A scallop meat extraction device and control method

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of scallop processing, and particularly to a scallop meat extraction device and control method. The device includes a frame; a conveying mechanism equipped with a shaping mold; a positioning and holding mechanism that cooperates with the shaping mold to limit scallop displacement; a vision detection module for detecting the scallop cutting width; and a cutting station and a meat extraction station arranged sequentially along the conveying direction. The cutting station is equipped with a double-sided cutting mechanism for forming cuts on both sides of the scallop. The meat extraction station is equipped with a wedge-shaped opening mechanism, an elastic cutting mechanism, and an air-blowing meat extraction mechanism. The wedge-shaped opening mechanism is used to open the scallop along the cut; the elastic cutting mechanism is used to cut along the arc-shaped surface of the scallop's inner wall; and the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism is used to blow away the scallop meat. The control module controls the feed depth according to the cutting width, opening the scallop to a preset angle. Through the above settings, automated scallop meat extraction is achieved, improving processing efficiency and the integrity of the scallop meat.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of scallop processing, and in particular to a scallop meat extraction device and control method. Background Technology

[0002] As an important marine economic shellfish, the processing of scallops, including shell opening and meat extraction, is a crucial step affecting product quality and processing efficiency. Currently, some mechanized scallop processing equipment has emerged on the market. For example, some equipment uses a chain conveyor system with contour clamps to continuously transport scallops, cuts the shells with cutting tools, and separates the meat using vacuum suction or mechanical gripping. Some equipment also integrates a multi-station layout, sequentially completing the processes of cutting, shell opening, and meat extraction, thus achieving a certain degree of automation in scallop processing.

[0003] However, existing scallop processing equipment still has the following technical problems: the shell-opening mechanism mostly adopts a fixed stroke or a simple mechanical opening method, which can easily lead to insufficient opening angle due to the different sizes of scallops, resulting in limited cutting space, or excessive opening causing problems such as tearing of the adductor muscle and rupture of the sand sac. In addition, there are also problems such as easily damaging the scallop meat, affecting the freshness and integrity of the product. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the technical problems of low automation and high meat damage rate in existing scallop processing equipment, this invention provides a scallop meat extraction device, including a frame; A conveying mechanism, mounted on the frame, is equipped with a shaping mold for positioning scallops; A positioning and holding mechanism, which cooperates with the shaping mold, is used to limit the displacement of the scallop; A cutting station and a meat-removing station are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism; the cutting station is equipped with a double-sided cutting mechanism for making cuts on both sides of the scallop. A visual inspection module is located between the cutting station and the meat-removing station to detect the cutting width of the scallops; The scallop opening and meat extraction station is equipped with a wedge-shaped opening mechanism, an elastic cutting mechanism, and an air-blowing meat extraction mechanism. The wedge-shaped opening mechanism includes a first driving member and a wedge-shaped opening blade, which is used to open the scallop along the cut. The elastic cutting mechanism includes a second driving member, a reverse linkage lever assembly, and an elastic blade. The second driving member drives the elastic blade to cut against the arc-shaped surface of the scallop's inner wall through the reverse linkage lever assembly. The air-blowing meat extraction mechanism is used to blow away the cut scallop meat. The control module is electrically connected to the vision detection module, the wedge-shaped opening mechanism, the elastic cutting mechanism, and the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism, respectively. The control module controls the feed depth of the first drive member according to the scallop cutting width detected by the vision detection module, so as to drive the wedge-shaped opening knife to open the scallop to a preset opening angle.

[0005] Furthermore, the shaping mold is provided with a hollowed-out support structure that is adapted to the shape of the scallop, and the hollowed-out support structure is used to support and position the scallop.

[0006] Furthermore, the shaping mold also includes a connecting base plate and a supporting plate, and the hollowed-out groove structure is disposed on the supporting plate; the positioning and holding mechanism includes a spring buffer assembly, an adjusting limit assembly, and an elastic pressing assembly; the spring buffer assembly is disposed between the connecting base plate and the supporting plate, so that the connecting base plate and the supporting plate form an elastic floating fit; the adjusting limit assembly is at least disposed on the side near the scallop twisting part, so as to adjust the maximum buffer stroke of the spring buffer assembly; the elastic pressing assembly is disposed on the side of the supporting plate away from the connecting base plate, so as to cooperate with the supporting plate to clamp the scallop.

[0007] Furthermore, the elastic pressing component is disposed above the cutting station. The elastic pressing component includes a pressing structure and a pressing drive. The pressing structure has a hollowed-out pressing top on the side facing the shaping mold. The pressing drive drives the pressing structure to move toward the shaping mold so as to press the hollowed-out pressing top against the scallop to achieve the positioning of the scallop.

[0008] Furthermore, the hollowed-out support structure and / or the pressing structure are provided with anti-slip pads at at least a portion of the location in contact with the scallop.

[0009] Furthermore, the dual-sided cutting mechanism includes saw blades located on both sides of the conveying mechanism along the conveying direction and a drive motor that drives the saw blades to rotate, for making equal-position cuts on both sides of the scallop.

[0010] Furthermore, the wedge-shaped opening mechanism is symmetrically arranged, the wedge-shaped opening blade has a wedge-shaped head, and its opening end is provided with an arc-shaped guide surface; the preset opening angle is between 20° and 30°.

[0011] Furthermore, the reverse linkage lever assembly includes an active connecting rod, two driven rods, and a guide rail. The elastic blade includes a first elastic blade portion and a second elastic blade portion hinged together. The output end of the second driving member is hinged to the active connecting rod to drive the active connecting rod to reciprocate in the horizontal direction. The guide rail is arranged in the vertical direction, and one end of each of the two driven rods is provided with a hinged slider that slides with the guide rail. The other ends of the two driven rods are respectively fixed to the first elastic blade portion and the second elastic blade portion. The active connecting rod is hinged to the other ends of the two driven rods respectively, so that under the drive of the second driving member, it drives the two driven rods to swing, causing the elastic blade to conform to the arc-shaped surface of the upper and lower inner walls of the scallop. The reverse linkage lever assembly also includes an auxiliary guide rod for guiding the active linkage to reciprocate in the horizontal direction; the elastic cutting mechanism is configured to keep the elastic blade stationary after cutting, reserving working space for the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism.

[0012] Furthermore, the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism includes a high-pressure air circuit assembly and an air-blowing nozzle. The air-blowing meat extraction mechanism is set at an angle to the second drive member of the elastic cutting mechanism. The air-blowing nozzle is fixedly aligned with the opening of the scallop.

[0013] The present invention also provides a control method for a scallop meat extraction device, which employs the scallop meat extraction device as described in any of the preceding claims, and includes the following steps: The scallops placed on the shaping mold are conveyed sequentially to the cutting station and the meat extraction station along the conveying direction by the conveying mechanism, and the displacement of the scallops is restricted by the positioning and holding mechanism. At the cutting station, a double-sided cutting mechanism is used to make incisions on both sides of the scallop; The visual inspection module detects the cutting width of the scallop and transmits the detection signal to the control module. At the meat extraction station, the control module controls the feed depth of the first drive component of the wedge-shaped opening mechanism according to the cutting width, so that the wedge-shaped opening blade opens the scallop along the cut; the second drive component of the elastic cutting mechanism drives the reverse linkage lever assembly, which drives the elastic blade to conform to the arc surface of the inner wall of the scallop to complete the meat cutting. The scallop meat is extracted by blowing the cut scallop meat away using an air-blowing meat extraction mechanism.

[0014] Based on the above, the scallop meat extraction device provided by the present invention, compared with the prior art, achieves precise control of the scallop opening angle by setting a vision detection module to detect the scallop cutting width and controlling the feed depth of the first driving component by the control module according to the detection data, thus avoiding damage to the adductor muscle or insufficient cutting space caused by improper opening angle; by using an elastic blade and driving it to fit the arc surface of the scallop inner wall by a reverse linkage lever assembly, the cutting blade achieves adaptive fit to the arc surface of the scallop inner wall, ensuring thorough cutting of the connection between the adductor muscle and the shell; by setting an air-blowing meat extraction mechanism to blow away the scallop meat in a non-contact manner, the secondary damage to the scallop meat caused by traditional mechanical clamping or scraping is avoided, thereby significantly improving the yield, integrity and processing efficiency of scallop meat extraction. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. Unless otherwise specified, the positional relationships shown in the drawings in the following description are based on the direction in which the components are drawn in the figures.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the scallop meat extraction device provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a partial three-dimensional view of the scallop meat extraction device provided in this embodiment; Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the cooperation between the shaping mold and the positioning and holding mechanism provided in this embodiment; Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the elastic compression component provided in this embodiment; Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the wedge-shaped opening mechanism and the shaping mold provided in this embodiment. Figure 6 This is a top view of the elastic cutting mechanism and the shaping mold provided in this embodiment. Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the wedge-shaped opening mechanism and the elastic cutting mechanism provided in this embodiment opening and cutting the scallop.

[0017] Figure label: 100. Frame; 200. Conveying mechanism; 300. Shaping mold; 310. Connecting base plate; 320. Bearing support plate; 321. Hollowed-out support groove structure; 400. Positioning and holding mechanism; 410. Spring buffer assembly; 420. Adjustable limit assembly; 430. Elastic pressing assembly; 431. Pressing structure; 431a. Hollowed-out pressing top; 432. Pressing drive component; 500. Double-sided cutting mechanism; 510. Saw blade; 520. Drive motor; 600. Wedge-shaped opening mechanism; 610, first driving component; 620, wedge-shaped opening blade; 621, arc-shaped guide surface; 700, elastic cutting mechanism; 710, second driving component; 720, reverse linkage lever assembly; 721, active connecting rod; 722, driven rod; 723, guide rail; 724, auxiliary guide rod; 730, elastic blade; 731, first elastic blade section; 732, second elastic blade section; 800, air-blowing meat removal mechanism; 900, vision inspection module. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Currently, most scallop processing equipment uses heat treatment methods such as steaming and thermal radiation to open the shells. This method damages the freshness and nutritional components of the scallop meat, resulting in flavor loss and reduced product added value. Secondly, existing equipment generally relies on vacuum adsorption or mechanical clamping structures to extract the meat. These devices are cumbersome, have a high failure rate, and are prone to leaving scallop meat residue and incomplete removal of internal organs, causing secondary damage to the scallop meat. Thirdly, the shell-opening mechanism lacks the feasibility of precise blade alignment and adjustable opening angle, making it difficult to adapt to scallops of different sizes. This can easily lead to insufficient or excessive opening angles, resulting in tearing of the adductor muscle and rupture of the sand sac. Furthermore, the processing flow of existing equipment is often broken down into multiple steps, resulting in a complex process, long processing time, and low efficiency. At the same time, the cutting blades are mostly fixed structures that cannot conform to the curved contour of the scallop's inner wall, leading to incomplete cutting at the connection between the adductor muscle and the shell, and a high rate of scallop meat residue. Finally, the process connection design is unreasonable, the conveyor positioning accuracy is insufficient, and the coordination between processing links is poor, affecting the overall processing efficiency and product quality.

[0020] To address the common problems in existing scallop processing equipment, such as uncontrollable opening angles, incomplete cutting due to rigid blades failing to conform to the curved surface of the scallop's inner wall, poor process coordination, and secondary damage to the scallop meat caused by contact-based meat extraction, this invention provides a scallop meat extraction device. This device achieves precise adjustment of the opening angle through visual detection and closed-loop control, utilizes elastic blades to adaptively conform to the curved surface of the scallop's inner wall for thorough cutting, and uses non-contact high-pressure airflow to blow away the scallop meat, thereby significantly improving the yield, integrity, and processing efficiency of scallop meat extraction. Detailed descriptions are provided below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0021] Example 1 Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 The scallop meat extraction device provided in this embodiment includes at least a frame 100, a conveying mechanism 200, a positioning and holding mechanism 400, a vision detection module 900, a double-sided cutting mechanism 500, a wedge-shaped spreading mechanism 600, an elastic cutting mechanism 700, an air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800, and a control module.

[0022] In practical implementation, the frame 100 serves as the supporting foundation for the entire machine. It can be constructed using aluminum profiles (such as 3030 or 3060 aluminum profiles) via angle brackets and bolts to form a stable frame structure, facilitating installation and disassembly while maintaining a moderate cost. It should be noted that the specific structure of the frame 100 is not limited to that shown in the attached diagram and can be reasonably designed according to the actual layout of each mechanism; no limitations are imposed here.

[0023] The conveying mechanism 200 is mounted on the frame 100 and is used to convey scallops along the conveying direction. The conveying mechanism 200 can use a chain and sprocket assembly in conjunction with a guide rail to achieve cyclic reciprocating motion. Its specific structure can also be a synchronous belt assembly, chain plate conveyor belt, or other conventional conveying forms, as long as it can achieve stable and continuous conveying of scallops.

[0024] The conveying mechanism 200 is equipped with a shaping mold 300 for positioning scallops. The shaping mold 300 is adapted to the shape of the scallop to ensure that the scallop is stable in posture during the conveying process.

[0025] The positioning and holding mechanism 400 works in conjunction with the shaping mold 300 to limit the displacement of scallops during the transportation process and prevent the scallops from shifting due to vibration or external force.

[0026] A visual inspection module 900 is located between the cutting station and the meat-removing station (i.e., between the double-sided cutting mechanism 500 and the wedge-shaped spreading mechanism 600) and is used to detect the scallop cutting width data. This visual inspection module 900 can be a waterproof visual sensor to adapt to the humid conditions of seafood processing environments.

[0027] A cutting station and a meat-removing station are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 200. The cutting station is equipped with a double-sided cutting mechanism 500 for making incisions on both sides of the scallop. The meat-removing station is equipped with a wedge-shaped spreading mechanism 600, an elastic cutting mechanism 700, and an air-blowing meat-removing mechanism 800.

[0028] The wedge-shaped spreading mechanism 600 includes a first driving member 610 and a wedge-shaped spreading blade 620, used to spread the scallops open along the cuts formed by the double-sided cutting mechanism 500. The elastic cutting mechanism 700 includes a second driving member 710, a reverse linkage lever assembly 720, and an elastic blade 730. The second driving member 710 drives the elastic blade 730 to cut against the arc-shaped surface of the scallop's inner wall through the reverse linkage lever assembly 720.

[0029] The air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800 is used to blow away the cut clam meat in a non-contact manner.

[0030] The control module (e.g., a PLC controller) is electrically connected to the vision inspection module 900, the wedge-shaped opening mechanism 600, the elastic cutting mechanism 700, and the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800, respectively. Based on the scallop cutting width detected by the vision inspection module 900, the control module controls the feed depth of the first driving member 610 to drive the wedge-shaped opening blade 620 to open the scallop to a preset opening angle.

[0031] Through the aforementioned visual feedback closed-loop control, the opening force and angle can be adaptively adjusted according to the differences in cutting width of scallops of different sizes, effectively avoiding insufficient opening leading to limited cutting space or excessive opening causing tearing of the adductor muscle.

[0032] Optionally, please refer to Figure 3 The shaping mold 300 is provided with a hollowed-out support structure 321 adapted to the shape of the scallop. The hollowed-out support structure 321 is used to support and position the scallop, and the hollowed-out support structure 321 is inclined at a preset angle relative to the horizontal plane.

[0033] In practice, the hollowed-out support structure 321 can adopt a concave shape that matches the curved surface of the scallop shell, allowing the scallop to be naturally centered when placed inside. The hollowed-out part can reduce the weight of the mold on the one hand, and facilitate positioning and the action of the lower mechanism (such as the spring buffer assembly 410) on the scallop on the other hand.

[0034] Alternatively, please continue reading Figure 3The shaping mold 300 further includes a connecting base plate 310 and a supporting plate 320, and the hollowed-out groove structure 321 is disposed on the supporting plate 320; the positioning and holding mechanism 400 includes a spring buffer assembly 410, an adjusting limit assembly 420, and an elastic pressing assembly 430; the spring buffer assembly 410 is disposed between the connecting base plate 310 and the supporting plate 320, so that the connecting base plate 310 and the supporting plate 320 form an elastic floating fit; the adjusting limit assembly 420 is at least disposed on the side near the scallop twisting part, so as to adjust the maximum buffer stroke of the spring buffer assembly 410; the elastic pressing assembly 430 is disposed on the side of the supporting plate 320 away from the connecting base plate 310, so as to cooperate with the supporting plate 320 to clamp the scallop.

[0035] In practice, the connecting base plate 310 is fixed to the conveying mechanism 200, and the supporting plate 320 is floatingly mounted above the connecting base plate 310 via a spring buffer assembly 410 (e.g., a stainless steel spring). When the scallop is placed in the hollowed-out tray structure 321, the supporting plate 320 can elastically displace relative to the connecting base plate 310, thereby absorbing pressure changes caused by differences in individual scallop sizes and preventing damage to the shell due to hard compression. The adjusting limit assembly 420 can adopt a bolt and nut structure, changing the limit position by rotating the bolt, thereby controlling the maximum compression stroke of the spring buffer assembly 410 and adapting to scallops of different thicknesses. The elastic pressing assembly 430 can be a cylinder-driven pressing block or an elastic pressing plate, located above the supporting plate 320. After the scallop is in place, the elastic pressing assembly 430 moves downward, clamping the scallop together with the supporting plate 320, limiting its vertical movement. The above-mentioned elastic floating mechanism and adjustable limit design allow the same mold to be compatible with scallops of various sizes, eliminating the need for frequent mold changes.

[0036] Optionally, please refer to Figure 4 The elastic pressing component 430 is disposed above the cutting station. The elastic pressing component 430 includes a pressing structure 431 and a pressing drive 432. The pressing structure 431 has a hollowed-out pressing top 431a on the side facing the shaping mold 300. The pressing drive 432 drives the pressing structure 431 to move towards the shaping mold 300 so as to press the hollowed-out pressing top 431a against the scallop to achieve the positioning of the scallop.

[0037] In practice, the pressing drive 432 can be a cylinder, an electric push rod, or a hydraulic cylinder, with its output end connected to the pressing structure 431. The lower surface of the pressing structure 431 (facing the shaping mold 300) is provided with a perforated abutment top 431a. The shape of this perforated abutment top 431a matches a portion of the scallop's upper shell, for example, it can be circular, elliptical, or strip-shaped. The purpose of the perforated design is to effectively accommodate different scallop sizes while ensuring clamping force. When the scallop is conveyed to the cutting station, the pressing drive 432 drives the pressing structure 431 downwards, and the perforated abutment top 431a contacts and presses the scallop's upper shell, thereby preventing displacement of the scallop during double-sided cutting. This positioning method is simple and reliable, and the perforated structure can adapt to the natural curved shape of the scallop's upper shell, improving compatibility with scallops of different sizes.

[0038] Optionally, the hollowed-out support structure 321 and / or the pressing structure 431 are provided with anti-slip pads (not shown in the figure) at at least a portion of the position in contact with the scallop.

[0039] In practice, the anti-slip mat can be made of food-grade silicone or rubber, which has a moderate coefficient of friction and elasticity. By partially attaching the anti-slip mat to the inner surface of the hollowed-out support structure 321 or the contact surface of the pressing structure 431, the friction with the scallop shell can be increased, preventing the scallop from rotating or slipping during transport or processing. Simultaneously, the flexibility of the silicone mat can buffer the clamping force, avoiding damage to the shell surface. It should be noted that the anti-slip mat is not essential and can be omitted for scallop species with high surface roughness.

[0040] Optionally, please refer to Figure 2 The dual-sided cutting mechanism 500 includes saw blades 510 located on both sides of the conveying mechanism 200 along the conveying direction and a drive motor 520 for driving the saw blades 510 to rotate, for making equal-position cuts on both sides of the scallop.

[0041] In practice, the two saw blades 510 can be circular saw blades 510, respectively positioned on the left and right sides of the conveying mechanism 200. The drive motor 520 can be a single motor that drives both saw blades 510 to rotate in opposite directions simultaneously via a transmission mechanism (such as a synchronous belt or gear system), or it can be two independent motors driving them separately. The position and height of the saw blades 510 are adjustable to ensure consistent cutting depth. When the scallop moves to the cutting station with the conveying mechanism 200, the rotating saw blades 510 on both sides simultaneously cut into specific locations on the left and right sides of the scallop (such as the ear or shell edge), forming symmetrical cuts. These cuts provide precise insertion guidance for the subsequent wedge-shaped splitting knife 620, avoiding potential shell breakage or cuts to the scallop meat that might result from the wedge-shaped splitting knife 620 being forcibly inserted directly.

[0042] Optionally, please refer to Figure 5The wedge-shaped opening mechanism 600 is symmetrically arranged, the wedge-shaped opening blade 620 has a wedge-shaped blade head, and its opening end is provided with an arc-shaped guide surface 621; the preset opening angle is between 20° and 30°.

[0043] In practice, two wedge-shaped splitting blades 620 are driven by their respective first driving components 610 (e.g., electric push rods) and symmetrically arranged on both sides of the scallop. The blade tip of the wedge-shaped splitting blade 620 gradually increases in thickness from the tip to the base, forming a wedge-shaped structure. The arc-shaped guide surface 621 provided at the splitting end can smoothly enter between the upper and lower shells of the scallop along the cut, reducing insertion resistance and avoiding scratching the shell or scallop meat. The control module calculates the required cutting depth based on the cutting width fed back by the vision detection module 900, so that the wedge-shaped splitting blades 620 split the upper and lower shells of the scallop to a preset angle of 20°~30°. This angle range has been experimentally verified: when it is less than 20°, the working space of the elastic blade 730 is insufficient, making it difficult to complete the all-round cutting of the adductor muscle; when it is greater than 30°, the connection between the adductor muscle and the shell is overstretched, which can easily cause the adductor muscle to tear or the gizzard to rupture. Therefore, 20°~30° is the preferred range that balances cutting space and scallop meat integrity.

[0044] Optionally, please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 7 The reverse linkage lever assembly 720 includes an active connecting rod 721, two driven rods 722, and a guide rail 723. The elastic blade 730 includes a first elastic blade portion 731 and a second elastic blade portion 732 hinged together. The output end of the second driving member 710 is hinged to the active connecting rod 721 to drive the active connecting rod 721 to reciprocate horizontally. The guide rail 723 is arranged vertically, and one end of each of the two driven rods 722 is provided with a hinged slider that slides with the guide rail 723. The other ends of the two driven rods 722 are respectively fixed to the first elastic blade portion 731. 31 and a second elastic blade 732; the active connecting rod 721 is hinged to the other end of the two driven rods 722 respectively, so as to drive the two driven rods 722 to swing under the drive of the second driving member 710, so that the elastic blade 730 fits the arc-shaped surface of the upper and lower inner walls of the scallop; the reverse linkage lever assembly 720 also includes an auxiliary guide rod 724 for guiding the active connecting rod 721 to reciprocate in the horizontal direction; the elastic cutting mechanism 700 is configured to keep the elastic blade 730 in a stationary state after cutting, so as to reserve working space for the air blowing meat extraction mechanism 800.

[0045] In practical implementation, the function of the reverse linkage lever assembly 720 is to convert the linear motion of the second drive member 710 into the oscillation of the elastic blade 730, thereby enabling the blade to conform to the arc-shaped contour of the upper and lower inner walls of the scallop. The output end of the second drive member 710 (e.g., an electric push rod or cylinder) is hinged to one end of the active connecting rod 721, which reciprocates horizontally under the drive of the second drive member 710. To ensure the smoothness and directional accuracy of the movement of the active connecting rod 721, the reverse linkage lever assembly 720 also includes an auxiliary guide rod 724. The auxiliary guide rod 724 can be fixed to the frame 100, and the active connecting rod 721 is provided with a guide hole or linear bearing that mates with it. The auxiliary guide rod 724 passes through the guide hole, thereby guiding the active connecting rod 721 to always move horizontally, avoiding deviation or wobbling.

[0046] Each of the two driven rods 722 has a hinged slider at one end, which is slidably mounted on a guide rail 723 arranged vertically, allowing it to move up and down on the guide rail 723. The other ends of the two driven rods 722 are respectively fixed with a first elastic blade 731 and a second elastic blade 732. The driving link 721 is hinged to the other ends of the two driven rods 722 (i.e., the end where the elastic blade 730 is fixed). When the second driving member 710 pushes the driving link 721 horizontally forward, because the driving link 721 is hinged to the other end of the driven rod 722, and that end is simultaneously fixed with the elastic blade 730, the thrust of the driving link 721 forces the driven rod 722 to oscillate around its hinged slider, causing the other end of the driven rod 722 (i.e., the blade end) to move along an arc-shaped trajectory. Simultaneously, the hinged slider slides up and down on the guide rail 723 to accommodate this oscillation. This linkage mechanism allows the two elastic blades to simultaneously cut the adductor muscle at the connection between the upper and lower shells by adhering to the arc-shaped surface of the inner wall from the top and bottom sides of the scallop.

[0047] The flexible blade 730 consists of a first flexible blade section 731 and a second flexible blade section 732 hinged together. This split hinged structure allows the two blade sections to rotate relative to each other when subjected to pressure from the inner wall in different directions, thus more precisely adapting to the irregular curved surfaces of the upper and lower inner walls of the scallop and achieving a more thorough cut. After cutting, the second drive member 710 maintains its current position, keeping the flexible blade 730 stationary inside the scallop. At this point, the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800 can intervene, utilizing the reserved space between the flexible blade 730 and the shell to perform high-pressure air blowing. This stationary design achieves a seamless connection between the cutting and meat extraction processes, avoiding difficulties in meat extraction caused by the shell reclosing after the blade resets.

[0048] Optionally, the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800 includes a high-pressure air circuit assembly (not shown in the figure) and an air-blowing nozzle. The air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800 is set at an angle to the second drive member 710 of the elastic cutting mechanism 700, and the air-blowing nozzle is fixedly aligned with the opening of the scallop.

[0049] In practice, the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800 and the second drive component 710 of the elastic cutting mechanism 700 are horizontally positioned at a 90° angle, meaning they are perpendicular to each other on the horizontal plane. This arrangement allows the air-blowing nozzle to blow air from the other side of the scallop opening after the elastic blade 730 completes the cut, thus avoiding interference with the elastic blade and ensuring the cut scallop meat is smoothly blown out of the scallop and falls into the corresponding collection trough. The high-pressure air circuit assembly includes an air compression tank and a precision pressure regulating valve. The working pressure of the air tank is, for example, 0.8 MPa, and the output pressure is stabilized at 0.4~0.6 MPa by the pressure regulating valve. When the nozzle is in place, the control module triggers the solenoid valve, and the high-pressure airflow is instantly ejected. Utilizing the low-friction characteristics of the elastic blade 730 surface and the space reserved between the blade and the shell, the cut scallop meat (including the adductor muscle and skirt) is blown entirely off the lower shell and falls into the collection trough below. This non-contact meat extraction method avoids the damage to the scallop meat caused by traditional mechanical clamping or scraping, while simplifying the mechanical structure and reducing the failure rate.

[0050] In summary, the scallop meat extraction device provided in this embodiment, through the coordinated operation of the frame 100, conveying mechanism 200, positioning and holding mechanism 400, vision inspection module 900, double-sided cutting mechanism 500, wedge-shaped opening mechanism 600, elastic cutting mechanism 700, air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800, and control module, achieves full automation of the entire process from scallop positioning, double-sided cutting, adaptive opening, elastic fitting cutting to non-contact air-blowing meat extraction. The use of visual inspection closed-loop control of the opening angle solves the compatibility problem for scallops of different sizes; the use of elastic blades 730 and reverse linkage lever assembly 720 achieves fitting cutting of the scallop's inner wall arc surface, ensuring complete separation of the adductor muscle from the shell connection; the use of high-pressure air-blowing meat extraction avoids secondary damage to the scallop meat and improves product integrity. The machine has a compact structure, smooth process connections, and high processing efficiency, making it suitable for large-scale scallop processing.

[0051] Example 2 The present invention also provides a control method for a scallop meat extraction device. The scallop meat extraction device adopts the scallop meat extraction device described in Embodiment 1 above. The specific structure, connection relationship and function of each mechanism of the scallop meat extraction device can be referred to Embodiment 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0052] The control method for the scallop meat extraction device includes the following steps: The scallops placed on the shaping mold 300 are conveyed sequentially to the cutting station and the meat extraction station along the conveying direction by the conveying mechanism 200, and the displacement of the scallops is restricted by the positioning and holding mechanism 400. At the cutting station, slits are formed on both sides of 500 pairs of scallops using a double-sided cutting mechanism; The visual inspection module 900 detects the cutting width of the scallop and transmits the detection signal to the control module. At the meat extraction station, the control module controls the feed depth of the first drive member 610 of the wedge-shaped opening mechanism 600 according to the cutting width, so that the wedge-shaped opening blade 620 opens the scallop along the cut; the second drive member 710 of the elastic cutting mechanism 700 drives the reverse linkage lever assembly 720, which drives the elastic blade 730 to conform to the arc surface of the inner wall of the scallop to complete the meat cutting. The cut scallop meat is blown away by the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism 800, thus completing the scallop meat extraction process.

[0053] In practice, firstly, the operator or feeding device places the pre-cleaned scallops onto the shaping mold 300 of the conveying mechanism 200 with the twisted part facing upwards and the opening facing the conveying direction. The hollowed-out groove structure 321 of the shaping mold 300 naturally centers the scallops. The elastic pressing component 430 of the positioning and holding mechanism 400 moves downwards under the drive of the pressing drive component 432, pressing the scallops tightly into the hollowed-out groove. At the same time, the bottom spring buffer component 410 adaptively compresses according to the thickness of the scallop, achieving stable positioning. The conveying mechanism 200 is driven by a stepper motor, and the control module sends pulse signals to make the conveying mechanism 200 advance intermittently, ensuring that the scallops stay at each station for a preset time.

[0054] The scallop moves to the cutting station along with the conveyor mechanism 200. The two saw blades 510 of the double-sided cutting mechanism 500 rotate at high speed driven by the drive motor 520. When the scallop reaches the predetermined position, the control module triggers the lifting cylinder of the saw blades 510 (or the stop of the conveyor mechanism 200 directly coordinates with the fixing of the saw blades 510) to make the saw blades 510 cut into the ears or shell edges on the left and right sides of the scallop. The cutting depth and position of the saw blades 510 on both sides are the same, forming a symmetrical cut. This cut penetrates the edges of the upper and lower shells of the scallop but does not damage the internal meat. After cutting, the saw blades 510 reset, and the conveyor mechanism 200 restarts.

[0055] As the scallop continues forward to the side of the vision inspection module 900, the vision inspection module 900 (such as a waterproof industrial camera) acquires a side image of the scallop and extracts the cutting width (i.e., the width of the cut along the conveying direction after the scallop is cut by the double-sided cutting mechanism) through an image processing algorithm. This width data is transmitted to the control module in real time. The control module has a pre-stored mapping table or fitting curve between the cutting width and the required feed depth of the wedge-shaped spreading knife 620. If a larger cutting width is detected, it indicates that the scallop's cut has opened significantly, so the cutting depth is reduced; if a smaller cutting width is detected, it indicates that the scallop's cut is narrow, so the cutting depth is increased to ensure that the angle after spreading is stable between 20° and 30°.

[0056] After the scallop enters the opening and meat extraction station, the control module first sends a cutting command to the first drive unit 610 (e.g., an electric push rod) of the wedge-shaped opening mechanism 600 based on the cutting width data fed back by the vision detection module 900. Two symmetrically arranged wedge-shaped opening blades 620 are inserted into the cuts on both sides of the scallop, and the first drive unit 610 advances at a constant speed according to the calculated feed depth. The arc-shaped guide surface 621 of the wedge-shaped opening blade 620 slides into the gap between the upper and lower shells, and as the wedge thickness gradually increases, the upper and lower shells are smoothly opened. When the first drive unit 610 reaches the preset stroke, the opening angle of the scallop is locked between 20° and 30°. After confirming that the opening is in place through current feedback or a position sensor, the control module issues the next command.

[0057] The elastic cutting mechanism 700 is activated. A second driving component 710 (e.g., a cylinder or electric push rod) extends, pushing the active connecting rod 721. The active connecting rod 721 drives the driven rod 722 to rotate around a fixed fulcrum, causing the elastic blade 730, fixed to the driven rod 722, to swing towards the inside of the scallop. The elastic blade 730 consists of two hinged first elastic blade sections 731 and second elastic blade sections 732. Upon contacting the arc-shaped surface of the scallop's inner wall, the two blade sections adaptively rotate according to the curvature of the inner wall, ensuring the blade remains in contact with the adductor attachment point. The second driving component 710 continues to advance, and the elastic blade 730 simultaneously cuts the connection between the adductor and the upper and lower shells along an arc-shaped trajectory. Due to the blade's elasticity and low surface friction coefficient, the cutting process does not scratch the scallop meat or sand sac. After cutting, the second driving component 710 maintains its current position, keeping the elastic blade 730 stationary inside the scallop, leaving a gap of approximately 2-5 mm for subsequent air-blowing extraction of the meat.

[0058] The air-blowing meat-removing mechanism 800 actuates. The control module triggers the solenoid valve, and the compressed air in the air tank of the high-pressure air circuit assembly is stabilized at 0.4~0.6MPa by the precision pressure regulating valve before being instantly ejected from the nozzle. The high-pressure airflow, utilizing the space between the elastic blade 730 and the shell, as well as the low-friction characteristics of the blade surface, blows the cut adductor muscle and skirt together away from the lower shell, causing them to fall into the collection tank below. The air-blowing time can be preset via the operation panel, for example, 0.3~0.5 seconds.

[0059] After the meat extraction is completed, the control module issues reset commands sequentially: the second drive component 710 moves in the reverse direction, causing the elastic blade 730 to retract from the scallop and reset; the first drive component 610 moves in the reverse direction, causing the wedge-shaped spreading blade 620 to retract from the cut; the pressing drive component 432 of the elastic pressing assembly 430 moves upward, releasing the pressure on the scallop. The conveying mechanism 200 restarts, transporting the empty shaping mold 300 and the remaining scallop shells to the unloading station. The empty shells automatically fall into the waste bin by gravity or an auxiliary air blowing device. Throughout the process, the control module coordinates the timing of the actions of each drive component to ensure that they do not interfere with each other and achieve continuous cyclic operation.

[0060] It should be noted that the control method in this embodiment is not limited to the above-described sequence of steps. For example, visual inspection can be performed continuously during the conveying process, rather than being limited to a single inspection at the feed end. Furthermore, the pre-stored mapping relationships in the control module can be parameterized according to different scallop species to adapt to the processing requirements of different sizes, such as Yesso scallops and scallops.

[0061] In summary, the control method provided in this embodiment achieves automated and intelligent operation of scallop opening and meat extraction through the coordinated control of visual detection closed-loop control of the opening angle, adaptive fitting and cutting of the elastic blade 730, and high-pressure air blowing non-contact meat extraction, effectively improving processing efficiency and the integrity of scallop meat.

[0062] Although this document uses terms such as frame, conveying mechanism, shaping mold, positioning and holding mechanism, vision inspection module, double-sided cutting mechanism, wedge-shaped opening mechanism, elastic cutting mechanism, air-blowing meat extraction mechanism, and control module frequently, the possibility of using other terms is not excluded. These terms are used merely for the convenience of describing and explaining the essence of the invention; interpreting them as any additional limitation would contradict the spirit of the invention.

[0063] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A scallop meat extraction device, characterized in that, include: frame; A conveying mechanism, mounted on the frame, is equipped with a shaping mold for positioning scallops; A positioning and holding mechanism, which cooperates with the shaping mold, is used to limit the displacement of the scallop; A cutting station and a meat-removing station are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism; the cutting station is equipped with a double-sided cutting mechanism for making cuts on both sides of the scallop. A visual inspection module is located between the cutting station and the meat-removing station to detect the cutting width of the scallops; The scallop opening and meat extraction station is equipped with a wedge-shaped opening mechanism, an elastic cutting mechanism, and an air-blowing meat extraction mechanism. The wedge-shaped opening mechanism includes a first driving member and a wedge-shaped opening blade, which is used to open the scallop along the cut. The elastic cutting mechanism includes a second driving member, a reverse linkage lever assembly, and an elastic blade. The second driving member drives the elastic blade to cut against the arc-shaped surface of the scallop's inner wall through the reverse linkage lever assembly. The air-blowing meat extraction mechanism is used to blow away the cut scallop meat. The control module is electrically connected to the vision detection module, the wedge-shaped opening mechanism, the elastic cutting mechanism, and the air-blowing meat extraction mechanism, respectively. The control module controls the feed depth of the first drive member according to the scallop cutting width detected by the vision detection module, so as to drive the wedge-shaped opening knife to open the scallop to a preset opening angle.

2. The scallop meat extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shaping mold is provided with a hollowed-out support structure adapted to the shape of the scallop, which is used to support and position the scallop.

3. The scallop meat extraction device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The shaping mold also includes a connecting base plate and a supporting plate, and the hollowed-out groove structure is disposed on the supporting plate; the positioning and holding mechanism includes a spring buffer assembly, an adjusting limit assembly, and an elastic pressing assembly; The spring buffer assembly is disposed between the connecting base plate and the supporting plate, so that the connecting base plate and the supporting plate form an elastic floating fit; the adjusting limit assembly is disposed at least on the side near the scallop twisting part, so as to adjust the maximum buffer stroke of the spring buffer assembly; the elastic pressing assembly is disposed on the side of the supporting plate away from the connecting base plate, so as to cooperate with the supporting plate to clamp the scallop.

4. The scallop meat extraction device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The elastic pressing component is disposed above the cutting station. The elastic pressing component includes a pressing structure and a pressing drive. The pressing structure has a hollowed-out pressing top on the side facing the shaping mold. The pressing drive drives the pressing structure to move toward the shaping mold so that the hollowed-out pressing top is pressed against the scallop to achieve the positioning of the scallop.

5. The scallop meat extraction device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The hollowed-out support structure and / or the pressure-resistant structure are provided with anti-slip pads at at least a portion of the location in contact with the scallop.

6. The scallop meat extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dual-sided cutting mechanism includes saw blades located on both sides of the conveying mechanism along the conveying direction and a drive motor that drives the saw blades to rotate, for making equal-position cuts on both sides of the scallop.

7. The scallop meat extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wedge-shaped opening mechanism is symmetrically arranged, the wedge-shaped opening blade has a wedge-shaped head, and its opening end is provided with an arc-shaped guide surface; the preset opening angle is between 20° and 30°.

8. The scallop meat extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reverse linkage lever assembly includes an active connecting rod, two driven rods, and a guide rail. The elastic blade includes a first elastic blade portion and a second elastic blade portion that are hinged together. The output end of the second driving member is hinged to the active connecting rod and is used to drive the active connecting rod to reciprocate in the horizontal direction. The guide rail is arranged in the vertical direction, and one end of each of the two driven rods is provided with a hinged slider that slides with the guide rail. The other ends of the two driven rods are respectively fixed to the first elastic blade portion and the second elastic blade portion. The active connecting rod is hinged to the other end of the two driven rods respectively, so that the two driven rods can swing under the drive of the second driving member, so that the elastic blade fits the arc-shaped surface of the upper and lower inner walls of the scallop. The reverse linkage lever assembly also includes an auxiliary guide rod for guiding the active linkage to reciprocate in the horizontal direction; The elastic cutting mechanism is configured to keep the elastic blade stationary after cutting, thus reserving working space for the air-blowing meat-removing mechanism.

9. The scallop meat extraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air-blowing meat extraction mechanism includes a high-pressure air circuit assembly and an air-blowing nozzle. The air-blowing meat extraction mechanism is set at an angle to the second drive component of the elastic cutting mechanism, and the air-blowing nozzle is fixedly aligned with the opening of the scallop.

10. A control method for a scallop meat extraction device, characterized in that, The scallop meat extraction device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 includes the following steps: The scallops placed on the shaping mold are conveyed sequentially to the cutting station and the meat extraction station along the conveying direction by the conveying mechanism, and the displacement of the scallops is restricted by the positioning and holding mechanism. At the cutting station, a double-sided cutting mechanism is used to make incisions on both sides of the scallop; The visual inspection module detects the cutting width of the scallop and transmits the detection signal to the control module. At the meat extraction station, the control module controls the feed depth of the first drive component of the wedge-shaped opening mechanism according to the cutting width, so that the wedge-shaped opening blade opens the scallop along the cut; the second drive component of the elastic cutting mechanism drives the reverse linkage lever assembly, which drives the elastic blade to conform to the arc surface of the inner wall of the scallop to complete the meat cutting. The scallop meat is extracted by blowing the cut scallop meat away using an air-blowing meat extraction mechanism.

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