Abstract: A crustacean butchering apparatus is disclosed. The crustacean butchering apparatus may include at least one carapace grip sized to secure a carapace of a crustacean to a conveyor. When activated, the conveyor carries the crustacean secured by the carapace grip in a machine direction along a processing path. A plurality of tools may be placed along the processing path for butchering the crustacean. Optionally, a claw removing tool may be positioned along the processing path. When activated, the claw removing tool separates at least one claw of the crustacean from the carapace of the crustacean. Optionally, a tail removing tool may be positioned along the processing path. When activated, the tail removing tool may separate a tail of the crustacean from the carapace of the crustacean.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of packing product in a tubular casing is provided. The method includes providing a continuous length of tubular casing, providing an expansion plug within the tubular casing, grasping the casing upstream end with a casing grabber, moving the casing grabber away from the expansion plug towards an outlet end of a product feed conduit, feeding product from the product feed conduit through the casing upstream end into the tubular casing, and cutting the tubular casing downstream of the product to sever an upstream casing segment from the remaining continuous length of tubular casing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of packing product in a tubular casing is provided. The method includes providing a continuous length of tubular casing, providing an expansion plug within the tubular casing, grasping the casing upstream end with a casing grabber, moving the casing grabber away from the expansion plug towards an outlet end of a product feed conduit, feeding product from the product feed conduit through the casing upstream end into the tubular casing, and cutting the tubular casing downstream of the product to sever an upstream casing segment from the remaining continuous length of tubular casing.