Butchering – Mollusk – Eviscerating
Patent
1999-05-21
2000-08-29
Little, Willis
Butchering
Mollusk
Eviscerating
452 18, 452 15, A22C 2904
Patent
active
061100323
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shellfish processing apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A shell fish processing apparatus characterised by including at least one manipulator means for holding and opening a shell fish, a plurality of stations at which shell fish are processed, a means for moving the manipulator means and the stations relative to one another so as to process the shell fish held by the manipulator means, a means for admitting water into the apparatus to form a bath and an evisceration means provided below the water level of the bath at a station wherein a water jet is applied from a first nozzle and suction from a second nozzle so as to selectively remove mantle and mid gut gland from a shell half gripped by the manipulation means, the first and second nozzles being mounted to a backing plate which serves to concentrate water around the shell being eviscerated and to cause the abductor muscle to be held to the shell half to which it is connected.
The apparatus of the present invention will henceforth be described with particular reference to the processing of scallops but it is to be understood that the apparatus is of general applicability to processing of shellfish.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of an apparatus for processing shellfish in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 above the line 2--2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings there is shown an embodiment of a scallop processing apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention.
The scallop processing apparatus 10 includes a plurality of manipulators 12 mounted in radially spaced manner about the periphery of a drum 14 and extending outwardly therefrom. The drum 14 is axially rotatably about an axis 16 shown in FIG. 1.
The apparatus 10 also includes a number of processing stations 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 which are spaced around the periphery of the drum 14 A processing action/step/stage is performed on the scallop shells at each processing station. As shown in FIG. 2, each manipulator 12 includes a fixed arm 36 projecting outwardly from the drum 14 and a pivotable arm 38 projecting outwardly from the drum 14. Further, a respective suction cup 40 is mounted to an outer end of each arm 36 and 38. As shown, the arms 36 and 38 are spaced apart and the respective suction cups 40 face one another and are thus opposed to one another.
Each suction cup 40 is connected to a respective tube 42. The tubes 42 join to form a common tube 44 which is connected to a vacuum generator 46. The vacuum generator 46 is connected via a line 48 to a valve 50. Further, an exhaust tube 52 extends away from the vacuum generator 46.
Further, each pivotable arm 38 is connected to a pair of pneumatic cylinders 54 and 56. The cylinder 54 has a piston rod 58 pivotally connected to the arm 38 by means of a clevis 39. The cylinder 56 has a piston rod 60 pivotally connected to a clevis 62 mounted on the drum 14. As shown the pneumatic cylinders 54 and 56 are mounted in alignment and back to back so that the piston rods 58 and 60 extend in opposite directions.
The pneumatic cylinder 54 is connected to a valve 64 via pneumatic lines 66 whilst the pneumatic cylinder 56 is connected to a valve 68 via pneumatic lines 70. A tube means 73 extends from an air compressor (not shown) through a rotary fitting 74 into a hollow shaft 76 at the axis 16 of the drum 14. The tube means 72 extends into a respective branch 78 for each of the valves 50, 64 and 68.
Further, there is provided a computer 80 which controls operation of the apparatus 10. The computer 80 is connected via a cable means 82 to each of the valves 50, 64 and 68. The cable means 82 extends through a slip ring 84 and a conduit 86 in the shaft 76. Further, the shaft 76 is rotatably mounted
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patent: 3594860 (1971-07-01), Nelson
patent: 3688344 (1972-09-01), Carlson
patent: 4361933 (1982-12-01), Rodman et al.
patent: 4663805 (1987-05-01), Adcock
patent: 4691412 (1987-09-01), Brown
patent: 4703541 (1987-11-01), Howard et al.
patent: 5145448 (1992-09-01), Ebisuzaki
Australian Specification and Abstract for SN: AU-A-60192/86.
International Search Report, dated Dec. 19, 1997.
Little Willis
OCTA Technologies Pty Ltd.
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