Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a shrimp body, the shrimp body having a tail portion that includes a plurality of tail sections connected by joints. A motorized driving mechanism mounted inside a housing drives a cutting mechanism mounted outside the housing. The cutting mechanism includes a rotating cutting disk and a holding and carrying mechanism configured to securely hold the shrimp body and carry the shrimp body past the rotating cutting disk. The holding and carrying mechanism is configured to position the shrimp body in relation to the rotating cutting disk so that when the cutting disk cuts the shrimp body, the cutting disk leaves intact, a first joint at a head end of the tail portion and a last joint at a tail end of the tail portion, while cutting at least one intermediate joint between the first and last joints.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mechanically belly-cutting shrimp to precise depths for shrimp of various sizes. The apparatus includes a motorized circular cutting blade; a curved guide channel adjacent the circular cutting blade for receiving a shrimp body and guiding the shrimp body to the circular cutting blade; and motorized flexible disks adjacent to the blade and the guide channel for gripping the shrimp body and propelling the shrimp body along the guide channel. The curvature of the guide channel longitudinally stabilizes the shrimp body while a V-shaped cross-section laterally stabilizes the body, ensuring that the body arrives at the blade in the proper orientation. The guide channel may be adjusted to provide belly-cuts to desired depths on shrimp of various sizes.

Abstract: A shrimp deveining machine for cutting and deveining shrimp comprises a motorized driving mechanism inside a housing and a cutting mechanism outside the housing. An upper pair of rotating flexible disks grasps the top side of shrimp bodies and propel them past a cutting disk which slices the sand vein from the back of the shrimp. A lower pair of flexible disks is mounted on an adjusting shaft which may be positioned to adjust the depth of cut on the shrimp. The lower pair of flexible disks grasps the bottom side of the shrimp bodies and dynamically adjusts the position of the shrimp bodies in relation to the cutting disk, thereby achieving a more uniform depth of cut on shrimp of different sizes. The flexible disks also prevent longitudinal rotation of the shrimp bodies, and enable the deveining machine to make a butterfly cut on the shrimp bodies.