Laitram, LLC

Lars Vedsted

Søren Vedsted

Christopher G Greve

Robert S Lapeyre

Brent A Ledet

Charles L Borrello

Charles J Ledet

Bruce F Taylor

Kjeld Holmstrup

Soren Vedsted

A separation and singulation system for presenting shrimps or other product individually to a processor. The separation and singulation system includes a divider pan that separates a layer of shrimp into several lanes, a shaker pan that receives the lanes of shrimp and agitates them to separate clumps of shrimp and a flume for providing further singulation and acceleration of the shrimp. The singulated, separated shrimps are then sent to a processor.

Singulation and separation system for a shrimp processor

Apparatus and methods for deheading and peeling shrimp hydraulically using the Venturi Effect. A shrimp-laden fluid is pumped through a conduit system including one or more venturi tubes. The acceleration of the fluid through the venturis detaches the heads and loosens or detaches the shells from the shrimp. The venturis may be used in conjunction with a roller peeler to increase peeling quality. An inspection station receives shrimp from the roller peeler and directs incompletely peeled shrimp back to the peeler or one or more of the venturis.

Shrimp processing apparatus and methods

System and method for processing raw shrimp. A head-on shell-on shrimp is first back-slit to expose the vein. Next, the head and some or all of the vein is removed in a hydraulic deheader. The headless, back-slit shrimp is then peeled in a roller-type peeling machine to remove the shell and any residual vein and provide high-quality, peeled and deveined shrimp meat.

System and method for peeling and deveining shrimp

Methods and apparatus for cleaning the peeling section of a roller-type peeling machine. The apparatus includes an x-y robot disposed above the peeling section of the peeling machine. The robot has a cleaning tool, such as a liquid spray nozzle, as an end effector. A controller commands the robot to control the movement of the cleaning tool along a predetermined cleaning path to clean the peeling section. One such cleaning path follows each of the insert rollers in the peeling section of a peeling machine. An underside cleaner may be used in conjunction with the robot to simultaneously clean the underside of the peeling section.

Apparatus and method for cleaning peeling machines

Apparatus and methods for deheading shrimp using the Venturi Effect. A shrimp-laden fluid is pumped through a conduit system and lined with one or more venturi tubes. The acceleration of the fluid through the venturis detaches the heads from the shrimp. The cross-sectional areas of the venturis each have a major axis and a shorter minor axis. The major axis is long enough to receive the majority of or all the length of a shrimp and minimize hard collisions with the entrance to the venturi that could damage the shrimp.

Shrimp deheading apparatus and methods

Methods and apparatus for cleaning the peeling section of a roller-type peeling machine. The apparatus includes an x-y robot disposed above the peeling section of the peeling machine. The robot has a cleaning tool, such as a liquid spray nozzle, as an end effector. A controller commands the robot to control the movement of the cleaning tool along a predetermined cleaning path to clean the peeling section. One such cleaning path follows each of the insert rollers in the peeling section of a peeling machine.

Apparatus and method for separating lightweight waste from product with cyclic pulses of air. An air separator includes a blower duct directing air upward through product conveyed on a foraminous conveyor. A pair of counter-rotating vanes in the blower duct cyclically open and close to establish a pulsating air flow in the center of the duct across the width of the conveyor. The pulsating air flow lifts lightweight waste from the product and blows it through a vertical duct above the conveyor to waste separation chambers for separation and disposal.

Air separator

The invention relates to a method and a product for heating or cooling including freezing of food items in a rotating closed pipe serpent. The technology includes a closed non-circular rotating pipe serpent for processing of food items, where the food items are transported in a preparation liquid through the pipe serpent during either heating or cooling. The invention secures a gentle but efficient mixture of the food items that prevents clogging, which secures a homogeneous thermal processing of the individual food items, which again secures a high quality of the final food items. Simultaneously the products used for processing are easy to clean, which results in low costs. The process can be run entirely automatic without the involvement of manual labor, which results in minimal demands for process resources and ensures a high standard of hygiene. Several independent rotating pipe serpent units can be combined so that the food items can run through numerous successive heating- or cooling processes in batches or in a continuous flow. The process is suited for processing of many different types of food items such as meat, shellfish or vegetables whether these are going to be steamed, blanched or boiled in liquids such as water or oil.

Method and apparatus for heating or cooling of foodstuffs

Apparatus and associated methods for cleaning residual visceral matter from the belly cavity of a gutted fish. The cleaning apparatus includes a scraper attached at the mouth of a suction tube by a hinge. An actuator pivots the scraper about the hinge between an extended position biased into contact with the interior wall of the belly cavity and a retracted position out of contact with the wall. In the retracted position, the scraper covers the mouth of the suction tube to prevent dislodged visceral matter from falling back into the belly cavity. In the extended position, the scraper uncovers the mouth of the suction tube to allow scraped visceral matter to be sucked from the belly cavity.

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Vadum, Denmark

Lars Vedsted