Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~L~3~3
This invention relates to a method o~ shucking
scallo~s and an apparatus therefor.
United States Patent No. 3159 4, ~60 (Nelson et al~
dated July 27, 1971, discloses a method o~ mechanically
shucking and eviscerating bivalve mollusks t particularly
scallop.s, in a continuous process. A burner severs one
half-shell from the blvalve muscle, gaping the shell~ The
two half-shells are then ph~sically separated and the re-
maining half-shell, with the muscle and viscera attachea,
is inverted in a water bath. Water jets strike the flesh,
loosening the viscera from the muscle and the shell. A
suction pump ingests the viscera in a steadil~ flowing
stream of water, thoroughly eviscerating the bivalve.
Another burner then severs the muscle from -the remaining
half-shell.
~hile the process of Nelson et al is a useful
contribution -to the ar-t, the burners partiall~ cook the meat
before the muscle is separated from -the shell.
There is a need for a method and appar~tus for
shucking scallops wherein the scallops are shucked while
alive and before sand becomes entrapped when -the muscle
goes into rigor mortis~ . .!
According ~o the present invention there is
provided a me~hod of shucklng scallops, comprisincs:
a) placing unshucked scallops on scallop cradles
distributed along the length of, and attached to,
a moving endless flexible member, with -the hinged
portion of the shell of each of the scallops over-
hanging one side of the cradle on which it is
placed and an edge portion of the shell, opposing
the hinged portion, overhanyiny the other side of
~hat cradle,
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b) clamping a central portion of each unshucked
scallop while that scallop passes a saw cutting
position,
c) making two parallel saw cuts to each of -the
clamped, unshucked scallops to cut and remove
the overhan~ing portions thereof from the re-
mainder and expose the shell interiorr then
d) clamping, by fingers entering the exposed shell
interior, only the bottom, sawn shell of each
1~ scallop to the cradle it is on prior to and
while that scallop is invertedr with muscle
thereon, on a second side o the loop of the
endless flexible member, then,
e) directing a high pressure, pencil, water jet
into the shell interior, and towards what was
the hinged side of the scallop, to sever muscle
of that scallop from the unclamped, sc~llop
top shell and allow the unclamped, scallop
-~p ~ell thus detached to fall away and ex-
pose the eviscera and roe, then
fl directing a 5eries of low pressure fan jets
of water at the viscera and roe to detach and
remove -~ e viscera and roe and expose the
muscle, then
g) directing a high pressure fan jet of water at the
clamped shell, which substantiall~ conforms to the
interior curvature of the shell, to sever and re-
move the exposed muscle from the shell, then
h) unclamping the bottom, sawn shell o:E the scallop
from the cradle to which it was clamped to a].low
that bottom, sawn shell to fall away from that
cradle.
.3~3
In some embodiments of the present invention
the scallops are conveyed by the scallop cradles on the
endless flexible member passed two, rotatingj circular
saw blades comprising the two parallel saw blades.
In other embodiments of the present invention
the central portion of each unshucked scallop is clamped
to the cradle therefor by means of an endless flexible
member resiliently urged against the scallops and com-
prising the clamping means.
In yet other embodiments of the present inventi~n
the unshucked scallops are placed on a concave surface of
the cradles provided with a soft, skid-proo coating.
Fur~er, according to the present invention
there is provided a scallop shucking apparatus, comprising:
al an endless flexible member,
b) scallop cradles distributéd along the length of
~ e endless flexible member, and a-ttached thereto,
Eor each receiving an unshucked scallop ~hereon
with a hLnged portIon o~ the shell thereo~ over-
hanging one side of the cradle on which it is
placed and an edge portion of the shell, opposing
the hinged portion, overhanging the other side of
that cradle,
c) mounting means around which the endless flexible
me~ber is looped so that each of the cradles on
a first, side of the loop faces upwardly for
receiving the scallop -thereon,
d~ driving means for driving the endless flexible
member around the mounting means,
e) clampiny means for clamping a central portion of
each unshucked scallop to the cradle theref~r
only while tha-t scallop passes a sat`~ c-lt~iny position,
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f) two ~rivable parallel, saw blades at the sca].lop cutting
osition for cutting a~d removing the overhancJing
portions of each scallop shell ~rom the remainder
and exposing the shell interior,
g) clamping fingers for entering opposi-te sides of
the scallop and clamping only the bottom, sawn shell
of each scallop to the cradle it is on prior to and
while that scallop is inverted on a second side
of the loop of the endless flexible member, ~nd,
in the direction for movement of the endless
flexible member,
h) a wa~er jet nozzle for connection to a source o~
high pressure water for directing a pencil jet
of high pressure water into the shell interior,
and towards what was the hinged side of the
scallop, to sever muscle of that scallop from
the unclamped, scallop top shell and allow the
unclamped, scall.op top shell thus detached to
fall away and expose the viscera and roe, followed
by
i) a series of low pressure fan jets nozzles for
connection to a source of low pressure water for
directing a series of low pressure fan jets for
detaching and removing the viscera and roe, and
exposiny the muscle and then
j) a high pressure fan jet nozzle for connection to
a high pressure water source for dlrecting a
high pressure fan jet which substantially ~onforms
to the interior curvature of the shell for severing
and removing the exposed muscle from the shell.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate,
by way of example, an embodiment of the present inven~ion:
~3~
.Fi~uxe 1 is a daigra~natic side view of a
scallop shucking apparatus,
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic end view along
II-II, Figure l, with an end portion of a cam track
removed to expose an endless coveyor and the drlve removed,
Pigure 3 is an enlarged end view of a scallop
crad'e and a clamping means shown in Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a plan view of the clamping means
sho~n in Figure 3 with the scallop cradle removed.
Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown
a scallop shucking apparatus, comprising:
a) an endless flexible in the form of an endless
chain 1 J
b) twentynine scallop cradles, some of whi.ch are shown and
designated 2, distributed along the length of
the endless chain 1, and attached thereto by sup-
ports, some of which are shown and designated 4,
for each receiving an unshucked scallop, such as
scallops designated 6 J thereon with a hinged portion
designated 8 (Figure 2) of the shell thereof over-
hanging one side of the cradle 2 on which it is
placed and an edge portion of the shell designated
10 (Figure 2), opposing the hinged portion, over~
hanging the other side of that cradle 2,
c) mounting means, in the form of sprockets 12 and
14, around which the endless chain l is looped so
that each of the cradles 2 on a first side 16
(Figure l) of the loop :Eaces upwardly for receivin~
the scallop such as 6 thereon,
d) driving means, in the :Eorm of an electric motor 17, belt
drive 18 and reduction gear l9 for dxiving the endless
chain l around the sprockets 12 and 14,
e) clamping means, generally designated 20, for clamping
a central port.ion of each unshucked 5callop, such
5 -
as 6, -to the craclle 2 therefor only while that
scallop, such as 6, passes a saw cutting position,
f) .wo drivable parallel, saw blades 22, 24 (Fiyure 2) at
~he scallop cutting position for cu-tting and removing
the overhanging portions of each scallop shell from
the remainder and exposing the shell intexior 25,
g) clamping fingers 26 to 28 (Figures 2 to 4) for entering
opposite sides of the scallop, such as 6, and for
clamping only the bottorn, sawn shell, such as 30,
of each scal.lop, such as 6, to the cradle 2 it is
on prior to and while that scallop 6 is inverted
on a second side 32 of the loop of the endless
1exible member 1, and in the direction for move-
ment of the endless flexible mem.ber 1,
h) a water ~et nozzl.e 34 for connection to a source
~ot show~ of high pressure water for directing a
pencil jet 36 o hiyh pressure water into the shell
interior 25, and towards what was the hinyed side
8 of the scallop 6 to sever muscle of that scallop 6
from the unclamped, sca.llop top shell 38 and allow the
unclamped, scallop top shell 38 -thus de-tached to
fall away and expose the viscera and roe, followed by
i) a ser.ies of three low pressure fan jet nozzles 40 to 42
for connection to a source of low pressure water
(not shown) for directing a series of low pressure
fan ~ets 44 to 46 for detaching and removing the viscera
and roe, and exposing the muscle and then
j) a high pressure fan jet nozzle 48 for connection to
a high pressure wa-ter source (not shown) for direc-ting
a hiyh pressure fan jet 50 which subs-tantially conforms
to the interior curvature of the shell 30 for severing
and remo~iny the exposed muscle frorn the shell, such
as 30.
~; _
The concave surfaces of the cradle 2 are coa tec~ .
with a liquid, rubber~like material sold under the trade
- name S-retch-Tex by Coverall Rubber Procluc-ts Limi-te.d,
Halif a~, ~ova Scotis, Canada, to prov.ide a sof t, skid-proof
coating 51 (Figure 3) for the scallop 6 .
The sprockets 12 and 14 are rotatably moun~ed
in a casing 52 ~shown dashed) on a stand 54. The'casing
52 i5 open along the upper portion 56 and around the in-
wardly curving portion 58 in order to expose'the cradle 2
for scallops -to be placed on them
The electric motor 17 is mounted on the casing 52
~nd is coupled to the saw blades 22 and 24 b~ means of a
belt drive 60. ~ chain and sprocket drive 62 couples the
sprocket 12 to the clamping means 20 so that the clamping
means 20 is driven at substantlally the same speed as'.the
endless chain.l.
The clamping means 20 comprises a movable endless,
flexible belt 64 passing round a series of guide wh~els
66 to 63 and resiliently urged against the sca.llops 6 ~y
spring, h~draulic or pneumatic loaded guide wheels 70 a~d
held tensioned by a further spring, hydraulic or pneuma~ic
loaded guide wheel 72.
The two parallel, circular saw blades 22, 24 are
rotatably mounted in the casing 52 and are driven by the
belt drive 60 from the electric motor 17.
The clamplng finyers 26 to 28, which are shown in
detail in Figures 3 and 4 are pivotally moun-ted in a scissor-
like manner on one of the supports 4 with the clamping finger 26
in a slot 73 in the support 4 and between the clamping fingers
27 and 28. The clamping finger 26 is attached to -the clamping
fingers 27 and 28 by tension sp~ings 74 and 75 so that the
clamping finger 26 grips one sawn side of a bo-ttom, sawn
shell, such as 6 while the clamping fingers 27 and 28 yrip
-- 7
the o~her sawn side of th~t bottom, sawn shell. The
clamping finge.rs 26 to 2~ are provided with cam follower
rollers 76 to 78 respectively which runs along cam tracXs
80, 81 and 82, 83 attached to the casing 52. Th~ carn
follo~er rollers 76 to 78 and the cam tracks 80 and 81
hold the fingers 26 to 28 open against the tension sprincJs
74 and 75 when a scallop 6 is to be placed on a cradle 2
a.nd wh.ile the saw blades 22, 24 are cutting a scallop.
These cam tracks 80 and 81 termlnate after the saw cutting
pOSition so that the fingers 26 to 28 grip at the ho~t.om
sawn shell, such as 30, immediately following the sawin~
scallop, such as 6, by the saw blades 22, 24 and until t:he
high pressure fan jet 50 has severed and removed the muscl~
from the shells, such as 30~ After the muscle has been
severed and removed from the shells, such as 30, the cam
track follower rollers 76 to 78 run along the cam track~
82 and 83 which hold the fingers 2fi to 28 open against
the tension springs 74 and 75 to allow ea~h empt.~ shell
to fal.l away from the cradle 2 ~o which .it has l~ee~l cl.amped.
As is also shown in :Figures 3 ancl 4 the supports ~ each
comprise two telescoping port.ions 84 and 86 whi.ch have
limited movement in extending telescoplcally and which
are urged :in. this directi.on by compression sp:ri.n~3-.s 88.
In operation, with the clamping fingers ~6 to
28 held apart by the cam tracks 80 and 81, scallops
such as 6 are placed on each of the scallop cradles 2,
on the moving endless chain 1, with their hin~ed portions
8 overhanging one side of a cradle 2 on which the~ are
placed and an edge portion 10 r opposing the hinged portion
8, overhan~ing the o-ther side of a cradle 2.
The endless chain 1 conveys the scallops such
as 6 to the clampinq means 20 so thdt the cndless, f1exib1e
8 --
belt 64 c'.amps each scallop such as 6 to its cradle 2
while the saw blades 22, 24 make two parallel saw cuts to
each 3f the cla~ped, unshucked scallopes ko cu-t and remove
the 0-~2rhangin~ portions 8 and 10 thereof :Erom the remainder
and expose the shell interior 25. The compression springs
88 also assist in clamping the scallops for this purpose.
The bottom, sawn shell, such as 30, of each
scallop is then clamped to the cradle Z by the clamping
fingers 26 to 28. This is effected by the cam follower
rollers 76 to 78 running off the ends of the cam ~racks
80 and 81 so that the tension springs 74 and 75 are allowed
. to pull the clamping fingers 26 on the one hand and the
clamping fingers 27 and 28 on the other hand towards each
other.
The scallops, each clamped to a cradle 2, are
then conveyed by the endless flexible chain 64 round the
sprocket 12 and passed the water jet nozzle 34, the fan
jet nozzles 40 to 42, and the high pressure fan jet
nozzle 48, where the unclamped, scallop top shell is
20. first rernoved~ followed b~ the viscera and roe, and then
the muscle. The cam :Eollower rollers 76 to 78 then engage
the cam tracks 82 and 83 to open the fin~ers 26 to 28 and
allow the bottom, sawn shell to fall away from the cradle 2
to ~hich it was clamped. ~ach cradle 2 is then conveyed
around the sprocket 12 to the cam tracks 80 and 81 where a
further scallop to-be placed upon .it.
A suitable water pressure for the water to
the n~zzle 34 has been found to be one which is not least
' of the order ofllQ0 psi (77,34K/cm2).
A suitable water pressure for -the water to the
fan jet nozzles 40, 42 has been found to be of the order of,
60 to of the order of 80 psi (4.21 to 5.62K/cm ) with t,he
fan je_s inclined about 45v in both the horizontal and
vertical planes to peel back the viscera from the muscle.
The f~ jet nozzles 40 to 42 were all Veejet (Trademark)
nozzles obtainable from Spray System Company, Whea-ton,
Illinois, ~J ~.A.
A suitable water pressure Eor the water to the
high pressure fan jet nozzle 48 has been ound -to be of
the order of 1100 psi (77.34K/cm2) with the jet inclining
upwardly the direction of flow of the jet ab about 30
to the horizontal. The high pressure fan jet nozzle 48
was a Flatjet (Trademark) nozzle obtained from Spray
System Company, Whea-ton, Illinois, U.S.A.
The present invention leaves the roe undamaged
which can also be separated from the viscera and sold as
an edible product. With other machines the roe is s~uashed
beyond recognition.
With the present invention the ~uality of the
removed musclde is greatly improved in comparison with that
removed by other machines because the scallops were shucked
while they are alive and before sand becomes entrapped
with muscle by the scallop dying (rigor mort.is).
While the present invention was primarily
developed for shucking Icelandic scallops, which have a
closed shell, it is also useful for shucking the more
abundant sea scallops.
In different embodim~nts of the present invention
a hydraulic drive is used instead of the electric motor 18
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