Apparatus and methods for mollusc processing

A method comprising:

• moving a plurality of holders between processing stations, each holder of the plurality of holders to hold a respective mollusc by a first shell of the mollusc, each respective mollusc having a pair of shells, including the first shell and a second shell, and an adductor muscle attached to the shells, the plurality of holders being arranged in a plurality of lanes that are aligned in a direction of motion of the holders between the processing stations;
• processing the molluscs at the processing stations, the processing stations comprising:
• a shell cut station to cut an opening into the shells of each respective mollusc, the shell cut station comprising a cutter operable to cut the shells of the molluscs;
• and an actuator, coupled to the cutter, to operate the cutter responsive to alignment of multiple holders of the plurality of holders in an alignment direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the holders, to cut an opening into the shells of the respective mollusc held by each holder of the multiple holders that are aligned in the alignment direction,
• a muscle cut station to cut the adductor muscle from the second shell through the opening in the shells of each respective mollusc, and
• a shell detach station comprising a respective shell detach mechanism for each of the lanes of the holders, to detach the second shell from the first shell of each respective mollusc,
• each shell detach station comprising:
• a first member to inhibit movement of the first shell of a respective mollusc relative to a respective holder in the respective lane of the shell detach mechanism, the first member comprising a convex surface to slide against the first shell during relative motion between the mollusc and the shell detach mechanism and inhibit movement of the mollusc relative to the holder, and
• a second member, disposed adjacent to the first member, to enter the opening cut into the shells of the mollusc held by the holder in the respective lane of the shell detach mechanism and detach the second shell from the first shell of the respective mollusc, the second member comprising a first surface to slide against an inside surface of the first shell to inhibit movement of the first shell relative to the holder during relative motion between the mollusc and the shell detach mechanism, and a second surface to slide against the second shell to separate the second shell from the first shell during relative motion between the mollusc and the shell detach mechanism.

A method comprising:

• providing a plurality of holders, each holder of the plurality of holders to hold a respective mollusc by a first shell of the mollusc, each respective mollusc having a pair of shells, including the first shell and a second shell, and an adductor muscle attached to the shells, the plurality of holders being arranged in a plurality of lanes that are aligned in a direction of motion of the holders between the processing stations;
• and
• providing processing stations for processing the molluscs, the processing stations comprising:
• a shell cut station to cut an opening into the shells of each respective mollusc, the shell cut station comprising a cutter operable to cut the shells of the molluscs;
• and an actuator, coupled to the cutter, to operate the cutter responsive to alignment of multiple holders of the plurality of holders in an alignment direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the holders, to cut an opening into the shells of the respective mollusc held by each holder of the multiple holders that are aligned in the alignment direction,
• a muscle cut station to cut the adductor muscle from the second shell through the opening in the shells of each respective mollusc, and
• a shell detach station comprising a respective shell detach mechanism for each of the lanes of the holders, to detach the second shell from the first shell of each respective mollusc,
• each shell detach station comprising:
• a first member to inhibit movement of the first shell of a respective mollusc relative to a respective holder in the respective lane of the shell detach mechanism, the first member comprising a convex surface to slide against the first shell during relative motion between the mollusc and the shell detach mechanism and inhibit movement of the mollusc relative to the holder, and
• a second member, disposed adjacent to the first member, to enter the opening cut into the shells of the mollusc held by the holder in the respective lane of the shell detach mechanism and detach the second shell from the first shell of the respective mollusc, the second member comprising a first surface to slide against an inside surface of the first shell to inhibit movement of the first shell relative to the holder during relative motion between the mollusc and the shell detach mechanism, and a second surface to slide against the second shell to separate the second shell from the first shell during relative motion between the mollusc and the shell detach mechanism;
• and
• providing a conveyor, coupled to the plurality of holders, to move the molluscs between the processing stations.