WO2006005333A1 - Machine a eteter - Google Patents

Machine a eteter Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006005333A1
WO2006005333A1 PCT/DK2004/000489 DK2004000489W WO2006005333A1 WO 2006005333 A1 WO2006005333 A1 WO 2006005333A1 DK 2004000489 W DK2004000489 W DK 2004000489W WO 2006005333 A1 WO2006005333 A1 WO 2006005333A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
conveyor
crustacean
heading
crustaceans
discs
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK2004/000489
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas Kidde NØRGAARD
Original Assignee
Carnitech A/S
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Carnitech A/S filed Critical Carnitech A/S
Priority to PCT/DK2004/000489 priority Critical patent/WO2006005333A1/fr
Publication of WO2006005333A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006005333A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
    • A22C29/00—Processing shellfish or bivalves, e.g. oysters, lobsters; Devices therefor, e.g. claw locks, claw crushers, grading devices; Processing lines
    • A22C29/02—Processing shrimps, lobsters or the like ; Methods or machines for the shelling of shellfish
    • A22C29/028—Beheading shellfish

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for de-heading of marine crustaceans.
  • the marine crustacean family comprises a number of species, but of particular interest for the present invention are prawns and shrimps, and especially warm water prawns.
  • the warm water prawns are an important source of seafood and are both caught in the wild in the oceans and are being farmed.
  • the object of the present invention is, therefore, to alleviate the drawbacks of the prior art devices, and provide a device which will de-head crustaceans in a way which will provide for less waste of valuable meat, and a better quality of the finished overall product.
  • the invention addresses this by providing a device for de-heading of marine crustacean, and in particular palaemon, penaeus, crangon and/or related genus, where said device comprises sub-devices in the following order in relation to the travelling direction of a first conveyor:
  • a first conveyor where means are provided for separating and maintaining sin- gle crustaceans in a predefined position perpendicular to the travelling direc ⁇ tion of the conveyor, where said first conveyor runs through the entire device that is to say past all sub-devices; a second conveyor arranged above at least part of the first conveyor and with the same travelling direction as said first conveyor; - a de-gilling device; a de-heading station;
  • the present invention it is foreseen that an operator must place the crustaceans manually on the first conveyor in that, in this manner, it is assured that all the crusta ⁇ ceans are correctly orientated, and ready for further processing.
  • the placing of the crustaceans may also be done automatically, for example by means of a chute system in corporation with a robot and a vision detection system.
  • the second conveyor arranged above the first conveyor will maintain the crustacean in a fixed position as the crustaceans is further processed in the device.
  • the travelling direction is, within the present invention, defined as the direction in which the crustacean to be treated is transported.
  • This means that the rota ⁇ tional direction of the conveyors is such that the individual conveyors will have a di- rection of rotation corresponding to the task at hand.
  • the first and second conveyors will have opposite rotational directions, as the first conveyor is arranged below the second conveyor, but they are both provided in order to move the crusta ⁇ ceans sandwiched between the two conveyors in the same travelling direction.
  • a de-gilling device When the crustacean is held/sandwiched between the first and second conveyors, and thereby kept in a fixed position in relation to the rest of the device, a de-gilling device is provided, which will remove the gills of the crustacean. The removal of the gills will expose and free an appending meat flap/muscle.
  • This muscle is an integrated part of the meat of the prawn, but is used for providing power to the thoracic legs of the prawn.
  • the connection between the exoskeleton in the shape of the thoracic legs and the meat bulk of the crustaceans will, however, allow the thoracic legs and gills to be removed without pulling off the meat flap.
  • the two conveyors will transport the prawn without the gills to a de-heading station.
  • the de-heading station will be able to remove the head portion of the prawn as the gills which partly connect the head to the rest of the prawn already have been lib ⁇ erated. In this manner, a rather high proportion of the treated prawns will have their undamaged intestines exposed. In order to achieve a higher standard of meat from the processing of prawns, it is important that the intestines are intact.
  • the surrounding meat may be polluted by acids and bases from the digestive system of the prawn, which, in addition to causing an undesirable taste in the polluted meat, also gives rise to a discolouring of the exposed meat.
  • the washing unit will be able to flush the intestines away from the meat such that no further pollution of the meat occurs from contact with the intestines.
  • the washing unit will provide for thorough cleaning after only very short exposure of the meat to the undesirable liquids. In this manner, the overall -quality of the de-headed prawn is greatly improved.
  • the treated crustacean may be liberated from the two conveyors, and carried on for further proc ⁇ essing, or for shipping as desired.
  • the prawns are, due to the inventive arrangement of the convey ⁇ ors, arranged in a very well-defined position in relation to the conveyors.
  • This aspect makes it possible to carry out other procedures in connection with the inventive device according to the present invention.
  • One such example may be a pick-and-place robot, which will collect the prawns from the conveyor, and precisely place or arrange these in specific patterns in the package. It may also be possible to provide a robot for re ⁇ moval of the rectum. Tests with the present device have shown that the different fractions, due to the careful handling especially of the de-gilling device and the de-heading station, leaves the re ⁇ moved sections, i.e.
  • the gills and the head sufficiently clean such that no further clean ⁇ ing of these sections of the crustacean is necessary in order for reuse.
  • the gills and the head which are part of the exoskeleton, may be grinded into flour, which may be used for various purposes.
  • a third conveyor is arranged in parallel to the first conveyor on at least a first stretch of the first conveyors extend, and that said third conveyor comprises means for placing the head sections of single crustaceans in a pre ⁇ defined position perpendicular to the travelling direction of the first conveyor.
  • prawn it is well-known in the art that all individuals of a certain species of prawns have sub ⁇ stantially the same size head of fully grown species, whereas the rest of the prawn may be of slightly varying size. Especially the "standard" size head makes it possible to arrange the prawn such that a fix point in the shape of a predefined position may be achieved.
  • the personnel placing the shrimp on the first conveyor will arranged the head section on the third conveyor against a reference, for example in the shape of a stainless steel member immediately adjacent and parallel to the third conveyor, after which the moving conveyors will move the prawn further on in the process.
  • the prawn shall be arranged with its gills facing upwards such that the gill removing de ⁇ vice will be able to have easy access in order to remove the gills from the prawn.
  • the third conveyor may have means for holding the head sections of the single crustaceans ar ⁇ ranged at a different width than the means for separating and maintaining single crus ⁇ taceans arranged on the first conveyor in that the body of the single prawns of the same species may vary in size, thickness and elongation.
  • the outer side of the belt or chain is provided with spikes, needles, pins or the like such that, as the crustacean moves along, being trapped between the first and second conveyors, the spikes, needles or pins will be inserted into the crustacean, substantially in a place corresponding to the extent of the gills furthest away from the head section.
  • the fourth conveyor such that when one specific type of prawn is being processed in the device, the spikes, needles, pins or the like will engage substantially at an end of the gill section. Due to the angling of the fourth conveyor in relation to the first conveyor, the spikes, needles, pins or the like will pull off the gills from the crustacean/prawn.
  • means may be provided for collecting the gills which are removed from the prawns such that it is possible to reuse the proteins stored in the gills as well as the thoracic legs attached to the gills.
  • the de-heading station comprises two rotating discs, arranged on separate axles, such that the- axles are angled in relation to each other, alternatively the discs may be arranged on a common axle, such that a joint is arranged in the axle between the discs for providing an angle.
  • the rotation of the discs is adjusted such that the speed at the periphery of the discs substantially corre ⁇ sponds to the speed of the first and second conveyors.
  • the discs will engage the head section of a crustacean sandwiched between the first and second con ⁇ veyors and, due to the rotational movement of the discs, the head section which is held in-between the two discs will be moved along a circular path away from the first con- veyor, whereby the head section will be separated from the main body section of the crustacean.
  • the angling of the two discs in relation to each other facilitates that a head section of a crustacean travelling on the first and second conveyors will be wedged in the de-heading station between the two discs such that a firm engagement will be as- sured between the two rotating discs and the head section of a crustacean.
  • means may be provided for collecting the head sections of the crustaceans which have been liberated from the main body for further use.
  • the invention in a further advantageous embodiment pro ⁇ vides a washing unit which comprises one or more nozzles for directing a spray of cleaning liquid, preferably water towards the first and second conveyors, and where optionally means are provided for collecting the water ejected by the nozzles, where said means may include suction means, and that optionally a casing is provided sub ⁇ stantially covering parts of the first and second conveyors and the one or more noz ⁇ zles. Due to the careful removal of the gills and the head section of the crustacean, the intestines will be exposed and will remain largely untouched and thereby undamaged.
  • a washing tunnel may be provided such that water spray or mist, is limited to the zone around the washing unit, whereby undesirable side effects in the immediate environment of the device is minimized.
  • a source of suction may be provided such that an underpressure is provided inside the casing in order to further avoid the water mist spreading to the environment.
  • the means for separating and maintaining the crustaceans on the first conveyor is provided by undulating resil- ient means, forming valleys and ridges on the conveyor, where the valleys has a width in the travelling direction of the conveyor and a length perpendicular to the width, such that the width of a valley corresponds to the mean width of the particular species of crustacean to be de-headed, and the height of the ridges corresponds to at least half the mean thickness, measured from gills to the back of the exoskeleton of the species of crustacean to be de-headed.
  • a conveyor belt top surface is provided comprising resilient means in the shape of waves perpendicular to the travelling direc ⁇ tion of the conveyor.
  • the second conveyor is ar ⁇ ranged for engaging the crustaceans from above such that the crustaceans are firmly held in the respective valleys in the first conveyor, and that the second conveyor op ⁇ tionally may comprise needles, spikes, pins, cushions or the like for firm engagement with the single crustaceans.
  • the second conveyor may be provided with down ⁇ wards projecting needles, spikes, pins or the like, which are suitably spaced such that they will become inserted in the body of the crustacean placed in a valley in the under ⁇ lying wave pattern provided on the first conveyor.
  • cushions may be pro- vided such that the firm hold of the single crustacean is provided by pure friction.
  • the device for de-heading is, in a further advantageous embodiment, provided with a device for removing an append ⁇ age meat flap exposed by removal of the head section is arranged after the washing unit, and were said device for removing the meat flap may be substantially identical to the means for removing the head section.
  • the two rotating discs are arranged such that the periphery of the discs will engage, and such that, optionally, at least one of the discs may engage the crustacean where the exoskeleton end in relation to the meat flap in order to reposition the crustacean in relation to the first conveyor.
  • the device for removing the meat flap may also be used to push the crustacean into a well-defined position.
  • One of the discs engaging the crustacean may push the crustacean by engaging the exoskeleton. In this manner, it is possible to position the crustacean very precisely in relation to for example the edge of the first conveyor.
  • the crustacean is precisely positioned, it is possible to carry out further tasks, for example by means of a robot or the like, such as removal of the rec ⁇ tum, pick-and-place of single crustaceans for packaging or sorting, as well as other tasks.
  • the meat flap comprises good quality meat which may represent 5-10% of the en ⁇ tire meat mass, it is desirable to be able to collect this meat and use it for other pur ⁇ poses. Also, for other purposes or uses, it is desirable not to remove this meat flap, where the other embodiments of the invention as discussed above come into force.
  • fig. 1 schematically illustrates a crustacean in the form of a prawn
  • fig. 2 illustrates an overview of a device according to the invention
  • fig. 3 illustrates the principle of the de-gilling device
  • fig. 4 - ⁇ illustrates the principle of the de-heading section
  • fig. 5 illustrates a de-headed prawn
  • fig. 6 illustrates the wave arrangement on a section of a conveyor.
  • a prawn 1 belonging to the family of crustaceans is schematically illustrated.
  • the prawn has an exoskeleton 2,3 covering the body.
  • Part of the exoskeleton covering the intestines is called the head section 3, in which an eye 4 as well as mandibles 5 are arranged.
  • antennas 6,7 are provided in order for the prawn to be able to detect pray.
  • the thoracic legs 8 are provided which legs are attached immediately adjacent the gills of the prawn.
  • a tail 9 is provided as well as so-called swimmers 10.
  • the meat stored inside the exoskeleton 2 as well as a meat section which is substantially integral with a head section 3. Therefore, by moving the exoskeleton 3, the intestines as well as a meat portion are exposed. By removing the head section 3, the eyes, antennas and mandibles will also be removed. When the gills are removed, the thoracic legs 8 are also removed such that the exoskeleton part 3 is loosened.
  • a device according to the invention is illustrated, where prawns 1 are illustrated as being placed on the first conveyor 11.
  • the second conveyor 12 will over ⁇ lap the first conveyor 11, and also a substantial part of the prawns 1.
  • the prawns 1 are sandwiched between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12, and firmly held such that the further sub-devices of the device are free to operate on the prawn 1.
  • the conveyors will move in the direction indicated by the arrow 13.
  • a third conveyor 14 is provided parallel to the first and second conveyors on a first section of the device.
  • the conveyor 14 is provided with a rest 15.
  • the head sections of one species of crustaceans are substantially the same for all the adult members of such a species, whereas the body section may vary in size.
  • the conveyor 14 has a width perpendicular to the travelling direction 13 of the conveyors, substantially corresponding to the head section 3 of the crustacean species to be processed.
  • the rest 15 is provided such that personal placing the prawns 1 in the device will quickly and easily be able to direct the prawns into the correct placement.
  • the conveyor 11 After placing the crustacean, the conveyor 11 will transport the crustaceans in the di ⁇ rection 13. Due to the engagement with the second conveyor 12, the crustaceans 12 will be fixed in relation to the edges of the conveyor belt. As the crustaceans travel further through the device they will be engaged by the de-gilling device 16.
  • the device 16 is a conveyor belt structure 17, which on its outer side 18 is provided with, in this example, spikes 19.
  • spikes 19 For illustration purposes, only a limited number of spikes have been illustrated, but the spikes may be substantially equidistancedly arranged along the entire extent of the endless belt 18.
  • the spikes are arranged in a row parallel to the travelling direction of the conveyor 17. However, more parallel rows may be provided.
  • a prawn 1 On the first conveyor 11, a prawn 1 has been brought into contact with a de-gilling device 16.
  • One of the rows of spikes 19 is inserted into the prawn 1.
  • the row of spikes 19 will pull off the gills from the prawns.
  • the de-heading station 20 is, in this embodiment, illustrated as two rotating discs 21,22 rotating in a direction indicated by the arrow 23.
  • the discs 21,22 may be arranged such that at one point the periphery of the two discs are only distanced by a distance slightly smaller than the distance corresponding to the head of the prawn.
  • Other devices for removing the head of the prawn are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention, for example an arrangement substantially identical to the arrangement for removing the gills, may be provided in order to remove the heads of the prawns. If such an arrangement is provided, it should be noted that the direction of rotation of the belt 18, see fig. 3, should be opposite to that when the device is used for removing the gills, and that the device should be arranged underneath the conveyor 11 such that the rows of spikes, needles or the like will engage the head section from below in that the prawn is placed upside-down, i.e. with its gills facing upwards on the first conveyor 11.
  • the gills and the head section of the exoskele- ton 3 have been removed from the prawn. Thereby, the intestines of the prawn are exposed. The intestines will be washed away in the washing unit 26, see fig. 2, which in this embodiment is illustrated as a washing tunnel. Inside the tunnel, any number of nozzles may be provided in order to provide satisfactory cleaning of the meat portion of the prawn. The prawn will then look substantially as illustrated in fig. 5. The rear part of the exoskeleton 2 is still present, as is the tail section 9. During the removal of the gills and the head section, a appendage meat flap 27 has been exposed.
  • the de ⁇ vice 28 corresponds to the de-heading station 20, i.e. a system comprising two rotating discs, but it may also have other suitable configurations, such as for example rotating knives, water jets for cutting off the meat flap 27, and the like.
  • the device 28 is of course deactivated, and moved out of engagement with crustaceans passing on the first conveyor belt 11.
  • the meat flap 27 When the meat flap 27 is removed, it may be collected and used for other valuable prawn meat products in that the meat flap represents 5-10% of the entire meat mass of a typical prawn.
  • This aspect provides the present invention with a substantial advan- tage compared to other devices.
  • a section of the conveyor belt 11 is illustrated, where the valleys 30 and bridges 31 may be seen. Both the upper surfaces of the first conveyor 11 and the third conveyor 14 may be equipped with bridges and valleys as discussed above.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif qui permet d'étêter les crustacés marins, en particulier le palaemon pacificus, le penaeus, la crevette grise et/ou les genres connexes, lequel dispositif comprend des sous-dispositifs se présentant dans l'ordre suivant par rapport au sens de marche d'un premier transporteur (11): un premier transporteur (11), équipé de moyens permettant de séparer et maintenir des crustacés individuels (1) dans une position prédéfinie perpendiculaire au sens de la marche (13) du transporteur, ledit transporteur circulant à travers tout le dispositif, c'est à dire à travers tous les sous-dispositifs; un second transporteur (12) agencé au-dessus d'au moins une partie du premier transporteur (11) et circulant dans le même sens de marche que le premier transporteur; un dispositif permettant d'enlever les branchies (16); un poste d'étêtage (20); et une unité de lavage (26).
PCT/DK2004/000489 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 Machine a eteter WO2006005333A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/DK2004/000489 WO2006005333A1 (fr) 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 Machine a eteter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/DK2004/000489 WO2006005333A1 (fr) 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 Machine a eteter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006005333A1 true WO2006005333A1 (fr) 2006-01-19

Family

ID=34957866

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/DK2004/000489 WO2006005333A1 (fr) 2004-07-08 2004-07-08 Machine a eteter

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2006005333A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11980199B2 (en) 2020-02-07 2024-05-14 Nova-Tech Engineering, Llc Shrimp processing apparatus and methods

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1909332A1 (de) * 1969-02-25 1970-09-10 Geb Schulz Adelgunde Vogt Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Schaelen von Garnelen
US4054970A (en) 1976-06-07 1977-10-25 Shirley Jean Metzger Apparatus for deheading shrimp
US6042465A (en) * 1997-09-12 2000-03-28 Administrators Of The Tulane Educational Fund Method and apparatus for peeling crawfish
US6235338B1 (en) * 1998-07-20 2001-05-22 Cyril G. Gallant Methods for recovering raw meat from the head-shells of crustaceans, e.g. lobsters and use thereof for stuffed crustaceans, e.g. lobster and stuffing so-provided

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1909332A1 (de) * 1969-02-25 1970-09-10 Geb Schulz Adelgunde Vogt Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Schaelen von Garnelen
US4054970A (en) 1976-06-07 1977-10-25 Shirley Jean Metzger Apparatus for deheading shrimp
US6042465A (en) * 1997-09-12 2000-03-28 Administrators Of The Tulane Educational Fund Method and apparatus for peeling crawfish
US6235338B1 (en) * 1998-07-20 2001-05-22 Cyril G. Gallant Methods for recovering raw meat from the head-shells of crustaceans, e.g. lobsters and use thereof for stuffed crustaceans, e.g. lobster and stuffing so-provided

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11980199B2 (en) 2020-02-07 2024-05-14 Nova-Tech Engineering, Llc Shrimp processing apparatus and methods

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0530868B1 (fr) Procédé et appareil pour le traitement de volaille
KR101977388B1 (ko) 전복 세척장치
KR100450338B1 (ko) 조개처리방법과 그 방법에 사용되는 조개처리장치
US2897536A (en) Poultry boning machine
KR100963445B1 (ko) 생선 가공방법 및 그 가공장치
JP6352424B2 (ja) 屠殺された家禽部分から皮を除去するための皮剥ぎ装置および方法
CN102458133A (zh) 用于清洗、切割和处理鱼的系统
US4020528A (en) Method and apparatus for removing skin from salted, seasoned or otherwise pre-treated fish, preferably herring filets
US4446601A (en) Squid cleaning method and apparatus
JPH05504048A (ja) 魚の皮剥き装置
WO2006005333A1 (fr) Machine a eteter
KR102344376B1 (ko) 생선비늘 제거장치
CA2245414C (fr) Dispositif servant a debarrasser les coqullages de crustace des anatifes
US3325856A (en) Crab handling apparatus
US6468142B1 (en) Method and apparatus for processing squid
US5542877A (en) Method and apparatus for extracting meat from crab claws
CA2201803C (fr) Systeme de lavage automatique pour coquillages
KR101980889B1 (ko) 제거부위의 제거가 원활하게 이루어지는 게 탈갑장치
US4811460A (en) Improvement in gutting machines for fish
WO1992000013A2 (fr) Appareil destine a eteter et a trier les crevettes
DK3170397T3 (en) Method and apparatus for processing fish
JP7064208B1 (ja) シート状海苔の異物除去装置
RU1554168C (ru) Устройство для удаления жира с желудков птицы
JP3411534B2 (ja) 魚のウロコ取り装置
CA1192010A (fr) Dispositif pour decapiter et eviscerer le poisson

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ NA SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase