Abstract: Method and apparatus for deheading shrimp wherein are oriented head first in an entrance groove abutting a stop bar so that a head clamping bar can capture the shrimp between the head clamping bar and the bottom of the entrance groove near the sixth thoracic section so that cutting blades can sever the head from the shrimp. The heads of the shrimp are then deposited onto the head exit plate and the tails of the shrimp are then flushed from the entrance groove into an underlying tail exit trough by a stream of water. Thereafter a succeeding shrimp disposed in the entrance groove is then positioned in the entrance groove and the process repeated so that shrimp can be deheaded in an efficient manner.

Abstract: A shrimp orienting and deheading apparatus (10) includes a top track (11), a middle track (12), a bottom track (13) and a deheading station (14). The top track has a V-shaped channel (16) with a step (18) which causes a shrimp (S) positioned tail forward and dorsal side down to rotate to a head forward dorsal side up position as they fall to the underlying middle track. The middle track is separated from the bottom track by a gap (21). Shrimp entering the gap in a tail forward dorsal side up position fall into the gap while shrimp in all other positions bridge the gap. The deheading station has a pair of severing fingers (55) with a vertical blade (62) and two horizontal blades (63, 64).

Abstract: Shrimp are conveyed in upright orientation upon a pair of spaced rails that revolve in upright planes and which strike bumpers. The shrimp may be size sorted by orienting the rails such that their spacing changes. The shrimp are deheaded by conveying then to a deheader that has a pinch finger that swings by a pinch block.

Abstract: Shrimp are conveyed in upright orientation upon a pair of spaced rails that revolve in upright planes and which strike bumpers. The shirmp may be size sorted by orienting the rails such that their spacing changes. The shirmp are deheaded by conveying then to a deheader that has a pinch finger that swings by a pinch block and clamp.