A DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PEELING SHRIMPS

Abstract: A device and a method for peeling shrimps (22) or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with two clamping elements (2) which are capable of clamping a shrimp (22) against a supporting surface (1) with its backside (shell), wherein each clamping element comprises an edge (17) essentially extending towards said supporting surface (1), which is capable of engaging the shrimp (22) on its belly side, near the edge of the shell, characterized in that at least part of the said edge (17) of the clamping element is serrated.

Description: A DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PEELING SHRIMPS The invention relates to improvements of a shrimp peeling machine as described in great detail in US-A- 4,616,382. The present description will refer to the contents of the said patent specification, so that said contents need not be repeated herein. The various improvements may be considered to jointly constitute an invention, but they may also be considered to constitute separate inventions. The term shrimps used herein is meant to include other, similar crustaceans as well. The object of the invention is to improve the efficiency and reliability of the device and the method for peeling shrimps, and furthermore to improve the quality of the peeled shrimps. According to the method for peeling shrimps, wherein a shrimp is held and the tail portion of the shell is pulled off, the shell is preferably damaged on the backside of the shrimp, at a point near the place where the tail portion is to be separated from the other shell portion, before said tail portion is pulled off, preferably by sticking a cutting member into the shell" of the shrimp. Besides the tail itself, the tail portion of the shell to be pulled off consists of three members, which members extend annularly round the shrimp. The body portion of the shell consists of two such members and of a head portion. The edges of said members, which are interconnected, form a tighter ring than the other part of a member, so that the shrimp flesh is easily pulled off along with the tail. By damaging the shell, in particular near the separation between the three members of the tail portion and the two members of the body portion of the shell, the tighter edge portion of the member in question can move out slightly when the tail portion of the shell is being pulled off, thus eliminating the risk of flesh being pulled along with the tail portion. Preferably, said damaging of the shell takes place in the centre (plane of symmetry) of the shell. The device for peeling shrimps is preferably provided with a supporting surface and with clamping elements which are capable of clamping a shrimp against said supporting surface, wherein the shrimp abuts against the supporting surface with its backside (shell) , wherein the supporting surface is provided with a recess through which a cutting member can move for locally damaging the shell on the backside of the shrimp. When the device is provided with a rotatable peeling element in the form of a disc comprising a plurality of supporting surfaces on the edge thereof, the recess is preferably formed by a tangentially extending groove in the centre of the edge of said disc. A hook-shaped knife, which lies in the same plane as said disc, may be capable of rotating movement in said plane and of movement through said tangentially extending groove, wherein the tip of the knife can damage the shell . With the method for peeling shrimps wherein a shrimp is clamped against a supporting surface with its backside (shell) by two clamping elements which engage the shrimp on either side of its belly side, near the edge of the shell, after which the tail portion of the shell is engaged and pulled off, the shell is preferably pulled open, after which the shell is allowed to spring back again, before said tail portion is pulled off. In practice it has become apparent that this method is highly conducive to achieving a correct engagement and pulling off of the tail portion of the shell. When the movement of the clamping elements is controlled by a camway wherein a cam mounted on the clamping element moves in a groove forming a camway, said groove may be provided with a protrusion in the wall, so that the desired movement is made by the clamping element. The pulling open of the shell only needs to take place for a very short period. In one preferred embodiment, the device for peeling shrimps is provided with a rotatable peeling element comprising a plurality of supporting surfaces, which are essentially arranged in a circle round the axis of rotation, with said surfaces being directed substantially radially outwards, and with clamping elements which are capable of clamping a substantially tangentially oriented shrimp against each supporting surface, wherein said peeling element comprises detachable parts which each comprise a supporting surface and clamping elements . The peeling element according to US-A-4, 616, 382 consists of a flat, circular disc on which eight pairs of clamping elements are provided. Said disc is mounted on a shaft, and consequently it cannot be easily removed from the device for repairs. By providing the disc with eight detachable parts, each of said parts can be replaced without any difficulty in the event of a component on said part becoming defective. On the one hand this makes it possible to carry out quick repairs, and on the other hand said repairs can be carried out by the operators themselves, because the elements present on the detachable part, which are movable with respect to each other, are correctly set relative to each other. The device for peeling shrimps, which is provided with clamping elements which are capable of clamping a shrimp against a supporting surface with its backside (shell) , preferably comprises a supporting surface which is at least locally convex in the plane of symmetry of the shrimp being clamped against the supporting surface. When the shrimp is stretched on the supporting surface, that is, the tail portion is positioned substantially in line with the body portion, the shell of the shrimp is prevented from breaking in undesirable places or from being damaged if there is a possibility during said stretching to cause the back of the shrimp, which originally exhibits a convex curvature, to take on a slightly concave curvature. It has become apparent that this constitutes a significant improvement of the device according to US-A- 4,616,382, wherein the supporting elements for the shrimps are formed by a flat portion of the edge of the disc-shaped peeling element. When a disc-shaped peeling element is used, the radius of the curved supporting surface is preferably smaller than the distance between the supporting surface and the axis of rotation, as a result of which the curved supporting surface blends into a concave recess in the edge of the disc between said supporting elements . The supporting surface preferably comprises an essentially flat part, against which the body portion of the shell can be clamped, whilst the curved part is present near the place where the body portion of the shell blends into the tail portion of the shell. In one preferred embodiment, the device for peeling shrimps is provided with two clamping elements which are capable of clamping a shrimp against a supporting surface with its backside (shell) , wherein each clamping element comprises an edge essentially extending towards said supporting surface, which is capable of engaging the shrimp on its belly side, near the edge of the shell, wherein at least part of said edge of the clamping element is serrated. It has become apparent that such serrations or teeth on the edge provide a significant improvement as regards the engagement of the shrimp, without the shrimp being damaged by said teeth. Furthermore it has become apparent that the presence of said serrations makes it possible to peel a greater variation in the dimensions of the shrimps with one and the same peeling element . With a device for peeling shrimps which is provided with a supporting surface on which a shrimp can be clamped down by means of two clamping elements present on either side of said supporting surface, wherein each clamping element is capable of movement in radial direction over the lateral surface of a disc-shaped peeling element, wherein said clamping element is provided with a roller element via which it is supported against said lateral surface, the roller element preferably comprises two spaced-apart cylindrical roller surfaces, via which it rolls over said later surface. In a preferred embodiment, three spaced-apart cylindrical roller surfaces are present. When the roller surfaces of a roller element are spaced further apart, it will be possible to maintain a more stable position of the clamping element. By using several roller surfaces, a roller element having a relatively great axial length can nevertheless share a relatively small contact area with the surface over which it is being rolled, so that fouling of the latter surface will less quickly lead to malfunctions. With the device for peeling shrimps, which is provided with two clamping elements for clamping a shrimp against a supporting surface, and with a stop member against which the shrimp will abut upon being engaged by the two clamping element when lying against the supporting surface, it is preferred for a at least part of the stop member to move through the space between the clamping elements before the shrimp comes to lie against the stop member on the supporting surface in said space so as to be clamped down. With the device according to US-A- 4,616,382, the stop member swings aside each time in order to prevent coming into contact with the clamping elements. By making part of the stop member so narrow that it can be positioned between the clamping elements, the stop member does not need to be capable of pivoting movement, which allows a simpler construction. Moreover, the part of the stop member that moves between the clamping elements is capable of ensuring that any shrimp parts that have remained behind are pushed aside by the stop member. The device for peeling shrimps, which device is provided with means for pivoting the tail portion of the shrimp relative to the other part of the shrimp to a more stretched position of the tail portion relative to said other part, which means can be moved along a clamped- down shrimp and which form an interrupted edge which is capable of pushing against said tail portion, wherein said interruption is present in the centre (plane of symmetry of the shrimp) , is preferably constructed so that the edge parts on either side of the interruption are substantially in line. Said means may comprise two bar-shaped members thereby, each having a free end, which free ends are positioned near each other, wherein the two bar-shaped members include an obtuse angle with each other. Bar-shaped members of this kind are for example shown in Figure 15c of US-A-4, 616, 382 , wherein said members (110, 111) are shown to be conical. Said conical members each form a substantially straight edge, against which the tail portion of the shrimp will slide upon being stretched. In practice it has become apparent that a much more reliable stretching operation is obtained when the two bar-shaped members are not conical but are so shaped that the edge against which the tail portion slides is more curved. To that end, the device is so constructed that the edge parts on either side of the interruption are substantially in line. Preferably, the edge is made up of two bar-shaped members, which free ends are positioned near each other, wherein the two bar-shaped members include an obtuse angle with each other, wherein each of said bar-shaped members comprises a portion at its free end which has a transverse dimension larger than the transverse dimension at some distance from the free end. Bar-shaped members which are formed in such a manner appear to be quite satisfactory in practice, whilst they have a shape which readily allows cleaning. According to the method for peeling shrimps, wherein shrimps are positioned at a predetermined location, a shrimp lying on its side is preferably approached by a movable suction nozzle, which engages the shrimp and pulls it away, after which the shrimp is detached from the suction nozzle at a predetermined location, in that a bar which is held in a stationary position moves outwards through the opening of the suction nozzle relative to the suction nozzle. Since the shrimp is positioned against a stationary stop member upon being detached from the suction nozzle, the shrimp will be positioned precisely at a predetermined location. The device for peeling shrimps, wherein shrimps are positioned at a predetermined location, is preferably provided with a movable suction nozzle for engaging a shrimp and pulling it away, and furthermore with a bar which can move through the opening of said suction nozzle and with means for holding the bar in a stationary position, at least temporarily so, while the suction nozzle is being moved, so that one end of said bar moves outwardly through the opening of said suction nozzle from the inside, wherein said bar pushes the shrimp away from the suction nozzle and, in addition, holds it at a predetermined location. The means for holding the bar in a stationary position during the movement of the suction nozzle are preferably made up of a stop member which occupies a stationary position in the frame of the device. When the suction nozzle moves rearwards, the bar can strike the stop member and remain stationary, so that it will make a movement with respect to the moving suction nozzle. With the method for peeling shrimps, wherein a shrimp lying on its side, whose tail portion is so bent that it substantially abuts the belly side of the shrimp, is moved to a position wherein the shrimp lies on its back (shell) , the shrimp is preferably transported in a downwardly sloping chute, wherein said chute is set vibrating, so that the force of gravity will cause the back portion of the shrimp to be positioned lower in the chute than the tail portion. When the shrimp slides through the chute without said chute being vibrated, as is the case with the chute 74 in Figures 8a, 9, 9a and 10 of US-A-4, 616, 382, the shrimp will remain in the centre of the chute, especially if the chute slopes steeply downwards. It has become apparent that when the chute slopes downwards less steeply, and when the chute is furthermore set vibrating, the body portion of the shrimp will be positioned deeper in the chute than the tail portion. This effect can be further enhanced when the chute is provided, at least over part of its length, with a longitudinally extending recess in the central portion of the chute. Said recess must not be so wide that the shrimp, lying on its back, will fall through, as is the case with the chute in which the shrimp subsequently lands, which chute is indicated by numeral 75 in the aforesaid figures of US-A-4 , 616, 382. The vibration of the chute only functions to position the shrimp slightly off-centre, so that the shrimp can be positioned on its back more easily in the next chute. In practice it has become apparent that said vibration considerably enhances the reliability of operation of the device . Further aspects, which may be used in combination with each other or individually, will be described hereafter by means of embodiments and be defined in the claims. In order to explain the invention more fully, a number of embodiments of parts of a device for peeling shrimps will be described hereafter with respect to the drawing. Figure 1 is a side view of a disc-shaped peeling element; Figure 2 is a side view of a disc-shaped peeling element of different construction; Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show parts of a peeling element to be connected together; Figures 7 and 8 show a clamping element; Figures 9 and 10 show a roller element; Figure 11 shows a shrimp present on a supporting surface; Figures 12 - 15 show a stop member; Figures 16 and 17 show means for stretching the tail of a shrimp; Figures 18 and 19 show the positioning of a shrimp; and Figures 20 - 23 show a pivoted vibrating chute. The figures are merely schematic representations, with corresponding parts being indicated by the same numerals in the various figures. Figure 1 corresponds in large measure to Figure 14g of US-A-4, 616, 382. Figure 1 shows in side view a discshaped peeling element comprising eight supporting elements 1, which are provided on the edge of said discshaped peeling element and which are substantially flat. A clamping element 2 is present on either side of each supporting surface 1, which clamping elements are arranged in pairs, one pair behind the other, seen in Figure 1. The two clamping elements 2 present on either side of supporting surface 1 are interconnected by means of bolts 3, which extend through a recess (indicated by dotted line 4) in the disc-shaped peeling element. Each pair of clamping elements 1 thus formed is capable of movement in radial direction, wherein a roller element 5 rolls over the lateral surface of disc 6. As a result of the presence of a profile on said lateral surface, the clamping elements move towards and away from each other not only in radial direction, but also in axial direction. The peeling element rotates in the direction indicated by arrow 7. The radial movement of the clamping elements takes place in that each pair of clamping elements 2 is provided with a circular cam follower 8, which can mate with a stationary camway 9. Camway 9 comprises an external part 10 and an internal part 11. External part 10 moves the clamping elements 1 radially inwards and internal part 11 moves the clamping elements 2 radially outwards . clamping elements 2 press roller elements 5 against the side of disc 6, so that the clamping elements 2 of each pair of clamping elements will be positioned most closely together in the position of rest and move apart upon being moved outwards or inwards from said position, at least at the location of their radially outwardly extending ends. The peeling element according to Figure 1 differs from the version which is shown in US-A-4, 616, 382 in that the external part 10 of camway 9 is provided with a protrusions 12, as a result of which the clamping elements will pull the shell of the shrimp slightly open for a short time upon passing said protrusion 12. Said pulling open takes place before the tail portion is removed from the shell, and it has appeared to greatly facilitate the pulling off of the tail portion. Figure 2 shows a disc-shaped peeling element comprising a number of detachable parts 14, which are each provided with a supporting surface 1 and with clamping elements 2. Figure 2 shows the other side of the peeling element of Figure 1, so that the peeling element according to Figure 2 turns clockwise, as is indicated by arrow 7. The peeling element according to Figure 2 is built up of a disc-shaped member 6 (Figure 3) , which is provided with recesses 13, in which the detachable part 14 (Figure 5) fits. Detachable part 14 can be secured in disc 6 by means of a bolt which extends through hole 15 and which can be screwed into hole 16. Detachable part 14 can be mounted and removed without any difficulty in this manner. Figure 4 shows disc 6 in front view. Figure 5 is a side view of detachable part 14, and Figure 6 is a front view thereof . A clamping element 2 may be provided on either side of detachable part 14, which clamping element is shown in Figures 7 and 8. The two clamping elements, which can be jointly provided on detachable part 14, are essentially each other's mirror image, the clamping element 2 which is shown in Figures 7 and 8 is present on the front side of the peeling element according to Figure 2 or of the detachable part 14 according to Figure 5, with Figure 7 showing the inside of clamping element 2. The edge 17 by means of which the shrimp is engaged on the belly side near the edge of the shell comprises a part 18 which is serrated (Figure 7) . Roller element 5 is shown in Figures 9 and 10. It consists of three cylindrical roller surfaces 19, which are interconnected by parts 20 having a smaller diameter. Said parts 20 fit in the correspondingly shaped parts 21 of clamping element 2 (Figure 8) . Figure 11 shows a detachable part 14, similar to the one which is shown in Figure 5. A shrimp 22 is present on supporting surface 1, which shrimp is clamped against supporting surface 1 by clamping elements 2 (not shown) . On the side where the tail of shrimp 22 is present (the left-hand side in Figure 11) , said supporting surface comprises a convex portion 23, so that there is a possibility of the back of shrimp 22 being bent to a slightly concave shape when the tail is being stretched. Furthermore, a knife 25 capable of pivoting movement about a pivot pin 24 is present, which knife can be pivoted in the direction indicated by arrow 25 in such a manner that the tip of knife 25 will pierce the shell of shrimp 22, and that near the place where the tail portion of the shell is to be separated from the body portion of the shell . During the pivoting movement of knife 25, the tip of knife 25 passes through a groove 27 which is tangentially formed in the disc (Figure 6) . After making a cut in the shell of shrimp 22, knife 25 will swing aside and move to a position outside the path followed by the shrimps. Figures 12 - 15 show a stop member, which performs the same function as the stop member which is shown in Figure 15d of US-A-4, 616, 382. Unlike the known stop member, the stop member according to Figures 12 - 15 comprises a narrow portion 30 and a wider portion 31. Stop member 30, 31 is positioned a fixed distance away from the axis about which the peeling element rotates, and it occupies a fixed position relative to said axis, that is, it does not swing aside each time as does the aforesaid known stop member. Narrow portion 30 is so formed that it can move between clamping elements 2, whilst wide portion 31 remains outside the reach of clamping elements 2 in radial direction. Stop member 30, 31 is provided on its front side (Figure 12) with a concave stop surface 32, both in narrow portion 30 and in wide portion 31. The shrimp can rest against said stop member upon being placed on supporting surface 1, and subsequently it can be held in a stationary position relative to the rotating peeling element. The stop member can be held in a stationary position with respect to the rotating peeling element for some time during these operations. Stop member 30, 31 thereby rotates about the same axis as does the peeling element. The stop member is provided with a bore 51, through which a bolt can extend so as to secure the stop member. Figure 16 largely corresponds to Figure 15c of US-A- 4,616,382, with conical bars 110, 111 being replaced by bar-shaped members 33. Said bar-shaped members 33 comprise a widened portion 34 near their ends, so that the edge against which the tail portion of shrimp 22 slides is formed with an interruption, whereby the edge portions on either side of said interruption are more in line than is the case with the aforesaid conical bar- shaped members . Figures 18 and 19 show a suction nozzle 40 which is mounted on a pivoted arm 41. Shrimps 22 are supplied via a feed chute 42, which shrimps will be positioned with their backs forward in chute 43. Figure 18 shows how suction nozzle 40 moves to the right (arrow 44) and engages shrimp 22 by sucking away air when suction nozzle 7 comes into contact with shrimp 22. Suction nozzle 40 then pivots to the left (arrow 45, Figure 19) and carries shrimp 22 along to a chute 46, in which shrimp 22 is deposited at a precisely determined location. Suction nozzle 40 is to that end provided with a bar 47, whose end 48 can move outwards through suction nozzle 40 when the other end of bar 47 rests against a stationary stop 49. Bar 47 is thereby pushed outwards through the opening of nozzle 40 against the pressure of coil spring 50 to form a precise stop for shrimp 22, so that said shrimp will be positioned at an exactly determined location. An additional advantage of the use of bar 47 is that suction nozzle 40 is closed automatically when shrimp 22 has reached its position. Once shrimp 22 has reached its position in chute 46, chute 46 will pivot obliquely downwards about pivot pin 56, as is shown in Figure 18. In this position of chute 46, said chute is vibrated by a vibrating mechanism (not shown), which engages pivot pin 56. The vibration of chute 46 not only makes for a steady movement of shrimp 22 in the direction indicated by arrow 52, but it also results in the heavier body portion of the shrimp being positioned deeper in the chute than the tail portion. Figures 20 - 23 show chute 46. As appears from Figure 22, chute 46 has a circular arc cross-section. Figure 20 shows the chute in horizontal condition, wherein chute 46 is mounted on an annular mounting element 55, which is rotatable about axis 56. This allows chute 46 to pivot from the horizontal position (Figure 20) to a sloping position (Figure 23) . When chute 46 is placed in a sloping position and, in addition, set vibrating, a shrimp present in said chute will be moved downwards. Figure 21 is a plan view of chute 46, showing a recess 57 in the lowermost portion of the chute. Due to the vibration of chute 46, a shrimp present therein in will be positioned slightly off-centre, with its heavier body portion being positioned more in the centre than the lighter tail portion. This effect is enhanced by the presence of recess 57, as a result of which the shrimp's backside will face slightly downwards upon exiting chute 46, so that it can easily land with its backside downwards in a guide groove in a next chute . Preferred embodiments of the device and the method for peeling shrimps, which may also be considered separate inventions, are the following. A method for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, wherein a shrimp is held and the tail portion of the shell is pulled off, characterized in that the shell is damaged on the backside of the shrimp, at a point near the place where the tail portion is to be separated from the other part of the shell, before said tail portion is pulled off. A method which is characterized in that a cutting member is stuck into the shell of the shrimp. A method which is characterized in that said damaging of the shell takes place near the separation between the three members (rings) of the tail portion of the shell and the two members (rings) of the body portion of the shell. A method which is characterized in that the two constricted parts of said members are damaged in the centre (plane of symmetry) of the shell, seen in transverse direction with respect to the shrimp. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with means for damaging the shell on the backside, near the place where the tail portion is separated from the other shell portion. A device provided with a supporting surface and with clamping elements which are capable of clamping a shrimp against said supporting surface, wherein the shrimp abuts against the supporting surface with its backside (shell) , characterized in that said supporting surface is provided with a recess through which a cutting member can move for locally damaging the shell on the backside of the shrimp . A device provided with a rotatable peeling element in the form of a disc comprising a plurality of supporting surfaces on the edge thereof, characterized in that said recess is formed by a tangentially extending groove in the centre of the edge of said disc. A device which is characterized in that a hook-shaped knife, which lies in the same plane as said disc, is capable of rotating movement in said plane and be capable of movement through said tangentially extending groove, wherein the tip of the knife can damage the shell. A method for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, wherein a shrimp is clamped against a supporting surface with its backside (shell) by two clamping elements which engage the shrimp on either side of its belly side, near the edge of the shell, after which the tail portion of the shell is engaged and pulled off, characterized in that the shell is pulled open by the two clamping elements and allowed to spring back again before said tail portion is pulled off. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with a supporting surface against which a shrimp can be clamped with its backside (shell) by two clamping elements, which are capable of engaging the shrimp on either side of its belly side, near the edge of the shell, and with means for engaging the tail portion of the shell and pulling it off, characterized by means which move the clamping elements in such a manner that the shell is pulled open and allowed to spring back again before said tail portion is pulled off. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with a rotatable peeling element comprising a plurality of supporting surfaces, which are essentially arranged in a circle round the axis of rotation, with said surfaces being directed substantially radially outwards, and with clamping elements which are capable of clamping a substantially tangentially oriented shrimp against each supporting surface, characterized in that said peeling element comprises detachable parts which each comprise a supporting surface and clamping elements. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with clamping elements which are capable of clamping a shrimp against a supporting surface with its backside (shell) , characterized in that the supporting surface is at least locally convex in the plane of symmetry of the shrimp being clamped against the supporting surface. A device provided with a rotatable peeling element comprising a plurality of supporting surfaces, which are essentially arranged in a circle round the axis of rotation, with said surfaces being directed substantially radially outwards, wherein the shrimp abuts against the supporting surface with its backside (shell) , characterized in that the radius of curvature of the supporting surface in the radial plane is smaller, at least locally so, than the distance between the supporting surface and the axis of rotation. A device wherein said peeling element is substantially in the form of a disc and wherein said supporting surfaces are present on the outer edge of said disc, characterized in that the edge of the disc is provided with concave recesses between each of said supporting surfaces. A method for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, wherein a shrimp is clamped against a supporting surface with its backside (shell) , characterized in that said supporting surface exhibits a convex curvature in the plane of symmetry of the shrimp being clamped against said supporting surface. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with two clamping elements which are capable of clamping a shrimp against a supporting surface with its backside (shell) , wherein each clamping element comprises an edge essentially extending towards said supporting surface, which is capable of engaging the shrimp on its belly side, near the edge of the shell, characterized in that at least part of said edge of the clamping element is serrated. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with a supporting surface on which a shrimp can be clamped down by means of two clamping elements present on either side of said supporting surface, wherein each clamping element is capable of movement in radial direction over the lateral surface of a disc-shaped peeling element, wherein said clamping element is provided with a roller element via which it is supported against said lateral surface, characterized in that the roller element comprises two spaced-apart cylindrical roller surfaces, via which it rolls over said later surface. A device which is characterized in that said roller element comprises three spaced-apart cylindrical roller surfaces . A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with two clamping elements for clamping a shrimp against a supporting surface, and with a stop member against which the shrimp will abut upon being engaged by the two clamping element when lying against the supporting surface, characterized in that at least part of the stop member moves through the space between the clamping elements before the shrimp comes to lie against the stop member on the supporting surface in said space so as to be clamped down. A method for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, wherein a shrimp is placed against a stop member on a supporting surface in order to be engaged by two clamping elements, characterized in that said stop member is moved through the space between said clamping elements before the shrimp is placed against the stop member on the supporting surface in order to be clamped down. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with means for pivoting the tail portion of the shrimp relative to the other part of the shrimp to a more stretched position of the tail portion relative to said other part, which means can be moved along a clamped-down shrimp and which form an interrupted edge which is capable of pushing against said tail portion, wherein said interruption is present in the centre (plane of symmetry of the shrimp) , characterized in that the edge parts on either side of the interruption are substantially in line. A device wherein said means comprise two bar-shaped members, each having a free end, which free ends are positioned near each other, wherein the two bar-shaped members include an obtuse angle with each other, characterized in that each of said bar-shaped members comprises a portion at its free end which has a transverse dimension larger than the transverse dimension at some distance from the free end. A method for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, wherein shrimps are positioned at a predetermined location, wherein a shrimp lying on its side is approached by a movable suction nozzle, which engages the shrimp and pulls it away, after which the shrimp is detached from the suction nozzle at a predetermined location, in that a bar which is held in a stationary position moves outwards through the opening of the suction nozzle relative to the suction nozzle. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, wherein shrimps are positioned at a predetermined location, which device is provided with a movable suction nozzle for engaging a shrimp and pulling it away, and with a bar which can move through the opening of said suction nozzle and with means for holding the bar in a stationary position, at least temporarily so, while the suction nozzle is being moved, so that one end of said bar moves outwardly through the opening of said suction nozzle from the inside, wherein said bar pushes the shrimp away from the suction nozzle. A method for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, wherein a shrimp lying on its side, whose tail portion is so bent that it substantially abuts the belly side of the shrimp, is moved to a position wherein the shrimp lies on its back (shell) , wherein the shrimp is transported in a downwardly sloping chute, wherein said chute is set vibrating, so that the force of gravity will cause the back portion of the shrimp to be positioned lower in the chute than the tail portion. A device for peeling shrimps or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with a downwardly sloping chute, in which a shrimp lying on its side can be transported, characterized in that means are provided for setting the chute vibrating. A device which is characterized in that said chute is provided, at least along part of its length, with a longitudinally extending recess in the central portion of said chute.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for peeling shrimps (22) or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with two clamping elements (2) which are capable of clamping a shrimp (22) against a supporting surface (1) with its backside (shell) , wherein each clamping element comprises an edge (17) essentially extending towards said supporting surface (1) , which is capable of engaging the shrimp (22) on its belly side, near the edge of the shell, characterized in that at least part of said edge (17) of the clamping element is serrated (toothed) . 2. A device according to claim 1 for peeling shrimps (22) or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with clamping elements (2) which are capable of clamping a shrimp (22) against a supporting surface (1) with its backside (shell) , characterized in that the supporting surface (1) is at least locally convex in the plane of symmetry of the shrimp (22) being clamped against the supporting surface (1) . 3. A device according to claim 2, which device is provided with a rotatable peeling element comprising a plurality of supporting surfaces (1) , which are essentially arranged in a circle round the axis of rotation, with said surfaces (1) being directed substantially radially outwards, and with clamping elements (2) which are capable of clamping a substantially tangentially oriented shrimp (22) against each supporting surface (1) , wherein said shrimp (22) is positioned against said supporting surface (1) with its backside (shell) , characterized in that the radius of curvature of the supporting surface (1) in the radial plane is smaller, at least locally so, than the distance between the supporting surface (1) and the axis of rotation. 4. A device according to claim 3 , wherein said peeling element is substantially in the form of a disc and wherein said supporting surfaces (1) are present on the outer edge of said disc, characterized in that the edge of the disc is provided with concave recesses between each of said supporting surfaces (1) . 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims for peeling shrimps (22) or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with a supporting surface (1) , against which a shrimp (22) can be clamped with its backside (shell) by two clamping elements (2) which engage the shrimp (22) on either side of its belly side, near the edge of the shell, and with means for engaging the tail portion and pulling it off, characterized by means (8, 12) which move the clamping elements (2) in such a manner that the shell is pulled open and allowed to spring back again before said tail portion is pulled off. 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims for peeling shrimps (22) or similar crustaceans, which device is provided with means (25) for damaging the shell on the backside, near the place where the tail portion is separated from the other shell portion. 7. A method for peeling shrimps (22) or similar crustaceans, wherein a shrimp (22) is clamped against a supporting surface (1) with its backside (shell) , characterized in that said supporting surface (1) exhibits a convex curvature in the plane of symmetry of the shrimp (22) being clamped against said supporting surface (1) . 8. A method for peeling shrimps (22) or similar crustaceans, wherein a shrimp (22) is clamped against a supporting surface (1) with its backside (shell) by two clamping elements (2) which engage the shrimp (22) on either side of its belly side, near the edge of the shell, after which the tail portion of the shell is engaged and pulled off, characterized in that the shell is pulled open by the two clamping elements (2) and allowed to spring back again before said tail portion is pulled off. 9. A method for peeling shrimps (22) or similar crustaceans, wherein a shrimp (22) is held and the tail portion of the shell is pulled off, characterized in that the shell is damaged on the backside of the shrimp, at a point near the place where the tail portion is to be separated from the other part of the shell, before said tail portion is pulled off. 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that a cutting member is stuck in the shell of the shrimp .

Inventors: DE VRIES JACOBUS LAMBERTUS, VAN WOENSEL ILJA, DE VRIES, JACOBUS, LAMBERTUS, VAN WOENSEL, ILJA
Applicants: MEGAPEL BV, VRIES JACOBUS LAMBERTUS DE, WOENSEL ILJA VAN, DE VRIES, JACOBUS, LAMBERTUS, MEGAPEL B.V., VAN WOENSEL, ILJA
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A22C29
IPC codes: A22C29