Shrimp processing machine and method of processing shrimp
AssigneeGregor Jonsson, Inc.
InventorJon T. Keith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shrimp processing machine and method of processing shrimp are described. A reciprocating meat picking assembly powered by a main drive wheel of the machine rotates a cam wheel to cause a cam arm of the meat picking assembly to reciprocate relative to the drive wheel. Meat picking tines mounted to the cam arm reciprocate with respect to the drive wheel to retrieve a shrimp from the drive wheel upon each rotation of the cam wheel. A deveining brush having a substantially v-shaped cross sectional profile removes a vein from a processed shrimp. The cutting assembly of the machine is provided with a leaf spring which is aligned with the cutter arm of the assembly to ensure that the cutter arm is biased toward the drive wheel, but is done so in a manner which avoids off-axis loading of the cutter arm.
Claims23
A shrimp processing machine, comprising:
- a rotating wheel;
- and
- a plurality of work stations positioned around a periphery of the rotating wheel, the plurality of work stations including a reciprocating meat picker assembly, the meat picker assembly including a gear wheel operatively associated with the rotating wheel, a cam wheel attached to the gear wheel, a cam arm pivotally mounted proximate the cam wheel, a spring biasing the cam arm toward the cam wheel, and a plurality of meat picker tines extending from the cam arm.
A shrimp processing machine meat picker assembly, comprising:
- a plate;
- a first shaft rotatably mounted within the plate;
- a second shaft rotatably mounted within the plate;
- a cam wheel mounted to the first shaft;
- a cam arm mounted to the second shaft;
- a plurality of meat picker tines extending from the cam arm;
- and
- a gear wheel operatively associated with the cam wheel, rotation of the gear wheel causing rotation of the cam wheel and pivoting of the cam arm and meat picker tines.
A shrimp processing machine, comprising:
- a drive wheel having a plurality of clamping assemblies mounted on a periphery of the rotating wheel;
- a deveining brush positioned proximate the main wheel, the deveining brush having a circumferential surface, the circumferential surface having an apex from which first and second canted sides taper radially inward and laterally outward;
- and
- a meat picking assembly positioned proximate the main wheel, the meat picking assembly including a cam wheel adapted to rotate when the drive wheel rotates, rotation of the cam wheel causing a plurality of meat picker tines to reciprocatingly move relative to the drive wheel.
A method of processing shrimp, comprising the steps of:
- securing shrimp to a periphery of a rotating drive wheel;
- cutting a shell of each shrimp;
- driving a cam wheel by meshing gear teeth extending from the cam wheel with gear teeth extending from the drive wheel;
- and
- reciprocatingly moving meat picker tines using the rotating cam wheel, reciprocation of the meat picker tines pulling shrimp meat from shells attached to the drive wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.