Machine for separating meat from crab shells

Abstract

A crab meat removing machine is described to facilitate separation of crab meat from its exoskeleton or shell. The machine includes a number of specifically located rollers at a discharge end of an elongated belt type conveyor. Crab bodies and crab legs are placed on the belt conveyor which operates to move the bodies and legs in a prescribed direction toward the rollers. A first roller is situated above the discharge for the elongated conveyor while a second roller tangentially engages the first roller and is located downstream of the conveyor discharge. A space is thus provided between the second roller and conveyor discharge through which meat may fall. The crab parts moving on the conveyor are first engaged between the conveyor and first roller. These two members act as a gripping mechanism by which the crab parts are firmly held while being directed on downstream to engagement with the peripheral surface of the second roll. The second roll is rotated in a direction complementary to the direction of the parts moving on conveyor and will thus guide the parts into engagement between the two moving rollers. As the rollers draw the crab parts through, they simultaneously squeeze the shells and force the meat contained therein outwardly through the leg articulation openings, or in the case of bodies, through the opening created by previous sagittal sectioning. A water jet is directed against the roller surface to enhance disengagement of the meat from the rollers once it has been successfully squeezed from the shell. The parts are in an inclined condition with the exit orifices for the meat being oriented downwardly. This facilitates a considerably high rate of recovery of undamaged meat products.