Prawns or shrimps mechanically crushed between bolts or rolls - edible flesh is then swept sideways to separate from broken shells

摘要

Prawns, shrimps, etc., specifically North Sea prawns, are broken up by collecting them individually, esp. by an endless belt, from a tank and discharging them onto an endless belt or roller system which crushes them to flatten the shells. The internal organs are squashed to form a mash and the fleshy portions are expelled from the shells and separately removed for use. An endless belt has hooks each capable of picking up one prawn from the tank, a revolving brush sweeps them from the belt onto an endless belt cooperating with an upper belt; as the prawns are conveyed between these two endless belts over a stationary table a diagonal scraper bearing down on the upper belt crushes them. Due to the diagonal arrangement of this scraper the fleshy portions are swept to one side of the belt, while the portions of shell are conveyed onwards and discharged. The tank may be water-filled and contain a large number of prawns and the water is kept in motion to direct the prawns towards the hooks on the belt. The pleasant-tasting portions of the flesh are removed from the internal organs and shell in an entirely automatic operation.