays downstream from the drive and gate frames.