Apparatus for processing shrimp

Claim 2

Apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said weight means have downwardly facing apertures facing the lower run of the belt receiving said cross-members.

Claim 3

Apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said weight means are elongated bars.

Claim 4

Apparatus defined in claim 1 further including means for introducing steam in the cooking zone whereby the shrimp are cooked by steaming.

Claim 5

Apparatus defined in claim 5 further including; a cooling zone located at the discharge end of said first conveyor, and a second conveyor for conveying shrimp through the cooling zone after the shrimp leave the cooking zone.

Claim 6

Apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said cooling zone includes a cooling chamber having an inlet opening and an outlet opening through which said second conveyor extends for conveying shrimp through the cooling chamber, said cooling chamber including a perforated top wall and an enclosure around said top wall for permitting a cooling medium to be introduced into said cooling chamber into contact with shrimp for cooling.

Claim 7

Apparatus defined in claim 6 further including a third conveyor positioned to receive shrimp from said second conveyor and to convey the shrimp to a further processing station.

Claim 8

Apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said means for introducing steam is located solely below said support surface, and said support surface is apertured to facilitate steam contact with the shrimp.

Claim 9

Apparatus defined in claim 9 further including enclosure means defining the cooking zone, said enclosure means including a hood movable above the support surface between an operative position closely overlying the support surface and an idle position retracted away from the support surface.

Claim 10

Apparatus for processing shrimp comprising in combination; a shrimp conveyor including a movable support surface for receiving shrimp for movement through a cooking zone, and a pressure applying means movable over said support surface in the same direction as and in synchronism with said support surface for applying pressure on the shrimp to maintain them against said support surface in generally straight condition as they are being cooked, means for introducing steam in the cooking zone whereby the shrimp are cooked by steaming, means for varying the speed of said conveyor and means responsive to the temperature at the cooking zone for controlling said means for varying the speed of the conveyor in accordance with the temperature at the cooking zone.

Claim 11

Apparatus for cooking food such as shrimp comprising in combination; a conveyor means including an apertured support surface movable in a generally horizontal plane for receiving shrimp thereon for movement through a cooking zone, pressure applying means movable over said support surface in the same direction as and in synchronism with said support surface for applying pressure on the shrimp to maintain them against said support surface in generally straight condition as they are being cooked, said pressure applying means including a second conveyor having an endless belt engageable with the backs of the shrimp as they are conveyed through the cooking zone by said first conveyor, and means for producing steam for cooking shrimp while on the support surface of said conveyor means including an elongated tank located in alignment below said support surface, said tank having an open top facing said conveyor means and a plurality of elongated steam coils located in said tank and extending longitudinally thereof below said conveyor for emitting steam to pass upwardly through the conveyor support surface into contact with the shrimp thereon for cooking the same.

Claim 12

Apparatus defined in claim 12 further including means defining a cooking chamber aligned above said conveyor support surface and said tank.