Automated oyster shucking: Part I. An orientation system for American oysters, Crassostrea virginica

Abstract

One essential step in achieving a completely mechanized raw oyster processing machine is oyster orientation. However, relatively little research has been conducted to design orientation equipment for oysters. This research was designed to develop and test orientation and transfer equipment based on principles developed by Gird (1977); methods by Tojerio (1987) and Smith et al. (1992); and equipment by Little (1991) to reliably orient wild American oysters, Crassostrea virginia. This paper will describe a device to convey, orient, and transfer the orientated oysters to the next unit process without losing their orientation. The system consists of several mechanical components and a computer vision system. The basic machine and its operation is described herein while the details of the computer vision system and the overall machine orientation and transfer efficiencies are described in two other companion papers. The system operation began with the transport of single oysters by a feeder conveyor to a feeder cup. The feeder cup deposited the oyster onto one of the four rotary plates on the rotary table. The rotary table rotated 1.57 rad to position the oyster into the view of the computer vision system. The orienter/lift device below the rotary table and rotary plates oriented the oyster as directed by the algorithm in the computer vision software (OYSORS). The rotary table was turned again 1.57 rad. At this position, the transfer mechanism was lowered over the oyster. This mechanism gripped the oyster shell and transported the oyster onto the exit conveyor while maintaining its orientation.