Method and apparatus for eviscerating scallops

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing shucked scallops by cleaning the viscera from the edible muscle. The muscles and attached viscera are placed upon the upper surfaces of a series of parallel rollers forming an inclined path. At least one scallop contact assembly is mounted above the upper surfaces of the parallel rollers for displacement longitudinally of the inclined path and serves to displace and level the scallops upon the rollers and to urge the scallops into the nips or valleys between adjacent rollers such that the driven rollers grip the viscera and remove it from the muscles. A fluid spray arrangement and the contact assembly controls the advancement of the scallops down the inclined path. .Iadd.

I claim: .[.1. Apparatus for eviscerating shucked scallops having attached viscera comprising; a plurality of parallel rollers mounted adjacent each other in an inclined flight, means for driving at least selected ones of said plurality of parallel rollers, means for directing scallops onto the upper portion of said rollers, displaceable means mounted above said rollers for urging scallops into contact with said rollers and for distributing said scallops upon said plurality of rollers by leveling, turning and displacing scallops over the rollers, and means for displacing said scallop urging and distributing means, mounted above said plurality of rollers, longitudinally of the inclined flight of rollers for controlling the flow of scallops along the incline of flight of rollers..]. .[.2. Apparatus for eviscerating shucked scallops as recited in claim 1, wherein said scallop urging and distributing means mounted above said rollers includes at least one scrubber member mounted above the inclined flight of rollers for forcing the scallops against the rollers and into the valleys between adjacent rollers and for turning the scallops upon displacement of the scrubber member..]. .[.3. Apparatus for eviscerating shucked scallops as recited in claim 2, wherein said scrubber member is reciprocated longitudinally of the inclined flight of rollers by said displacing means..]. .[.4. Apparatus for eviscerating shucked scallops as recited in claim 2, wherein said scrubber member comprises a driven belt having a belt run positioned above and in general parallel relation to said inclined flight of rollers..]. .[.5. Apparatus for eviscerating shucked scallops as recited in claim 1, and further including fluid spray means mounted upon said scallop urging and distributing means mounted above said rollers for displacement therewith..]. .[.6. Apparatus for eviscerating shucked scallops as recited in claim 2, said scallop urging and distributing means mounted above said rollers further including a paddle member for pulling scallops down said inclined flight of rollers..]. .[.7. The method of separating edible scallop muscles from the viscera of shucked scallops comprising the steps of; placing the muscles and attached viscera on the upper surface of an inclined path formed by a plurality of parallel rollers; evenly distributing and leveling the scallops on the rollers by positively forcing the scallops onto the rollers and into the valleys between adjacent rollers and positively turning scallops over the rollers; pulling the vicera from the muscles by gripping the viscera in the nips between adjacent rollers by rotating the upper portions of selected rollers; and controlling the flow of muscles 
     
        down the inclined path..]. .[.8.  The method of separating edible scallop muscles from the viscera of shucked scallops as recited in claim 7, wherein said scallops are evenly distributed upon the rollers by pulling the scallops down the inclined flight of rollers..]. .[.9. The method of separating edible scallop muscles from the viscera of shucked scallops as recited in claim 7, wherein the flow of scallops down the inclined path is controlled by rotating the rollers, applying a fluid spray to the rollers and scallops and positively rolling the scallops over the rollers..]. .[.10. The method of separating edible scallop muscles from the viscera of shucked scallops as recited in claim 7, wherein the scallops are urged against the rollers by applying a force normal to the inclined path of rollers..]. .Iadd. 11. Apparatus for eviscerating shucked scallops having attached viscera comprising; a plurality of parallel rollers mounted adjacent each other in an inclined flight, means for driving at least selected ones of said plurality of parallel rollers, means for directing scallops onto the upper portion of said rollers, displaceable scrubber means mounted above said rollers for urging scallops into contact with said rollers and for distributing said scallops upon said plurality of rollers by leveling, turning and displacing scallops over the rollers, and means for displacing said scallop urging and distributing means, mounted above said plurality of rollers, longitudinally of the inclined flight of rollers for controlling the flow of scallops along the incline of flight of rollers, and further including fluid spray means mounted upon said scallop urging and distributing means mounted above said rollers for displacement therewith. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. Apparatus for eviscerating shucked scallops having attached viscera comprising; a plurality of parallel rollers mounted adjacent each other in an inclined flight, means for driving at least selected ones of said plurality of parallel rollers, means for directing scallops onto the upper portion of said rollers, a plurality of displaceable conduits having fluid spray means mounted above said rollers for urging scallops into the nips between adjacent rollers and for facilitating the movement of said scallops down the inclined flight of said plurality of rollers by leveling, turning and displacing scallops over the rollers, and means for displacing said plurality of conduits having fluid spray means for urging scallops into the nips between adjacent rollers and for facilitating the longitudinal movement of said scallops down the inclined flight of rollers. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The method of separating edible scallop muscles from the viscera of shucked scallops comprising the steps of; placing the muscles and attached viscera on the upper surface of an inclined path formed by a plurality of parallel rollers; longitudinally reciprocating water sprays spaced above said inclined path of parallel rollers and scallop muscles for evenly distributing and leveling the scallops on the rollers by positively forcing the scallops onto the rollers and into the valleys between adjacent rollers and positively turning scallops over the rollers; pulling the viscera from the muscles by gripping the viscera in the nips between adjacent rollers by rotating the upper portions of selected rollers; and controlling the flow of muscles down the inclined path. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The method of separating edible scallop muscles from the viscera of shucked scallops comprising the steps of; placing the muscles and attached viscera on the upper surface of an inclined path formed by a plurality of parallel rollers; subjecting the scallops on said inclined path to movable fluid sprays longitudinally of the inclined flight of rollers; evenly distributing and leveling the scallops on the rollers by facilitating the movement of the scallops down the inclined path of parallel rollers and in the movement of the viscera into the nips between adjacent rollers and turning scallops over the rollers; pulling the viscera from the muscles by gripping the viscera in the nips between adjacent rollers by rotating the upper portions of selected rollers; and controlling the flow of muscles down the inclined path. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. The method of separating edible scallop muscles from the viscera of shucked scallops comprising the steps of; placing the muscles and attached viscera on the upper surface of an inclined path formed by a plurality of parallel rollers; subjecting the scallops on said inclined path to movable fluid sprays longitudinally of the inclined flight of rollers; evenly distributing and leveling the scallops on the rollers by facilitating the movement of the scallops down the inclined path of parallel rollers and in the movement of the viscera into the nips between adjacent rollers and turning scallops over the rollers; pulling the viscera from the muscles by gripping the viscera in the nips between adjacent rollers by rotating the upper portions of selected rollers; controlling the flow of muscles down the inclined path; and additionally subjecting the scallops on said inclined path to forces exerted by scrubbers which reciprocate longitudinally over said plurality of parallel rollers. .Iaddend.