AU592584B2

AU592584B2 - Scallop processing

Info

Publication number: AU592584B2
Application number: AU60192/86A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Trevor Adcock
Original assignee: Sasakat Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Sasakat Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1983-07-29
Filing date: 1986-07-15
Publication date: 1990-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2004-03-09
Also published as: AU6019286A

Description

-401 592584

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class It. Class Application Number: .6 o/ e 7 y 6 Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: 00 a 0 0 0 Priority Published: 0 9 0 ~Related Art: h 0 )00 0' 00 0 00 0 0 0~ .o* APPLICANT'S REF: Div. of 25507/84 (551153) SASAKAT PTY.LTD.

o 0 Name(s) of Applicant(s): 0040 0 Address(es) of Applicant(s): o Actual Inventor(s): 3 Breritford Court, Noble Park North, VIC 3174 JOHN TREVOR ADCOCK Address for Service is: POi4\J A-TTOPNm'f Pill] s1r'vj I 64= /ozs *%1'eiio-%e /2d 3/9 -Patent-and-Trade-Mar-k-Att-or-nys 367-offins-Street -Mlbouiii, Ansiiala,3000 for the invention entitled:

-SCRLLOR

SHIELLT2SII PROCESSING !le following statement is a, full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): P19/3/84

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p.- This invention relates to the processing of scallops and particularly the recovery of the edible portions from their 4 shells.

The present usual method of processing scallops involves a fully manual operation carried out soon after the scallops are brought to port by the scallop boats. The manual operation involves inserting a knife between the two shells and cutting along the inner surface of a first one of the shells to detach the large adductor muscle from that first shell which is then separated from the other second shell and the first shell is discarded. The offal is then carefully removed from around the outside of the large adductor muscle which is the principal i edible portion of the scallop, -taking care not to remove the roe which is to be retained in some species of scallop. The large f1~ adductor muscle, with or without the roe attached, is then cut from the second shell which is also discarded. A fast and experienced scallop processor can process about six scallops per Sminute. The operation is labour intensive and the labour costs r add substantially to the cost of harvesting, processing and 6 marketing of scallops.

It is known that steaming of fresh scallops will cause some parting of the shells and it is believed that this process has been usea to facilitate the initial removal of the first shell.

However, the steaming operation at least partially cooks the scallop and this is undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention to pro-ride a method of processing scallops for use in the recovering the edible portions and which is susceptible to mechanisation of the process.

2 -9 It is also an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for use in the processing of scallops.

The present invention provides a method of mechanically processing a scallop having a first and second shell for use in the recovery of an edible portion of the scallop, the method comprising the steps of: detaching the scallop from the first shell so as to thereby release the scallop applied force holding the two shells together so as to substantially reduce the force required for complete separation of the two shells, separating the two shells completely leaving an edible portion and an offal portion of the scallop attached to the second shell, holding the o. o second shell and, while holding the second shell, rotating the second shell about an axis transverse to the general plane of the second shell, and while rotating the second shell, separating offal from the edible portion to be recovered, the i speed of rotation of the second shell being sufficient for the centrifugal force caused by the shell rotation to assist the separating of offal from the edible portion.

z *The process of and apparatus for detaching the scallop from .t a 20 the first shell and completely separating the first shell may be as described and illustrated in Australian Patent Specification No. 25,507/84 (Serial No. 551,153).

In the method according to the invention, the axis of rotation preferably passes through the retained shell and most preferably passes through the general centre of the edible portion of the scallop.

The step of separating the offal may comprise severing the offal from the edible portion. Alternatively, the separating step may comprise directing a fluid stream at the second shell NT 3 so as to contact the offal and detach the offal from the edible portion.

In the case of the scallop having a mantle to be separated as offal and roe to be retained as part of the edible portion recovered, the method preferably further includes the step of holding the roe away from the mantle to be separated as offal while the second shell is rotated and the offal is separated.

The speed of rotaticn of the retained shell is preferably chosen so as to be sufficient for the offal to be thrown centrifugally away from the rotating second shell during the offal separating step so as to leave only the edible portion 0o 0 attached to the second shell.

The present invention further provides apparatus for mechanically processing a scallop having a first and a second shell for use in the recovery of an edible portion of the scallop, the apparatus comprising: holding means for holding the second shell having the edible portion and an offal portion attached thereto after complete separation of the first shell, rotating means for rotating the held second shell about an axis «t '6 extending transverse to the general plane of the second shell, and separating means for separating offal from the edible portion to be recovered while the second shell is being rotated about the axis at a speed of rotation of the second shell sufficient for the centrifugal force caused by the shell rotation to assist the separating of the offal from the edible I portion.

As in the case of the method, the axis of rotation of the second shell preferably passes through the second shell, and 1-RA

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Ie 11, most preferably through the general centre of the edible portion of the scallop.

In one possible embodiment of the apparatus, the holding means includes a suction applying head engageable with the outer surface of the second shell so as to hold the same against movement relative thereto, the area of engagement of the suction applying head being located directly behind the edible portion of the scallop attached to the inner surface of the second shell, the rotating means being operable to rotate the suction applying head about the axis extending through the general centre of the edible portion. In this particular arrangement of the holding means, it is preferred that the suction applying head and the second shell be movable relative to each other before engagement of the suction applying head with the outer surface of the second shiell. This will enable accurate engagement of the suction applying head directly behind the edible portion. Furthermore, to achieve this accurate engagement, the apparatus may further include edible portion locating means operable to optically scan the scallop to detect the position of the edible portion thereof, and control means responsive to the locating means and operable to control relative movement of the suction applying head and second shell during mutual engagement so as to achieve the accurate engagement of the suction applying head directly behind the edible portion.

The separating means in one embodiment may comprise severing means for severing offal from the edible portion while the second shell is rotated. In an alternative embodiment, the separating means may include means for directing a fluid stream 4

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at the inner surface of the second shell having the edible portion of the scallop attached thereto so that the fluid stream separates the offal from the edible portion. A suitable fluid stream may be a jet of pressurised air.

In an alternative embodiment, the holding means may comprise, instead of a suction applying head, clamping means for clamping peripheral portions of the second shell. For example, the clamping means may comprise a plurality of clamping jaws initially arranged to receive the second shell between the jaws, the jaws then being movable radially inwardly into clamping engagement with the shell periphery.

In the case where the scallop has a mantle to be separated o o as offal, and roe to be retained as part of the edible portion, the apparatus preferably includes means for holding the roe away 9 from the mantle to be separated as offal while the second shell crre is rotated and the mantle separated. The means for holding the roe may comprise a suction tube having an open mouth which is relatively movable into close proximity with the roe so as to 4draw the roe into or towards the mouth without tearing the roe from the scallop adductor muscle.

The apparatus preferably includes indexing means mounting the rotating means and for sequentially moving the second shell through an offal removal station at which the rotating means is a operable to rotate the second shell and the separating means is operable to separate the offal from the edible portion to be recovered, and through an edible portion recovery station where the edible portion is recovered from the second shell after the offal has been separated.

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#4 4 4 4 1 14 It In an alternative arrangement the holding means may be mounted so as to hold the second shell generally at one site, and in this arrangement the apparatus may further include an indexing means having mounted thereon so as -to be seq~uentially presentable at the site, a shell separating means for separating the other shell from the second shell, the separating means, and recovery means for recovering the edible portion from the second shell.

In the case where the severing means comprises a severing 10 blade, the blade slay be movable r:elative to the rotating second shell along a line arranged so that the offal is severed from the edible portion. In the case of the scallop, in which the edible portion -to be recovered comprises the adductor muscle, .:the severing blade would be arranged -to be relatively moved Atlong a line so as to just -touch the outer periphery of the adductor muscle. This line may be arranged at a small angle to the axis of rotation of the second shell to thereby ensure -that all the offal is remo,,.ed from the base of the edible portion adjacent to the inner surface of the second shell.

The rotating means is preferably operable to rotate the second shell at a speed chosen such that as the offal is separated from the edible portion to be recovered, the offal is thrown centrifugally away from the rotating second shell and edible portion., leaving only the edible portion attached to the second shell.

The apparatus preferably further includes recovering means for recovering the edible portion after offal separation, the recove~ring means preferably including a removal tool arranged to be passed beneath the edible portion along the inner surface of the second shell to which it is attached.

ij Possible and preferred features of the present invention will. now be described with partirular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a scallop being located for processing according to the present invention, Figure 2 shows one form of holding means, rotating means and separating means according to the invention, t I; Figure 3 and 4 show alternative possible separating means, Figure 5 shows a means for holding scallop roe away from the 'i mantle, U -Figure 6 shows one possible edible portion recovery means, Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a possible working configuration of apparatus according to the present invention, l Figure 8 shows one way of applying vacuum through the drive shaft of an air motor, )1 T 5 Figure 9 shows schematically an alternative offal separating means utilizing a fluid stream, Figure 10 shows schematically one form of edible portion recovery means, Figure 11 shows schematically a further possible working arrangement of apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, after *a bivalve shellfish (as illustrated being a scallop) is processed to detach the shellfish from a first shell and separation of the first shell from the second or retained shell 11, the retained shell 11 is passed to holding means 67. The detaching and separating of the first shell may be as described and illustrated in Australian Patent Specification No.25507/84 (Serial No.551153).

Referring to Figure 1, after separation of the shells *o the means 65 is operable to lay the retained shell 11 flat so that the general plane of the shell 11 is horizontal, preferably with the edible portion 20 on the upper face of the shell 11, although it is envisaged that it may be possible to carry out the subsequent steps with the edible portion depending from the lower surface of the laid flat shell 11. The apparatus c includes holding means 67 for holding the retained shell 11. I Figure 2 the holding means 67 includes a support base 68 located on a rotary processing table 69 arranged to receive thereon the laid flat shell 11. A gripping tool 66 is mounted on a rotary head 70 which is operable to rotate to as to transfer the shell 11 to the rotary processing table 69, the gripping tool 66 being arranged to lay the shell 11 flat on the support base 68.

S, After or during rotation of the head 70 the gripping tool 66 may be operable to both extend from the retracted position 66a (Figl) and to rotate about its line of extension so as to turn the shell 11 with the inner surface and edible portion 20 facing upward. The rotary head 70 may be intermittently driven so as i to stop when the gripping tool 66 is holding the shell 11 immediately above the support base 68 on the processing table 69, the grippingj tool 6 being operable to release the shell 11 in that position and retract from the processing table 69.

As shown in Figure l,.the rotary head 70 mounting the gripping 39 tool 66 is provided with one or more further gripping tools 66a so that as the retained shell 11 is being transferred to DG 6the processing table 69 the further gripping tool 66a is being located so as to grip the retained shell of a subsequent shellfish being processed.

The holding means 67 for retaining shell 11 against movement is operable to clamp the periphery 15 of the shell 11.

For this purpose, the holding means 67 as seen in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a plurality of clamping jaws 72 initially arranged (Figure 1) to receive the shell 11 between the jaws 72, the jaws then being movable radially inwardly into clamping engagement with the shell periphery 15. As shown, the shell can be held by three clamping jaws 72, although more clamping points can be provided if desired. For the case of scallops, as shown in Figure i, the clamping points can be constituted s, by the two concave regions of the shell periphery 15 located between the wing-like projections on each side of the hinge 14 and the fan-shaped periphery of the major part of the shell t re

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C 39 6a 11, the remaining third clamping point being at the top centre of the fan-shaped major portion of the body of the shell 11, i.o.

generally diametrically opposite the centre of the hinge region 14. As shown in Figure 2, the clamping jaws 72 are arranged on flexible clamping arms 73 which extend downwardly beneath the shell 11. The three arms converge to enter within a clamping sleeve 74 which is selectively vertically movable to clamp and unclamp the shell 11. That is, the three flexible arms 73 are initially located radially outwardly beyond the periphery 15 of the shell 11 and then the clamping sleeve 74 is moved upwardly so as to draw the three arms 73 radially inwardly to engage and clamp the shell. It is at this point that the gripping tool 66 may be arranged to release the shell 11 and retract back to the rotary head 70 on which it is mounted.

The process of the invention also includes rotating the S, retained shell 11 while holding the same, the rotation being about an axis transverse to the general plane of the retained "shell 11, and while rotating the retained shell 11, separating S the offal 25 from the edible pcrtion 20 to be recovered. The axis 80 (Figure 2) about which rotation occurs extends through the shell 11 and through the general centre of the edible portion substantially at right angles to the general plane of the shell. For carrying out this part of the method, the apparatus includes rotating means 85 for rotating shell 11 about the axis 80 and separating means 90 for separating offal 25 from the edible portion 20 to be recovered while the shell 11 is being Srotated.

During the rotation and offal separation, if roe 26 (Figure 5) is to be retained as part of the edible portion the roe 26 is preferably held away from the mantle 25 to be rc separated as offal while the shell 11 is rotated and the offal is separated. In the case of scallop processing in which

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the flatter shell 11 is retained, the roe 26 will be at the top and may be lifted away from the remainder of the mantle 25 and held generally above the adductor muscle 20. As shown in Figure the apparatus includes means 86 for lifting and holding the roe 26. The holding means 86 comprises a suction tube 87 which is movable into close proximity with the roe 26 so as to draw the roe 39 roe into or towards the mouth of the suction tube 87 without DG-7-

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1 tearing the roe from the scallop adductor muscle 20. The suction tube 87 may be arranged directly above the general centre of the roe 26 which is located to one side of the axis (Figure 2) running through the adductor minuscle 20. Alternatively, the suction tube 87 may be located on the central axis of the adductor muscle 20 so as to draw the roe 26 inwardly towards that axis 80 and upwardly into the mouth of the tube 87,.

In the case of a tube 87 located coaxially with the axis 80 of the adductor muscle 20, the lower end portion of the tube 87 may be rotatable about the axis of the remainder of the tube so as to avoid the possibility of the roe 26 becoming twisted and tearing away from the remainder of the edible portion 20 as the shell 11 is rotated. Alternatively, the tube 87 may be rotated together with the shell 11 at the same speed of rotation to avoid roe twisting. However, in the case where the lower end portion of the tube 87 is rotatable relative to the remainder S of the tube, rotation of the entire suction tube assembly is not necessary, since the lower end portion having the roe 26 drawn into the mouth will rotate with the shell 11 and with he edible portion 20 including the roe 26, thereby obviating e possibility of roe twisting. It will be appreciated, however, that as an alternative to the use of a suction tube 87, the roe may be lifted and held during separation of the offal by pinching and lifting the roe 26 away from the remainder of the mantle 25 to be removed as offal.

Returning now to the rotation of the shell 11, in the case of scallops, the rotation axis 80 is desirably the line running through the centre of the large adductor muscle 20 and at right angles to the general plane of the shell 11. For scallops, the ge adductor muscle 20 has been found to be consistently located with its axis running through a point located a little towards the hinge region 14 from the geometric centre of the shell 11 and displaced a little to the right of the centre line through the hinge region 14 (looking down on the inner surface of the flatter darker coloured shell 11). Thus, the rotation axis can be generally known in advance, provided the retained shell 11 is always a predetermined particular one of the two shells 11,12.

39 The holding means 67 includes support base 68 on which -8the shell 11 is located and held, and the rotating means 85 is operable to rotate the support base 68 and the holding means 67 about the axis 80. In Figures 1 and 6, the apparatus includes indexing means 91 comprised by the rotary processing table 69 and for relatively moving the shell 11 through a series of operating stations including an offal removal station where the rotating means 85 is operable to rotate the shell 11 as shown in Figures 2 and 5 and the separation means 90 is operable to separate the offal 25 from the edible portion 20 to be recovered. The method also includes recovering of the edible portion 20 attached to the retained shell 11 after separating the offal 25. Therefore, the indexing means 91 is also operable to move the shell 11 through an edible portion recovery station (Figure 6) where the edible portion 20 is recovered from the shell 11 after offal separation. In particular, in Figures 1 and 6, the holding means 67 includes support base 68 on which the shell 11 is laid and held, and the rotary processing table 69 is movable so that the shell 11 is sequentially moved through a series of the operating stations, including a loading station ,20, at which the shell 11 is laid on the support base 68 (as shown in Figure the offal removal station where the operations shown in Figures 2 to 5 are carried out, and the edible portion recove-y station to be described in relation to Figure 6. The processing table 69 includes at least one further support base S* 68 (not shown) so that as the table 69 is rotated to advance the support base 68 to one of the operating stations, the further support base is being advanced to a different one of 4 the operating stations.

?I The step of separating the offal 25 in one embodiment I f (Figures 2 to 5) comprises severing the offal 25 from the edible portion 20. For this purpose, the separating means 90 of the apparatus comprises severing means 91 for severing the offal from the edible portion 20 while the shell 11 is rotated.

The severing means 91 in Figures 2 and 5 comprises a severing blade 92 which is movable relative to the rotating shell 11 along the line 93 arranged such that the offal 25 is cut from the edible portion 20. In the case of scallop processing, the severing blade 92 is arranged to be moved along the line 93 39 so as just to touch the outer periphery of the adductor muscle.

-9- The line 93 is arranged at a small angle to the axis 80 to ensure that all the offal 25 is removed from the base of the edible portion 20 adjacent to the inner surface of the shell 11.

The blade 92 is preferably relatively stiff.

The rotational speed of the shell 11 is preferably sufficient for the offal 25 to be thrown centrifugally away from the shell 11 during the offal separation so as to leave only the edible portion 20 attached to the shell 11. It has been found that a rotational speed of 200 to 300 rpm is suitable for offal removal using the knife blade 92 with scallops from Northern Australian waters. The severing blade 92, of course, need not be rotating around the muscle axis but may move downwardly to contact the shell upper surface from a stationary mounting above the processing table 69. In the Scase of scallops where the roe 26 is being held above the adductor muscle 20, the severing blade 92 may remove a small S portion of the roe 26 radially outwardly of the uppermost ;I part of the adductor muscle 20 (Figure This loss of edible c material is not believed to be significant. The blade 92 is d E2 preferably extended to its furthest extent in contact with the upper surface of shell 11 for several revolutions of the shell ll.

As an alternative to a single severing blade 92, Figures j% 3 and 4 show rotary severing heads 94 having cutting edges on their outer pcripheries. The rotary heads 94 would be arranged to be lowered to the upper surface of the shell 11 .or while the shell 11 is rotated. The cutting edges of the heads 94 would be arranged to just touch the edible portion 20 as the shell 11 is rotated so that the offal 25 is engaged by the 131J cutting edges and is severed from the edible portion 20 and C. St thrown centrifugally away from the rotating shell 11.

As an alternative to use of severing means 91 for separating the offal 25, Figure 9, schematically illustrate3 a method of separating the offal comprising directing a fluid stream at. the shell 11 so as to contact the offal 25 and detach the offal 25 from the edible portion 20. The fluid stream may comprise a jet of pressurised air directed at the inner surface of the shell 11. As shown in Figure 9, the means for directing 39 the fluid stream at the shell 11 may comprise a nozzle 98 r

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arranged to be supplied with pressurised fluid, preferably only while the shell 11 is being rotated at the offal removal station. The fluid stream is preferably directed at the shell 11 for at least several revolutions of the shell.

After separation of the offal 25, the edible portion is recovered by passing a removal tool 100 (Figures 6 and beneath the edible portion 20 along the inner surface of the shell 11. The removal tool 100 comprises a cutting blade 101 which is selectively movable from a retracted position to an advanced position, the cutting blade 101 in moving to the advanced position passing along the inner surface of the shell 11 and beneath the edible porition 20 to thereby cut that portion 20 from the shell 11. In Figure 6 the cutting blade 101 is a rotary blade and is carried out after the processing S* table 69 is advanced to a recovery station where the rotary removal blade 101 is located and enabling subsequIent shellfish to be processed at the offal removal station. In the case C where the roe 26 was held lifted during the offal removal t tV uv process, the roe lifting means 86 may be disengaged to release 2 0 the roe 26 before the processing table 69 advances the shell 11 to the edible portion recovery station. Alternatively, the vacuum supplied to the suction tube 87 may be maintained, thereby holding the edible portion 20 suspended for subsequent release, say down a chute after rotation of the table 69 to carry away the shell 11. Also, of course, the rotation of the shell 11 would be stopped before recovery of the edible portion 20. In Figure 10 the blade is shown as a generally wedge-shaped blade 101, preferably having a relatively flexible tip so as to follow the inner surface of the shell 11 in S0O cutting of the edible portion 20 from the shell 11. Figure also shows the recovering means including a suction head 102 operable to be applied to the edible portion 20 during passage of the removal tool 100 beneath the edible portion 20 whereby the suction head 102 will hold and enable recovery of the edible portion 20 following complete removal of the portion from the shell 11.

After recovery of the edible portion 20, the shell 11 can be discarded. For this purpose, the processing table 39 69 can be advanced to locate the shell at a further station -11- 6m-, I ni

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7 where the holding means 67 is released and the shell 11 can be ejected or pushed from the processing table 69 and discarded. After discarding of the shell 11, the support base 68 is then free for advancement to the position in which a subsequent shellfish can be placed on the support base 68 and clamped for processing as shown in Figure 1.

Turning now to Figure 7, the shellfish 10 in this further arrangement can be advanced by conveyor belt 31 past edible portion locating means 110 operable to optically scan the shellfish 10 to detect the position of the edible portion thereof. This system can be used in place of relying on the edible portion being always consistently located in a particular position relative to the general shell configuration.

In the case of scallop processing, the shells when clean are translucent and the position of the adductor muscle can be •e seen when a relatively strong light is placed behind the 0ee shellfish. Therefore, the locating means 110 includes a radiation source 110 and an electronic optical scanning means 112 and having associated processing circuitry operable to determine the exact position of the adductor muscle in the see0 shellfish The shellfish 10 then pass to the processing apparatus arranged on table 115. In this arrangement, the o means 13 for parting the two shells includes a suction cup 44 engageable with the detached shell, the suction cup 44 being mounted on the end of a double-acting air ram 116. The air Sram is selectively operable to engage the suction cup 44 with the outer surface of the detached shell (12) and is operable to retract the suction cup 44 after application of vacuum to that cup 44 to thereby part the two shells. The means for detaching the edible portion from the detached shell 12 may be generally the same as described in specification 25507/84, the detaching means not being illustrated in Figure 7 but being mounted above table 115. The air ram 116 is operable to further retract the suction cup 114 after detachment of the adductor muscle 20 from the detached shell 12 to thereby affect separation of the two shells 11, i2.

As shown in Figure 7, the air ram 116 is mounted 39 on a rotary support 117 selectively drivable through shaft 118 -12so as to carry away from the belt 31 the detached shell 12, preferably to the position where the second air ram 116a is shown holding shell 12 beyond the edge of table 115. In this position the ram 116a is preferably operable to drop the shell 12 by discontinuing application of vacuum to the suction cup 44. This can be achieved under time control but, as shown in Figure 7, this can also be achieved by position responsive control means illustrated as a control valve 119 located in the vacuum line 120 to suction cup 44a. The valve 119 is operated by a plunger 121 which is normally extending downwardly below the bottom of the valve body 119 and, in this position, allows application Df vacuum through line 120 to the cup 44a. However, the table 115 is provided with a cam track 122 up which the plunger rides when the rotary support 117 carries the ram l16a to the position shown in Figure 7. When Sthe plunger 121 rides up the cam track 122 the suction cup S; 44a is opened to atmosphere through valve 119 so that the S shell 12 will be dropped. It will be appreciated, however, that a single air ram 116 need only be provided, the ram 116 iI G being mouunted on table 115 and being operable to retract the detached shell 12 sufficiently far from the belt 31 to enable dropping of the shell 12 into a discharge chute or the like.

2 As an alternative to use of a valve 119 controlled by plunger 121 and cam 122, the valve 119 may be operated to selectively apply and disconnect a vacuum source to suction cup 44a by means of a timer. In this case the valve 119 can be electrically operated under timer control. The timer may conveniently be provided by or associated with a suitably te' programmed sequence controlling microprocessor.

*t(1 In Figure 7, the holding means for the retained shell 11 including a suction applying head 41 engageable with the outer surface of the retained shell 11 so as to hold the i same against movement relative thereto, the rotating means it being operable to rotate the suction head 41. The rotating means 85 in Figure 7 is shown as an air motor 125 although other suitable rotating means could be used if desired.

The area of engagement of the head 41 with the outer surface of 39 the shell 11 on belt 31 is preferably located directly behind DG -13-

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the edible portion 20 of the shellfish attached to the inner surface of the shell 11. With this arrangement the rotating means 85 would be operable to rotate the suction applying head 41 about the axis extending through the general centre of the edible portion 20 to achieve this placement of the suction applying head 41 relative to the shell 11, the head 41 and the retained shell 11 are movable relative to each other before engagement of the head 41 with the outer surface I 44:4:4 4: r 4: I c zr2 *e 4: 4 4: 4 4: 4: 4: 4: 4:4 C3 0 4:"3 .4:4 -13Aof the shell 11 thereby enabling accurate engagement of the suction-applying head directly behind the edible portion This relative movement of the head 41 and shell 11 can be achieved as shown in Figure 7 by selective control of the longitudinal movement of belt 31 and by selective control of the relative vertical position of the return point 126 of belt 31. To achieve the control there may be provided control means 127 which may be microprocessor c:ontrolled and which is responsive to the locating means 110 and operable to control both longitudinal movement of the belt 31 and vertical movement through selectively controllable lifting means 128, whereby enabling accurate engagement of the suction applying head 41 dic'ectly behind the edible portion The rotating means 85 comprises an air motor 125 t having a rotatable shaft 130 therethrough, the suction applying head 41 being mounted on a forward end of the shaft 130.

Z- Referring to Figure 8, the shaft 130 of the air motor 125 has a bore 131 therethrough, one end of the bore opening at the S'"r suction applying head 41 and the other end 132 being in ,2P sealed fluid communiction with a line 133 leading to a vacuum source (not shown). With this arrangement, the air motor can be operated to rotate the head 41 and the shell 11 held thereby, while at the same time allowing vacuum to be applied through the air motor shaft to the head 41.

Returning to Figure 7, the air motor 125 is shown mounted on an indexing means 91 shown as a rotary support 135 movable by means of drive shaft 136. The support 135 is operable to sequentially move the retained shell 11 through an offal removal station (say where air motor 125a is shown S '30 located) at which the air motor 125 i.3 operable to rotate jthe shell 11 and the separating means is operable to separate the offal 25 from the edible portion 20 to be recovered, and through an edible portion recovery station (say where air motor 125b is shown located) where the edible portion 20 of the! shellfish is recovered from the shell 11. After this, the indexing means 91 may move the air motor to a shell discarding station (say where air motor 125c is located) and at which the vacuum supply to the head 41 can be discontinued so as to 39 enable dropping of the shell 11. The offal separating means DG -14and edible portion recovery means located around the table 115 are not shown but can be substantially as described earlier for other embodiments of the invention.

Figure 11 illustrates schematically a further pcssible arrangement of the apparatus of the invention in which the rotating means 85 again comprises an air motor 125 which is mounted so as to hold the retained shell 11 generally at onc site. In this Figure, the apparatus further includes an indexing means 140 having mounted thereon, so as to be sequentially presentable at the site, firstly a detached shell separating means for separating the detached shell 12 from the retained shell 11, secondly the separating means 90 and thirdly recovery means 142 for recovering the edible portion 20 from the retained shell 11. The separating means 141 may be an air ram having a suction head on the forward end as described earlier. Similarly, the separating means 90 may be as earlier described arid the recovery means 142 may include a suction device of the kind shown *0 by the numeral 102 in Figure 10 while the blade 101 may be rC, ,mounted above the site where the air motor 125 is located so as i E P to h-e movable to cut the edible portion 20 from the shell 11 during the recovery operation.

Throughout the description of the method and apparatus with reference to the drawings, air operated motors and air rams L *have been referred to and, of course, these would be supplied 'L with compressed air through a suitable pneumatic circuit.

However, it will be appreciated that hydraulic motors and hydraulic rams, or electric motors, may be used as alternatives and the invention is not limited to use of pneumatics.

It will be seen that the preferred method and apparatus S«3cQ for processing shellfish as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings is suitable for automatic processing of shellfish, particularly scallops. The process may be carried out on board a fishing boat so that the edible portion can be chilled or frozen on board shortly after harvesting, thus both reducing the refrigeration capacity needed compared to refrigeration of the entire shellfish, and also ensuring that the shellfish are quite fresh when they reach port. Of course, the process and apparatus could also be used on shore in a processing plant.

39 The illustrated embodiments show complete DG S separation of offal from the edible portion to be recovered and from the second or retained shell, however it is possible to separate the offal from the edible portion while leaving the offal attached to the retained shell thus enabling removal of edible portion and leaving the offal attached to the retained shell to be discarded together.

The speed of rotation of the retained shell during separation of offal from the edible portion is particularly described as being sufficient for centrifugal force to assist the separation, although this is not essential to the invention.

In particular slow rotation of the retained shell while separating offal from around the edible portion is possible, for example to prevent undesirable separation of roe from the S adductor muscle.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the steps and to the construction and arrangement of parts as herein described without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

39 DG 16 spee f. r t i of t s du i seaainoafa rmteeil oto spriual ba decie sbigsfiinSo etiua oc oass ialy ti t eudesod htv30u lertos I s 9 oiiatosadoradtos a em3et9h tesadt DG 16

Claims

1. A method of mechanically processing a scallop having a first and second shell for use in the recovery of an edible portion of the scallop, the method comprising the steps of: detaching the scallop from said first shell so as to thereby release the scallop applied force holding the two shells together so as to substantially reduce the force required for complete separation of the two shells, separating the two shells completely leaving an edible portion and an offal portion of the scallop attached to said second shell, holding said second shell and, while holding the second shell, rotating the second shell about an axis transverse to the general plane of the second shell, and 9 0ai while rotating the second shell, separating offal from the o edible portion 'o be recovered, the speed of rotation of the second shell being sufficient for the centrifugal force caused by the shell rotation to assist the separating of offal from the 0 edible portion. S 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the axis of rotation passes through the second shell.

2

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the axis of rotation 9 of the second shell passes thiough the general centre of the edible portion of the scallop attached to the second shell.

4. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the step of separating offal comprises severing offal from the edible portion.

A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said step of separating offal comprises directing a fluid stream at the second shell so as to contact the offal and detach the offal from the edible portion. mi

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said fluid stream comprises a jet of pressurised air directed at the inner surface of the second shell,

7. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said step of holding the second shell comprises clamping the periphery of the second shell against movement.

8. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said step of holding the second shell comprises applying suction through a suction applying head engaged with the outer surface of the second shell. S

9. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the T111 t I scallop has a mantle to be separated as offal and roe to be 11111 retained as part of the edible portion recovered, the method r it 1441 S further including the step of holding the roe away from the grit mantle to be separated as offal while the second shell is rotated and the offal is separated.

10. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the f 4 S" speed of rotation of the second shell is sufficient for the offal to be thrown centrifugally away from the rotating second r 4444 20 shell during the offal separating step so as to leave only the 4 edible portion attached to the second shell. 44 #4 e4

11. Apparatus for mechanically processing a scallop having a 4 4 1 first and a second shell for use in the recovery of an edible portion of the scallop, the apparatus comprising: holding means for holding the second shell having the edible portion and an offal portion attached thereto after complete separation of the first shell, rotating means for rotating the held second shell about an axis extending transverse to the general plane of the V .4 .9 .99 9 9, .9 0 9 .9 second shell, and separating means for separating offal from the edible portion to be recovered while the second shell is being rotated about said axis at a speed of rotation of the second shell sufficient for -the centrifugal force caused by the shell rotation -to assist the separating of the offal from the edible portion.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said axis passes through said second shell.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said axis extends through the general centre of the edible portion of the scallop.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the holding means includes a suction applying head engageable with the outer ,,surface of the second shell so as -to hold the sl-me against movement relative to the head, -the area of engagement being located directly behind the edible portion of the scallop attached to the inner surface of -the second shell, the rotating Smeans being operable to rotate the suction applying ead about said axis extending through the general centre of the edible Vt portion. 2n)

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the suction applying head and second shell are movable relative to each other betrre engagement of the suction applying head with -the outer surface of the second shell so as to enable accurate engagement of the suction applying head directly behind the edible portion.

16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 a 'further including edible portion locating means operable to optically scan the scallop to detect the position of the edible portion thereof, and control means responsive to the locating means and operable .9 9 9' I It *9 919 t It I '7 to control relative movement of the suction applying head and second shell during mutual engagement so as to achieve accurate engagement of the suction applying head directly behind the edible portion.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 16 wherein said separating means comprises severing means for severing offal from the edible portion while the second shell is rotated.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 16 wherein said separating means includes means for directing a fluid stream at the inner surface of the second shell having the r t edible portion of the scallop attached thereto so that the fluid stream separates offal from the edible portion. t

19. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 18 wherein th, fluid stream t f, comprises a jet of pressurised air.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 and further including receiving means for receiving said second shell after separation of the other shell, the receiving means I including a gripping tool operable to grip the peripheral edge It of the second shell from which the other shell is separated, the a I gripping tool being operable to pass the second shell to the fI holding means. q

21. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 and further including receiving means for receiving said second shell after separation of the other shell, the receiving means being operable to lay the second shell flat so that the general I! plane of the shell is horizontal, the holding means including a support base located on a rotary processing table and operable to receive thereon the laid flat second shell. 3* S..0 2 0 i\

22. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 wherein the receiving means includes a gripping tool operable to grip the peripheral edge of the second shell ec that after separation of the other shell the second shell is carried by the gripping tool, the gripping tool being mounted on a rotary head which is operable to rotate so as to transfer the second shell to the rotary processing table, the gripping tool being arranged to lay the second shell flat on said support base.

23. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 22 wherein the rotary head is intermittently driven so as to stop when the gripping tool is holding the second shell immediately above the support base on the processing table, the gripping tool being operable to release the second shell in that position and retract from the pi processing table.

24. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 22 or 23 wherein the rotary head mounting the gripping tool is provided with one or more further gripping tools so that as the second shell is being Stransferred to the processing table, a said further gripping tool is being located so as to grip the second shell of a subsequent scallop being processed.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 or 20 to 24 wherein the holding means comprises clamping means for 4* 4 clamping peripheral portions of the second shell.

26. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 25 wherein the clamping means comprises a plurality of clamping jaws initially arranged to receive the second shell between the jaws, the jaws then being movable radially inwardly into clamping engagement with the shell periphery. y21 c t"00

27. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 26 wherein the scallop has a mantle to be separated as offal and roe to be retained as part of the edible portion, the apparatus including means for holding the roe away from the mantle to be separated as offal while the second shell is rotated and the mantle separated.

28. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 27 wherein the means for holding the roe comprises a suction tube having an open mouth which is relatively movable into close proximity with the roe so 10 as to draw the roe into or towards the mouth without tearing the a o roe from the scallop adductor muscle.

29. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 wherein o the holding means includes a support base on which the second o c^ shell is located and held, the rotating means being operable to rotate the support base and the holding means about said axis.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 wherein the holding means includes a suction applying head engageable S with the outer surface of the secoA.d shell so as to hold the 0 40 S. same against movement relative thereto and the rotating means is operable to rotate the suction head about said axis so as to 0 rotate the second shell held thereby.

31. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 30 wherein the rotating means comprises a motor having a rotatable shaft having the suction applying head mounted on a forward end of the shaft.

32. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 31 wherein said shaft has a j bore therethrough, one end of the bore opening at said suction applying head and the other end being in sealed fluid communication with a line leading to a vacuum source. E r7i__ i- I~li~L~C- .4 4 #4 4, 4., *1 44 4

33. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 31 or 32 wherein said motor is mounted on an indexing means for sequentially moving the shell through an offal removal station at which the motor is operable to rotate the second shell and the separating means is operable to separate the offal .om the edible portion to be recovered, and through an edible portion recovery station where the edible portion of the scallop is recovered from the second shell after the offal has been separated.

34. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 31 or 32 wherein said motor is 10 mounted so as to hold the second shell generally at one site, said apparatus further including an indexing means having *6 *4@ mounted thereon so as to be sequentially presentable at said i'* site a shell separating means for separating the other shell from the second shell, said separating means, and recovery means for recovering the edible portion from the second shell.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 19 and Sfurther including indexing means for relatively moving the Ssecond shell through a series of operating stations including an Soffal removal station where the rotating means is operable to 2M rotate the second shell and the separating means is operable to separate the offal from the edible portion to be recovered, and through an edible portion recovery station where the edible portion of tl, scallop is recovered from the second shell after the offal has been separated.

36. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 35 wherein the holding means includes a support base on which the second shell is laid and held, the support base being located on a rotary processing table constituting said indexing means, the rotary processing table being movable so that the second shell is sequentially .4 4-I *I I: J :B moved through a series of said operating stations including a loading station at which the second shell is laid on the support base, said offal removal station and said edible portion recovery station, the rotary processing table including at least one further said support base so that as the processing table is rotated to advance said support base to one of said operating stations, said further support base is being advanced to a different one of said operating stations.

37. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 or any claim appended thereto wherein said severing means comprises a severing blade which is movable relative to the rotating second shell along a line arranged so that the offal is severed from the edible Sportion. get

38. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 37 wherein the edible portion to be recovered comprises the scallop adductor muscle, said to be recovered comprises the scallop adductor muscle, said it II Id I~ e severing blade being arranged to be relatively moved along said line so as to just touch the outer periphery of the adductor muscle.

39. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 38 wherein said line is arranged at a small angle to the axis of rotation of the second shell to thereby ensure that all the offal is removed from the base of the edible portion adjacent to the inner surface of the second shell.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 39 wherein the rotating means is operable to rotate the second shell at a rotational speed chosen such that as the offal is separated from the edible portion to be recovered, the offal is thrown centrifugally away from the rotating second shell and edible portion leaving only the edible portion attached to the second shell.

41. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 40 and further including recovering means for recovering the edible portion after offal separation, the recovering means including a removal tool arranged to be passed beneath the edible portion along the inner surface of the second shell to which it is attached.

42. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 41 wherein the removal tool comprises a cutting blade which is selectively movable from a retracted position to an advanced position, the cutting blade in moving to the advanced position passing along the inner surface S of the second shell beneath the edible portion to thereby cut Sthat portion from the second shell.

43. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 41 or 42 wherein said recovering means further includes a suction head operable to be applied to the edible portion during passage of the removal tool beneath the edible portion whereby the suction head will hold and enable recovery of the edible portion following complete S 20 removal of the edible portion from the second shell.

44. An edible potion of a scallop when recovered by use of a method or apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim. Dated this 20th day of October, 1989 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for SASAKAT PTY LTD I-,