Patent Abstract:
A deveining device efficiently removes veins from shrimp while preserving the meat of the shrimp in both appearance and quantity. The deveining device comprises a channel having a blade extending along a section of the channel for cutting the back of the shrimp as it rolls through the channel to expose a vein. A downstream vein remover severs the exposed vein from the shrimp body. Nozzles spray fluid into the channel to propel the shrimp through the channel.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/748,284 filed Jan. 2, 2013 and entitled “Deveining Device,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for removing veins from shrimp or other crustaceans. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In preparing shrimp, crawfish or other animals having a vein in the alimentary canal, it is often desirable to remove the vein. Current options for deveining shrimp include manual removal, which is inefficient and time-consuming, and automated devices known in the art. With manual operations, a worker must perform a number of operations to partially or entirely remove the shell from the meat of the shrimp, and cut the meat of the shrimp in a manner desirable to the end user. Manual vein removal is relatively time consuming and thus can lead to higher costs. Moreover, such prolonged contact between workers and the shrimp can lead to contamination of the shrimp. Additionally, the resulting processed product can be less than uniform depending upon the individual worker performing the operation, and the diligence with which the worker processes the shrimp. 
         [0004]    Prior automated deveining devices may also lack efficiency, and can also damage the meat, leading to both an undesirable appearance in the shrimp and a reduced quantity of the meat. In automated deveining devices, cutting blades often tear into the meat, making many processed shrimp undesirable for presentation and-or wasting valuable meat product. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A shrimp deveining system efficiently removes veins from shrimp or other animals while preserving the meat of the shrimp in both appearance and quantity. The shrimp deveining system capitalizes on a shrimp&#39;s tendency to roll in a vertical orientation when acted upon by a motive force. A deveining device comprises a channel having a blade extending from a wall of the channel for cutting the back of the shrimp as it rolls through the channel. A downstream vein remover severs the vein from the shrimp body. A motive force, such as nozzles spraying fluid into the channel, propels the shrimp through the channel. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, a shrimp deveining device is provided. The shrimp deveining device comprises a channel having an inlet, outlet and walls for holding a shrimp in a substantially vertical orientation, a driver for causing the shrimp to roll through the channel and a blade protruding from a wall of the channel. The blade slices open back meat of a shrimp rolling through the channel to expose the vein of the shrimp. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, a shrimp deveining device comprises a linear channel having an inlet, an outlet, a bottom and walls for holding the shrimp in a substantially vertical orientation, and a linear blade protruding from the bottom of the channel for slicing open back meat of a shrimp in the channel to expose the vein. 
         [0008]    According to still another aspect of the invention, a shrimp deveining device comprises a linear channel extending from an inlet to an outlet and having walls for holding a shrimp in a substantially vertical orientation, a slicing section in a first location of the linear channel for slicing open the back meat of a shrimp in the channel to expose the vein, and a vein severing section downstream of the slicing section for separating the vein from the body of the shrimp. 
         [0009]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of deveining shrimp comprises the steps of causing a shrimp to roll in a channel, slicing open the alimentary canal of the shrimp to expose the vein using a blade disposed in the channel, removing the vein from the alimentary canal of the shrimp. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0010]    These features and aspects of the invention, as well as its advantages, are described in more detail in the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a deveining system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a deveining section of a deveining system having an array of deveining devices according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the deveining section of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the deveining section of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the deveining section of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a slicing channel of the deveining section of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the slicing channel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the slicing channel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the slicing channel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional end view of the slicing channel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a transition side wall of the slicing channel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the transition side wall of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is an end view of the transition side wall of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a detailed isometric view of an end of a slicing channel including stabilizers according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is an end view of the slicing channel of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the slicing channel of  FIG. 15  through lines  15 - 15 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is an isometric view of a vein severing channel of the deveining section of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is an end view of the vein severing channel of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the vein severing channel of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a detailed view of a knurled roller of the vein severing channel of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is a schematic view of a deveining device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is a side view of the deveining device of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional front view of a slicing section of the deveining device of  FIG. 22  during a deveining process; 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional front view of the deveining device of  FIG. 22  in an extraction section during a deveining process; 
           [0035]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional front view of the deveining device of  FIG. 22  in a vein removal section during a deveining process; 
           [0036]      FIG. 26  is a partial perspective view of a slicing section of a deveining device according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 27  is a partial isometric view of a combined slicing and extraction section of a deveining device according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 28  is a front view of the combined slicing and extraction section of  FIG. 27 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 29  is a side view of the combined slicing and extraction section of  FIG. 27 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional end view of another embodiment of a deveining device having a v-shaped channel; 
           [0041]      FIG. 31  is a side view of another embodiment of a deveining device having circular cutting blades; 
           [0042]      FIG. 32A  is a side view of another embodiment of a deveining device comprising an arched channel and a rotary blade; 
           [0043]      FIG. 32B  is an isometric view of the deveining device of  FIG. 32A ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 33  is a side view of the blade of the deveining device of  FIGS. 32A and 32B ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 34  is a close-up view of the channel, blade and stabilizers of the deveining device of  FIGS. 32A and 32B ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 35  is a side view of the stabilizers of the deveining device of  FIGS. 32A and 32B ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 36  is an isometric view of an outlet end of the deveining device of  FIGS. 32A and 32B , with a side wall of the channel removed; 
           [0048]      FIG. 37  is an isometric view of the barbs in the extraction section of the deveining device of  FIGS. 32A and 32B ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 38A  is a top view of a deveining device according to another embodiment; 
           [0050]      FIG. 38B  is a cross-sectional front view of the deveining device of  FIG. 38A ; and 
           [0051]      FIG. 39  is a cross-sectional, detailed view of a channel of the deveining device of  FIGS. 38A and 38B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0052]    An improved deveining system cleanly removes a vein from a shrimp or other crustacean. The deveining system capitalizes on a vertically-oriented shrimp&#39;s tendency to roll when acted upon by a motive force. The invention will be described relative to certain illustrative embodiments, though those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments. 
         [0053]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the components of a deveining system  10  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The deveining system includes an infeed  12  for feeding product, such as shrimp, to be deveined. The infeed  12  may be a reciprocating or vibrating feed trough, as described in US. Patent Application Publication Number 2013/0313169, entitled “System and Method for Grading Articles and Selectively Mixing Graded Articles” filed Feb. 2, 2012 and published Nov. 28, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference, or any other suitable infeed system. The infeed  12  passes products to be deveined into a deveining section  14 , comprising a slicing section  15  and a vein severing section  18 . The slicing section  15  includes one or more blades for slicing open the backs of shrimp to expose or extract a vein, examples of which are described below. The vein severing section  18  separates the vein from the meat of the shrimp. The illustrative deveining system  10  includes a product outlet  20  for deveined product and a waste outlet  22  for veins and other waste, though alternatively, the waste and deveined product may exit together. The waste may be filtered with a filter  23 , and the water used to facilitate deveining, as described below, may be recycled back to the infeed  12 , slicing section  15 , and-or vein severing section  18 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a deveining section  140  of a deveining system according to one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3  is a top view of the deveining section  140 .  FIG. 4  is a side view of the illustrative deveining section  140 .  FIG. 5  is an end view of the deveining section  140 . The deveining section  140  includes an array of slicing channels  150  and an array of vein severing devices  180  in a frame  199 . The illustrative deveining section  140  comprises four parallel slicing channels  150  in series with four parallel vein severing devices  180 , though the deveining system may comprise any suitable number and configuration of channels and severing devices. The deveining section  140  also includes a first spray manifold  170  for providing a fluid spray to help propel a shrimp through a slicing channel  150  and a second spray manifold  190  above the severing section  180 . Each slicing channel  150  holds shrimp in a vertical orientation and the fluid spray from the first spray manifold  170 , or other suitable driver, applies a motive force to propel the shrimp through the slicing channel  150 . Under the effect of the motive force, the vertically-held shrimp will roll through the different sections of the slicing channel  150 , while a blade located in the slicing channel slices open the back of the shrimp, as described below. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 6-10  show an example of a slicing channel  150  according to one embodiment of the invention. Each slicing channel may be a separate cartridge that can be removed from and inserted into the frame of the deveining system. Each illustrative slicing channel  150  comprises an inner channel formed by side walls  151 ,  152  and bottom wall  153 . A blade  154  extends up from the bottom wall  153  for slicing open the backs of shrimp tumbling through the channel. The blade  154  may have any suitable size, shape and configuration suitable for slicing open the back of a shrimp or other crustacean. The illustrative inner channel and blade are linear, though the invention is not so limited. The side walls  151 ,  152  set a fluid level in the slicing channel  150 , as described below. 
         [0056]    The slicing channel  150  further includes outer side walls  161 ,  162  for holding the shrimp in the substantially vertical orientation. The outer side walls  161 ,  162  flank the inner side walls  151 ,  152 . The outer side walls  161 ,  162  are wider in a base section and taper in an upper section to form overflow valves  163 ,  164  for allowing excess fluid to drain from the channel  150 . In the illustrative embodiment, the outer side walls  161 ,  163  taper around the tops of the inner side walls  151 ,  152 . Fluid in the channel therefore has a highest level set by the height of the inner side walls  151 ,  152 . The overflow valves  163 ,  164  pull excess fluid through the bottom of the slicing channel  150 , providing an additional force holding the shrimp in the vertical orientation within the slicing channel  150 . 
         [0057]    The outer side walls  161 ,  162  terminate at the upper end in tabs  166 ,  167 , which allow coupling of the spray manifold  170  to the outer side walls  161 ,  162 . Openings  168  in the upper tabs receive tabs or other fasteners associated with the spray manifold  170 . The spray manifold  170  couples to the side walls to create a tight, cohesive unit. 
         [0058]    The spray manifold  170  includes a plurality of spray nozzles  172  feed by a hose or other suitable device through an inlet  173 . The spray nozzles may be spaced at any suitable distance along the length of the slicing channel  150  to provide a motive force propelling the shrimp through the channel. The nozzles are preferably orientated at an angle relative to the slicing channel. Preferably, the nozzles are angled between about 30° and about 60° with respect to the channel, and more preferably about 45° with respect to the channel. The nozzles emit sprays or streams of fluid, such as water, and direct the fluid through the slicing channel  150 . The motive force applied by the nozzles propels the shrimp through the slicing channel and provides a downward cutting force on the shrimp. Water (or another fluid emitted by the nozzles) collects in the inner channel and provides a hydrodynamic force balance which keeps the shrimp in the center of the slicing channel  150 . The spray may be adjusted, if desired. 
         [0059]    The width of the slicing channel  150  may vary depending on the size of shrimp being deveined. 
         [0060]    Each slicing channel  150  further includes a transition side wall  169 , shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , comprising a torsioned wall. The transition side wall  169  receives the shrimp from the infeed at an angle and transitions the shrimp to a substantially vertical orientation. As shown, the upstream end  169   a  of the wall extends at an angle that matches an angle of a wall of the infeed and the wall twists to a vertical orientation at the downstream end  169   b . The degree of twist depends on the angle of the walls of the infeed trough or device. In the illustrative embodiment, fasteners  157  pass through openings  158  in the transition side wall to integrate the transition side wall into the slicing channel. Alternatively, the transition side wall may be integral with an outer side wall  162 , or coupled thereto through any suitable means. 
         [0061]    The slicing channel  150  may comprise two halves that fit together around the blade  154 . Fasteners  159  couple the two halves together, though other suitable coupling means may be used. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 14-16 , the bottom wall  153  may include stabilizers  155  for stabilizing the shrimp. The illustrative stabilizer  155  comprises lateral teeth formed in the bottom wall  153  of inner channel. The stabilizer  155  may be integral with or separately formed from the bottom wall  153 . 
         [0063]    As also shown in  FIG. 14 , the inner channel may be formed by two components that couple together. The first component includes the first inner side wall  151  extending up from a base  1530 . A second component comprises the second inner side wall  152  extending up from another base  1531 . The second component may be a mirror image of the first component. The tops of the bases each form a half of the bottom wall  153  of the inner channel. The inner surface  1533  of each base  1530 ,  1531  includes a recess  1534  for receiving the blade  154 . The bases couple together to sandwich the blade to form the inner channel, and the outer side walls  161 ,  162  flank the inner side walls to form the slicing channel  150 . 
         [0064]    When inserted in the frame of the deveining system, the slicing channel  150  may be oriented at an angle relative to horizontal to promote rolling of the shrimp as it enters the slicing channel. The angle may also increase the speed at which fluid from the nozzles flow. The illustrative trough preferably declines at an angle that is between about 0° and about 20° from horizontal, is more preferably at about 10° from horizontal. 
         [0065]    To devein, the infeed device  12  passes a shrimp into a slicing channel  150 , which orients the shrimp in a vertical orientation. The spray manifold  170  emits a spray, such as water, causing the shrimp to roll over the blade  154 . The blade  154  slices the back of the shrimp open to expose the vein in the alimentary canal. The shrimp stays in a vertical rotation in a fluid bath provided by the nozzles in the manifold  170 , which is favorable to the rolling action. The blade  154  may also extract the vein from the shrimp body. 
         [0066]    The sliced shrimp then passes from the slicing channel  150  to a lane in the vein severing section  180 .  FIGS. 17-19  illustrate an embodiment of a vein severing lane or channel  181  according to one embodiment of the invention. Similar to the slicing channel  150 , the vein severing lane may comprise an insertable cartridge that is inserted into the frame  199  of the deveining system  10 . In the illustrative embodiment, there is a 1:1 correspondence between the number of slicing channels  150  and vein severing lanes  181 , though the invention is not so limited and multiple slicing channels may feed into a single vein severing lane, or a single slicing channel may feed multiple vein severing lanes. 
         [0067]    Each vein severing lane  181  comprises a pair of walls  182 ,  183  connected to and hanging down from a spray manifold  190  including an array of spray nozzles. The illustrative walls  182 ,  183  in the vein severing lane are straight, though the invention is not so limited. The walls  182 ,  183  hold the shrimp in a substantially vertical orientation during the vein severing process. Inlet hoses  191  feed the spray manifold. The bottom of the lane is formed by a pair of rotating rollers  185 ,  186 , which form a nip to grab the vein and sever it from the body of the shrimp. The rollers  185 ,  186  roll in the direction of the arrows to form a clamp pulling the vein through the nip. Deveined shrimp pass out the end of the lane  181 . 
         [0068]    In one embodiment, the pressure of the spray in the severing section  180  is greater than the pressure of the spray in the slicing section  150 . 
         [0069]    In the illustrative embodiment, the roller  185  comprises a large roller and the roller  186  is a smaller roller located about 45° from the top of the larger roller. The illustrative smaller roller  186  is knurled, as shown in detail in  FIG. 20  to form gaps  187  facilitating the removal of veins. The smaller roller  186  may comprise a plurality of rollers in series or a single roller extending along the length of the lane. 
         [0070]      FIGS. 21-25  illustrate an embodiment of deveining device  200  suitable for use in a deveining system according to another embodiment of the invention. The illustrative deveining device  200  comprises a channel, illustrated as linear trough  210  having substantially vertical side walls  211 ,  212  and a bottom wall  213 . The illustrative trough has an open top  214 , though the invention may alternatively comprise a closed channel. The trough  210  extends from a first end defining an inlet  215  to a second end defining an outlet  217 . A shrimp, or other product requiring deveining, entering the trough is held in a vertical orientation by the side walls  211 ,  212 . The trough  210  includes a series of sections for removing the vein from the shrimp. First, a slicing section  250  exposes a vein on a shrimp. The slicing section  250  may also extract the exposed vein from the alimentary canal. Alternatively, a separate vein extraction section  260  downstream of the slicing section  250  extracts the exposed vein from the alimentary canal of the shrimp. Then, a vein removal section  280  separates the vein from the body of the shrimp and passes the separated vein out of the trough. The deveining device further includes a driver, illustrated as nozzles  220 , for applying a motive force to shrimp in the trough to propel the shrimp from the inlet  215  towards the outlet  217 . Under the effect of the motive force, the vertically-held shrimp will roll through the different sections of the trough  210 . 
         [0071]    While the illustrative side walls  211 ,  212  are substantially vertical, the channel may alternatively have slightly angled side walls, or other suitably shaped walls for holding the rolling shrimp in a vertical orientation within the channel. 
         [0072]    The inlet  215  comprises an opening in the upstream end of the trough  210  for passing shrimp from an infeed device, such as a feed tank, tray or other suitable device. Preferably, the infeed device passes a single shrimp at a time into the trough  210 . A torsioned transition wall may transition the shrimp from a non-vertical orientation to a vertical orientation, as described above. 
         [0073]    The slicing section  250  comprises a linear blade  241  extending along a first portion of the bottom  213  of the trough  210 . In the illustrative embodiment, the linear blade  240  is between about 16 inches and about 83 inches and preferably between about 33 inches and about 66 inches and most preferably between about 35 inches and about 50 inches, though the blade may have any suitable length. Preferably, the length of the blade is greater than the circumference of the shrimp, to ensure contact between the blade and all points along the curved back of the shrimp. The linear blade  241  is preferably centered in the bottom of the trough, equidistant from each of the side walls  211 ,  212 . The trough  210  further includes a stabilizer, illustrated as a series of pointed stubs  243  disposed along the linear length of the channel on each side of the blade  241 . The stubs are spaced along the linear length at a distance that is between about 0.15 inches and about 0.5 inches apart and preferably between about 0.2 inches to 0.38 inches apart. The distance between the stubs may vary based on the size of the shrimp being deveined. Larger shrimp allow for a larger distance between stubs, while the stubs may be closer together for smaller shrimp. The stubs  243  may be spaced from the blade  241  by a distance that is between about 0.09 and about 0.4 inches and preferably between about 0.18 and about 0.3 inches. The stubs  243  are lower than the blade  241 . The stubs  243  contact the meat of the shrimp on either side of the alimentary canal to help center the blade  241  over the alimentary canal and-or help roll the shrimp over the blade. 
         [0074]    The stabilizer may have any suitable embodiment and is not limited to the pointed stubs  243 . For example, the stabilizer may comprise one or more strips of laser cut metal with teeth cut into it. 
         [0075]    The bottom of the trough  210  may be stepped to promote vertical orientation of the shrimp and to accommodate various sizes of shrimp. 
         [0076]    The driver applies a motive force to the shrimp to facilitate turning of the shrimp within the channel. In the illustrative embodiment, the driver comprises a series of nozzles  220  positioned at the top of the trough  210 . The nozzles are preferably orientated at an angle relative to the trough, as described above. The motive force applied by the nozzles propels the shrimp through the trough  210  and provides a downward cutting force on the shrimp. Water (or another fluid emitted by the nozzles) collects in the bottom of the trough and provides a hydrodynamic force balance which keeps the shrimp in the center of the trough. This enables the deveining device  210  to tolerate a large variation in shrimp width and still provide an attractive cut down the center of the shrimp&#39;s back. 
         [0077]    The overhead nozzles pass through the open top end  214  of the trough  210 . Alternatively, the top end  214  may include openings for housing the nozzles. The nozzles may be housed in a manifold located above or coupled to the trough  210 . 
         [0078]    In addition to the overhead nozzles  220 , the deveining device may also include an entry nozzle  222  at the inlet end of the trough  210  for providing an entrance spray propelling the shrimp into and through the trough  210 . 
         [0079]    The series of nozzles  220  may extend along the entire length of the trough or a portion thereof. 
         [0080]    The motive force applied by the nozzles  220 ,  222  can be adjusted to increase or decrease production speed. 
         [0081]    The trough  210  may be oriented at an angle relative to horizontal to promote rolling of the shrimp as it enters the trough. The angle may also increase the speed at which fluid from the nozzle flows. The illustrative trough  210  preferably declines at an angle that is between about 0° and about 20° from horizontal, is more preferably at about 10° from horizontal. 
         [0082]    In addition to slitting open the back of the shrimp, the linear blade  241  may also extract the vein from the alimentary canal after it is exposed. Alternatively, the channel may include a separate extraction section downstream from the cutting section  250 . For example, the illustrative trough  210  includes a series of vertically oriented pointed posts  251  aligned with the blade  241  to form a separate extraction section. The pointed posts  251  are higher than the blade  241 . The pointed posts are spaced apart by a separation distance that ranges from between about 0.25 inches to about 1 inch, and is preferably between about 0.25 inches and about 0.5 inches. The optimal separation distance depends on the size of the shrimp being deveined, with larger shrimp having a larger separation distance and smaller shrimp having a smaller separation distance. The pointed posts  251  are an optional component to the deveining device. 
         [0083]    The vein removal section  280 , downstream from the extraction section  250 , includes a device for severing the extracted vein from the meat of the shrimp or other deveined product. In one embodiment, the vein removal device includes an opening  281  that is smaller than the shrimp being deveined and a pump  282  or other device for pulling the vein through the opening  281 . The pump  282  severs the vein from the body of the shrimp and passes the severed vein to an exit of the pump. The vein removal device may alternatively comprise rotating rollers or another suitable clamping device for pulling the vein through the opening  281 . 
         [0084]    The illustrative outlet  217  of the trough  210  comprises an opening in the trough at the downstream end for passing the deveined shrimp. 
         [0085]    The trough  210  may include drains in the bottom  213  of the trough  210  for allowing some of the fluid to drain. The drain may be located along the outside sides of the channel, near the side walls  211 ,  212  and-or towards the middle of the channel, so that the pull of the fluid through the drain helps center the rolling shrimp on the blade  241 . 
         [0086]      FIGS. 22 ,  23 ,  24  and  25  illustrate a shrimp  2  being deveined using a deveining device of  FIG. 21 . The shrimp enters the trough  210  and begins to roll over the blade  241  under the influence of gravity and the motive force provided by the nozzles  220 ,  222 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , the blade  241  slices the back  3  of the shrimp open to expose the vein  4  in the alimentary canal, while the stubs  243  hold the shrimp steady. The shrimp  2  stays in a vertical rotation in a fluid bath provided by the nozzles, which is favorable to the rolling action. The blade  241  may also extract the vein  4  from the shrimp body. 
         [0087]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 24 , the shrimp  2  optionally passes over the section of vertically oriented pointed posts  251  that open the cut back meat and extricate the vein  4  from the alimentary canal. While the pointed posts&#39; primary function is to extricate the vein, the posts  251  can also completely remove the vein by snagging it with enough force to sever it from the shrimp meat. Alternatively, the pointed post section is omitted, and the blade  241  alone extracts the vein. 
         [0088]    Then, as shown in  FIG. 25 , the shrimp  2 , still in a fluid bath, passes over a pump  282  or other vein removal device. The pump  282  draws the exposed vein  4  through the opening  281  and severs the vein  4  from the shrimp meat. The size of the opening  281  prevents the shrimp  2  from passing through and contacting the opening. Because the shrimp do not touch the pump, the yield of the deveined shrimp is increased. The illustrative pump comprises dual impeller gears  283 ,  284 , which are cylindrical in form, rotating in the direction of arrows  285 ,  286 . The severed vein  4  passes through the exit  288  of the pump  282 , along with fluid passing through the pump  282 . 
         [0089]      FIG. 26  illustrates a slicing section  350  of another embodiment of a deveining device  300 . The linear blade  341  includes an abrasive edge  342  along the top edge of the blade to facilitate cutting through the tissue on the back of the shrimp. The abrasive edge  342  may be formed of diamond chips or another suitable material. In addition to exposing the vein, the abrasive edge may also extract the vein by wearing it away at its point of attachment with the shrimp. 
         [0090]    FIGS.  27 , 28  and  29  illustrate a portion of another embodiment of a deveining device  400 . The device  400  includes a combination slitting and extraction section  440  comprising a linear blade  441  with linear tabs  450  projecting at an angle from the sides of the blade. As shown in  FIG. 28 , the linear blade  441  slices open the tissue on the back of a shrimp  2  to expose the vein  4 . A linear tab  450  catches the vein  4 , as shown in  FIG. 29 . As the shrimp continues down the trough  410 , the tab retains the vein, extracting the vein from the shrimp. The tabs  450  may serve as extractors alone. The linear tabs  450  may also entirely remove the vein from the body of the shrimp. 
         [0091]      FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional end view of another embodiment of a deveining device  500  according to another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 30  illustrates the deveining device  500  in a vein removal section  560 . The deveining device  500  includes a v-shaped channel  510  having angled side walls  511 ,  512  for holding the shrimp  2  in a fluid bath in a substantially vertical orientation. The device  500  also includes a cutting section and extracting section, or a combined cutting and extraction section, (not shown) upstream of the vein removal section. The vein removal section  560  comprises an opening  561  in the bottom of the channel  510  that is smaller than the shrimp  520 . A pair of cylindrical rollers  565 ,  566  that rotate in the direction of arrows  567 ,  568  is disposed below the opening  561 . The rollers form a clamp. The rollers  565 ,  566  grab the vein  521  hanging from the shrimp body and sever it from the body, passing the severed vein below the rollers. 
         [0092]      FIG. 31  is a side view of another embodiment of a deveining device  600  suitable for removing the vein of shrimp or other creatures. The device  600  includes a linear channel  610  having side walls  611  for holding a shrimp in a substantially vertical orientation. In one section of the channel, circular blades  641  protrude from the bottom  613  of the channel  610 . The circular blades  641  have curved cutting edges  643 , and may rotate about a central axis  642  to facilitate cutting of a shrimp  2  rolling through the channel. The circular blades may also or alternatively extract and-or remove the vein from the shrimp. The deveining device  600  also includes a driver, illustrates as an array of nozzles  620 , for propelling rolling shrimp  2  through the channel  610 . The illustrative deveining device  600  further includes a separate extraction section  650  and a separate vein removal section  660 , though these components may alternatively be integrated into the cutting section  640  formed by the blades  641  or integrated with each other, or omitted. 
         [0093]      FIGS. 32A-38  show another embodiment of a deveining device  700  and its components. The deveining device  700  of  FIGS. 32A and 32B  includes an arched channel  710  for holding shrimp or another object to be deveined in a substantially vertical orientation. A blade  741  having a curved cutting edge matching the profile of the channel  710  protrudes through the bottom of the channel to form a slicing section  740  for exposing a vein of a shrimp rolling through the channel. The blade  741  may be a circular blade that rotates in either direction about a shaft  744 . Nozzles  720  are disposed relative to the channel  710  to cause a shrimp to roll through the channel, over the blade  741 . The rotating blade  741  slices through the tissue on the back of the shrimp to expose and, optionally, extract, the vein in the alimentary canal. The channel  710  may also include a separate extraction section and-or removal section. 
         [0094]    The illustrative blade  741  rotates at a rate of between about 100 and about 1000 revolutions per minute, though the invention is not limited to this range. 
         [0095]    The deveining device  700  includes an inlet chute  715  for providing a shrimp or other product to be deveined to the channel  710 . An inlet nozzle  722  provides an initial propelling spray to the shrimp. 
         [0096]    In the slicing section  740  of the device  700 , the blade  741  rotates to cut open the back meat of a shrimp rolling through the channel. As shown in  FIG. 33 , the blade  741  may include slanted grooves  742  to facilitate cutting of the shrimp and possibly shearing of the vein from the shrimp entirely. 
         [0097]      FIG. 34  is an isometric close-up view of the channel  710  of the deveining device  700 . The channel  710  is formed by two side walls  711 ,  712 , which may be plastic or another suitable material. The blade  741  protrudes through the bottom of the channel  710 . The channel may further include stabilizers on either side of the blade  741 . The illustrative stabilizers comprise strips  743   a - f  of laser cut metal. The strips include teeth  744  for contacting the shrimp. The teeth  744  help stabilize the shrimp and facilitate rolling of the shrimp through the channel. 
         [0098]    As shown in  FIG. 35 , the teeth  744  have a buttress thread configuration, with a vertical front face  744   a  and an inclined back face  744   b . As shown in  FIG. 34 , the strips have graduated heights, with the outer strips  743   a ,  743   f  highest, and the inner strips  743   c ,  743   d  lowest to form a stepped channel bottom. The stepped bottom allows the channel to cradle the shrimp over the blade  741 , regardless of shrimp size. The inner strips  743   c ,  743   d  are spaced from the blade  641  to form drains  730  for draining fluid through the bottom of the channel  710 . As fluid drains through the drains  730 , the suction created by the fluid may help draw the shrimp against the blade  741 . 
         [0099]    Referring back to  FIGS. 32A and 32B , the deveining device  700  further includes a second section  750  for removing any veins remaining after the shrimp passes over the rotating blade  741 . The extraction section  750 , a portion of which is detailed in  FIG. 36 , comprises a series of barbs  751  projecting from the bottom of the channel  710 . The barbs  751  may be integrally formed from a strip of metal  752 , as shown in  FIG. 37 , or may be formed from another material or method. The bottom of the channel in the extraction section  750  may be stepped, as shown in  FIG. 36 . The barbs may, in one embodiment, twist. 
         [0100]      FIGS. 38A and 38B  show a deveining device  800  according to another embodiment of the invention. The illustrative device includes a spiral channel  810  having a cutting blade  841  protruding into the interior of the channel from an outer wall  813 . The deveining device has a nautilus shape, with a central inlet  815  and an outer outlet  816 . The deveining device  800  is mounted on a central shaft  850 , which rotates about a central axis to rotate the deveining device. The rotation of the spiral channel  810  about the shaft provides a motive force to cause a shrimp  801  to roll through the spiral channel  810 . The centrifugal force provided by the rotation pushes the rolling shrimp  801  against the cutting blade  841  to cause the blade to slice open the back meat of the shrimp and expose the vein of the shrimp. The cutting blade may also extract and-or remove the vein from the shrimp body.  FIG. 39  is a close-up view of a portion of the spiral channel  810  including a rolling shrimp  801  being deveined. As shown, the cutting blade  841  protrudes from an outer wall  813  of the spiral channel. Stabilizers  843  may be disposed to the side of the cutting blade  841 . The stabilizers  843  may be stepped so that the channel  810  cradles the shrimp. 
         [0101]    In one embodiment, the width W of the channels  810  may be adjusted based on the size of shrimp being deveined. 
         [0102]    An alternative embodiment of the linear or rotary blade to cut the shrimp backs in a deveining device is to excite the blade to add vibratory or stroking movement to the blade, which increases cutting efficiency. For example, the blade may be coupled to an ultrasonic unit to induce vibration. 
         [0103]    The illustrative blade profile is smooth and straight. Alternatively, the blade may have a scalloped or serrated edge. 
         [0104]    While the illustrative deveining devices of  FIGS. 21-39  comprise a single channel, the deveining device may comprise multiple parallel channels, as shown in  FIG. 2-19  having slitting, extraction and-or removal sections to increase throughput capacity as needed. 
         [0105]    The shrimp emerge from the channel de-veined, retaining a pleasing aesthetic quality, and maximum yield due to the very limited trauma incurred by passing through the channel, versus current deveiners on the market. Current deveiners employ a far more aggressive agitation action to remove the vein, which results in poor aesthetics and a marked yield reduction. The present deveining device produces an aesthetically superior product by using a less aggressive method of removing the vein than the current automated standard. 
         [0106]    The deveining device of the present invention is also capable of a larger throughput capacity on a smaller footprint due to its compact size and ability to accelerate the shrimp with water pressure to increase process speed. 
         [0107]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a few exemplary versions, other versions are possible. So, as these few examples suggest, the scope of the claims is not meant to be limited to the versions described in detail.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0