# US 10,765,123 B2 · System and method for preparing crustacean body parts for meat extraction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,123 B2 - Document ID: US10765123B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/995,857 - Filed: 2018-06-01 - Published: 2018-12-20 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-01 - Assignees: Investissement Québec - Applicants: Investissement Québec - Inventors: Denis Hotte; François Bédard; Richard Gagnon; Olivier Marcotte; Denis Lépine; Alain Martel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765123B2 ## CPC - A22C 29/025: {Mechanically opening and shelling crabs, lobsters or other hard-shelled crustaceans} - A22C 17/0086: {Calculating cutting patterns based on visual recognition} - B23K 26/359: by providing a line or line pattern, e.g. a dotted break initiation line - A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract A system and method for preparing a shelled crustacean body part for meat extraction are provided. The method involves capturing an image of said body part, evaluating the thickness of the shell from the image, determining from the thickness evaluation at least one laser parameter for forming a line of weakness within the shell, the line of weakness being dimensioned to facilitate meat extraction, while preserving the sensory characteristics of the meat, and sweeping a laser beam on the body part in accordance with the laser parameter to form the line of weakness within the shell. The method and system provide the advantage of facilitating meat extraction without compromising the quality or commercial value of the meat all while increasing productivity and performance in comparison with completely manual extraction techniques. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of preparing a shelled crustacean body part for meat extraction, said method comprising the steps of: capturing an image of said body part; evaluating the thickness of the shell from said image; determining from said thickness evaluation at least one laser parameter for forming a line of weakness within said shell, said line of weakness being dimensioned to facilitate meat extraction, while preserving sensory characteristics of the meat; and sweeping a laser beam on said body part in accordance with said laser parameter to form said line of weakness within said shell in order to facilitate meat extraction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said image is a three-dimensional profile image of said body part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said line of weakness is a shell-deep cut. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said laser parameter is selected from the group consisting of: the number of times said laser beam is to be swept; the speed at which said laser beam is to be swept; and the intensity of said laser beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining from said image a laser path along which said laser beam is to be swept, wherein the step of sweeping a laser beam is performed along said laser path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of locating an articulation of said body part from said image, and wherein the steps of evaluating the thickness of said shell, determining from said thickness evaluation at least one laser parameter, and sweeping a laser beam are performed separately for each one of the portions of said body part joined by said articulation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sweeping a laser beam is performed on opposite sides of said body part so as to form two of said line of weakness within said shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of exerting pressure on said body part to open said shell along said line of weakness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of evaluating the size of said body part and determining a pressure magnitude as a function of said size evaluation, wherein the step of exerting pressure is performed in accordance with said pressure magnitude. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of blowing air onto said body part to blow away shell fragments formed during the step of sweeping a laser beam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said laser beam is pulsed. ### Claim 12 A computer readable medium having stored thereon a software application to be executed by a controller of a system for preparing a shelled crustacean body part for meat extraction, said controller having a processor, said body part being carried along a displacement path by a transportation module, said software application, when executed by said controller, causes said controller's processor to perform the steps of: evaluating the thickness of the shell from an image of said body part; determining from said thickness evaluation at least one laser parameter for forming a line of weakness within said shell, said line of weakness being dimensioned to facilitate meat extraction, while preserving sensory characteristics of the meat; and providing instructions to at least one of said system and said transportation module to sweep a laser beam on said body part in accordance with said laser parameter to form said line of weakness within said shell in order to facilitate meat extraction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein said image is a three-dimensional profile image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein said line of weakness is a shell-deep cut. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein said instructions are provided to said system, and said laser parameter is selected from the group consisting of: the number of times said laser beam is to be swept; the speed at which said laser beam is to be swept; and the intensity of said laser beam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein said processor is further caused to perform the step of determining from said image a laser path along which said laser beam is to be swept, and said instructions are for causing the sweep of said laser beam along said laser path. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein said processor is further caused to perform the step of locating an articulation of said body part from said image, and the steps of evaluating the thickness of said shell, determining from said thickness evaluation at least one laser parameter, and providing said instructions are performed separately for each one of the portions of said body part joined by said articulation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein said instructions are for causing the sweep of said laser beam on opposite sides of said body part so as to form two of said line of weakness within said shell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein said processor is further caused to perform the steps of evaluating the size of said body part, determining as a function of said size evaluation the magnitude of a pressure to be exerted onto said body part to open said shell along said line of weakness, and providing said system with further instructions to exert said pressure of said magnitude on said body part. ### Claim 20 A system for preparing a shelled crustacean body part for meat extraction, said body part being carried along a displacement path by a transportation module, said system comprising: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of said body part; a laser unit configured to project a laser beam on said body part downstream from said imaging unit; and a processor programmed to perform the steps of: evaluating the thickness of the shell from said image; determining from said thickness evaluation at least one laser parameter for forming a line of weakness within said shell, said line of weakness being dimensioned to facilitate meat extraction, while preserving sensory characteristics of the meat; and providing instructions to at least one of said laser unit and said transportation module to sweep said laser beam on said body part in accordance with said laser parameter to form said line of weakness within said shell in order to facilitate meat extraction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said imaging unit is a three-dimensional scanner and said image is a three-dimensional profile image. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said line of weakness is a shell-deep cut. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said instructions are provided to said laser unit and said laser parameter is selected from the group consisting of: the number of times said laser beam is to be swept; the speed at which said laser beam is to be swept; and the intensity of said laser beam. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said processor is programmed to further perform the step of determining from said image of said body part a laser path along which said laser beam is to be swept and said instructions are for causing the sweep of said laser beam along said laser path. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said processor is programmed to: further perform the step of locating an articulation of said body part from said image; and to perform the steps of evaluating the thickness of said shell, determining from said thickness evaluation at least one laser parameter, and providing instructions separately for each one of the portions of said body part joined by said articulation. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said instructions are for causing the sweep of said laser beam on opposite sides of said body part so as to form two of said line of weakness within said shell. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising an air blower configured to blow away shell fragments formed while said laser beam is swept on said body part. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising a shell opener configured to exert pressure on said body part in order to open said shell along said weakness line. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein said processor is configured for communication with said shell opener, said processor being programmed to further perform the steps of evaluating the size of said body part from said image, determining a pressure magnitude as a function of said size evaluation, and providing said shell opener with instructions to exert said pressure of said magnitude on said body part. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein said shell opener comprises a set of percussion elements that are independently moveable to follow the topography of said body part as they exert pressure on distinct points of impact. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein said laser beam is pulsed. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising a support element mountable on said transportation module for receiving said body part upstream from said imaging unit, said support element defining a crossed V-shape for aligning said body part in a position for processing by said imaging unit and said laser unit.