Shrimp processing apparatus and methods

A shrimp processing apparatus comprising:

• a lower roller assembly comprising a first lower roller, a second lower roller, and a lower roller assembly drive operably connected to the first and second lower rollers, wherein the lower roller assembly drive is configured to rotate the first lower roller about a first lower roller axis and rotate the second lower roller about a second lower roller axis, wherein the first lower roller axis is aligned with the second lower roller axis;
• an upper assembly;
• a roller shuttle configured to move one or both of the lower roller assembly and the upper assembly between a receiving position and an operating position, wherein the lower roller assembly and the upper assembly are located farther from each other in a direction transverse to the first lower roller axis when the lower roller assembly and the upper assembly are in the receiving position than when the lower roller assembly and the upper assembly are in the operating position;
• and
• a controller operably connected to the lower roller assembly drive and the roller shuttle, the controller configured to:
• operate the roller shuttle to move one or both of the lower roller assembly and the upper assembly between the receiving position and the operating position;
• operate the lower roller assembly drive to rotate the first lower roller about the first lower roller axis over a first capture arc and rotate the second lower roller about the second lower roller axis over a second capture arc, wherein the first lower roller and second lower roller rotate in opposite directions over their respective capture arcs;
• operate the roller shuttle to move the lower roller assembly and the upper assembly from the receiving position to the operating position after rotating the first lower roller and second lower roller in opposite directions over their respective capture arcs;
• and
• operate the lower roller assembly drive to rotate the first lower roller about the first lower roller axis over a first removal arc and rotate the second lower roller about the second lower roller axis over a second removal arc, wherein the first lower roller and the second lower roller rotate in opposite directions over their respective removal arcs while the lower roller assembly and the upper assembly are in the operating position.