Abstract:
An assembly for a seafood cleaning machines provides increased efficiency and decreases loss of meat of cleaned seafood items, such as shrimp, prawns, and the like. The assembly has a plurality of parallel rollers, a plurality of secondary rollers spaced between and mounted slightly above the power rollers, and a plurality of insert rollers fitted between adjacent power rollers and secondary rollers. Each insert roller has a variable diameter outside surface, gradually increasing from an upstream portion to the downstream portion. Smaller diameter upstream portion forms a tighter channel between the rollers and help the rollers to grab even smaller portions of the inedible parts of the crustaceans. To remove peeled off inedible portions, the assembly provides for a two-level water spraying, from above and below the insert rollers, thereby preventing a build-up of debris on the rollers and decreasing a possibility of over-peeling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning seafood, and more particularly to an assembly for a machine that is used to clean crustaceans, such as shrimp, prawns, crawfish, and the like.  
           [0002]    Machines for peeling shrimp and prawns have been known since about the early 1950&#39;s. One of such machines is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,537,355 issued on Jan. 9, 1951 to Fernand S. Lapeyre, et al. In that machine, a channel is created for receiving unpeeled shrimp and for slowly peeling the crustaceans, removing hulls, shells, appendages, and other inedible portions of the crustaceans. The apparatus of the &#39;355 patent uses a plurality of rollers, along which the seafood item slides, assisted by gravity and water flow. The shrimp are moved from one channel created by the rollers to another by reciprocating rotation of the rollers, causing the peeling of the shrimp and removal of the inedible portions. Pressure fingers hold the shrimp in firm contact with the rollers to facilitate peeling. The fingers are formed to approximately correspond to the contours of the channels formed between the rollers. The rollers move the shrimp from an elevated upstream portion of the roller assembly downstream, from where the peeled seafood item is deposited into a collector, while the inedible, peeled away portions of the shrimp are disposed of. The seafood cleaning machine of the &#39;355 patent was the industry standard for many years.  
           [0003]    An improvement to the &#39;355 patent is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,055 issued to Lapeyre, et al. in 1957 for “Machine for Peeling Shrimp.” In accordance with the &#39;055 patent, the roller assembly has a bottom roller, parallel side rollers disposed on opposite sides of the bottom roller and spaced above the bottom roller. The peeling channel is formed between the elevated rollers and the bottom rollers. Insert rollers are positioned between the bottom and side rollers to cover up crevices or spaces formed between the bottom roller and the elevated rollers. The inserts are strapped down in a resilient connection to the shrimp-peeling machine.  
           [0004]    Another example of a shrimp peeling machine is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,781,544 issued in 1957 for “Seafood Cleaning Machine.” In that patent, oscillating rollers are mounted in contact with the top surface of a shrimp-receiving platform. The surfaces of the rollers and the platform have different coefficients of friction so that the shrimp which is received in a crotch between the rollers is caused to rotate until the loose ends of the shells are caught between the rollers and the platform, and the shell is unwound from the shrimp.  
           [0005]    While these devices worked satisfactory, it has been observed that with time, shrimp shells and appendages tend to accumulate on the rollers and cause separation between the rollers. For instance, the insert rollers may be lifted from the crotch area between the larger diameter rollers, such that an unusually large crevice is created between the insert rollers and the larger diameter rollers. As a result of the debris accumulation, the peeled shrimp may get caught in the spaces between the rollers, which will cause pinching of an edible portion of the seafood item and damage to the edible portion of the product.  
           [0006]    Additionally, the insert rollers, which are held down at both ends by hold down straps tend to form a curvature when too much debris accumulates on the insert rollers. The insert rollers then create a “bow” in the mid-section, separating themselves from a frictional contact with the larger diameter rollers. Water that is supplied to help move the shrimp and remove the debris, seeps into the created crevice and is lost. Further, since the rollers are oscillating, the peeled hulls are pushed down between the rollers, then pulled up again above the rollers, which interferes with the normal peeling of the shrimp.  
           [0007]    It was also observed that with the machines where the narrow insert rollers have the same diameter from the upstream portion of the cleaning machine to the downstream portion thereof, hulls or whiskers of the crustacean may cling to the shrimp body, even when the shrimp reach the downstream portion of the machine. Consequently, some shrimp remain under-peeled. This effect is particularly pronounced in cases where the processed product has different sizes.  
           [0008]    The present invention contemplates elimination of drawbacks associated with the prior art and provision of an improved assembly for a seafood cleaning machine.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an assembly for a seafood cleaning machine that reduces the amount of damage of the edible portions of the cleaned items.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an assembly for a machine designed for cleaning shrimp that reduces the buildup of peeled inedible portions of the shrimp.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an assembly for a seafood cleaning machine that increases efficiency and productivity of the cleaning machine, while minimizing loss of the product to over-peeling.  
           [0012]    These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of an assembly for a seafood cleaning machine that comprises a plurality of power rollers positioned in a spaced-apart relationship to each other and are adapted for reciprocating partial rotation about their longitudinal axes. A plurality of secondary, smaller diameter, rollers are mounted between the power rollers in frictional contact with the adjacent power rollers. A plurality of insert rollers are fitted in the spaces between the power rollers and the secondary rollers to create pinching channels for the hull, appendages, whiskers and other inedible portions of crustaceans.  
           [0013]    Each insert roller has an outside diameter that varies from the upstream portion of the assembly to the downstream portion thereof. A narrow section of each insert rollers is mounted adjacent the upstream portion, while the wider portion of the insert roller is positioned near the downstream portion. As a result, a tighter space is formed upstream between the rollers, which helps to engage smaller portions of the hull, or shrimp shell. When the smaller elements of the inedible portions are caught between the rollers, there is less probability that the rollers pinch edible meat and damage the seafood item.  
           [0014]    The assembly of the present invention is also more efficient in cleaning away the debris of the peeled away portions and eliminating any build-up. This benefit is achieved through a provision of a double level of water spray directed to the insert rollers. One level of the water supply is provided above the insert rollers, sending intermittent sprays of water, followed by a flushing cycle, from one or more transverse upper conduits mounted above the rollers. The second level of the water spray is delivered from one or more transverse lower conduits equipped with a plurality of spray nozzles located below the insert rollers. A combination of two-level time-regulated water supply eliminates build-up of debris on the insert rollers and helps increase efficiency of the seafood cleaning operation. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembly in accordance with the present invention for use in a seafood cleaning machine.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a detail view of the assembly of FIG. 1, showing in more detail position of the rollers and the water supply conduits.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a detail view showing an end view of the roller assembly and illustrating direction of water sprays directed to the rollers.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a detail view of an insert roller with different diameter sections. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral  10  designates the assembly for a seafood cleaning machine in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen in the drawings, the assembly comprises a plurality of power rollers  12  mounted in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship to each other and secured at one of their ends to a back wall  14  of a seafood cleaning machine. The drawing of a seafood cleaning machine is omitted for clarity, it is to be understood that the seafood cleaning machine is provided with conventional power source, drive mechanism for operation of the rollers and movement of the water conduits, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The power source may be an actuating mechanism with a pinion and rack arrangement to impart a reciprocating movement on the rollers.  
         [0020]    Mounted above the power rollers  12 , in a substantially parallel relationship to the longitudinal axes of the rollers  12  is a plurality of secondary rollers  16 . The rollers  16  are also secured by their first ends, through shafts  18  to the back wall  14  for reciprocating movement about the axes of the shafts  18 . As can be seen in the drawings, the diameter of the secondary rollers  16  is smaller than the diameter of the power rollers  12 .  
         [0021]    The rollers  16  are positioned between the power rollers  12  (see FIG. 3) and cover spaces between the power rollers  12 , leaving narrow gaps between the outer surfaces of the power rollers  12  and the secondary rollers  16 . A plurality of insert rollers  20 ,  22 , are mounted between the adjacent power rollers and the secondary rollers  16  to substantially close the created gap.  
         [0022]    The insert rollers  20 ,  22  cover the areas, or spaces formed between the power rollers  12  and the secondary rollers  16 . In effect, the assembly  10  has a plurality of roller units, each unit formed by five rollers: one power roller  12 , two secondary rollers  16 , and two insert rollers  20  and  22 .  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 3, an example of a roller unit is designated by a power roller  12   a , a secondary roller  16   a , a secondary roller  16   b , an insert roller  20  and a second insert roller  22 . A frictional contact exists between the rollers of each roller unit. A number of channels are defined by adjacent power rollers and secondary rollers  16 , with the insert rollers  20  and  22  fitted within these channels.  
         [0024]    Each insert roller  20 ,  22  can be composed of one or more individual sections. In the drawings, each insert roller  20  or  22  is shown to consist of four sections  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 . Each roller section  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30  is secured by a pair of tie down plates  32 ,  34 . The tie down plates are secured to the central shaft  36 , which extends outwardly from the main body of each insert roller  22 ,  24 .  
         [0025]    An aperture  40  is formed in a free end of the plates  32  or  34 , and a hook  42  is inserted through the aperture  40 . The hook  42  is connected to a spring  44  that allows adjustment of the relative position of the inserts  20 ,  22  in relation to the channels formed between the adjacent power rollers  12  and secondary rollers  16 . The spring  44  allows for a resilient mounting of the insert rollers within a seafood cleaning machine.  
         [0026]    Turning now to FIG. 4, the design of the insert rollers is shown in more detail. The insert roller sections  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30  (only sections  24 ,  26 ,  28  are shown in FIG. 4) have different outside diameters, with the smallest diameter section  30  being adjacent to the upstream portion of the assembly and the largest diameter portion  24  being adjacent to the downstream portion of the assembly  10 . For instance, section  30  may have an outside diameter of {fraction (5/16)}″, section  28  may have an outside diameter {fraction (6/16)}″, section  26  may have an outside diameter of {fraction (7/16)}″ and section  24  may have the largest diameter of {fraction (8/16)}″. Each section,  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30  reciprocates independently about its longitudinal axis.  
         [0027]    When a seafood product, for example shrimp, are deposited onto the roller assembly, such as delivered by a conveyor or from the hopper, the smallest portions of the shrimp, such as appendages, are caught between the smallest diameter insert portion  30  and the adjacent secondary roller  16  and the power roller  12 . The insert roller portion  30 , being relatively narrow, allows to form a tighter pinching channel between the adjacent rollers  12  and  16  and cause even small protuberances of the shrimp shell to be caught between the rollers. At the same time, no damage is imparted on the shrimp meat. As the seafood item, such as shrimp, progresses downstream towards the insert roller portion  24 , the hull portions that are still adhering to the shrimp will be caught and pulled away from the shrimp body, leaving clean, unblemished shrimp meat intact.  
         [0028]    In addition to providing better peeling capability, the variable diameter insert rod portions prevent loss of valuable water. It was observed that when the shell buildup is created on the insert rods  20 , 22 , the rods, being tied down at opposite ends by the tie down plates  32  and  34 , tend to lift themselves from their usual contact position with the power rod  12  and the secondary rods  16  and form a “bow.” Water can seep through the created gap and be lost in the process. With the insert rollers  20  and  22  being composed of sections having gradually increasing diameters, the problem of damage to the valuable natural resource is substantially decreased or altogether eliminated.  
         [0029]    In operation, the power rollers  12  and the secondary rollers  16  reciprocate back and forth, rotating about 280 degrees about their respective axes, i.e. the rollers move about their axes in one direction, then stop and reverse the direction of movement. This reciprocating movement causes the shrimp that is deposited on the roller assembly  10  to move between the rollers and have their shells, or hulls peeled away along with whiskers, appendages, etc.  
         [0030]    It is envisioned that a one-piece insert roller  20  or  22  can be utilized for the purposes of the present invention when an insert roller has a frustoconical configuration, with an apex, that is the narrowest portion being positioned in the upstream portion of the roller assembly and the base of the frustoconical insert roller being adjacent to the downstream portion of the roller assembly. For instance, if the power roller  12  is selected to have 3″ in diameter and the secondary rollers  16  have an outside diameter of 2½″, the insert rollers  20 ,  22  can gradually increase in their outside diameter from {fraction (5/16)}″ to {fraction (8/16)}″. It has been found that the use of the different diameter insert roller portions produces a much more beneficial result in the cleaning capability of the assembly than a conventional approach of changing the texture or the friction capability of the rollers&#39; exterior.  
         [0031]    As the shrimp peeling process continues, the removed hull, appendages, whiskers, and other inedible parts are being pulled away, leaving edible portions intact. To facilitate movement of the shrimp and the removed portions downstream, the roller assembly  10  is positioned on an incline, with an upstream section being higher than the downstream section. Water is used to facilitate movement of the peeled shrimp and the removed portions to the downstream end. Water is supplied from above the roller assembly  10  and from a level underneath the roller assembly.  
         [0032]    The upper portion of the water supply lines comprises a plurality of transverse water conduits, or pipes  50  (only one is shown in FIG. 1), spaced from each other and arranged in a parallel relationship to each other. The pipes  50  are carried by a frame  52  and secured to a side wall  54  of a cleaning machine. The frame  52  comprises a water supply line  56  supported by a pair of support members  58  and  60 .  
         [0033]    The support members  58  and  60  are secured at a right angle to the underside of the water supply line  56 . The support members  58  and  60  are securely attached to a rail  62 . A plurality of guide rollers  64  ride on the upper surface of the rail  62 . A matching number of lower guide rollers  66  slide along the bottom surface of the rail  62 . The rollers  64 ,  66  are arranged in pairs, as shown in FIG. 1, and are secured at their free ends to a bracket  68 . The brackets  68  are fixedly attached to a bar  74 , which in turn is fixedly attached to the back wall  14 .  
         [0034]    A crank  70  is secured at one end to the water supply line  56  and, at its other end to a rotating disk  72 . The disk  72  is connected to a power source (not shown) which moves the disk  72  causing the fixedly attached crank  70  to move back and forth, pulling the frame  52  and, thereby moving the water pipes  50  a distance above the roller assembly  10 . The diameter of the disk  72  controls the distance to which the pipes  50  travel across the roller assembly  10 . The guide rollers  64  and  66  rotate and move along the rail  62 , facilitating reciprocating movement of the frame  52  above the roller assembly  10 .  
         [0035]    A plurality of upper spray nozzles  76  is attached to the underside of each waterline, or pipe  50 . The nozzles  76  are oriented with their openings facing down, so that jets of water, shown in phantom lines  78  in FIGS. 2 and 3, are directed from above onto the insert rollers  20  and  22 . The spray flow  78  helps wash away the debris and facilitates movement of the cleaned seafood items downstream along the roller assembly. The distance to which the water conduits  50  travels can be as little as 6-7″ in one direction. The travel distance of the water pipes  50  is not designed to cover the entire surface of the roller assembly  10 .  
         [0036]    It was observed that with time, the buildup of removed inedible matter becomes so substantial that it prevents normal movement of the product along the roller assembly  10 , and the water supply from only the top of the roller assembly is not sufficient. In order to prevent the build-up of debris on the insert rollers  20 ,  22 , an upward stream of cleaning water is provided in the assembly of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, one or more lower water supply lines  80  extend underneath the rollers  12 , each lower water conduit  80  being also connected to the frame  52 .  
         [0037]    A plurality of spray nozzles  82  is secured in fluid communication with each water supply conduit  80  on one side of the pipe  80 . A plurality of similar spray nozzles  84  is positioned on the opposite side of the pipe  80 . The spray nozzles  82  and  84  are secured at an acute angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe  80 . The angle of the direction of the jet heads  82  and  84  can be 30 to 45 degrees in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe  80 . As shown in FIG. 3, the spray nozzles  82  and  84  are oriented in opposite directions, sending sprays of water shown in phantom lines  86  and  88 , respectively, between the secondary rollers  16 , towards the insert rollers  20 ,  22 , where the most likely buildup is to occur.  
         [0038]    In operation, the water supply frame  52  is connected to a timer (not shown) for intermittent operation of the jet nozzles  76 ,  82 , and  84 . The usual cycle consists of a few seconds of spray, while the frame  52  travels alongside the roller assembly  10 , then an idle pause, when the frame  52  comes to a stop. Then, a flushing step takes place, when the water flow is delivered through the pipes  50  and  80  and to the spray heads  76 ,  82 , and  84 , flushing the rollers with water and dislodging any accumulated debris.  
         [0039]    Then the frame  52  moves in the opposite direction, while continuing to spray the rollers, stopping at the end of the travel and providing the flushing step again. The intermittent cycles of spraying continue while the peeling of the seafood items deposited on the rollers takes place.  
         [0040]    It is preferred that the spray nozzles  76 ,  82 , and  84  be directed towards the insert rollers  20 ,  22 , to a place where the possibility of a build-up exists. When providing the intermittent spraying and flushing steps in the cleaning cycle, the valuable natural resource, water, can be saved and not lost to a flow between the rollers, as it would be, had a buildup of peeled off inedible portions be allowed to continue. When the shells and other inedible portions are continuously removed from the rollers, the seafood items are cleaned better and the loss of the edible portions due to over peeling is substantially minimized.  
         [0041]    The flushed-away inedible portions are removed from the downstream portion of the assembly  10  and are disposed of in the usual manner. The edible portions of the seafood items, such as cleaned shrimp, are deposited into a container, from where the product can be packaged, frozen or otherwise processed for delivery to a customer.  
         [0042]    It is envisioned that the power rollers  12  and the secondary rollers  16  can be covered with soft resilient sleeves, for example made of rubber, and the insert rollers  20 ,  22  be made of a non-corrosive material, such as stainless steel. The number of water lines  50  and  80  can vary depending on the length of the rollers and can be 3 or 4 in number. The spring action of the hook  42 , securing the insert rollers  20 ,  22  can be easily adjusted by the selection of the spring  44  having different tensile characteristics.  
         [0043]    Many other changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.