NZ517926A - Automated shellfish opening apparatus for bivalves - Google Patents

Abstract

A shellfish opening apparatus for shellfish having abductor muscles, the apparatus including support means for supporting the shellfish during processing by the apparatus shellfish, moving means to move each shellfish, opening means and cutting means wherein the moving means moves each shellfish past the opening means and cutting means and the opening means is adapted to open the shellfish such that the cutting means cuts the abductor muscle.

Description

* 5J 7926 Patents Form # 5 INTELLECTUAL PROPFRTY y OFRCE OF M.Z - 7 Mm 2003 RECEIVED NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL # 517926 22 March 2002 Shellfish Opening Apparatus Sanford Limited 22 Jellicoe Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland 1001, New Zealand A New Zealand company do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: DATED : TITLE: We, Address: Nationality: PF05.JWP FEE CODE 1050 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 1 6 MAR 2005 "2" RECEIVED This invention relates to a shellfish opening apparatus. The invention is directed particularly, but not necessarily solely toward a shellfish opening apparatus for mussels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common knowledge that opening shellfish, in particular bivalves such as oysters and 5 mussels, is extremely difficult due to the shellfish meat being resiliently attached to both shell halves. The opening of shellfish can form part of the process of shucking shellfish where the meat is completely removed from the shell. To open the shellfish normally a manual opening operation is carried out consisting of several people continuously opening bivalves standing at a table with knives and gloves. This manual operation can be extremely 10 monotonous. Also this operation is labour intensive and must be carefully managed to maintain output, hygiene standards and consistency without causing injury to the openers.

It is also known to open shellfish with infrared means and manually operated machines as disclosed in US Patent Application Nos. US 4,796,333 and US 5,288,263. These manually operated machines also have disadvantages with speed, excessive maintenance, hygiene 15 problems and a risk of repetitive strain to the operators. The infrared means heats the mussels to open them. This however causes the mussel to be cooked and not have a seafood flavour but a burnt flavour. Current methods utilise significant space and the output and product quality are often not consistent or high enough.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved shellfish opening apparatus which will obviate or minimize the aforementioned problems in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION Accordingly in a first aspect, the invention consists of a shellfish opening apparatus for 25 shellfish having abductor muscles, the apparatus including support means for supporting the shellfish during processing by the apparatus shellfish, moving means to move each shellfish, opening means and cutting means wherein the moving means moves each shellfish past the opening means and cutting means and the opening means is adapted to open the shellfish such that the cutting means cuts the abductor muscle. 106013NZamendlcs.doc Preferably the opening means is controlled and adapted to open a bivalve shellfish.

Preferably the apparatus further includes a control means wherein the cutting means and opening means are operatively controlled by the control means to enable the automatic opening of the shellfish and the cutting of the shellfish muscle such that the meat is located 5 on one of the two shellfish halves.

Preferably the apparatus includes positioning means to correctly position the shellfish for later opening.

Preferably the apparatus includes stopping means to position each shellfish to allow opening.

Preferably the apparatus includes halving means for final separation of the half shells.

Preferably the support means includes rail means for supporting the shellfish.

Preferably the support means includes a moving means a moveable carriage.

Preferably the moving means can be part of or combined with the carriage and the moving means comprises at least one pivoting flag for moving the shellfish to a next position on the rail means.

Preferably each flag comprises an upright member with a movable flag at the distal end thereof.

Preferably the apparatus includes at least two flags.

Preferably the control means includes a pneumatic operating system means to operatively move the parts of the apparatus.

Preferably the control means includes a PLC device or pneumatic valves, to control the sequencing of the operations of the apparatus.

Preferably the carriage includes a switching device wherein the PLC device and pneumatic system are operatively connected.

Preferably the switching device is connected to the PLC device by wiring.

Preferably the switching device comprises at least three reed switches or pneumatic switches. 106013NZamendlcs.doc INTELLECTUAL^ROPER™ op:iCE 16 MAR 2005 R E C EIV ED Preferably the carriage has a first ram connected by tubing to the control means, for moving the carriage.

Preferably the carriage includes a second ram connected by tubing to the control means, to rotate the flags.

Preferably the second ram is connected to a valve means which is connected to a PLC or pneumatic switching means in the control means.

Preferably the shellfish positioning means is located at one end of the support means, which is followed by the opening means, the cutting means being located above the carriage, followed by the stop means and finally the halving means.

Preferably the cutting means comprises a knife means.

Preferably the knife means comprises a flexible elongate member.

Preferably the cutting means includes a ram member to enable the cutting means to move.

Preferably the cutting means includes a valve body.

Preferably the cutting means includes tubing connecting it to a PLC or pneumatic switching 15 means in the control means.

Preferably the shell opening means comprises a first wedge member and an upper holding means wherein the upper holding means holds the shellfish down onto the cradle while the wedge is wedged into the shellfish, to at least partially open the shellfish to enable the flexible elongate member entry to cut the abductor muscle.

Preferably the stopping means adjusts the flexible elongate member to the correct position after the first wedging and holding actions have finished, so enabling the flexible elongate , member entry to cut the abductor muscle.

Preferably the stopping means includes a ram member.

Preferably the stopping means includes a valve means.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 106013NZamendlcs.doc 16 MAR 2005 RECEIVED Preferably the stopping means includes tubing connecting it to a PLC or pneumatic switching means in the control means.

Preferably the positioning means is a pair of suspended separated plastics members having a gap there between whereby each shellfish is positioned by the gap.

Preferably the positioning means includes a ram member to effect movement of the positioning means.

Preferably the positioning means includes a valve means.

Preferably the positioning means includes tubing connecting it to a PLC or pneumatic switching means in the control means.

Preferably the halving means includes a wedging means that splits the shellfish in two.

Preferably the bivalve is a mussel.

Accordingly in a second aspect the invention consists in a method of operating a shellfish opening apparatus for shellfish being bivalves having abductor muscles, the apparatus including support means for supporting the shellfish during processing by the apparatus 15 shellfish, moving means to move each shellfish, opening means and cutting means wherein the moving means moves each shellfish past the opening means and cutting means and the opening means is adapted to open the shellfish such that the cutting means cuts the abductor muscle, by carrying out the following steps: a) Opening the shellfish by operating the shellfish opening means. b) Cutting at least one abductor muscle of the shellfish.

Preferably after cutting the abductor muscle, the shellfish is halved into two shells, by pushing the shellfish past a halving means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying 25 drawings in which: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF t\!.Z 106013NZamendlcs.doc 16 MAR 2005 RECEIVED Figure 1 shows a perspective front view of the shellfish opening apparatus of the invention. Figure 2 shows a front schematic perspective view of the processing stations.

Figure 3 is a front view of the processing stations.

Figure 4 is a side view of the mussel being positioned by the positioning means.

Figure 5 is a side view of the mussel being opened at little by the shellfish opening means. Figure 6 is a side view of the mussel abductor muscle being cut by the cutting means.

Figure 7 is a top view of just the cradle and rail operation of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figures. 1-7, a shellfish opening apparatus in accordance with a preferred 10 embodiment with the present invention is shown generally referenced 1. In use the apparatus can be rectangular in volumetric shape or whatever shape facilitates the processing of the shellfish from left (L) to right (R) in terms of both space and or processing volume required. The shellfish can be bivalvular such as mussels, oysters, clams etc having abductor muscles. The shellfish comprise two shellfish halves hingedly joined on one edge by the abductor 15 muscle and the shellfish meat. This provides a join between the two shellfish halves.

As shown in figure 1 the various locations on the apparatus are labelled according to their normal operating position with respect to an operator or observer. The left-hand side is labelled L and R for the right hand side. The apparatus has an upper portion and a lower portion. The start of the process for the shellfish is labelled S which can be located at the L 20 side at the upper end thereof. The F - finish can be located on the right hand side R of the apparatus, at the upper end, with Fr being the front and B is the back.

The apparatus includes a stand 2 made up of a frame which has supporting legs 3 which in turn support an upper frame part 4 which has a number of frame extensions 5 to support various processing stations. In use the upper frame part 4 is normally horizontal in 25 orientation. The stand is not essential to the working of the apparatus as the rest of the apparatus can basically be located on any table that is the right height for ease of use. A movable carriage 6 is located and fixed to the upper frame 4 and 106013NZamendlcs.doc is generally elongate in intellectualwoperty office \ 6 MAR 2005 RECEIVED- overall shape and is made up of at least 2 elongate members which are moveable with respect to the stand 3. The moveable carriage 6 moves left to right and back in the horizontal plane. A cradle which is made up of rails 7 for the location of a shellfish to be processed, in this use a mussel, is located fixed to the upper frame member 4.

An exit guide-way device 8 is located in use at the finish end F of the shellfish opening apparatus 1. Any suitable shape is possible as long as the products or by-products can go where desired. The exit guide-way device 8 can be angled with respect to an upper horizontal surface of the upper frame 4 such that, shellfish or mussels which have been halved are dropped into at least two receptacles such as buckets. One bucket can have an 10 empty shell half while the other bucket will have a shell half with the shellfish meat attached thereto. For example, figure 1 shows the exit guide-way 8 including at least two deflectors on an inclined bench or spillway, to enable the two shellfish halves to be located in the appropriate receptacles.

The rails 7 can be made up of two elongate members such as rods which are parallel and 15 spaced apart to form a cradle. A channel member could also provide the rails. Other rail support means are equally possible. The rails 7 is normally positioned parallel to the upper frame 4. Attached to the movable carriage 6 is a shellfish moving device or moving means 10 which can include at least one flag supported by an upright member. For example the apparatus shown has three flags Fl, F2 and F3. Each flag can be moveable such that it can 20 rotate to push the shellfish along the rails 7. During the process the rails remain stationary while the shellfish are moving there along, by the flags. As shown in figure 1, there are devices 10 shown which in response to a controller, move the mussel to each appropriate station for processing via carriage 6.

A control means 11 which can include a PLC unit 12 and pneumatics 13 such as supply tubing and rams or pistons and switching means - for example a reed switch, control each station in sequence with the movement of the carriage 6, that the mussel must go through to be processed. The control means 11 can include an openable housing which can be located for convenience at the back B of the apparatus. The control means 11 through the pneumatics 13 is linked to a PLC switching means which for example can be reed switching 14 which is located at S on the stand at the upper end thereof at the opposite end to the exit guide-way 8. Preferably there will be three reed switches controlling the movement of the 106013NZamendlcs.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF M.7 16 MAR 2005 RECEIVED movable carriage 6 in response to the control means 11 or these could be pneumatic switches when a PLC is not used.

The moveable carriage 6 is moved by ram Rl, which is connected by tubing and a three reed switching mechanism to the control means 11. Also carriage 6 has a second ram ie R2 which 5 by extension and retraction rotates/swivels the flag portions on each flag member Fl, F2 and F3. Ram 2 is connected by way of valve means to a PLC switching mechanism in the control means 11. This left to right and back movement is shown generally in figure 7.

The shellfish opening apparatus includes a series of processing stations, which when in use, the shellfish beginning from the left-hand side of the rails 7 through to the right hand side R 10 or exit point 8, is processed. A first station can be positioning means 15 which can be made up of a suspended flexible means which enables the shellfish (for example a mussel) to be correctly positioned and aligned for the further processing through the following stations. Normally the shellfish comprising abductor muscle hinged shellfish halves separated by a join, is expected to lie in a substantially vertical position,such that the join between the 15 shellfish halves is located in the vertical plane. The positioning means 15 includes at least two flags which are vertically side supported to produce 'a double gating situation' so that a shellfish is centered but not restricted in its forward movement. The positioning means 15 is itself fixed to the upper frame member 4 so enabling it to be moved upwards and out of the way, after positioning the shellfish. The positioning means 15 moves by operation of a ram 20 R3 which has a valve means and connection to a PLC switching means in the control means 11.

After being positioned, the shellfish must be opened by a shellfish opening means. This is provided by a hold-down means 16 and wedge member 17.

A second station can be represented by hold-down means 16 which includes a vertically 25 biased member which provides a downward pressure on the shellfish sitting in the cradle 7, to keep it within the cradle 7 since there is a tendency for the shellfish to rise up from the cradle 7. Hold down means 16 is supported and connected to the frame 5 which in turn is connected to the upper frame 4. Hold down means 16 can be adjusted to suit different sized shellfish. 106013NZamendlcs.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF ftl.7. 16 MAR 2005 RECEIVED Operatively connected to and/or adjacent thereto the hold-down means 16 is a third station which includes a wedge member 17 vertically orientated with respect to the upper frame 4. Preferably the wedge member 17 hangs from above and is biasedly held in place. The shellfish having a join between shell halves, is moved against the wedge member 17 so that 5 the shellfish or mussel is opened somewhat, to enable the later insertion of cutting means 18 of the fourth station.

The fourth station which includes the shellfish cutting means 18 which can be supported above the apparatus and at an angle with respect to the vertical, comprises a flexible elongate member which can be a sharpened flexible plate planar member or a knife which comes 10 down at an angle to the shellfish, from above the shellfish in use to slice one abductor muscle on one shellfish halve. While the cutting means 18 is operating, the shellfish is also held by a fifth station which includes stopping means 19 to enable the cutting operation to occur. The cutting means 18 moves by operation of a fourth ram R4 which has a valve means connecting it to a PLC switching means in the control means 11. The stopping means 19 15 moves by operation of a ram R5 which also has a valve means connecting it to a PLC switching means in the control means 11.

After the abductor muscle has been cut, the stopping means 19 retracts back towards the control means and the shellfish is pushed along the cradle 7 by a moving device 10 to a sixth or final station where there is halving means 20 including a wedging means. The halving 20 means 20 is stationary and is fixed to the upper frame member 4 so that the movement of the shellfish against the second wedging member causes the shellfish to be cut through the hinge of the shellfish or to be halved through the hinging of the shellfish to provide the two shellfish halves. One shellfish half falls past one of the deflectors 9 with no meat therein, the other shellfish halve goes down the other deflector 9. This half contains the shellfish meat 25 attached through only one abductormuscle.

As a sequence of operations, each shellfish/mussel can be processed by carrying out some of the following steps of: 1 The apparatus has flags Fl, F2 and F3 attached to the movable carriage 6. Flag F1 is not essential therefore and is not used in this example. At least two flags only are 30 necessary. The flags are fixed relatively to each other but are rotatable. Initially, the 106013NZamendlcs.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 1 6 MAR 2005 RECEIVED flags are positioned such that F1 is located at the far left-hand side of the apparatus or F2 is at position PI and the flag portion in the beginning for all flags is at right angles to the passage of travel of the mussel on the cradle 7. A first mussel is dropped onto the cradle 7 immediately adjacent and past flag 2 - this is termed position PI with 5 respect to the support 2 of the apparatus. The mussel will be substantially vertical such that the mussel join between the two halves is substantially lying in the vertical plane. 2 The positioning means 15 then comes down. 3 A ram R1 attached to carriage 6, moves left to right by extending to move the 10 carriage 6 and flags along whereby F2 moves to P2 - note F3 is at the far end of the apparatus. 4 The movement of R1 then enables the first mussel to be then pushed by the flag F2 attached to the carriage 6, through the positioning means 15 and past the opening means (first wedge) 17, to partially open the mussel ready for cutting. 5 Once the mussel has entered first wedge 17, the ram R3 for the positioning means 15 retracts which lifts the positioning means 15 clear of the mussel. 6 Ram R5 then extends which shifts stopping means 19 into place to block the passage of the mussel on the cradle 7. 7 Ram R1 continues to extend which moves the carriage 6 and so pushes the mussel 20 through the first wedge 17. 8 As the mussel goes through the first wedge 17, hold down means 16 holds the mussel down onto the cradle 7. 9 The mussel continues through the first wedge 17 and then hits the stopping means 19. Depending on the size of mussel, the stopping means 19 will be moved along with the linked cutting means 18 having an operating ram R4.

When ram R1 is fully extended carriage 6 stops with the mussel now being at P2. 106013NZamend 1 cs. doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF M.Z 16 MAR 2005 RECEIVED 11 With the mussel positioned with respect to the cutting means 18 and stopping means 19, the ram R4 for the cutting mean 18, extends so that the cutting means 18 is inserted at an angle from above and cuts one abductor muscle off one shell half. Depending on the size of mussel, the stopping means 19 moves to keep the distance between the stopping means 19 and cutting means 18 constant so enabling the cutting means 18 to always cut the abductor muscle. 12 Ram R4 now retracts and the cutting means 18 moves clear of the mussel. Simultaneously ram R5 of the stopping means 19 also retracts taking the stopping means 19 clear of the mussel. 13 The flags Fl, F2 and F3 are positioned such that F2 is at P2. 14 Ram R2 now retracts to operatively rotate or swing the flags, 90 degrees, so that the flags are parallel to the cradle 7 and do not block the passage of the mussel.

Ram R1 now retracts which returns the flags or F2 to the start position PL During the carriage 6 return, as the flags have been rotated, the first mussel remains at P2 i.e. at the point where the stopping means 19 used to be at. 16 When the carriage 6 has returned to the start position ram 2 extends to rotate the flags back 90 degrees to cross the cradle 7. 17 Another mussel is placed into position PI ready for a repeat cycle - F2 is at PI. 18 Back to the first mussel which is still at P2 - Ram R1 now extends pushing carriage 6 and the flags as before such that the first mussel (partially opened) is pushed by flag F3 to position P3 and beyond. 19 To get to position P3, the partially opened mussel is moved to the halving means 20 having a second wedging means where it spreads the shell halves apart until they separate. 20 The two shell halves are downwardly directed off the stand 2 and into any convenient receptacle for further processing such as freezing and packing. 106013NZamendlcs.doc HNTEi^cfDprPROPERTY UfflCE 0^ AS \ 5 MAR 2005 RECEIVED 21 This process will be repeated for each mussel such that more than one mussel at any one time can be processed.

The two mussel halves, exit the apparatus and can be moved onto a conveyor for further processing which is not shown. The half shell having the mussel meat thereon can be 5 processed on the left of the apparatus for freezing while the empty half shell on the right can go into a rubbish bin.

The shellfish opening apparatus is suitable in a seafood processing plant as it is fabricated from a rugged construction so that it can be frequently washed down for hygiene purposes. The apparatus can be constructed from stainless steel and can be any size depending on the 10 number of shellfish required to be processed. This apparatus can be used for any range of shellfish size and the length of the apparatus can be as long as one is able to process the number of mussels. Also the apparatus is very portable and versatile, in that it can be readily moved or adapted or constructed to fit any space or mounting.

The distance between processing stations can be adjusted for different sized shells. The 15 movement of the various stations can also be enacted through other means such as piston means. Sensors are utilized in conjunction with the reed switching, rams and PLC and pneumatics to sense and relay the position of the mussel. Instead of the PLC unit, an air controller can be used which works with air valves and timers and a compressor. Other forms of operating mediums other than air are also envisaged. For example electricity or 20 fluid.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in constructions and widely differing embodiments and applications of the said invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in 25 any sense limiting.

Throughout the description of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. 106013NZamendlcs.doc INTEilECTUAl,cpR°7PERTY UH"'CE Of 16 MAR 2005 RECEIVED ADVANTAGES The shellfish opening apparatus has the following advantages: 1. Automatic operation 2. Improved hygienic apparatus. 3. Labour saving. 4. Reliable operation to produce improved product quality.

. Reduced running costs. 6. Reduced space. 7. Reduced injury rate. 8. Continuous 24 hour operation 106013NZamendlcs.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF iM.Z 1 6 MAR 2005 RECEIVED

Claims (40)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A shellfish opening apparatus for shellfish having abductor muscles, the apparatus including support means for supporting the shellfish during processing by the apparatus shellfish, moving means to move each shellfish, opening means and cutting 5 means wherein the moving means moves each shellfish past the opening means and cutting means and the opening means is adapted to open the shellfish such that the cutting means cuts the abductor muscle.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opening means is controlled and adapted to open a bivalve shellfish. 10

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the apparatus further includes a control means wherein the cutting means and opening means are operatively controlled by the control means to enable the automatic opening of the shellfish and the cutting of the shellfish muscle such that the meat is located on one of the two shellfish halves.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the apparatus includes positioning means 15 to correctly position the shellfish for later opening.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the apparatus includes stopping means to position each shellfish.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the apparatus includes halving means for final separation of the half shells. 20

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the support means includes rail means for supporting the shellfish.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the support means includes a moveable carriage.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the moving means can be part of or 25 combined with the carriage and the moving means comprises at least one pivoting flag for moving the shellfish to a next position on the rail means. 106013NZamendlcs.doc 1 \ b MAR 2005 1 q P r. EIV £ D -15-

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein each flag comprises an upright member with a movable flag at the distal end thereof.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the apparatus includes at least two flags.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the control means includes a pneumatic 5 operating system means to operatively move the parts of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the control means includes a PLC device or pneumatic valves to control the sequencing of the operations of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the carriage includes a switching device wherein the PLC device and pneumatic system are operatively connected. 10

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the switching device is connected to the PLC device by wiring.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the switching device comprises at least three reed switches or pneumatic switches.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the carriage has a first ram connected by 15 tubing to the control means, for moving the carriage.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the carriage includes a second ram connected by tubing to the control means, to rotate the flags.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the second ram is connected to a valve means which is connected to a PLC or pneumatic switching means in the control 20 means.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the shellfish positioning means is located at one end of the support means, which is followed by the opening means, the cutting means being located above the carriage, followed by the stop means and finally the halving means. 25 21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the cutting means comprises a knife means. 106013NZamendlcs.doc

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF iM.7 16 MAR 2005 - 16-

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the knife means comprises a flexible elongate member.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the cutting means includes a ram member to enable the cutting means to move.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein the cutting means includes a valve body.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein the cutting means includes tubing connecting it to a PLC or pneumatic switching means in the control means.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein the shellfish opening means comprises a first wedge member and an upper holding means wherein the upper holding means holds the shellfish down onto the cradle while the wedge is wedged into the shellfish to at least partially open the shellfish, to enable the flexible elongate member entry to cut the abductor muscle.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the stopping means adjusts the flexible elongate member to the correct position after the first wedging and holding actions have finished, so enabling the flexible elongate member entry to cut the abductor muscle.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the stopping means includes a ram member.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein the stopping means includes a valve means.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the stopping means includes tubing connecting it to a PLC or pneumatic switching means in the control means.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein the positioning means is a pair of suspended separated plastics members having a gap there between whereby each shellfish is positioned by the gap.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein the positioning means includes a ram member to effect movement of the positioning means. 106013NZamendlcs.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF iM.7 1 6 MAR 2005 - 17-

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein the positioning means includes a valve means.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 33 wherein the positioning means includes tubing connecting it to a PLC or pneumatic switching means in the control means. 5

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the halving means includes a wedging means that splits the shellfish in two.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 35 wherein the bivalve is a mussel.

37. A shellfish opening apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the figures in the accompanying drawings. 10

38. A method of operating a shellfish opening apparatus for shellfish being bivalves having abductor muscles, the apparatus including the apparatus including support means for supporting the shellfish during processing by the apparatus shellfish, moving means to move each shellfish, opening means and cutting means wherein the moving means moves each shellfish past the opening means and cutting means and the opening 15 means is adapted to open the shellfish such that the cutting means cuts the abductor muscle, by carrying out the following steps: a) Opening the shellfish by operating the shellfish opening means. b) Cutting at least one abductor muscle of the shellfish.

39. A method after cutting the abductor muscle, the shellfish is halved into two shells, by 20 pushing the shellfish past a halving means.

40. A method of operating a shellfish opening apparatus substantially as herein described with reference and as illustrated by the figures in the accompanying drawings. 106013NZamendlcs.doc INTELLECTUAL PROPERTV OFFICE or riz 16 MAR 2005 RECEIVED