GB466674A - Improvements in means and method for preparing fish for filleting - Google Patents

Abstract

466,674. Dressing fish. HUNT, W. H. Feb. 7, 1936, No. 3804. Convention date, Jan. 2. [Class 28 (ii)] A fish-dressing mach. ine comprises a pair of rotary disc knives 61, arranged to cut a thin band of flesh from the back of a fish which is conveyed past and above the knives, the dorsal fins and associated knuckles being thus removed. The knives 61 are driven from shafts 51 through universal couplings 57. The bearings 59 are adjustable to vary the inclinations of the knives and are locked by bolts 60. The housings 44 for the shafts 51 are slidably arranged in the standards 40, and are reciprocated so that the tail ends of the fishes may pass between the separated knives 61, which are then brought together to effect the cuts along the backs of the fishes. The inside faces of the knives carry protuberances 62 which engage the band of flesh and remove it from the fish. The reciprocations of the housings 44 are effected by rollers 47, which engage cams 48 carried on a member 49 mounted on rods 50 which are reciprocated by cam means. The spacing of the knives 61 is controlled by adjustable stops 20a. The machine is intended to effect a preliminary removal of dorsal fins before further filleting treatment as described in Specification 452,688. The headed fishes are pushed, by hand or mechanically, tail first and back down along the trough 23 and between the gates 24 which are pivoted on pins 25, and are normally retained closed by springs 26. The tail of each fish is then gripped between spiked plates 15 on cam actuated rods 12 slidable in blocks 8 carried by the conveyer chains 7. The fish is pulled over ' a back fin straightener 33, as described in Specification 452,688, and is held for presentation to the knives 61 by a V-shaped presser plate 29 carried on pivoted arms 27, Fig. 1. After passing the knives 61 the fishes are moved along a trough 100 to further filleting devices. The blocks 8 have side extensions 8a which are attached to the chains 7, the extensions being spaced from the main portion of the block to form guide ways or passages for the stationary plates 9. This arrangement ensures a straight line pulling motion of the grippers 15 which are actuated transversely by rollers 13, 14 engaging cam rails 17a, 18, 19, the rollers 13 applying the gripping thrust being in line with the grippers 15. The height of the back fin straightener is adjusted by a shaft 35 angularly adjusted by a handle 27, Fig. 3, and carrying an eccentric pin 38 which engages a hole in a yoke 34 joining the two parts of the fin straightener. Specification 454,500 also is referred to.