DE4408010A1 - Shrimp-shelling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A supply device for a shrimp-shelling machine according to German Patent Application P 4301208 is indicated, in which a shrimp is delivered by a supply conveyor (75) to a shrimp-clamping device (12, 14) which is arranged on a rotatable transport wheel (40), the supply conveyor being aligned longitudinally in relation to the longitudinal axis of the clamping device. Arrangements (97) are provided for synchronising the delivery of a shrimp from the conveying device to a clamping device (Figure 5). The shrimp-shelling machine has a holding-down wheel for supporting the clamping of the shrimp in the clamping device, a gutting device with two brushes and a shrimp-meat removing device. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention described and claimed here relates to a shrimp Peeling machine in which the shrimp casing is removed from a shrimp and the shrimp is stripped. In particular, the present invention relates to a Improved feeding system for feeding shrimps that are peeled or otherwise processed with an automatic shrimp Peeling machine. It provides further training in German Patent application P 43 01 208 described shrimp peeling machine.

In conventional shrimp peeling systems currently available, one Operator hand a shrimp on a moving feed trough by placing the shrimp at a predetermined location on the trough. In In some cases, during a shift period of 4 to 8 hours, the Pay attention to the operator so that they can put the shrimp on the Feeder not aligned properly. If a shrimp doesn't placed correctly on a gutter, it will not always be in the correct one Way transported to a clamp on a rotating Shrimp transport wheel is arranged. As a result, there is a shrimp not in the desired position when the different workstations passes through where the shrimp z. B. cut, stripped or the tail removed becomes. As a result, a shrimp doesn't work in the right way either cut so that it must be reworked to the desired one To get the final product or the shrimp is thrown away.

Due to the need for an operator to place the shrimp on the Align the feed conveyor of a shrimp peeling machine in a suitable manner must also be increased working speeds with which the shrimp can be fed to different workstations, cannot be achieved.  

Furthermore, various shrimp peeling machines that are currently in use are found that the shrimp is at approximately 90 ° to the shrimp Transport wheel must be fed that the shrimp on the wheel to different workstations. When arranging the shrimp Conveyor trough below 90 ° to the shrimp transport wheel, it is necessary that the Shrimp peeling device an essentially large machine size has, which unfortunately a significant unwanted space arises.

Furthermore, it is desired that shrimp, once properly on a rotating shrimp transport wheel were fed to the clamping devices, properly disassembled, deveined or veined and that the meat is released from the shell becomes. In some cases, it has been found that disassembling, gut removal and / or the triggering of the meat was not completely satisfactory. In some cases, the shrimp meat is cut too roughly so that it does seems as if the shrimp was cut with a saw blade-like edge had been. It is desired that the shrimp meat be straight, clean Cut.

Similarly, it has been found that in the gut or Unloading station, in which the veins of the shrimp are separated from the shell, the removal of the intestine is not always as complete as desired took place. Sometimes it happens that the shrimp veins are not completely out the shrimp are removed so that the gut removal is repeated in some cases must become.

It has also been found that at the station where the shrimp meat comes from the shell is removed, in some cases the shrimp in a fairly rough Pulling movement is pulled out of the bowl, so that the meat comes out of the bowl is torn, as opposed to removing the meat from the shell in one  more careful manner to avoid any unwanted tearing or tearing of the To avoid shrimp meat.

A feed system to a shrimp peeling machine in which the shrimp to the peeling machine at much higher speeds compared to the currently available feed speeds can be. It is also desirable to circumvent the requirement that a Operator a shrimp in a conventional assembly line Feed chute must be properly aligned and that it is at the same time it is also necessary that a shrimp be suitable for transportation a rotating clamp assembly positioned on a shrimp transport wheel becomes. It is also desirable to provide a shrimp delivery system in which the shrimp is fed along a longitudinal axis which is substantially in Row with the longitudinal axis of the shrimp clamps on one Transport bike lies.

It is further desired to have a feed system for a shrimp peeling machine have, in which the shrimp of the peeling machine with much higher than that currently possible feed speeds can be fed. It is further it is important that the shrimp intestine is removed evenly from the shrimp shell becomes. It is also desirable that the shrimp fish be taken out of the way Shell is removed to avoid tearing or tearing of the shrimp, if it is removed from the bowl, because the disadvantageous effect is that the physical appearance of the shrimp meat is deteriorated with that consequent disadvantage that the commercial value of the shrimp can be reduced can.

Finally, it is desirable to have the frame construction of the shrimp Improve peeling machine so that when the support frame is assembled the various frame components are correctly aligned and that the  Support frame not during shipping or subsequent use the device is misaligned.

All of these requirements are met by a shrimp peeling machine the characterizing features of claim 1. Further advantageous Refinements of this shrimp peeling machine are the dependent claims removable.

The invention described and claimed here serves to avoid or the otherwise eliminating disadvantages sometimes associated with conventional shrimp peeling machines occur while the desired targets with a feeding device of a shrimp Peeling machine can be achieved. The present invention serves to increase the Print run accuracy of shrimps and improved productivity in Peeling shrimp.

Briefly outlined, the present invention relates to the feeding of shrimp several spaced clamping devices on one Rotating transport wheel are arranged, which is to be processed Shrimps transported to various workstations where the shrimps be stripped and cleaned and the housing and / or the tail removed such as U.S. Patents 4,439,893, 4,745,660, 3,751,766, 4,769,871 and 4,507,825, to which full reference is made here.

Those used in the delivery system according to the present invention Shrimp are laid down in a narrow space divided by two corresponding endless conveyor belts are formed, which are arranged such that they are essentially in series with the longitudinal axis of a clamping device, which is arranged on the shrimp transport wheel, which with constant Speed moves. The endless belts move with the same Speed. Shrimp to be processed are identified by a  Operator fed to one end of the endless belt. The shrimp touch the moving straps and become along the straps aligned, whereupon each shrimp automatically feeds from the feed conveyors a clamping device is conveyed on a rotating shrimp Transport wheel is attached. The clamping device takes both Shrimp tail and body, whereupon the shrimp to different Workstations are transported on which various processing of the Shrimp to be done.

The shrimp can easily be fed to the conveyor system by an operator be abandoned and it is expected that the shrimp Feed rate can be increased to approximately 100-125 shrimps per minute can contrast the approximate feeding speed of 67 shrimp per minute, which is available with conventional shrimp peeling systems. The Need for an operator to have the shrimp on one specific location on a trough in a shrimp feed conveyor system deposits, is eliminated, which partially reduces the shrimp Feed speed can be increased. Another advantage of Feed system according to the present invention is that Operators do not require as much experience and training as before, to place a shrimp on a gutter in a predetermined position. With In the present invention, an operator does not need an extensive one Training and experience to feed the shrimp to the feed system. Instead, an operator is productive faster than before, which of is of great importance insofar as the shrimp peeling industry is high Staff turnover has experienced a significant amount of time is specified, which is required for the training of the operators.

When a shrimp travels along the conveyor system, one serves Sensor device for measuring the length of the shrimp (L). In this case it is The shrimp length is defined as the length that extends from the tail end of one  Shrimp extends to the remaining part of the shrimp, which is the part of the Corresponds to shrimp that remains after the horn housing or the Shrimp head from the shrimp in a previous conventional Work step has been removed, which for the described and claimed here Invention is not important. After the length L of the shrimp once a multiplier of 0.42 on the length L is determined applied. It has been found that the resulting value is the Distance from the tail end of the shrimp to the place where the connection of the tail of the shrimp is located at the Separation point of the shrimp tail segment (also as shrimp Abdomen segment known) and the remaining shrimp abdomen segments located.

At the same time, a second sensor device detects the location of a special one Clamping device on the shrimp transport wheel, which with a constant Speed rotates. The values of the first and second sensor devices are fed to a microprocessor which is programmed to the Position of the above-mentioned tail connection of a shrimp on the Endless conveyor belt in relation to the location of a shrimp clamp determined. This evaluation determines whether a shrimp is in the clamping device is arranged so that the shrimp tail section exactly through the Tail clamp of the clamp assembly is taken during the Shrimp body exactly through the shrimp body clamp of the clamp assembly is taken.

In the case where the microprocessor indicates an alignment of the position the shrimp on the endless belt is required to ensure that the Shrimp is suitably aligned so that it is Clamping device can be gripped correctly, a command signal from the Microprocessor directed to a pair of stepper motors, which the Drive endless conveyor belts. The signal calls a voltage cutoff for that  Motors for a sufficient period of time (ms) that the Conveyor belt speed is reduced and the speed of the Shrimp conveyance to the clamp is stopped, reducing the time that it takes for the shrimp to change the clamp and the effect of such a change is to achieve a shrimp appropriately align in the feed system so that they are in the correct manner a rotating clamping device is supplied.

The multiplier of 0.42 is a value that is determined empirically; it has however, it turned out that for different types of shrimp the value 0.42 L in most cases the distance from a shrimp tail too represents the location of the shrimp tail connection. If desired, the Multiplier 0.42 can be changed approximately by ± 0.05, making most Types of shrimp processed in a shrimp peeling machine be included.

Once a shrimp from the feed conveyor system to one Clamping device passed on the rotating shrimp transport wheel has been transported to various work stations, such as this is shown in U.S. Patents 3,751,766, 4,745,660 and 4,439,893 is described.

The fact that the shrimp feed conveyor in line with the Clamping devices are located on the shrimp transport wheel so that one is on the shrimp arranged substantially axially to the feed conveyor Longitudinal axis of a shrimp clamping device is aligned, one results substantial reduction in the width of the shrimp peeling machines to approximately half of the current machine width as found in the U.S. patents 4,745,660 and 3,751,766 is known.  

It has been found that it is desirable to add a To ensure shrimp from the feeder conveyor belt to the clamping devices that the shrimp properly from the tail and body clamps one Clamping device was detected. To ensure proper alignment of the shrimp the clamping device will ensure a positive (positive) driven, rotatable wheel or roller on top of the shrimp arranged and serves to properly shrimp in a clamping device position.

Once the shrimp is gripped in the clamping device, it becomes closed transported to a cutting station where the shrimp is cut open to the Split the shell and expose the shrimp intestine or shrimp veins. It has been found that when the shrimp cutting wheel is in one direction rotates, the direction of movement of the shrimp and the clamping device is opposite, and when the speed of the cutting wheel is increased, cutting the shrimp is improved so that the cut is smooth and is clean, unlike a cut of the saw blade sometimes occurring Type that unfortunately results in the edges of the shrimp being close the cutting line is rough or rough.

The sliced shrimp is then put under a gut or Unloading station brought in the intestine or the veins of the shrimp be removed. So far, a single, rotatable gut brush has been used used to remove the intestine. Unfortunately, the brush has some However, cases do not remove the entire intestine. The performance of the Brush for effective and steady removal of the intestine from every shrimp the de-humidification happened, adversely affected because the Caught prawn intestines in the brush. It has been found that a second brush, which was used to mesh with the first brush, is used to the first brush when removing the shrimp intestines from the shrimp support that it is possible to brush an intestine through the first brush  was completely captured to remove. Further comb the bristles of the second Brush with the bristles of the first brush so that the brushes are repeated and steadily remove the intestines from the shrimp while the shrimp on the Shrimp intestinal system.

Following the shrimp de-casing system, the shrimp rotates on the Shrimp transport wheel, on which it is led to a station where the Shrimp fish and, in the case of a shrimp with a tail, the tail from the Shell are removed. At least one tail clamp and several Tines are on a rotating wheel to remove the shrimp meat attached, which is adjacent to the shrimp clamp that is on the Shrimp transport wheel rotates, is arranged. While removing the wheel of the shrimp meat rotates, the clamping device is cam-driven, whereby a pair of clamp arms grips the shrimp tail while the Dip the prongs into the shrimp meat. Because the prongs and the Rotate the clamping device in relation to the shrimp transport wheel, that will Shrimp meat pulled relatively gently and from the spinning Removed shrimp shell, which in the attached to the shrimp transport wheel, rotating shrimp clamping device remains pinched. Finally be Shrimp meat and tail from the prongs and the clamp away. Similarly, the shell is subsequently made from the Clamping device of the shrimp transport wheel removed.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed Description in connection with the attached figures of the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a prior art shrimp delivery system in which shrimps are fed to the feed conveyor at 90 ° to the clamps arranged on a rotating shrimp transport wheel;

Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating the shrimp feed system of the present invention in which shrimps are fed along a longitudinal axis substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the clamps arranged on a rotating shrimp transport wheel;

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the shrimp feed device according to the invention arranged within the frame support of a shrimp peeling machine;

Figure 4 shows a top view of the shrimp feeder of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary side sectional view of the shrimp feeder taken along line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a fragmentary end sectional view of the shrimp feeder taken along line 6-6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary sectional view of an embodiment of a feed conveyor taken along line 7-7 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 shows a top view of the feed conveyor along line 8-8 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 shows a fragmentary sectional view of a second embodiment of a feed conveyor;

Figure 10 shows a top view of the feed conveyor along line 10-10 in Figure 9;

Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing the sensor and control system for synchronizing the location of a clamp and a shrimp fed to the clamp;

Fig. 12 shows a block diagram illustrating details of the sensor and control system used in the present invention;

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention in which an operator feeds a shrimp to the shrimp delivery system;

. Fig. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the shrimp feed channel of Figure 13 shows said shrimp is not located on the feed chute;

Fig. 15 according to the second embodiment of the invention, as well as the pinching shows a schematic of the shrimp feed system of a shrimp in a clamping device and the conveying of the shrimp to the cutting, Entdarmungs-, Fleischentnahme- and skin removal stations over;

Fig. 16A is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 16-16 in Fig. 14, with an operator placing a shrimp to be processed on the shrimp feed conveyor;

16B is a schematic longitudinal section along the lines 16B-16B in Fig 17 shows two feed conveyors which are arranged on one side of the shrimp Zuführfördersystems..;

Figure 17 shows an end view of Figure 16A without the feed trough and housing;

. Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of the sensor or sampling according to the second embodiment of the invention taken along lines 18-18 in Figure 16A shows;

Fig. 19 shows a fragmentary side view of the shrimp feed conveyor system with a shrimp tail aligned with the sensing means;

FIG. 20 shows a partial side view of FIG. 19, the shrimp head being aligned with the scanning means;

Fig. 21 shows a partial side view of the slotted disks and the scanning means for detecting the position of the clamping devices on the shrimp transport wheel;

Figure 22 shows a cross section of the slotted disc and the scanning means along lines 22-22 in Figure;

Fig. 23 is a block diagram showing details of the scanning and control system for the second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 24 shows a fragmentary, fragmentary view of a shrimp hold-down wheel assembly that is assisted over a shrimp clamp to grasp and hold a shrimp in the position in which it is gripped by the tail clamp and the body clamp ;

. Fig. 25 is a fragmentary end view of the shrimp Niederhalterrad- arrangement of Figure 24 showing;

Fig. 26 shows a partial cross section along lines 26-26 of Fig. 25;

Fig. 27, 28, 29 and 30, partial side views of the Garnelenfleisch- shows removal device for removing the shrimp meat from the shell shrimps after cutting and Entdarmen the shrimp. The rotatable shrimp meat removal device is shown in different stages as it gradually comes into contact with the shrimps on the shrimp transport wheel until the shrimp meat is removed from the shrimp shell. It shows:

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary end view of the meat removal device shown in Figs. 27 to 30;

FIG. 32 is a partial cross section along lines 32-32 in FIG. 28;

Fig. 33 is a schematic view of the drive system of the second embodiment of the shrimp-peeling machine according to the present invention;

Fig. 34 is a fragmentary, side sectional view of the dual brush system for gut removal from the shrimp;

To connect Figure 35 is a partial perspective, schematic view of the frame construction system that is used to the support frame parts of the shrimp-peeling device with each other. and

FIG. 36 is a partial, flat cross-sectional view along lines 36-36 in FIG. 35.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a conventional shrimp peeling machine according to the prior art, in which the shrimps 10 to be peeled are arranged in individual shrimp troughs. The troughs are connected to a moving endless conveyor belt which transports the shrimp 10 to be peeled in the direction of arrow "A". The shrimps 10 are subsequently removed from the channels and transferred to the shrimp clamps 12 , which are connected to a shrimp transport wheel and rotate with it in the direction of arrow "B" to one or more work stations WS, at which a shrimp is cut and is stripped and from which the body housing and the tail section can be removed. In this system, the details of which can be found in U.S. Patents 4,439,893 and 3,751,766, the shrimp delivery system is arranged to move at 90 ° to the direction of travel of the shrimp clamps 12 .

Figure 2 illustrates the shrimp delivery system of the present invention. As explained in more detail below, the shrimps 10 are fed in series with the direction of movement of the clamping device 12 , the feeding system being aligned essentially longitudinally with the longitudinal axis of the clamping device 12 . As a result, the width of the conventional shrimp peeling machine as illustrated in Fig. 1 can be significantly reduced.

Figure 3 shows the shrimp delivery system of the present invention. In particular, the shrimp peeling machine 20 comprises a frame 21 of suitable metal and / or plastic material, which comprises a base frame 22 consisting of frame members 23 , 24 which are connected at their respective ends to frame members 25 , 26 . Vertical support members 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 extend upward from the base frame 22 . Horizontal support members 31 , 32 , 33 arranged at a distance, see also FIG. 4, are connected to the vertical support members. Additional support members, such as vertical support 34 , can be used if desired to provide the desired rigidity of frame 21 .

A shrimp transport wheel 40 is arranged within the frame 21 , which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 3 and is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. As can be seen from FIG. 5, several clamping devices 12 are connected to the shrimp transport wheel 40 . Each clamp includes a shrimp tail clamp 13 and a shrimp body clamp 14 . The details of the shrimp transport wheel, clamps and their operation can be found in U.S. Patents 4,769,871 and 3,751,766.

The shrimp transport wheel 40 with the clamping devices 12 arranged thereon is rotatably mounted on a rotating shaft 41 at a constant speed. The drive shaft 41 is connected to a suitable drive device and a motor 39 as described in US Patent 4,769,871. A roller 43 is mounted on the shaft 4 and connected via a belt 44 to a roller 45 which is connected to a coding device 46 .

Referring to FIG. 3, a pair of spaced shrimp feeding conveyers 50, 51 arranged at one end on the upper side of the frame 21. The conveyor 50 comprises a rod 52 (see Fig. 7) with a plurality of threaded holes 52 ', which are arranged at one end. Slotted brackets 53 , 54 are adjustably arranged on the rod 52 via fastening bolts 55 , 56 which fix the brackets 53 , 54 at the desired location with respect to one end of the rod 52 . A rotatable shaft 57 with a sleeve 57 'is mounted in suitable bearings at the end 58 of the bracket.

At the opposite end 59 of the rod 52 , another shaft 60 is arranged, which has a shaft head 61 . A bushing 62 is supported on the shaft 60 , with bearing washers 63 , 64 located at each end of the bushing. A plate 66 , as can be seen in FIG. 6, is arranged between the shaft head 61 and the disk 63 .

The shaft 60 extends upwards behind a disk 64 in the holding bracket 70 , which extends outwards from the horizontal support member 33 according to FIGS. 4 and 6. Stepper motor 72 , which has a motor shaft 73 that extends into bracket 70 , is arranged on top of the retaining bracket. A suitable flexible coupling 74 connects the stepper motor shaft 73 to the outer end of the conveyor belt shaft 60 . The shaft 60 is also arranged in one or more bushings which are mounted in the holding bracket 70 .

An endless conveyor belt 75 is rotatably supported on the rotatable sleeve 62 which is fixed to the rotatable shaft 60 and the sleeve 57 'on the shaft 57 , the belt 75 touching the sides of the rod 52 when it rotates. As clear from FIGS. 3 and 6 is apparent, the conveyor belt 75 is arranged on purpose at a suitable angle relative to the vertical axis to ensure that it contacts a shrimp when it enters the delivery system, wherein the conveyor belts 75, 79 also the Serve transportation of a shrimp along the length of the conveyor belts.

A second conveyor switching belt 79 is arranged in the same type of bar arrangement as was previously described with regard to the conveyor belt 75 . A shaft 80 with a shaft head 81 extends upward through the holding bracket 90 . A bushing 82 , which is arranged between two disks 83 , 84 , rotates with the shaft 80 .

The stepper motor 92 has a motor shaft 93 which extends into the bracket 90 . A suitable flexible coupling 94 connects the stepper motor shaft 93 to the outer end of the conveyor belt shaft 80 .

The actuation of the stepper motors 72 , 92 causes the endless belts 75 , 79 to move. The shrimps 10 , which are fed to the endless conveyors, are contacted by the endless belts 75 , 79 and transported along the length of the conveyor belts in the direction of the arrow "T" in FIG. 5 to the clamping devices 12 , which are connected to the rotating shrimp transport wheel 40 are, which rotates in the direction of arrow "W" according to FIG. 5.

As in the case of the conveyor belt 75, the conveyor belt 79 is also disposed at an angle relative to the vertical to ensure to FIG. 6, that a discharged in the feed shrimp, the conveyor belts 75, 79 touches. It has been found that an angle of inclination "P" of approximately 15 ° to 30 ° is satisfactory.

Furthermore, the 6 apparent plate 66 of the shrimp feed conveyor extends in Fig. Along the length. In some applications it may be desirable to omit plate 66 in favor of an open space between the lower portions of spaced and angled conveyor belts 75 , 79 .

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the plate 96 extends over the frame and is connected to the frame members 31, connected 33rd A laser sensor 97 is connected to the plate 96 and lies above the location of the narrowest space between the conveyor belts 75 , 79 . When a shrimp 10 passes the feed conveyor in the direction of arrow "T" in FIG. 5, the laser sensor 97 detects the tail end of a shrimp 10 and subsequently the head end of the shrimp 10 . The information detected by the laser sensor 97 is fed via line 151 to a microprocessor 155 , in which the total length "L" of a shrimp 10 is calculated. The microprocessor then calculates a value of 0.42 L, which represents the location of the connection of the tail portion of the shrimp with the rest of the shrimp.

When the shrimps are fed along the conveyor belts in the direction of the arrow "T", the shrimp transport wheel 40 and the clamping devices 12 simultaneously rotate about the shaft 41 in the direction of the arrow "W".

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the longitudinal axis of the belts of the feed conveyors along the length of the distance "T" is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the clamping device 12 .

A photoelectric cell 100 is attached to the frame 21 by any suitable means. Cell 100 provides a constant beam across the frame. When each clamp 12 rotates about shaft 41 , it interrupts the beam, the interruption being fed through line 152 to microprocessor 155 , in which the relative location between clamp 12 and shrimp 10 is determined. What is particularly desired is the proper fit of the tail portion of a shrimp in the tail clamp 13 of the clamp assembly 12 , while the remaining portion of a shrimp must be appropriately clamped in the body clamp 14 of the clamp 12 . Accordingly, it is necessary that the arrival of a shrimp 10 at the ends of the conveyor belts 75, 79, 79 is synchronized in the vicinity of the shrimp transport wheel 40 with the arrival of a clamping device 12 at the shrimp discharge end of the conveyors 75 miles.

The microprocessor 155 and the encoder 46 translate the information they receive from the laser beam 97 and from the photoelectric cell 100 and from which it is calculated whether the correct synchronization occurs, ie whether a shrimp 10 from the conveyor belts 75 , 79 to one Clamping device is transmitted so that the tail clamp 13 clamps the tail portion of the shrimp 10 and the body clamp 14 clamps the remaining of the shrimp, so that the value 0.42 L of the shrimp 10 is at the interface of the tail clamp 13 and the body clamp 14 . It is important that the shrimp is properly aligned with the tail and body clips 13 , 14 so that the tail portion of the shrimp can be removed appropriately.

It should be noted that when a shrimp 10 is placed on the spaced feed conveyors 75 , 79, the shrimp is not always positioned so that the desired synchronization between a shrimp 10 and a clamping device 12 is achieved. In cases where the microprocessor 155 and the encoding device 46, the capture of the laser 97 and the photoelectric cell 100 received information and charge and thereby determine that a shrimp 10 too early in the shrimp discharge end of the conveyor belts 75, 79 arrives there, the microprocessor 155 issues an instruction via lines 150 to stop the stepper motors 72 , 92 for a required amount, e.g. B. in ms, so that the shrimp 10 and a clamping device 12 arrive at the delivery end at the same time.

In the event that a shrimp 10 does not arrive at the discharge end of the conveyor belts 75 , 79 in time to be caught by a clamp 12 , the clamp 12 simply continues rotating behind the shrimp dispenser without picking up a shrimp and the shrimp 10 is then added to a subsequent clamp 12 .

FIGS. 11 and 12 show representations of the microprocessor components and the functions performed by the present invention. The following program list illustrates a program for controlling the microprocessor 155 in the operations described above.

4 GOSUB 400
5 RATIO = 22.894998
10 ENCODER = 1000
15 RUN.SPEED = 659
20 ACCEL.RATE - 150000
25 DECEL.Rate = 150000
28 GO.VEL
30 SK1.TRIGGER = 21
40 SK2.TRIGGER = 20
100 SK1.GOSUB = 300
110 SK2.GOSUB = 350
115 SET.SCAN1
125 INT1 = 820 + INT2
130 WHILE INP1 = 1
140 INT5 = Pos.COMMAND
150 WEND
160 WHILE INP1 = 0
170 INT6 = (POS.COMMAND - INT5)
172 FLT1 = INT6 * (0.420000)
180 WEND
190 RUN.SPEED = 0
195 GO.VEL
200 INT3 = FLT1 / RATIO
210 INT2 = 0
220 WHILE INT3 <= (INT1 - ENCDR.POS9)
240 WEND
250 RUN.SPEED = 659
255 GO.VEL
260 GOTO 130
299 END
300 ENCDR.POS = 0
310 SET.SCAN2
320 RETURN
350 SET.SCAN1
360 RETURN
400 INT10 = (INP5 + (2 * INP6) + (4 * INP7) (8 * INP8))
405 IF INT10 = 15 THEN INT2 = (-60)
410 IF INT10 = 14 THEN INT2 = (-45)
415 IF INT10 = 13 THEN INT2 = (-30)
420 IF INT10 = 12 THEN INT2 = (-20)
425 IF INT10 = 11 THEN INT2 = (-10)
430 IF INT10 = 10 THEN INT2 = 0
435 IF INT10 = 9 THEN INT2 = 12
440 IF INT10 = 8 THEN INT2 = 24
445 IF INT10 = 7 THEN INT2 = 36
450 IF INT10 = 6 THEN INT2 = 48
455 RETURN

While a laser beam sensor 97 and a photoelectric cell 100 have been shown, it will be appreciated that other types of sensor devices, such as light emitting diodes, satisfactorily provide the desired inputs, from which the appropriate synchronization between a shrimp 10 attached to the shrimp - Delivery end of the conveyor belts 75 , 79 arrives and a clamping device 12 specify.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS . 1 to 6, the laser sensor device is arranged above the feed conveyors 75 , 79 , so that the laser beam extends vertically downward onto the shrimp 10 .

If desired, another delivery system can be used which allows the laser beam to be projected horizontally. In the shrimp feed conveyor according to the embodiment in FIGS . 9 and 10, two spaced feed conveyors 110 , 112 replace the individual feed conveyor 75 and two spaced feed conveyors similar to the spaced conveyors 110 and 112 replace the conveyor 79 . FIG. 9 shows a first feed conveyor 110 , which is similar in its arrangement to the feed conveyor 75 in that it is connected to a stepper motor with a rotatable shaft 111 by a flexible coupling. A bushing 113 is rotatable with the shaft 111 and is arranged in the vicinity of one end of the rod 114 . At the opposite end of the rod 114 , a bearing block 115 is attached to the rod 114 . One end of the bearing bracket 116 is secured to the bearing block 115, while the remaining end of the bearing bracket is fixed to the block 117 warehouses 116, which in turn is attached to one end of the rod 118th The bearing brackets 119 , 120 are adjustably attached to the rod 118 in any suitable manner and extend outwardly from the remaining end of the rod 118 . A rotatable shaft and bushes 121 , 122 are connected to the brackets 119 , 120 .

Another bracket 123 is connected to the underside of the rods 114 , 118 . The shafts 124 , 125 have bushings 126 , 127 arranged thereon. A roller belt 130 connects rollers 128 , 129 which are mounted on the shafts 124 , 125 . When the stepping motor is actuated, the shaft 111 rotates and causes the belt 110 to move due to the rotation. In the same way, the shaft 125 rotates together with the shaft 124 , causing movement of the endless conveyor belt 112 .

It should be noted in FIG. 9 that a space between the conveyor belt 110 , 112 is specified. In this space, a laser beam indicated by 140 is positioned so that when a shrimp 10 travels in the "T" direction, the laser beam 140 extends horizontally and detects the tail end and head end of the shrimp.

Figs. 13 to 34 show further embodiments of the invention. According to the Fig. 13 and 14, a shrimp peeling machine is disposed in a housing 210,200. The machine is supported on a plurality of start-stop wheels 211 so that the machine can be moved relatively easily from one position to another. A plurality of shrimp S are on a shrimp feed trough 212 . The trough 212 has a bottom 213 with slotted openings 214 therein. A transparent plastic cover 215 is suitably attached to the bottom 213 of the gutter. The side walls 216 , 217 and end walls 218 , 219 of the trough extend upwards from the bottom 213 and serve to keep the shrimp to be peeled on the bottom 213 of the trough.

Referring to FIG. 15, the shrimp S is disposed on a feed conveyor 220 where it passes under a shrimp-down device 262nd As will be explained below, the shrimp is conveyed to a clamping device 221 which is arranged on a shrimp transport wheel W, the shrimp being pushed onto the transport wheel while being held in place by the hold-down wheel or roller 222 . Once the tail and body portions are securely attached to the clamp 221 , the shrimp is passed a plurality of processing stations where various processing steps are performed on the shrimp. Initially, the shrimp passes the cutting station 223 where the shrimp skin and meat are cut along the longitudinal axis of the shrimp. The cutting process serves to open the shrimp shell along a substantial portion of the length of the shrimp and the shrimp meat is cut to expose the intestine of the shrimp.

After cutting, the shrimp is passed a double brush de-humidification station 224 where at least one brush contacts the shrimp and the intestine or veins to remove the intestine or veins from the shrimp. The second brush, the bristles of which mesh with the bristles of the first brush, also serves to engage the intestine and remove it from the shrimp. Combing the bristles of the brush also serves to prevent the shrimp intestine from becoming too tangled in the bristles of the first brush.

After the gut removal process, the shrimp S is moved past a rotating shrimp meat extractor 225 where a plurality of prongs and a tail clamp grip the shrimp meat and the shrimp tail and, since the shrimp meat extractor and the clamp rotates both, the shrimp meat and in the case of one Shrimp with tail - the tail are pulled out of the shrimp shell, which is held in a clamping device on the rotating shrimp transport wheel. The meat and tail are moved to a collection point while the shell is subsequently removed from the clamp 221 , after which the device 221 is cleaned by the brush 226 as the shell is fed down the slide 227 to a second collection point.

Referring to FIGS. 16A, 16B and 17, a shrimp S is shown that is being passed through slot 214 by an operator O. The feed conveyor system includes a pair of in-line feed conveyor belts 230 , 231 attached on one side of the shrimp transport path and a second pair of corresponding in-line conveyor belts 230 , 231 located on the opposite or remaining side of the shrimp -Transportweges are attached.

The in-line conveyor system used for this particular embodiment of the shrimp delivery system is similar to the conveyor embodiment described above with reference to Figures 9 and 10; however, intermediate wheels for tensioning the endless conveyor belt were provided in this particular embodiment.

Figs. 16A and 16B show a pair of conveyor belts 230, 231 which are disposed on one side of the shrimp S when the shrimp along the path T travels of the supply conveyor belt. A stepper motor 233 is connected to a rotatable shaft 234 as described above with reference to the feed conveyor belt of FIGS . 7-10. A bush 235 is attached to the drive shaft 234 . At the opposite end of the conveyor belt 230 is another rotatable bush 235 '. Unlike the conveyor system of FIGS. 9 and 10, a pair of idler wheels 236 , 237 are attached to a mounting bar 114 , similar to the bar shown in FIG. 10, in any suitable manner. The conveyor belt runs around the bush 235 , the intermediate wheels 236 , 237 and the bush 235 'around.

A second conveyor belt 231 is arranged in the same way as the first conveyor belt 230 , except that there is no direct connection to the stepping motor 233 . The belt 231 runs around the rotatable bushings 238 , 239 and the intermediate wheels 240 , 241 .

In order to drive the conveyor belt 231 , a rotatable shaft 242 ( FIGS. 16A, 16B) on which a roller 243 is fastened is extended. Similarly, rotatable shaft 244 on which idler gear 240 is mounted is elongated and idler 245 is mounted thereon. The endless belt 246 connects the rollers 243 , 245 so that when the stepping motor 233 is actuated, the endless conveyor belts 230 , 231 are driven to touch the shrimps S and to convey them along the path T. It can be seen that a similar conveyor system with a pair of axially aligned conveyor belts, similarly described as described above with reference to belts 230 , 231 , is located on the opposite side of the shrimp path and is driven by stepper motor 247 .

If the conveyor belts 230 , 231 loosen, the idler wheels 236 , 241 can be shifted for adjustment in the direction indicated by the arrows P1, P2 in Fig. 16B, towards or outside of the belt, to a desired position ensure the desired belt tension.

Referring to FIGS. 16A to 20, a gap between a conveyor belt 230 and a conveying belt 231 is provided. A photoelectric sensor device 250 , having a transmitter 251 and a receiver 252 , provides upper and lower sensor beams 253 and 254 that cross the shrimp path. When a shrimp tail passes through sensor device 250 , as shown in FIG. 19, lower beam 254 is interrupted and transmits a signal to microprocessor 155 . Similarly, as shown in FIG. 20, when the high end of the shrimp passes the sensor device 250 , the upper sensor beam 253 is addressed in order to transmit a corresponding signal to the microprocessor, whereby the length L of the shrimp can be determined. It should be borne in mind that when the shrimp head or spine shield is removed, a small shrimp neck extension 260 remains ( Figs. 19, 20). It is particularly preferred that this shrimp extension is not taken into account when determining the length L of the shrimp. Accordingly, it should be provided that the high and low sensor beams 253 , 254 are arranged so that the neck of the shrimp does not interrupt or otherwise operate a beam, which would transmit an incorrect signal to the microprocessor.

It has been found that when the shrimp is transferred to the feed conveyor system by the operator, some shrimps are more curved than others, so that in some cases the true shrimp length cannot always be determined due to the curvature of the shrimp. To address any concerns that the correct shrimp length is not being presented to the sensor device 250 , a shrimp hold-down device is provided which presses down on the shrimp as it passes the area of the sensor device 250 . By pressing down the shrimp, which has a somewhat compressible structure, the correct length of the shrimp can be measured.

The hold-down device 262 is shown, for example, in FIGS. 16A and 17. Stepper motor 263 is suitably attached to plate 264 , which in turn is spaced from frame members 267 by spacers 265 , 266 . Stepper motor drive shaft 268 extends through plate 264 and bushing 269 . A roller 270 is attached to the stepper motor drive shaft 268 . A shaft 271 extends through the bushing 272 and the sleeve 273 . One end of the shaft 271 is fixed to the roller 274 , which is connected to the roller 270 by the endless belt 275 . Spaced mounting brackets 276 , 277 are attached to the outer end of shaft 271 . Each bracket is attached to one side of the sprocket 278 . One end of each of the mounting brackets is suitably attached to the shaft 271 , the brackets being designed to be pivotable about the shaft 271 . The remaining or opposite end of each mounting bracket is attached to one end of a shaft 281 . A sprocket 280 is arranged to rotate about the shaft 281 . An endless belt 282 is attached to the sprockets 278 , 280 . When stepper motor 263 is actuated , belt 275 drives shaft 271 and sprocket 278 . The endless belt 282 rotates the sprocket 280 in the direction N shown in FIG. 16A. When a shrimp S travels along the path T, the hold-down device 262 with its driven conveyor belt rotating in the direction of the arrow N serves to depress and stretch the shrimp S in the longitudinal direction of the shrimp so that the true shrimp length L is determined by the sensor device 250 can be.

From Figs. 15, 21 and 22 it is seen that the Klemmvorrichtungs- transport wheel W is adapted so that it rotates at a constant speed in the indicated by the arrow M (FIG. 15) the direction of rotation. When the wheel W rotates, the clamps 221 rotate past the shrimp feed conveyor 220 , where the shrimps S are conveyed in contact with the two pairs of conveyor belts 230 , 231 along the path T which extends along the plate 290 towards the shrimp Transport wheel W extends. At the end of the plate 290 , adjacent to the transport wheel W, a shrimp S is passed up through the angled bearing surface 291 ( Figs. 15, 16A) where it is oriented to engage the clamp 221 .

As explained above, it is desirable that the shrimp S be properly aligned in the clamp so that the shrimp tail is held by the tail clamp section 292 and the shrimp body by the body clamp section 293 of the clamp 221 . In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 15, 21 and 22, for example, the disk 300 , which has a plurality of spaced slots 301 extending to the edge of the disk, is fastened in such a way that it rotates with the shrimp transport wheel W. Fig. 22 shows the disk 300 mounted on the drive shaft 303. The plates 304 , 305 are attached to the disc 300 in any suitable manner, such as welding, to additionally support the disc. A sensor element 310 having spaced arms 311, 312 is related to the wafer 300 positioned so that the sensor arm 311 on one side of the disk and the sensor arm 312 in alignment with the arm 311, but disposed on the opposite side of the disc 300 (Fig. 22) is positioned. A suitable photoelectric signal is generated between the sensor arms 311 , 312 , the signal being interrupted by the disc 300 , except when a slot 301 passes between the sensor arms, at which time the detection signal is then uninterrupted. Sensor device 310 , which may consist of any desired photoelectric sensor, is connected to arm 314 , which in turn is attached to bracket 315 . Bolts 316 , 317 extend through vertical frame support members 318 and a mounting sleeve 319 above the horizontal frame support member 320 . The bolts serve to releasably secure the bracket 315 at one location on the support member 318 . The lines 321 extend from the sensor means 310 to the microprocessor.

The spaced-apart slots 301 on the wafer 300 correspond to the number and arrangement of the Klemmanvorrichtungen 221 on the wheel W. As shown in FIG. 15 depicted are the four disk slots 301, and the four clamping devices 221 are spaced apart by 90 °. It can be seen that when six or eight clamps are used, the number of corresponding slots is increased, the slots, of course, being oriented so that they are at the same angular distance as the distance between the clamps. When a slot passes through the sensor element 310 , a signal is sent to indicate the relative position of a clamp 221 with respect to the shrimp bed 291 on the feed conveyor 220 .

For example, it can be seen from Figs. 15 and 16 that when a shrimp S passes through the feed conveyor 220 in the direction of arrow "T" ( Fig. 16A), the sensor 254 detects the tail end of a shrimp S and subsequently the sensor becomes 253 scan or detect the head end of the shrimp S as it passes the sensor 253 . The information sensed by sensor device 250 passes through lines 330 ( FIGS. 16A, 19) to microprocessor 155 , where the total length "L" of shrimp S is sensed. The microprocessor then calculates a value (0.42 * L) that represents the location of the interface of the tail portion of the shrimp with the rest of the shrimp.

Simultaneously with the shrimps being conveyed in the direction of the arrow "T" along the length of the conveyor belts 231 , 230 , the shrimp transport wheel W and the clamping devices 221 rotate about the shaft 303 in the direction of the arrow
The photoelectric sensor elements 310 provide a constant beam across the disc 300 , the beam only being uninterrupted when a disc slot 301 crosses the beam path. When a clamp 221 reaches a particular position relative to the bearing feed plate 291 , the beam between the sensor elements in the arms 311 , 312 is not interrupted, this signal being transmitted through lines 321 to the microprocessor 155 , where the relative position between one Clamp 221 and a shrimp S on the feed conveyor path is checked. It is necessary that the arrival of a shrimp S at the end of the feed conveyor belt 220 adjacent to the shrimp transport wheel W is synchronized with the arrival of a clamp 221 on the shrimp storage surface 291 .

The microprocessor 155 translates the information obtained from the beams 253 , 254 and the photoelectric sensor system 310 , from which it is determined whether a correct synchronization is arriving, i.e. whether a shrimp S will be transferred from the feed conveyor belt 220 to a clamping device 221 , so that the tail clamps 292 clamp the tail portion of the shrimp S and the body clamps 293 clamp the remainder of the shrimp S, so that the point (0.42 * L) is of the shrimp S at the interface between the tail clamp 292 and the body terminal 293 . As stated above, the shrimp must be properly aligned with the tail and body clips 292 , 293 to ensure proper removal of the shrimp tail portion.

It happens that the shrimp are not always aligned on the feed conveyor belt 220 in such a way that the desired synchronization between a shrimp S and a clamping device 221 is achieved. In cases where the microprocessor 155 samples and evaluates information from the sensor device 250 or the photoelectric device 310 and determines that a shrimp S arrives too early at the transfer end of the conveyor belt 320 , the microprocessor 155 will send a command through the lines 332 , to stop the stepper motors 233 , 247 for the required amount, milliseconds, so that the shrimp S and the clamp 221 arrive at the transfer end at the same time.

If the shrimp S does not arrive at the transfer end of the surface 291 in time to be caught by a clamping device 221 , the clamping device 221 simply rotates past the transfer area of the shrimp without picking up a shrimp and the shrimp S is then deposited on the subsequent clamping device 221 .

FIGS. 11 and 23 of the microprocessor components and functions can be considered, to that described and claimed herein second embodiment of the invention implemented as representations. The following program listing represents a program for controlling the microprocessor 155 in the above-described operations of this particular embodiment.

5 GOSUB 300
8 WAIT.TIME = 0.050000
10 RUN.SPEED = 798
20 ACCEL.RATE = 20000
30 DCL.TRACK.ACL = 0
40 MAX.DECEL = 20000
50 GO.VEL
60 IF INP1 = 0 THEN 60
70 INT5 = POS.COMMAND
75 PAUSE
80 IF INP3 = 1 THEN 80
90 INT7 = POS.COMMAND - INT5
100 INT8 = INT7 * FLT1
110 INT20 = INT5 + INT8
120 WHILE INT20 + 417 <POS.COMMAND
130 WEND
140 STOP.MOTION
148 PAUSE
150 WHILE INP2 = 1: TURN
160 WHILE INP2 = 0: WEND
170 GO. VEL
180 GCYID 60
190 SAVE
200 END
300 INT10 = (INP5 + (2 * INP6) + (4 * INP7)
+ (8 * INP8))
310 IF INT10 = 15 THEN FLT1 = 0.370000
320 IF INT10 = 14 THEN FLT1 = 0.380000
330 IF INT10 = 13 THEN FLT1 = 0.390000
340 IF INT10 = 12 THEN FLT1 = 0.400000
350 IF INT10 = 11 THEN FLT1 = 0.410000
360 IF INT10 = 10 THEN FLT1 = 0.420000
370 IF INT10 = 9 THEN FLT1 = 0.430000
380 IF INT10 = 8 THEN FLT1 = 0.440000
390 IF INT10 = 7 THEN FLT1 = 0.450000
400 IF INT10 = 6 THEN FLT1 = 0.460000
410 PRINT FLT1
420 RETURN

Although the photoelectric sensor cell devices 250 and 310 have been described for the embodiment of Figures 13 to 34 inclusive, it can be seen that other sensor means such as light emitting diode sensors would satisfactorily provide the desired input from which the proper synchronization between the desired shrimp handover end of the feed Conveyor device 220 can be determined with the clamping device 221 .

Referring to FIGS. 24 through 26, there is shown a forced (positive) powered shrimp holddown wheel assembly 222 which is used to press or hold down a shrimp S when a shrimp is gripped by the body and tail clamps 292 , 293 of a clamp 221 becomes. The assembly 222 includes a shaft 340 that is attached to a vertical frame portion 341 of the machine in any suitable manner. A double track roller 342 with belt tracks 342 , 344 is arranged on a rotatable bearing 345 which is fixed on the shaft 340 .

A U-shaped part 346 has a rectangular base rod 347 . Two hollow, spaced tubular arms, 348 , 349, each having a ball bearing in the tube, extend from openings in the respective base ends and are attached to the base 347 . The tubular arm 348 is arranged to be rotatable about the fixed shaft 347 . A first block 350 is attached to the outer end of the tubular arm 348 . A two end torsion spring 351 is disposed on the shaft 340 adjacent the block 350 . A second block 352 , which is adjustably mounted on shaft 340 , is disposed adjacent spring 351 . A pin 353 , only one of which is shown in FIG. 25, extends outward from each block 350 , 352 . One end of the torsion spring 351 secures the pin 353 to the first block 350 , while the other end of the spring secures the pin 353 to the block 352 . The spring means serve to pretension the U-shaped part 346 , so that the base rod 347 can be pretensioned downwardly on a clamping device 221 .

A shaft 355 extends through tubular arm 349 and base 347 . A roller 356 is attached to one end of the shaft 355 , while a V-shaped wheel or roller 222 'made of plastic is attached to the opposite end of the shaft. The endless belt 357 connects the roller 356 to the track 344 in the two-track roller 342 .

As shown in FIGS. 24 and 33, a second endless belt is arranged in the roller track 343 of the barrel 358 and reel 342 provides a connection to the roller 359 which is disposed on the shaft 360, forth. The gear 361 attached to the shaft 360 is arranged to engage the main drive gear 362 .

When the main gear 362 is driven, the belt 358 sets the roller 342 in motion, which in turn rotates the roller 356 and the shaft 355 , causing the hold-down wheel 222 'to rotate in the direction of arrow B while the shrimp is moving in the direction of the Arrow M wanders.

From Fig. 24 it is seen that a rigid shaft secured to the base rod 347,365. An adjustable block 366 having a plurality of adjustment surfaces 367 is rotatably attached to the shaft 365 . The block 366 serves to adjust or limit the downward travel of the rod 346 in that the block is supported on the horizontally attached frame part 368 . By limiting the path of the rod 346 , the path of the wheel 222 'connected to the rod is also set. As a result, when the block is in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 26, the wheel 222 'is in the solid line position. When the block 366 is rotated to the position indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 26, the wheel 222 'is moved upward to the position indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 26.

Figures 33 and 34 illustrate the double layer de-colonizing brush system 224 used in the present invention. 33 is as shown in FIG., A first brush 370 is arranged so that it comes into contact with shrimp. This first brush is a known brush that has previously been used to remove an intestine from a shrimp, as described and illustrated in U.S. Patents 4,414,703 and 3,751,766, the entire drawings and descriptions of which are incorporated by reference in 4,414,703 and 3,751,766 Scripture to be included.

However, unlike the known rotary brush system, the brush 370 is mounted on the shaft 371 for rotation in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the shrimp in a clamping device 221 , as a result of which the brush 370 and the shrimp S move in the same direction during the gut removal process. A bracket 372 is attached to the shaft 371 and extends downward therefrom. A second brush 374 with a smaller diameter than the first brush is rotatably mounted on the shaft 373 . From Fig. 34 it is seen that the bristles of the first and second brushes 370, 374 mesh with each other. It has been found that, in some cases, the shrimp intestine is pulled out of the shrimp by the first brushes when the shrimp passes the gut removal station and the first brush touches the shrimp in the intestinal area. When the first brush 370 contacts the intestine, the intestine gets caught in the bristles of the brush and rotates with the first brush. It is also gripped by the bristles of the second brush 374 . It has been found that the two brushes together ensure a better bowel removal operation. With the drive arrangement described below, the brush 370 rotates clockwise as shown in Fig. 33 so that the bristles and the shrimp move in the same direction.

The two brushes are known brushes available from Gregor Jonsson, Inc., Highland Park, Illinois. The catalog number of the large diameter brush 370 is BH-7257 and the catalog number of the small brush is BH-7262.

At the rotatable shrimp meat removal device 225 , the shrimp fish is removed from the outer shell of each shrimp, as is most clearly shown in FIGS. 27 to 32. The mechanism or device 225 includes a wheel 450 attached to a central shaft 425 which is suitably rotatably attached to the frame 490 of the machine. Referring to Figure 33 and the description below, the drive gear of the machine drives wheel 450 such that the outer ends of two groups 451 and 452 of tines 453 move in the same direction and at substantially the same speed as that the clamping device 221 moves shrimp S. The two groups of tines 451 and 452 are arranged on the wheel 450 and are located on diametrically opposite sides of the wheel 450 .

Each group of tines 451 and 452 has a plurality of tines 453 extending outward with respect to the axis of rotation. In the particular example, two axially spaced rows of tines 453 (see FIG. 31) are provided, each with four tines in each of the two rows. In each group of tines 451 , 452 , a tine 455 extends radially outwards with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheel 450 , a tine 456 is arranged (in the direction of movement) in front of the tine 455 and two tines 457 and 458 are behind the tine 455 . Each of the tines 455 to 458 has an elongated main section 459 and an outer end section 460 which is angled in the direction of movement with respect to the main section of the tine by an angle of approximately 30 °. The main sections 459 are substantially parallel to each other and the angled section 460 are substantially parallel to each other. The outer ends of the tines are sharp and substantially arcuate about the axis of rotation of shaft 425 .

Each group 451 and 452 may optionally have a tail clamp mechanism or device 466 which is used when the tail of the shrimp is to be removed and is to be grasped with the shrimp fish. 12751 00070 552 001000280000000200012000285911264000040 0002004408010 00004 12632This type of shrimp is commonly referred to as a "prawn with a tail", with the tail preserved and served with the prawn meat. Each tail clamping device 466 has two clamping fingers 467 and 468 (see FIGS . 31 and 32) which are articulated to the wheel 450 by means of pivot pins 469 . Fingers 467 and 468 extend substantially parallel to the tines of an associated group and the outer ends 471 of the fingers are curved, as shown, for example, in Figure 30, and extend in substantially the same arc as the ends of the tines.

As can be seen from FIGS. 31 and 32, a compression spring 472 is arranged between the hinge pins 469 and the outer ends 471 of each pair of fingers, which spreads the outer finger ends or biases them outward. However, the amount of spreading or opening of the fingers is limited by the abutment surfaces 473 of the inner radial ends of the fingers that abut the stop 473 'of the wheel 450 .

A cam arrangement is provided to bring the outer ends of the fingers together so that the fingers, as shown in Figures 28, 29 and 32, can engage a shrimp tail portion. Curved cams 476 and 477 are arranged on opposite sides of the wheel 450 on the shafts 478 'which are attached to the machine frame 490 . The cams 476 and 477 have tapered front and rear sides 478 and 479 and a flat central surface 480 . Flexible sliders 482 are secured to the axial outer surfaces of fingers 467 and 468 by screws 483 , and the flexible sliders have flexible outer walls 484 that are engageable with cams 476 and 477 .

The removal mechanism 225 is operated, initially with reference to FIG. 33, such that the shrimp transport wheel W rotates in the "M" direction and the wheel 450 rotates in the CW direction. The rotation ratios are such that the outer ends of the fingers 467 and 468 and the tines move at substantially the same speed as a shrimp S caught in the combing device 221. Furthermore, the rotation is timed in such a way that the outer ends of the fingers move over the sides of the tail area 487 just before the flexible sliders 482 engage the cams 476 and 477 ( Figures 27-29). The portions 484 of the flexible sliders slide along the front 478 of the cams and onto the portions 480 of the cams, causing the outer ends of the fingers 467 and 468 to close and the prawn tail portion 487 and any meat therein to be impaled or securely gripped ( Fig. 32). fingers 467 and 468 preferably have curved grooves 488 ( FIG. 31) that receive the shrimp tail region 487 . Continuous rotation of the wheels W and 450 causes the curved outer ends 460 of the tines to sink into the shrimp meat, as can be seen, for example, from FIGS. 28 and 29. As the wheels continue to rotate, fingers 467 and 468 cooperate with the prongs to remove the meat and tail area from the shrimp shell clamped in clamp 221 . From Fig. 29 it can be seen that when the shrimp meat from the shrimp shell removed free and thereof, the flexible sliders 482 move away from the rear surface 479 of the cam, thereby opening the fingers 467, 468 and releasing the shrimp tail region is made possible. When the tines are in a position where they generally extend downward, as shown in Fig. 30, the meat slides from the ends of the tines due to gravity and at about the same time the clamp 221 opens and ejects the tray 489 . From Fig. 33 it is seen that the rotating brush 226, the clamping device 221 through brushes and cleans. The above procedure is of course repeated with each clamping device and shrimp.

The fingers 467 and 468 can be easily deactivated, if desired, by removing the screws 483 and the flexible sliders 482 so that the tail portion is not removed along with the meat.

Fig. 33 Figure 13 shows the drive arrangement for the embodiment according to the Fig. To 33. In short, the drive motor 400 is connected via a suitable, multiple looped belt 401 with a housing of a reduction gear 402, and rollers 403, 404. The roller 404 is connected to one end of a shaft 405 . The opposite end of the shaft 405 is connected to the roller 406 , which in turn is connected by the belt 407 to the roller 408, which is arranged at one end of the cutting shaft 409 . The cutting knife 223 is attached to the remaining end of the shaft 409 . With this arrangement, the cutting knife 223 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow "K" in FIG. 33. It has been found that by substantially doubling the knife speed to approximately 3600 revolutions per minute and rotating the knife in the "K" direction, which is opposite to the direction of travel of the shrimp on the shrimp transport wheel W, as described above, a cleaner one , smooth cut is achieved.

The shaft 410 extends from the housing of the reduction gear 402 . The gear wheel 411 is connected to the shaft 410 , the gear wheel 411 meshing with the main gear wheel 362 , which is fixedly connected to the shrimp transport wheel W.

The gear 411 also meshes with the gear 412 , which in turn meshes with the gear 413 . The gear 413 sits on a shaft which is connected to the roller 414 . Belt 415 connects roller 414 to shaft 371 .

Gear 420 , which is also connected to gear 362 , is connected to one end of shaft 421 . The roller 422 is attached to the opposite end of the shaft 421 . The idler 421 is connected by the endless belt 423 to the idler 424 which is fixed on one end of the shaft 425 . At the opposite end of the shaft 425 is the meat removal wheel device 225 , which serves to remove the shrimp meat from the shrimp shell.

Gear 430 also meshes with gear 362 . Gear 430 meshes with gear 431 which is attached to one end of shaft 432 . At the opposite end of the shaft 432 is the shell ejection and cleaning brush 226 which rotates and which serves to remove the shrimp shell and other debris from the clamp 221 when the clamp passes this particular processing station.

Figs. 35 and 36 show an example of two mutually overlying supporting frame components 500, 501, the 3 shrimp peeling machine shown 20 are used for the frame construction of the example in Fig.. Fig. 3 27, 28, 29 and 30 shows various frame components, for example, 23, 24, 25, 26,. It is desirable that the frame parts be connected so that the components are correctly aligned and that the frame parts do not shift during shipping or in use at the customer site. Fig. Shows that the frame members 500 are connected at right angles to the frame part 501 35th The bore 502 of a frame component is aligned with the bore 503 of a frame component, while the bore 504 of a frame component is aligned with the bore 505 of a frame component.

Tubular sleeves 506 are inserted into the aligned bores 502 , 503 and bores 504 , 505 . As shown in FIG. 36, the sleeve 506 is slightly longer than the thickness of the frame member 501 . The borehole openings 502 and 504 are slightly larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the sleeve 506 , so that the sleeve 506 easily fits into the bores in the two frame components 500 and 501 . The frame component 500 has a borehole diameter that is also slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve 506 along a portion of the frame thickness ( FIG. 36). The frame member is also drilled at 507 and threaded to receive a known fastener such as a threaded bolt 508 .

As can be seen more clearly from FIG. 36, the tubular sleeve 506 is inserted into the bore 504 of the frame component 501 and extends through it. The sleeve also extends over a portion of the length of the bore 505 in the frame component 500 , the end of the sleeve abutting the area with the counter thread in the frame component 500 . The insertion of the sleeve 506 into the two frame components 500 , 501 serves to keep the two frame components in alignment, which ensures precise dimensional stability and prevents any displacement of the joints relative to one another at the connection points of the frame components.

After the sleeve has been inserted, the bolt 508 is pushed through the sleeve 506 and is screwed into the threaded hole in the frame component 500 at 507 in order to secure the connection.

If desired, a known spring ring 509 can be used to fasten the bolt 508 , the spring ring 509 being arranged between the wall 510 of the frame component and the underside of the bolt head 511 . When assembling the connection of the frame components 500 , 501 , two tubular sleeves 506 of the type described above are used for two frame connections. For the shrimp peeling machine according to the present invention, the frame components are preferably made of aluminum. Similarly, sleeves 506 are made of aluminum, while bolts 508 are conventional stainless steel bolts. It will be appreciated that other materials can be used to manufacture the frame components and the sleeve.

Shown here during one or more embodiments of the invention and have been described in detail, it is obvious that Modifications and variations thereof can be effected without that deviated from the scope of the invention, as he by the adjacent Claims is specified.

Claims (74)

1. shrimp peeling machine, comprising:
a rotating shrimp transport wheel;
several clamping devices spaced on the wheel;
a shrimp feeder for feeding the shrimps to the clamps, each shrimp having a tail portion and a body portion, said feeder being oriented substantially longitudinally to the longitudinal axis of the clamps; and
Means for synchronizing the delivery of a shrimp in the feed device with a clamping device, whereby the shrimp is delivered to the clamping device, according to German patent application P 43 01 208, which further has means for holding down the shrimps, which are arranged above the shrimp conveying means, to touch the shrimp before the shrimp reach the first sensor means. 2. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for holding down have wheel means above one Shrimp are arranged. 3. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means to hold down further means to positively Have driving the wheel means. 4. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sensor means first detection means for sensing the end of the Tail section of a shrimp and second detection means for Have palpation of the end of the body portion of the shrimp.   5. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 4, which further means for Processing of the information includes by the first and second Sensor means were scanned to determine the value 0.42L, where L corresponds to the length of the shrimp. 6. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, which further means for Processing of the information has by the first sensor means were sampled to determine the value 0.42L, where L is the length corresponds to the shrimp. 7. Shrimp peeling machine in which the first and second detection means each have photoelectric light means. 8. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor means a disc that is designed to be connected to the rotatable shrimp To rotate transport wheel; with spaced means on the disc are attached, each means the position of a shrimp Indicates clamping device on the wheel; and an acquisition source for Detecting the position of a shrimp clamping device, so is designed to be activated by the spaced means. 9. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the spaced means have spaced slots on the Disk are arranged and that the detection means a light beam have by the rotating disc with the rotating wheel is crossed and interrupted and not in the area of the slots is interrupted. 10. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that further shrimp hold-down means over a clamping device on the  Are arranged where there is a shrimp provided by the Place funds on a clamping device. 11. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the hold-down means have a rotatable wheel. 12. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 11, wherein the wheel forcibly (positively) driven and rotating in the same direction as that Direction of movement of the shrimp from the feed means to Clamping device moves. 13. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 12, further comprising means for Preload the wheel towards the clamping device. 14. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, further comprising a rotatable Shrimp cutting device which has a rotatable cutting wheel, which is designed to be clamped in a clamping device To cut shrimp, the cutting device means for rotating of the cutting wheel in one to the direction of rotation in one on the rotatable shrimp transport wheel located clamping device clamped shrimp has opposite direction. 15. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, which further means for Intestine from a shrimp clamped in a clamping device has, the gut removal means first brush means, the are designed to capture the veins of a shrimp when a shrimp which is arranged in a shrimp clamping device on the first Brush is turned over and has second brush means, which with the the first brushing agents.   16. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 15, further comprising means for Rotating the first and second brush means. 17. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, which further gutter means for Delivering a shrimp, the channel means over the Feed means are arranged. 18. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 17, wherein the channel means a Have opening through which shrimps are led out of the channel and are placed on the feeder. 19. Shrimp peeling machine, having
a rotating shrimp transport wheel;
a plurality of clamps spaced on the wheel; a shrimp feeder having an axis substantially longitudinal to the longitudinal axis of the clamps;
Means for synchronizing the delivery of a shrimp in the feeder with a clamp, thereby delivering the shrimp into the clamp;
Shrimp hold-down means disposed above the clamp for contacting and holding the shrimp in place when the shrimp is placed on the clamp;
Cutting means for cutting the shrimp, which is opposite a shrimp cutting wheel with means for rotating the wheel in a shrimp clamped in the clamping device for the direction of movement on a rotatable transport wheel; and
Gut removal means for gut removal from the shrimp, the gut removal means comprising first and second brush means, the brush means each having bristle means which mesh with one another. 20. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 19, which further gutter means for Delivering from the shrimp, with the gutter means above the Feed means are arranged. 21. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 20, wherein the channel means a Have opening through the shrimp from the gutter through the opening promoted and from which the supply means can be handed over. 22. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 19, wherein the feed means have at least one pair of spaced apart conveyor belts, one Limit shrimp feed path; the funding is designed so that they touch the shrimp and move them along the feed path. 23. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 19, wherein the Synchronization means first sensor means for scanning the length of one Have shrimp in the feeder. 24. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 23, wherein the Synchronization means further second sensor means for scanning the Have the position of the shrimp clamping device. 25. shrimp peeling machine according to claim 19, which further over the Feeding means arranged holding-down means for touching a shrimp in the feed means before the shrimp Synchronization means reached. 26. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 19, further comprising means for Removing shrimp meat from a shrimp shell.   27. The shrimp peeling machine according to claim 26, wherein the means for removing shrimp meat is a rotatable member having a plurality of tines attached to the rotatable wheel;
Comprise means for rotating the component and the prongs, whereby the prongs move in the same direction as a shrimp in a clamping device; and
the prongs being positioned to contact the shrimp meat as the rotatable member and the clamp rotate. 28. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 27, further on the rotatable Component arranged tail clamping means for grasping a tail a shrimp arranged in a clamping device. 29. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 28, wherein the tail clamping means Cam means for actuating the tail clamp from an open in have a closed position. 30. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, wherein the feed means at least a pair of spaced conveyor belt means for touching and Convey shrimp along the funding. 31. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 30, which further shrimp Has hold-down means which are arranged above the conveying means and which are designed to touch a shrimp placed along the Feeder is promoted. 32. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 30, which further over a Clamping device arranged shrimp hold-down means for touching a shrimp while the shrimp is fed by the feed means the clamping device is released.   33. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 32, wherein the shrimp peel Hold down means a rotatable wheel and means for driving the wheel in the same direction of movement as that of a shrimp released by the Feed means of the clamping device is supplied. 34. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for Slicing the shrimp meat and peel in one Clamping device clamped shrimp, the Cutting means have rotatable cutting means which are designed so that they are opposite to the direction of movement one in a Clamping device clamped shrimp rotates. 35. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 34, the further first and second Brush means for gut removal with the cutting means has cut shrimp, the brush means each Have bristles that mesh with each other. 36. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 35, further comprising means for removing the shrimp meat for removing shrimp meat from a shrimp shell, wherein
the removal means comprise a rotatable wheel component for removing the shrimp meat; wherein the wheel component for removing the shrimp meat is designed so that it rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of a shrimp on the transport wheel; in which
the wheel member has a plurality of tines connected to the wheel member and extending outwardly therefrom; in which
the wheel component and the tines, relative to the shrimp clamping device, are oriented such that they come into contact with the shrimp meat of a shrimp clamped in a clamping device; in which
the clamp and the tines travel substantially in the same direction during the period in which the tines penetrate the shrimp meat. 37. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 36, further comprising a device for removing the shrimp tail, which on the wheel component is attached for removing the shrimp, the device for Remove a pair of spaced fingers and the shrimp tail Means for pressing the fingers in from an open to a closed Has position. 38. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of Prongs and tail removal devices on the rotatable wheel member are attached to remove the shrimp meat. 39. Feeding means for feeding shrimp to a rotatable shrimp transport wheel with a plurality of spaced shrimp clamping devices mounted thereon, the feeding means comprising:
a pair of conveyors, the conveyors spaced apart to form a shrimp conveying path; in which
the conveying means comprise means for touching the shrimps and for conveying the shrimps in the conveying path; and
first sensor means for sensing the length of a shrimp disposed in the shrimp conveying path. 40. The feed means of claim 38, further comprising shrimp hold-down wheel means have, which are arranged above the feed means and the conveyor path are, the hold-down wheel means are designed so that they a Touch the shrimp before it is scanned by the sensor means.   41. Feeding means according to claim 40, further comprising means for rotating the Hold down wheel means in the same direction of movement as one on the Shrimp conveyor path have moving shrimp. 42. Feeder according to claim 41, further comprising sensor means for determining a clamping device on the rotatable shrimp transport wheel and second sensor means for determining the position of a clamping device based on the fact that they have migrated past the feed means. 43. The feeding means according to claim 42, wherein the second sensor means is one Have disc which is designed so that it with the rotatable wheel rotates, the disc having a plurality of spaced slots, with the spaced clamps on the shrimp Transport wheel correspond. 44. Shrimp hold-down device for use with a shrimp Clamping device that has a shrimp tail clamping device the shrimp hold-down device being a rotatable wheel so is designed so that it is arranged above the clamping device; being the Wheel component is biased towards the clamping arrangement; and Means for rotating the wheel assembly in the same direction of movement as one in one arranged under the hold-down device Clamping device has inserted shrimp. 45. The shrimp hold-down device according to claim 44, the device further comprising:
a first drive shaft;
a U-shaped member having a base and two tubular arms extending from the base, one of the tubular arms being disposed on the drive shaft; wherein the wheel member is disposed on a second shaft that extends through the second tubular arm; and belt means for connecting the first and second shafts; and means for rotating the drive shaft. 46. Shrimp hold-down device according to claim 45, wherein the Biasing means comprise a torsion spring which the first shaft and the connects the first tubular arm. 47. Shrimp hold-down device according to claim 45, further comprising means to adjust the position of the hold-down wheel in relation to the Has clamping device. 48. Shrimp hold-down device according to claim 47, wherein the means to adjust an adjustment block shaft that extends from the base to the outside extends and an adjustment block with a plurality of surfaces have, which is pivotally connected to the adjusting block shaft. 49. Shrimp cutting device for cutting the shell and the meat a shrimp along the longitudinal axis of a shrimp when the shrimp is in a rotatable shrimp clamp is arranged; being the Cutting device rotatable means for cutting and means for Rotate the cutting means in a direction that the Direction of movement of a shrimp in a shrimp clamping device is opposite. 50. The gut-removing device for use with a shrimp peeling machine to gut a shrimp after cutting the shrimp along its longitudinal axis to expose the shrimp vein, the gut-removing device comprising:
a first rotatable brush designed to contact the veins of a shrimp;
a second brush configured to touch the first brush; in which
the first and second brushes each have intermeshing bristles; and
Means for driving the brush means for rotating the first brush with respect to the second brush. 51. The colonization device of claim 50, wherein the device further comprises:
a drive shaft on which a first shaft is arranged;
a bracket with two ends, one of the bracket ends connected to the drive shaft;
a second shaft connected to the remaining end of the bracket; and
Means for driving the drive shaft. 52. Shrimp meat removal device for removing the shrimp meat from a shrimp shell after slicing a shrimp in the longitudinal direction of the shrimp, the meat removal device comprising:
a rotatable meat removal wheel for shrimp meat; at least one prong which is connected to and extends outwardly from the meat removal wheel and is adapted to engage the shrimp meat in a shrimp shell; and
Means for turning the meat extraction wheel. 53. Shrimp removal device according to claim 52, the further has a plurality of spaced tines on the wheel are arranged.   54. Shrimp removing device according to claim 53, which further has a tail clamp arranged on the wheel. 55. Shrimp removal device according to claim 54, wherein the Tail clamp a pair of spaced fingers attached to the rotatable meat removal wheel are attached and facing outward extend; the fingers each connected to flexible sliders and cam means for contacting the flexible sliders has the fingers from the closed to the open position move. 56. Shrimp removal device according to claim 55, which further spring means arranged between the fingers. 57. Shrimp removal device according to claim 56, which further has stop means arranged between the fingers, which stop the movement limit the finger. 58. Shrimp removal device according to claim 54, which further first and second groups of tines and first and second Has tail clamps on the rotatable Shrimp meat removal wheel are attached, the first group of Prongs and the first tail clamp spaced from the second group of tines and the second tail clamp are arranged. 59. Shrimp peeling machine according to claim 1 or 19, which further at least two support frame components to support the shrimp transport wheel has, wherein the first frame member a bore and the second Frame component has a bore and a thread through Connecting means are connectable, the connecting means one  Sleeve that is designed so that it extends through the hole in the first Frame member and extends in the second frame member and a bolt which is designed to extend through the sleeve, wherein the bolt is screwed into the thread of the second frame component becomes. 60. Means for connecting a first frame component to a second Frame component in a shrimp peeling machine, the first Frame component extending through the first frame component Has bore; with one bore section through the second Frame component extends, wherein the second frame component adjacent to the section-by-section hole has a threaded hole; being a tubular sleeve has a length, whereby the sleeve extends through the Extending holes in the first and second frame members; and wherein a threaded bolt means is designed so that it is through the Sleeve extends and into the threaded bore of the second frame component can be screwed in. 61. Connection means according to claim 60, wherein the frame components and the sleeve are made of aluminum. 62. Shrimp cleaning device, comprising a rotatable shrimp Transport wheel, a plurality of clamps that are spaced apart Intervals are arranged on the periphery of the transport wheel and one Plurality of processing stations that are adjacent to the periphery of the Rades are arranged and operated to Perform cleaning functions on shrimp held by clamps; the processing stations being a cutting station with a rotatable one Cutting blade with a peripheral cutting edge that opposes each other to the direction of movement of a shrimp held by the clamps moved, a gut removal station with rotatably fastened first and  second brushes, the first brush having bristle ends that are against the prawns held by the clamps and brushes into the same Direction moves like the shrimp, and the second one has brushes Bristle ends that brush the same way and that point in the same direction rotate like the bristle ends of the first brush and one Meat removal station that has an adjacent to the transport wheel rotatably mounted meat removal wheel and at least one group of tines attached to and away from the meat extraction wheel extend outward, with each prong having a curved outer end has, and wherein the shrimp transport wheel and Meat removal wheel that can be rotated so that the curved outer ends of the tines and a clamp itself in the same Moving direction as they move past each other and where the curved outer tine ends are curved in this direction. 63. Shrimp picking device for use in taking out of the meat from the shell of a shrimp, the shrimp being replaced by a Clamp held and moved in a first direction, the Meat extractor has a shrimp meat extractor that is rotatably mounted adjacent to the clamp, at least one Group of tines is attached to the meat removal wheel, being each of the tines has an outer end portion which is adjacent to the Clamp is movable in the first direction and its outer End portions are bent in the first direction. 64. Shrimp extractor according to claim 63, wherein the Prongs of the group are aligned substantially parallel. 65. Shrimp extraction device according to claim 63, wherein the Meat removal wheel is rotatable about an axis of rotation and the outer Ends of the tines extend in an arc around this axis.   66. Shrimp extraction device according to claim 63, wherein the Meat extractor two groups of prongs at diametrically has opposite sides of the meat removal wheel. 67. Shrimp extraction device according to claim 63, wherein the Device a pair of clamping fingers that are adjacent to the tines are attached to the meat removal wheel, the clamping fingers Have cam slider sections and cams that with the Cam sliders to close the clamping fingers to hold one Part of the shrimp can be engaged. 68. Shrimp extraction device according to claim 67, wherein the Clamping fingers are arranged in the first direction in front of the tines. 69. Shrimp extractor according to claim 67, wherein the Clamping fingers and the tines are arranged essentially parallel, the clamping fingers and the tines have outer ends that are in the extend essentially in an arc. 70. Device for removing a vein from a shrimp by a Clamp held and moved in a first direction, the Device a first brush that rotates adjacent to the clamp is attached, the first brush outer end bristle portions has, which is movable adjacent to the clamp in the first direction are arranged and has a second brush, which with the outer Brush end portions is engaged, the second brush is rotatable in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the first brush. 71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the second brush is smaller than that first brush.   72. Device for cutting the back of a shrimp by a Clamp held and which is moved in a first direction, the Device a substantially circular blade with a sharp one has outer periphery, that with a held by a clamp Shrimp is engageable and means for rotating the sheet has, so that the outer periphery adjacent to the terminal in moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction is. 73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the sharp outer periphery is jagged. 74. Cutting device according to claim 49, further comprising means for rotating about 3600 revolutions per minute.