Patent ID: 8162150
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: A22C,B07B

Abstract:
1. A grading apparatus for grading items of seafood with respect to their size, said apparatus comprising a plurality of juxtaposed endless conveyor belts, each belt including an unloading end and a loading end, adjacent belts forming a width therebetween, wherein the width separating adjacent conveyor belts is larger at the unloading end than at the loading end of the belts, each conveyor belt having a cross-section with sloping sides such that in between each adjacent pair of belts is formed a sorting channel with substantially continuous sloping sides, each side being at an angle with respect to the axis of the belt in the range of about 70-85°, wherein each belt comprises a plurality of hinged segments forming said substantially continuous sloping sides, each of said hinged segments having an open cleft on a top of a ridge between the sloping sides of each segment.