DEVICE FOR SEPARATING MUSSEL CLUSTERS

Abstract: Device for separating mussel clusters comprising possibly movable brushes (3a-3d) which cooperate with a perforated support (2) carrying or displacing mussel clusters (1). The device comprises a first set of brushes (3a-3d) which resiliently presses the mussel clusters (1) partly down against and partly through the support (2) for cutting the clusters by means of the edges (2b) of the perforations (2a). On the other side of the perforated support (2) there may be provided a set of scraping brushes (4a-4b) tearing off and removing the mussels (1b) which hang in the mussel threads, and holding said side of the support (2) clean. The size of the perforations is adapted to the average mussel size and the edges (2b) of the perforations are provided with knife-edge sections and/or indented sections which effect tearing off and removal of byssuses by means of which the mussel clusters are tangled together and attached to the surroundings. Possibly there may be provided several successive steps of supports which treat and cleanse the mussels and at the same time provide a size sorting of the mussels. The device effects a gentle treatment of especially cultivated mussels having thinner shells than bottom grown shells.

Description: Device for Separating Mussel Clusters The present invention relates to a device for separating mussel clusters, comprising brushes which upon relative movement between brushes and mussel clusters influence the mussel clusters. There are previously known devices for separating mussel clusters comprising a rotating cylinder housing a counter- rotating shaft having knives which during rotation of the shaft cut the mussel clusters supplied to the drum. In connection with such known separating devices in which the knives effect both the cutting of connected mussels as well as the transport of the mussel clusters through the cylinder, more than 10% of the mussels will break even if it here is a question of bottom grown mussels having thicker shells than cultivated mussels which are grown freely in the water, i.e. on ropes or lines or similar freely depending in the water. If such known devices should be used for the loosening of mussels from mussel clusters comprising cultivated mussels having relatively thin shells, the waste percentage would be very much greater. From DE Patent Specification 717.356 there is known an apparatus for cleansing mussels, the apparatus comprising a plurality of rotatable brushes which are arranged in a ring around a central shaft for thus constituting a drum made up of brushes. The mussels are fed into the cylinder housing made up by the brushes, and into this housing there is also supplied flushing water for cleansing the mussels. After an appropriate treatment with water and influence by the rotat¬ ing brushes the cleansed mussels can be taken out of the brush drum. The machine can only work in batches and serves only to wash and cleanse the shells, the movements of the brushes not being strong enough for effectively separating the individual mussels from their cluster configurations. From NO Patent Specification 66 851 there is known a O FI device and a method for cutting connected mussels from each other, the device comprising a plurality of plates along which the mussels are transported and which is provided with a plurality of openings through which one or more hook-shaped means are moving for tearing off the mussel threads binding the clusters together. Such a device will in theory be able to cut or tear apart mussel clusters, but the waste percentage will probably be in the order of 50%. The task underlying the present invention is to give instruction for a device which in a gentle and effective manner can loosen mussels which are grown together in clusters without subjecting the mussels to so strong mechanical influences that the mussels are crushed, even though the mussel clusters have been grown on ropes or lines freely suspended in a ram stream and therefore having thinner shells than bottom grown mussels. The object is achieved in connection with a device of the type stated in the preamble, which according to the invention is characterized in that it further comprises a perforated support which the mussels in the mussel clusters by means of one or more first brushes on the one side of the support are partly pressed down against and partly pressed through for cutting the clusters due to relative movement between clusters and support. On the other side of the perforated support there may possibly be arranged a set of scraping brushes tearing away and removing the mussels which are tangled in the mussel threads, and keeping that said side of the support clean. Thus, the first set of brushes influences the mussel clusters with a resilient force, said brushes aiding in cleansing the mussels for growths before the latter are passed on in the refining process. By resiliently being pressed down against the perforated plate some of the mussels will fall completely or partly down through the holes, and at the same time the byssuses which hold the mussel clusters -ITURE together and by means of which the mussels attach themselves to the surroundings, will be torn off or cut whilst the mussels are urged against the edges of the perforations which are provided with knife edge sections and/or indented sections giving a tearing and cutting effect. The size of the perforations is adapted to the average mussel size and can constitute 120-130% thereof, the per¬ forations being diamond-shaped, round or out-of-round. The perforated support can be a flat or plain support, for example in the form of a movable plate or web, the first set of brushes comprising individual brushes which at least across a part of the support is arranged with a successively less clearance in the transport direction of the support. Such an embodiment involves that the individual brushes, as the clusters are reduced in size during the feeding process, will press the smaller and smaller clusters with a suitable clearance against the support with an appropriate resilient and at the same time cleansing force. The shape of the support can be varied within wide limits, the support not only taking the form of a flat support being shaped as a rectangular or round plate or continuous endless web, but also taking the form of a sub¬ stantially cylindrical drum having inner agitator brushes and outer scraping brushes. The movement of the support of the brushes can be continuous and/or reciprocating or oscillating, all in dependence of the remaining structure of the device and the composition of the most important components thereof. In addition to the perforated support the device according to the invention can also comprise a perforated sieve plate having perforations which are less than those of the support and serving the purpose of separating smaller mussels and fine treatment of the separated mussels which are accepted and are to be passed on in the refining process. Possibly the device can also comprise a plurality of supports having co-operating relatively moving first set of brushes and possibly scraping brushes, the support being arranged such that the mussels being treated are successively transported from one support to the other. Hereby a further growths cleansing of the mussels is achieved, and at the various steps of treatment it will be possible to remove various sizes of mussels. Possibly some of the mussels may be recirculated back to one or more of the previous steps. A further alternative is to the fact that one or more of the perforated supports can be designed as round discs which are provided obliquely relative to the horizontal plane, one or more of the discs being equipped with fixedly arranged narrow knife-like prongs protruding from the support and serving for a coarse separation of the connected mussels. In the following the invention will be further described, reference being had to the drawing which illustrates embodi¬ ments of the present device for separating mussel clusters. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the prin¬ ciple of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention. Figure 2 is on a larger scale a fragment of a top view of a perforated support included in the device illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 3 illustrates a diagrammatic cross section of a drum-shaped device according to the invention. Figure 4 illustrates a diagrammatic partly through-cut side view of the device shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 illustrates a diagrammatic partly through-cut side view of a multi-step device according to the invention. Figure 6 is a section taken in the area of the lines 6-6 in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a diagrammatic cross section of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention. Figure 8 is a section seen in the direction of the arrow G in Figure 7. In Figure 1 which is a diagrammatic side view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, and which illustrates the principle of the present invention, 1 desig¬ nates a quantity of mussels consisting partly of mussel clusters and partly of loose mussels, for example mussels which are grown on ropes or lines or similar, freely de¬ pending in water, i.e. mussels having relatively thin shells compared to bottom-grown mussels. The loading on of mussels takes place preferably in the area of and in the direction of the arrows A illustrated to the left in Figure 1, the mussel clusters clinging together by means of byssuses which the mussels also use for attaching to the surroundings. The mussels are to be separated and cleansed of growths before being passed on to the preceding refining process. The collection of mussels 1 rests on a perforated support 2 which in the described embodiment can take the form of a movable plate or web which preferably moves in a transport direction as given by the arrows B. In case the support has the form of a web, for example an endless transport belt, this can move continuously in the direction of the arrow B, but it is to be understood that in addition to the transport direction B the belt can also be subjected to a movement forth and back, depending on the position and the movement of the other components included in the present device. If the support is a movable plate this may preferably be formed as a rotatable plate which aside from a main transport direction, also can be given reciprocating or oscillating movements. Across the support 2 there is provided a plurality of rotatable brushes 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, which in the mentioned sequence, i.e. seen in the transport direction of the support, is arranged with successively less clearance above the support 2. It is to be understood that the brushes can be fixedly mounted without any movement or they can be arranged with rotating movement, agitator movement, sweeping movement etc. The set of brushes 3a-3d or agitator brushes press the mussel cluster resiliently against the movable support 2, such that the mussels are partly pressed down against and partly pressed through the perforations in the support for cutting the clusters. In Figure 2 which on a larger scale illustrates a fragment of a top view of the perforated support 2, the perforations 2a is designed with diamondshape, the edges 2b of the perforations being provided with cutting edge sections and/or indented sections giving a tearing and cutting of the byssuses by means of- which the mussels are kept together in clusters. The size of the perforations 2a is adapted to the average mussel size and constitutes approximately 120-130% thereof, so that the movable per¬ forated support carrying or displacing the mussel clusters and the co-operating rotating brushes, effect cluster separation and tearing off and removal of the mussel threads, the separated mussels, here designated as la, falling through the perforations and being collected in for example an underlying trough 2u, as illustrated in Figure 1. On the other side, i.e. on the underside of the per¬ forated support 2, it is appropriate to provide a set of scraping brushes 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, which tear off and remove the mussels lb still being tangled in mussel threads, the scraping brushes also keeping the underside of the support 2 clean. In Figure 1 the successively smaller clearance between the agitator brushes 3a-3d and the support 2, is given by the dimensions dl, d2, d3 and d4, and it is to be understood that these dimensions together with the positions and the rotating speed or the displacements of the brushes relative to the support, can be varied within wide limits. It is to be understood that not only the location of the mentioned agitator brushes 3a-3d, but also the location thereof relative to the width of the support, can be varied in dependence of how much the mussels are to be treated before being passed on to the succeeding refining processes. It is further to be understood that in addition to being subjected to a treatment of co-operating brushes and a movable perforated support, the mussels will, when staying in the described device, be subjected to flushing or cleansing water supplied in suitable quantities and at suitable locations, the supply means for such water here being deleted for the sake of survey. In Figures 3 and 4 there are illustrated a diagrammatic cross section and a partly through-cut side view, respec¬ tively, of a drum-shaped device according to the invention. Here, the movable perforated support comprises a cylinder- shaped plate 20 having relatively crude openings with cutting or tearing edges made in a pattern, for example as illustrated in Figure 2, the perforated cylinder-shaped plate 20 constituting a carrier for a mussel cluster 21 which between the support 20 and a rotating brush 23 is treated according to the same basic principle as the mussel clusters discussed in connection with Figures 1. The agitator brush 23 can for example be mounted eccentrically relative to the cylinder shaft 24, the operation of the cylinder being provided by a motor 25 which via the cylinder shaft 26 drives the brush shaft 27 via a gear 28 having a suitable transmission ratio and rotating direction. On the outer side of the perforated cylinder 20 there is in the area of the agitator brush 23 provided a scraping brush 29 which possibly can be stationary and in certain cases only be designed as a scraping means in the form of a countersteel. Around the perforated cylinder 20 there is at a suitable distance concentrically arranged an outer cylinder 30 having perforations which are less than the perforations included in the inner cylinder 20. The outer cylinder 30 ^JRE OMPI s IPO thus functions as a sieve for separating smaller mussels than normal as well as surplus waste and debris which have fallen through the perforated cylinder 20 during the treat¬ ment of the mussels therein. Aside from functioning as a sieve the outer cylinder 30 will also aid in a finer treat¬ ment and further cleansing of the mussels which are to be passed on to the refining processes. In Figures 5 and 6 there are illustrated a diagrammatic partly through-cut side view and a horizontal view, respec¬ tively, through a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device here being implemented as a multi-step device. In Figure 5 there is shown a first rotatable plate 41 having perforations, for example of the form which is previously discussed in connection with Figure 2 and having a size which is considerably larger than the largest mussels which are to be treated in the device. Above the rotatable perforated plate 41 there is as illustrated in Figure 6, mounted a plurality of rotatable brushes 42a, 42b, etc., which extend radially from the center 43 of the plate, the direction of rotation of the brushes 42a, 42b being opposite to the direction of rotation of the perforated plate 41. Possibly, as illustrated with dashed lines in Figure 6, there can be provided a plurality of brushes 44a-44d, which are arranged along a bent line and have stepwise reduced clearance towards the perifery of the perforated plate 41, such that a mussel cluster which is fed in at the center of the plate 41, will successively be influenced by the brushes 44a-44d in the mentioned sequence. Of course, there may as an alternative be arranged several sets of the discussed brushes 44a-44d, possibly in combination with the previously discussed cylinder-shaped brushes 42a, 42b. At a distance below the perforated plate 41 there is provided another perforated plate 41a having perforations which are somewhat smaller than the perforations of the plate 41. Above the perforated plate 41a there is provided a set of brushes 45 which for example can be stationary relative to the rotatable plate 41a. At a distance below the plate 41a there is provided yet another perforated plate 41b having perforations which are somewhat smaller than the perforations included in the plate 41a arranged thereabove. Above the plate 41b there is in the same manner as in connection with the plate 41a, pro¬ vided stationary brushes 46. In connection with the embodiment of the device according to the invention, which is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and which comprises a plurality of supports having co-operating relatively movable first set of brushes, the mussel clusters which are fed to the uppermost support will be treated stepwise, the mussels, after having passed the perforated plate 41 which also here is equipped with not illustrated scraping brushes, continuing to the next step, whereafter they once again will be treated in the last underlying step. In Figures 7 and 8 there are illustrated a diagrammatic side view and a view seen in the direction of the arrow G in Figures 7, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention. Also here a disc-shaped rotatable perforated support 50 is arranged obliquely relative to the horizontal plane, the support 50 being equipped with narrow, knife-like prongs 51 protruding from the support and serving to cut apart connected clusters of mussels. The prongs 51 make only a crude separation of the mussel clusters, the final separation taking place by the resilient influence of the mussel clusters down against and through the support for the cutting of the clusters. The described embodiment can, however, utilize the avalanche effect of the clusters when these from a bottom position are brought to a top position and therefrom tumble down towards the sharp knife-like prongs 51 protruding from the support 50. The oblique position of the support 50 together with the prongs 51 render a good working up of the mussel roughness in addition to the discussed cluster separation of the mussels. Below the plate 50 there can at a suitable distance be provided another perforated plate 52 serving to collect the separated mussels coming through the plate 50, and to sieve and further treat the pretreated mussels. It is to be understood that the plates 50 and 52 discussed in connection with Figures 7 and 8 also co-operate with not illustrated resilient means, for example in the form of rotatable or stationary brushes, such means not being illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. Possibly, the use of resilient means could be deleted for one of the plates 50 or 52.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i s: 1. Device for separating mussel clusters, comprising brushes which upon relative movement between brushes and mussel clusters influence the mussel clusters, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the device further comprises a perforated support (2) which the mussels in the mussel clusters (1) by means of one or more first brushes (3a-3d) on the one side of the support (2) are partly pressed down against and partly pressed through for cutting the clusters due to relative movement between mussels and support. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d i n that on the one side of the perforated support (2) there is provided one or more scraping means (4a-4d) for tearing off and removing the mussels (lb) which cling to mussel threads, and for keeping said side of the support (2) clean. 3. Device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d i n that the perforated support (2) is a plain support, for example in the form of a movable plate or web, and that the first set of brushes (3a-3d) comprises indi¬ vidual brushes which at least across a part of the support (2) are arranged with a sucessively less clearance (dl-d3) in the transport direction (3) of the support. 4. Device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the support takes the form of a substantially cylinder-shaped drum (20) having an inner agitator brush (23) and possibly an outer scraping brush (29). 5. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the movement of the support or the brushes is continuous and/or reciprocating or oscillating. 6. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the perforations (2a) of the support are adapted to the average size of the mussels and constitute approximately 120-130% thereof, and that the edges of the perforations include knife edge sections and/or indented sections giving a tearing and cutting effect. 7. Device as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d i n that the perforations are diamond-shaped, round or out-of-round. 8. Device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the device in addition to the perforated support (50) also comprises a perforated sieve plate (30) having smaller perforations than the support (20) and serving the purpose of separating smaller mussels and finer treatment of larger pre-treated mussels. 9. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the device comprises a plurality of supports (41, 41a, 41b) having cooperating relatively displaceable first sets of brushes (42a, 42b, resp. 45 resp. 46), the supports (41, 41a, 41b) being arranged in such a manner that the mussels which are treated, are transported succesively from one support to the other. 10. Device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that one or more of the perforated supports (50, 52) are shaped as round discs which are arranged obliquely to the horizontal plane, and which are equipped with fixedly arranged narrow knife-like prongs (51) protruding from the support and serving to cut con¬ nected mussels apart.

Inventors: KNUTSEN ROALD WILLIS, KNUTSEN, ROALD, WILLIS
Applicants: KNUTSEN R W, KNUTSEN, ROALD, WILLIS
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A22C29
IPC codes: A22C29