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WO2003037091A1 - Dispositif d'ouverture de mollusques - Google Patents

Dispositif d'ouverture de mollusques Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003037091A1
WO2003037091A1 PCT/NZ2002/000225 NZ0200225W WO03037091A1 WO 2003037091 A1 WO2003037091 A1 WO 2003037091A1 NZ 0200225 W NZ0200225 W NZ 0200225W WO 03037091 A1 WO03037091 A1 WO 03037091A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
shellfish
conveyor
halves
opening
opening plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/NZ2002/000225
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David Walter Corbin
Brian Walter Corbin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CORBIN DIANE MARGRET ELLEN
Original Assignee
CORBIN DIANE MARGRET ELLEN
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 CORBIN DIANE MARGRET ELLEN filed Critical CORBIN DIANE MARGRET ELLEN
Publication of WO2003037091A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003037091A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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
    • A22C29/04—Processing bivalves, e.g. oysters
    • A22C29/046—Opening or shucking bivalves

Definitions

  • the invention relates to apparatus for processing shellfish and in particular for opening shellfish.
  • the shellfish industry particularly the Mussel industry, has grown to the stage where a large number of openers are required. Finding enough staff for this function can be difficult. Even with a sufficient quantity of hand openers there is a limit on the daily output that can be achieved.
  • shellfish opening is a highly repetitive task and, amongst other things, there is a danger of repetitive stress type injuries. This can have a significant cost in both monetary and social terms to the industry and to the public at large.
  • a shellfish opening apparatus including:
  • main conveyor means for transporting unopened shellfish from a loading position to an unload position
  • an opening plate positioned to intercept shellfish being transported on the main conveyor
  • a flipping means mounted in juxtaposition with the opening plate
  • the arrangement being such that, in use, the main conveyor means presents the unopened or partially opened shellfish to the opening plate which engages between the shell halves which are then flipped open on the main conveyor to substantially 1 80 degrees by the flipping means, the main conveyor then moves the shellfish to the separator means which is adapted to bend the shellfish through an angle adequate to separate the joint between the two halves of the shellfish shell to thereby separate the shellfish halves at or immediately before the unload position.
  • the apparatus includes a loading means at the loading position of the conveyor.
  • the apparatus includes a spinner bar in front of the opening plate, the spinner bar being adapted to help orientate the shellfish correctly for the opening plate.
  • the apparatus includes a sorting means at the unload position adapted to sort the separated halves of the shellfish.
  • the invention envisages that the opening plate is disposed above the main conveyor such that it engages between the shell halves of a partially open shellfish.
  • the flipping means engages one of said shell halves and flipping the shell open to substantially 1 80 degrees.
  • the separator means bends the shell halves back further thus severing the joint between the shell halves.
  • the flipping means is associated with an inclined conveyor which is positioned above the main conveyor.
  • One end of the inclined conveyor is in juxtaposition with the opening plate.
  • the inclined conveyor can have on the surface thereof a series of generally transverse cleats which are adapted to engage with an open or partially opened edge of one half of the shellfish to thereby flip the shell halves open to about 1 80 degrees.
  • the shellfish is partially open by at least partial cooking prior to being deposited onto the loading means.
  • a discharge conveyor having an incline of 45 degrees wherein empty shell halves are discharged to a first position and shell halves with shellfish meat are discharged to a second position.
  • a mechanical method of opening a shellfish including:
  • a shellfish preferably a Mussel, opened using an apparatus or method as hereinbefore defined.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a schematic of a mechanical shellfish opener according to the invention
  • Figure 2 shows detail of A in Figure 1 to illustrate a first stage in the interaction between a shellfish and the apparatus during shellfish opening;
  • Figure 3 shows detail of A in Figure 1 to illustrate a second stage in the interaction between the shellfish and the apparatus during shellfish opening
  • Figure 4 shows detail of B in Figure 1 to illustrate a third stage in the interaction between the shellfish and the apparatus during shellfish opening.
  • FIG. 1 A schematic overview of the apparatus is illustrated in Figure 1 .
  • a main conveyor 1 for transporting shellfish from a loading position 8 to an unloading position 7.
  • an opening plate 2 Positioned above, and parallel to, the main conveyor 1 is an opening plate 2 (shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3).
  • the opening plate 2 can be mounted on an adjustable bracket so that its height above conveyor 1 can be varied in order to adapt the apparatus for different varieties and sizes of shellfish.
  • Inclined conveyor 3 can also be mounted on adjustable brackets so that its height and incline can be adapted to suit different varieties of shellfish.
  • Critical to the invention is that lower end 4 of the inclined conveyor 3 is in juxtaposition with the opening plate 2 and preferably is adjacent or just in front of an opening edge 5 of the opening plate.
  • Main conveyor 1 has ridges or cleats 1 6 at regular intervals such as at 300mm intervals.
  • the cleats can be angled at 85° to the longitudinal axis of the main conveyor 1 and on its upper surface.
  • Cleats 1 6 grip the shellfish and move the shellfish on the surface of the main conveyor 1 .
  • Similar cleats 1 7 are positioned and orientated at 1 50mm intervals along the surface of inclined conveyor 3.
  • Main conveyor 1 and inclined conveyor 3 travel in the direction of the arrows shown.
  • lower surface 1 7a of inclined conveyor 3 is moving in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the upper surface of the main conveyor 1 .
  • main conveyor 1 is moving at approximately 52 meters per minute ( 1 51 RPM x 1 1 0mm diameter rollers). Inclined conveyor 3 moves at the same speed.
  • a "press" conveyor 6 Extending between opening plate 2 and the unloading position 7 of main conveyor 1 is a "press" conveyor 6.
  • the press conveyor 6 is positioned at an adjustable height above main conveyor 1 such that opened shellfish which have passed opening plate 2 are sandwiched between press conveyor 6 and main conveyor 1 .
  • Press conveyor 6 extends around a roller 9 to create a curve at unloading position 7 of main conveyor 1 and downwardly at 45 degrees over a short section 1 9. Below this 45 degree section 1 9 are two sorting chutes 10 and 1 1 which lead to two further conveyors 1 2 and 1 3 respectively that carry shellfish halves from the apparatus for further processing.
  • a loading conveyor 14 brings shellfish to the shellfish opening apparatus.
  • the loading conveyor 14 terminates in a chute 1 5 which deposits shellfish at the loading position 8 so that they spread across main conveyor 1 .
  • Loading conveyor 1 4 delivers shellfish from a cooker (not shown) to the chute 1 5 which deposits them at the loading position 8 of main conveyor 1 . At this stage it is anticipated that a large proportion, possibly in the order of 90%, of shellfish will be partially or half open from the cooking process.
  • FIGs 2 and 3 illustrate how the opening plate 2 engages with each shellfish. If a partially opened shellfish is orientated in the desired direction the opening plate 2 will enter between the partially opened shell halves 20a and 20b. This is illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the shell half 20b of the shellfish in this position is pressed by a cleat 1 6 onto the main conveyor 1 while pressing against the opening plate 2.
  • Cleat 1 7 on inclined conveyor 3 engages the upper most shell half 20a of the shellfish and movement of the conveyor 3 flips the shellfish open.
  • a spinning rod 21 is driven at high RPM in front of the opening plate 2.
  • This spinning bar 21 is machined to a suitable shape as shown Figure 2. The shape is chosen so that the edges of the bar 21 will frictionaily engage with the surface of the shellfish or the edges of the partially open shellfish to force the edges apart.
  • Main conveyor 1 can have no support under it in the area of the opening plate 2 so that it can be pressed down as needed to allow the shellfish to pass under the opening plate 2 as they are being flipped open.
  • Main conveyor 1 and press conveyor 6 can be driven at the same speed or slightly different speeds.
  • press conveyor 6 rolls around roller 9 and down at 45 degrees.
  • the 1 80 degree opened shellfish passes around roller 9 it is bent back thus breaking the joint joining the two shell halves 20a and 20b together.
  • This action combined with the slightly different conveyor speeds, due to the conveyors going around the roller 9 at different diameters, separates the two halves 20a and 20b of the shellfish.
  • One shell half contains meat. The other does not.
  • a spray pipe 22 has a jet of water streaming in the direction of arrow 23 towards the shellfish halves during freefall.
  • the water jet tumbles the free falling shells, which jet separates the empty shell onto the rear chute 10, and the heavier meat shell onto the front chute 1 1 .
  • the chutes 1 0, 1 1 then deposit the shells onto conveyors 1 2 and 1 3 to be carried away for further processing.
  • the shellfish can roll around in front of the opening plate 2 for a short amount of time. If the opening plate 2 has a transversely angled opening edge 5 the shellfish will make its way to the edge of main conveyor 1 during the rolling process. At the edge of main conveyor 1 can be a chute or reject belt which will deliver the shellfish back for further processing.
  • the shellfish may go under the opening plate 2 whole. This is allowed because main conveyor 1 is unsupported beneath opening plate 2 and can press down to allow the whole shellfish to pass along to the next stage. If needed, the shellfish can be removed by hand sorters at a later stage.
  • the shellfish will be pushed back along main conveyor 1 for a short distance. It will be rotated by the cleats 1 6 and 1 7 during this action. It can then come forward again and if orientated in the correct direction it will engage the opening plate 2 in the desired manner.
  • one or more main conveyors can be placed side by side in a "lane" set-up to increase throughput of the apparatus.
  • an apparatus can take partially opened shellfish and separate the two shell halves.
  • the two shell halves are then sorted onto alternative conveyors so that the shell half containing no meat can be discarded, if required, and the shell half containing meat can be taken for further processing. It may be desired that the shell halves containing meat are prepared for distribution/sale as is. Alternatively, the meat may be removed from the shell half for distribution/sale on its own.
  • an apparatus By an apparatus according to the invention the time consuming and repetitive task of opening shellfish, particularly Mussels, can be automated thus reducing the requirement for large numbers of opening staff and ameliorating the problems associated with repetitive stress injuries.

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)
  • Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)

Abstract

Des mollusques, par exemple des moules, qui ont été en partie cuits, sont transportés sur une courroie à tasseaux (1). Les mollusques sont en partie ouverts et sont acheminés avec leurs charnières à l'arrière, puis rencontrent un plateau d'ouverture placé parallèlement au-dessus de la courroie (1). Ce plateau agit avec une courroie (3) inclinée et à tasseaux, avance dans un sens opposé à celui de la courroie (1), et retourne les moitiés supérieures de la coquille afin que le mollusque adopte une position plate (180°). Alors que le mollusque continue d'avancer, les moitiés de coquille sont prises en sandwich entre la courroie (1) et la courroie de la presse (6) qui s'étend autour du cylindre d'extrémité (9) de manière que les mollusques soient inclinés selon un angle supérieur à 180°. Les moitiés de coquille sont séparées au moyen de ce procédé puis sont jetées dans des goulottes de tri (10, 11). Une barre pivotante, placée juste en avant du plateau d'ouverture, peut participer au procédé d'ouverture en écartant par la force les rebords des coquilles.
PCT/NZ2002/000225 2001-10-29 2002-10-29 Dispositif d'ouverture de mollusques Ceased WO2003037091A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ51512601A NZ515126A (en) 2001-10-29 2001-10-29 Shellfish opening apparatus with unopened or partially opened shellfish being opened and halves separated while being conveyed
NZ515126 2001-10-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003037091A1 true WO2003037091A1 (fr) 2003-05-08

Family

ID=19928804

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NZ2002/000225 Ceased WO2003037091A1 (fr) 2001-10-29 2002-10-29 Dispositif d'ouverture de mollusques

Country Status (2)

Country Link
NZ (1) NZ515126A (fr)
WO (1) WO2003037091A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110402998A (zh) * 2019-08-06 2019-11-05 山东省农业机械科学研究院 一种扇贝机械开壳辅助取肉装置及设备
CN112889902A (zh) * 2021-03-10 2021-06-04 河北农业大学 一种红外加热式扇贝开壳取柱设备

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3594860A (en) * 1969-11-12 1971-07-27 Us Interior Method for shucking and eviscerating bivalve mollusks
US4304029A (en) * 1977-03-01 1981-12-08 Cox James P Oyster processing method

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3594860A (en) * 1969-11-12 1971-07-27 Us Interior Method for shucking and eviscerating bivalve mollusks
US4304029A (en) * 1977-03-01 1981-12-08 Cox James P Oyster processing method

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110402998A (zh) * 2019-08-06 2019-11-05 山东省农业机械科学研究院 一种扇贝机械开壳辅助取肉装置及设备
CN110402998B (zh) * 2019-08-06 2021-06-22 山东省农业机械科学研究院 一种扇贝机械开壳辅助取肉装置
CN112889902A (zh) * 2021-03-10 2021-06-04 河北农业大学 一种红外加热式扇贝开壳取柱设备

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NZ515126A (en) 2003-09-26

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