Seafood processing systems, for example crustacean processing systems, and related methods are disclosed herein. Such systems are configured to clean, deshell and/or eviscerate seafood, including but not limited to crawfish, shrimp, prawns and/or lobster utilizing one or more systems, subsystems, and/or combinations thereof, as disclosed anywhere herein. Such methods may include utilizing any such systems to clean, deshell and/or eviscerate seafood, including but not limited to crawfish, shrimp, prawns and/or lobster, in any manner, or using any procedure(s) disclosed or intimated herein.

Seafood processing systems, for example crustacean processing systems, and related methods are disclosed herein. Such systems are configured to clean, deshell and/or eviscerate seafood, including but not limited to crawfish, shrimp, prawns and/or lobster utilizing one or more systems, subsystems, and/or combinations thereof, as disclosed anywhere herein. Such methods may include utilizing any such systems to clean, deshell and/or eviscerate seafood, including but not limited to crawfish, shrimp, prawns and/or lobster, in any manner, or using any procedure(s) disclosed or intimated herein.

A shellfish meat extraction device that automates that process of extracting meat from shellfish parts, such as lobster claws, by using pressurized tubes to grip the parts and then bursts of pressure to effectively shoot the meat out of the part, after which the empty shell is discarded and the process repeated.

A shellfish meat extraction device that automates that process of extracting meat from shellfish parts, such as lobster claws and knuckles, by using pressurized tubes to grip the parts, cut the shell, and then bursts of pressure to effectively shoot the meat out of the part, after which the empty shell is discarded and the process repeated.

A shellfish meat extraction device that automates that process of extracting meat from shellfish parts, such as lobster claws and knuckles, by using pressurized tubes to grip the parts, cut the shell, and then bursts of pressure to effectively shoot the meat out of the part, after which the empty shell is discarded and the process repeated.

Shrimp processing apparatus to head and optionally sever the mud veins of shrimp, along with methods for heading and mud vein severing are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems may include one or more processing stations configured to perform one or more of the following functions on each shrimp: measurement of individual shrimp, severing the mud vein of individual shrimp, and heading of individual shrimp.

The invention provides a sensor-guided, automated system that is capable of intelligently cutting crustaceans, such as crab and lobster, into a plurality of portions, as directed. More particularly, the present system is capable of effectively butchering each individual crustacean in response to how the system's sensor(s) assess the physical characteristics of each crustacean as it arrives via a conveyor belt. The system generally comprises: an intake apparatus for receiving a crustacean; a sensor-guided positioning (SGP) system for determining the presence, location, orientation and size of the crustacean on the intake apparatus, coupling the crustacean, and placing the crustacean into a holding system for butchering; a holding system for retaining the crustacean in an optimal fixed position for butchering; a sensor-guided butchering (SGB) system for determining the locations on a crustacean body to be cut based on the desired output of crustacean portions, and cutting the crustacean at the chosen locations to produce optimal crustacean products; and an outlet apparatus which discharges the butchered crustacean from the system for subsequent packaging.

The invention provides a sensor-guided, automated system that is capable of intelligently cutting crustaceans, such as crab and lobster, into a plurality of portions, as directed. More particularly, the present system is capable of effectively butchering each individual crustacean in response to how the system's sensor(s) assess the physical characteristics of each crustacean as it arrives via a conveyor belt. The system generally comprises: an intake apparatus for receiving a crustacean; a sensor-guided positioning (SGP) system for determining the presence, location, orientation and size of the crustacean on the intake apparatus, coupling the crustacean, and placing the crustacean into a holding system for butchering; a holding system for retaining the crustacean in an optimal fixed position for butchering; a sensor-guided butchering (SGB) system for determining the locations on a crustacean body to be cut based on the desired output of crustacean portions, and cutting the crustacean at the chosen locations to produce optimal crustacean products; and an outlet apparatus which discharges the butchered crustacean from the system for subsequent packaging.

A utensil to open a shell of a shellfish, including a first end comprising a shell breaking tool, the shell breaking tool including a first member extending longitudinally away from the handle such that a portion of an end of the first member is inclined into a wedge, a second member disposed adjacent to the first member and extending longitudinally away from the handle, such that a gap is defined between at least a portion of the first member and the second member, and such that the first member is longer than the second member, a second end opposite the first end, and a handle to connect the first end to the second end.

An improved cleaning device comprises linked rollers that roll over a cleaning surface to remove debris from shrimp or other product. The cleaning device comprises a trough with a cleaning surface, an oscillating shaft within the trough and rollers biased into contact with the cleaning surface. At least some of the rollers are connected through a coupling device, which connects the rollers to the oscillating shaft via a roller connector.