Abstract: A fish processing machine for removing the gills, viscera and blood line kidney from head on fish. The machine includes an adjustable positioning ramp located upstream from a pair of spaced apart belly cutting blades. The adjustment of the height of the positioning ramp combined with the spacing between the belly blades is such that the tongue can be cut away from the jaw but left attached to the gills. The fish is then transported downstream with its tongue riding lower than its head and ribs. A gill removal wheel utilizes the tongue to pull the gills from their gill cavities thus removing the gills and viscera. Another cleaning wheel located downstream of the gill removal wheel removes the blood line kidney. A method for removing the gills, viscera and kidney from head on fish is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a de-headed and unshelled shrimp including a conveyor for conveying the shrimp through the various stations of the apparatus, namely, an uncurling station, a cutter station, a spreader station and a cleaning station. The uncurling means at the uncurling station includes a pair of holding blocks adapted to provide a gripping action to the sides of the shrimp as they pass therebetween and a rotating brush member adapted to contact the underside and tail of a shrimp while the gripping action of the blocks is being applied thereto to thereby cause the shrimp to assume a substantially horizontally extended position. The next station is the cutter station which has a cutter means mounted thereat which is comprised of a rotating cutter blade mounted above the travel path of the shrimp for cutting through the belly of the shrimp to the point at which the alimentary canal is located.