Singulation and separation system for a shrimp processor
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsChristopher G. Greve, Lars Vedsted, Charles L. Borrello, Robert S. Lapeyre, Charles J. Ledet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A separation and singulation system for presenting shrimps or other product individually to a processor. The separation and singulation system includes a divider pan that separates a layer of shrimp into several lanes, a shaker pan that receives the lanes of shrimp and agitates them to separate clumps of shrimp and a flume for providing further singulation and acceleration of the shrimp. The singulated, separated shrimps are then sent to a processor.
Claims19
An apparatus for singulating a batch of a product comprising:
- a conveyor for conveying the product;
- a divider pan positioned below an outfeed end of the conveyor for receiving the product and dividing the product into a plurality of lanes of product;
- a plurality of flumes positioned to receive the plurality of lanes of product, wherein the flumes provide a flow of water to accelerate the product to separate and singulate the product;
- and
- a dewatering conveyor for receiving separated product from the plurality of flumes and draining water from the separated product.
An apparatus for singulating a batch of a product comprising:
- a conveyor for conveying the product;
- a divider pan positioned below an outfeed end of the conveyor for receiving the product and dividing the product into a plurality of lanes of product, the divider pan comprising
- an angled back wall;
- a plurality of upper dividing walls on the angled back wall forming upper channels;
- and
- a plurality of lower dividing walls below the upper dividing walls forming lower channels;
- and
- a plurality of flumes positioned to receive the plurality of lanes of product, wherein the flumes accelerate the product to separate and singulate the product.
An apparatus for singulating a batch of a product comprising:
- a conveyor for conveying the product;
- a divider pan positioned below an outfeed end of the conveyor for receiving the product and dividing the product into a plurality of lanes of product;
- and
- a plurality of flumes positioned to receive the plurality of lanes of product, each flume comprising a first channel extending downwards and having a water nozzle forming a back wall of the first channel providing a fluid to carry the product.
An apparatus for singulating a batch of a product comprising:
- a conveyor for conveying the product;
- a divider pan positioned below an outfeed end of the conveyor for receiving the product and dividing the product into a plurality of lanes of product;
- and
- a plurality of flumes positioned to receive the plurality of lanes of product, wherein the flumes provide a flow of water to accelerate the product to separate and singulate the product, wherein each flume comprises an upper flume for receiving the product, a middle flume for directing product received from the upper flume to a first side, a lower flume for directing product from the middle flume to a second side, and a narrowing slide for receiving product from the lower flume and accelerating the product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.