Butchering – Mollusk – Bivalve opener
Patent
1993-12-13
1995-06-27
Little, Willis
Butchering
Mollusk
Bivalve opener
452118, A22C 2904
Patent
active
054275679
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to the processing of bivalve shellfish for recovering the edible portions. The invention has been particularly developed for processing of scallops but the invention is also applicable to other shellfish where similar problems in recovering the edible portions of the shellfish are encountered.
It is known to manually process a scallop by inserting a knife between the two shells so as to partially part the shells, after which the knife is twisted to cut the edible portion (consisting of the adductor muscle) from one of the shells. The labour costs associated with manual processing of scallops to recover the edible portions are relatively high.
In Australian Patent Specification No. 25,507/84 there is disclosed a machine for processing a scallop in which the scallop shells are firstly slightly parted by a wedge or by suction applied to the outsides of the shells, after which an oscillating blade is inserted between the shells and is directed to pass along the inside surface of a first one of the two shells so as to separate the adductor muscle from that first shell. The first shell is then discarded and the second shell with the adductor muscle remaining attached undergoes a further processing to firstly separate the offal and then to separate the adductor muscle from the second shell.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative apparatus for use in recovering the edible portions of shellfish.
It is a preferred objection to provide an apparatus for processing shellfish in which the edible portion can be separated from the two shells for further processing.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for mechanically and automatically processing a bivalve shellfish having a first shell and second shell so as to recover an edible portion of the shellfish, the apparatus including access forming means for enabling access to the space between the two shells without completely separating the two shells, the apparatus further including detaching means for entry into the space between the two shells, the apparatus being characterised in that the detaching means is operable to mechanically detach the edible portion of the shellfish from both the first shell and the second shell to thereby enable recovery of the edible portion.
With this arrangement of apparatus it is possible to recover the fleshy portion which includes the edible portion of a shellfish, possibly together with other inedible or undesired portions of the shellfish, e.g. the mantle in the case of a scallop, so that the shells can be discarded and the fleshy portion recovered can be processed further. In the case of a scallop, the fleshy portion comprises the adductor muscle, possibly with roe attached in some species, together with the mantle. This fleshy portion can be separated from the shells in one operation so that the shells can be discarded and the recovered edible and other portions can be further processed to separate and clean the edible portion or portions.
The access forming means preferably comprises parting means for mechanically parting the two shells by applying relatively oppositely directed forces to the two shells.
The parting means in one possible embodiment may comprise a parting tool operable to be inserted between the two shells at a region other than the region where the two shells are hinged together. The parting tool may be constructed and arranged to operate generally as described and illustrated in Australian Patent Specification 25,507/84.
The parting means in the more preferable embodiment comprises means for drawing the two shells apart, the means for drawing the two shells apart comprising two suction means arranged to be applied to respective outer surfaces of the two shells the suction means being initially movable relatively towards each other so to engage with and grip by suction the outer surfaces of the two shells and subsequently being selectively movable relatively away from each other to draw the two shells apart. The shells may be moved apart o
REFERENCES:
patent: 2391739 (1945-12-01), Ragupos
patent: 3128496 (1964-04-01), Bertrand
patent: 5145448 (1992-09-01), Ebisuzaki
Flanagan John R.
Little Willis
Sasakat Pty. Ltd.
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