Apparatus for centrifugally extracting crabmeat from crabs

摘要

An improved apparatus for centrifugally extracting crabmeat from crabs provides a frame which supports a driven rotary shaft mounted thereon. A first annular plate is mounted for rotation on the shaft and driven thereby. A plurality of closely spaced wire support members radiate from the first plate and have a common path of rotation when the plate is rotated by the drive shaft. A second annular plate is movably mounted upon the frame with respect to the first plate between "loading" and "spinning" positions. A plurality of closely spaced, radially positioned, pointed spikes depend from the second plate and are positioned to intersect the path of rotation of the wire support members in the "spinning," the spikes being spaced from the path in the loading position. A lifting mechanism moves the second plate vertically between the "spinning" and "loading" positions. In the "loading" position the lifting mechanism spaces the second plate vertically above the first plate so that a plurality of crab body sections can be added to the periphery of the first annular plate by placing them in a circular configuration around the first plate and upon the wire support members. In the "spinning" position, the lifting mechanism lowers the second annular plate so that the spikes penetrate the crab body sections and the path of rotation of the wire members. The wire support members secure the crab body sections so that the spikes can penetrate them fully. The spikes and wire members thereafter retain the crab body sections during centrifuging while the spaced configuration of the wire support members and spikes allows ample opening for crabmeat to travel away from the crab body sections responsive to the centrifuging.