Abstract: A crab butchering machine removes the carapace, mandibles and tail from a crab by timing actuation of tools depending upon the measured dimensions of the carapace. A measuring tool determines the location of the front and rear of the carapace relative to the saddle, securing and advancing the crab through the machine. The positions of the ends of the tools that operate on the crab are known. After measuring, the crab is advanced into a calculated position relative to a first tool, whereby an arm moves upwards, separating the carapace from the crab. The crab is next advanced past a 10 second tool that lifts the carapace away from the crab carcass, allowing a third tool to move upwards, separating the carapace and tail from the carcass when the saddle is in a second calculated position. The remaining leg clusters are separated and released from the saddle for further processing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for separating muscle tissue from connective tissue are provided, in which animal tissue containing both muscle tissue and connective tissue is subjected to stress, and muscle proteins are separated from the connective tissue. Slurries of separated myofibrillar protein are also provided.

Abstract: Crustacean meat is extracted from crustacean body using centrifugal force. Cooked crustaceans, such as crabs, have their top shells and claws removed, while retaining the legs and the abdomen shells with the meat inside the shells. The crab portions are placed in a rotating cage and spun to cause separation of the meat from the shell.

Abstract: Methods and systems for separating muscle tissue from connective tissue are provided, in which animal tissue containing both muscle tissue and connective tissue is subjected to stress, and muscle proteins are separated from the connective tissue. Slurries of separated myofibrillar protein are also provided.

Abstract: A processing machine particularly for boiled/cooked crab including a shell crusher (2) and a subsequent separator in which the crab meat is separated from the shell fragments. The separator of the machine includes a plurality of upright, spinning, screw-threaded spindles (12). These spindles are arranged in a circle in a spinning meat collection tray (13) for crab meat with just sufficient clearance between adjacent spindles that the crab medium which is discharged into the circular space defined by the spindles (12) in the spinning meat collection tray (13) is pressed, by centrifugal force, out against the spindles (12), where it can pass between the adjacent spindles (12), while almost the entire bulk of hard shell fragments are prevented from passing between the spindles (12).

Abstract: Apparatus for centrifugally extracting meat from crab bodies is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing (10) for supporting a rotating drive means (32). A crab body holding means (26) is supported along a spin axis so as to restrain crab body sections in a selected orientation against a support structure (116). The selected orientation is such that when the holding means (26) spins around the spin axis, centrifugal forces on the crab bodies extracts the crab meats through openings in the shell structure. As the meat is propelled from the holding means (26) it is collected by the receiving compartment (30). The support structure (116) contacts and supports the crab body during the spinning of the crab body at specific locations of the crab shell structure to provide the minimum amount of obstruction to the meat being extracted while at the same time minimizing breaking and collapse of the shell structure. Further included is a braking means (34) for stopping the spinning of crab body holding means (26).