GB591723A - Improvements in method and apparatus for treating fish - Google Patents

Abstract

591,723. Boning fish. ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES CO. March 8, 1945, No. 5824. Convention date, March 8, 1944. [Class 28 (ii)] The dorsal fins and associated bones and joints of fish are removed by a pair of mutually inclined circular rotating knives 36, which makes incisions along both sides of the dorsal fins, the machine having means to grip and continuously pull the cut strip downwardly out of the way. Such gripping means comprise scrolls 38, Fig. 9, formed on one face of each of the knives 36, the scrolls comprising spiral ribs 160, Fig. 7, with preferably tapered cutting edges forming helical grooves 162, and lead-ins 164 combined to form a truncated cone. Each knife 36 is mounted on an inclined shaft 26 axially adjustable and driven by an internal gear 22, containing and engaging the driving gear 20 on the shaft 18 on an electric motor 16. The knives are timed to approach each other up to their spaced cutting position by mechanism coupled to the feed of a fish towards the knives, which causes each knife-carrying sleeve 44 to slide on its shaft. A decapitated fish, back down and tail leading, is placed in a trough 223, through which it is fed by grippers 216 traversed by conveyer chains 207, and guided by inclined yielding guides 224. The fish is carried past a fin straightener 233 and a grooved roll 250 which presses on the belly. The fish then passes to the fin-removing knives 36 which are first spaced to allow the tail to pass between them. A yoke 92 is then actuated to slide a sleeve 68 and its shaft 26 axially slightly to move the knives 36 towards one another to cut the flesh and remove the fins, the free end of the cut-out strip passing into one of the lead-ins 164, whereby it is pulled down and removed, the scrolls 38 milling the skin of the strip. Each dorsal fin joint is accommodated in the helical grooves and fed downwardly. After removal, the yoke 92 is actuated by the conveyer to open the discs for the next fish. The head 116 of a lever 112 may be manually depressed to move the sleeve 68 and knife shaft to the left to separate the knives and so allow of their easy replacement. Specifications 452,688 and 466,674 are referred to.