Abstract: A cam adjusting assembly for a rotary cutter blade in a shrimp peeling machine. The assembly includes a retention member disposed for movement in a slot in a retention gear with a cam means being selectively positioned along the length of the slot and maintained in a desired position by a biasing means which connects the cam member to the retention member thereby permitting the shrimp cutting blade to be adjusted as to the location where the blade enters a shrimp to be cut.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved shrimp processing machine which employs a constant speed conveyor feed means which permits the utilization of a reduced number of clamp assemblies for clamping and transporting shrimp to be processed to various processing stations. The machine further includes shrimp deflection means to prevent shrimps from falling into the machine and improved adjusting means for adjusting the means for removing shrimp meat from the shell following a cutting operation.

Abstract: A machine for peeling a shell from shrimp comprising a movement device, a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted on and moved by the device past a number of processing stations. In the first style of processing wherein the entire shell is removed, the operative stations include a cutting station, a deveining station, and a meat removal station. In the second style wherein the tail and the first shell section are allowed to remain on the meat, there is also an operative disjointing station wherein the joint or connection between the first and second shell sections is broken. Each clamp assembly includes a tail clamp, a shell disjointing clamp, and a main body clamp, and cam devices are provided for operating the clamps. An actuating mechanism having an active position and an inactive position is provided, this mechanism having interconnected parts at the disjointing station and at the meat removal station.

Abstract: A tail breaker cam assembly for use with a shrimp processing machine for aiding in the fracturing of the tail of a shrimp from the main shrimp shell, the tail breaker cam assembly including a first, fixed cam member and a second cam member pivotal about the first cam member with a biasing means to urge the pivoting cam member to move in one direction and means for limiting the amount of travel of the pivotable second cam member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a shrimp processing machine which includes a new and improved cam arrangement for splitting the shrimp shells open to thereby expose the sand vein of the shrimp to facilitate the deveining of the shrimp and ultimate separation of the shrimp meat from the shrimp shells. The machine includes a plurality of processing stations including a cutting station for cutting the shrimp lengthwise through the shrimp shells along the shrimp sand veins and an adjacent deveining station for removing the sand vein of the shrimp. A carrier means transfers the shrimp through the processing stations and includes cam actuated clamp means for gripping the shrimp shells. A cam means disposed between the cutting and deveining stations is arranged to controllably act upon the clamp means of the carrier to cause an increase in the grip pressure on the shrimp by the clamp means after the shrimp have been cut for splitting the shrimp shells open to thereby expose the sand vein of the shrimp to the deveining stations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a shrimp processing machine which includes a new and improved means for separating the shrimp meat from the shrimp shells. The machine includes a plurality of processing stations including a meat separating station which separates the shrimp meat from the shrimp shells. The machine also includes a carrier for transferring the shrimp through the processing stations and a conveyor means for conveying the shrimp to be processed to the carrier. The carrier is arranged to transfer the shrimp along a descending path through the meat separating station. The meat separating station includes a plurality of spike members or tines which are arranged for reciprocal movement to a protracted position into the shrimp for penetrating the shrimp and coacting with the carrier for separating the shrimp meat from the shrimp shells and to a retracted position for movement out of the shrimp meat for releasing the separated shrimp meat.