DK176180B1 - Automatic arrangement for orderly transfer of fish in a fish processing machine - Google Patents

Description

DK 176180 B1 AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR ORDINARY TRANSFER OF FISH TO A FISH PROCESSING MACHINE ·

Description 5

The invention relates to an automatic device for the orderly transfer of fish to a fish processing machine.

Such automation, ie. a service-free operation of such devices 10 from the charge-feeding up to the delivery to and passage through the processing machine is very problematic due to the different properties of the natural fish, such as fish. size, texture, body accuracy, etc. and because of the volume of production to be taken into account.

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Such a device is e.g. known from GB 1090737. Here is disclosed a method and apparatus for orienting and orderly transfer of fish.

In addition, a device for this purpose is known from EP 0 116 782. A central element of this device, which consists of supply conveyor, longitudinal positioning device and belly-back positioning device, is an image acquisition system arranged after the longitudinal positioning device and provides image information enabling positioning of each fish in a bed that is optimal for cutting off the head. For this purpose, the image collection system simultaneously controls the location of each fish and controls the pathways that influence the fish's transport path so that each fish is handled individually, ie. ejected at flawed head-tail location and guided into a reverse section at flawed belly-back location.

30 DK 176180 B1 2 j

The first prerequisite for the optimal functioning of such a device is, as an error analysis shows, that a safe isolation of the fish occurs to exclude the possibility of blocking each other during the placement process. In addition, in this regard, it is necessary for a safe and controllable transfer of the fish to the processing machine, which is also important for optimum efficiency of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a device which, with relatively few resources, is capable of placing the fish uniformly and with high performance to achieve that the processing machine operates at almost the highest capacity.

This object is achieved according to the invention by means of an automatic device 15 for the orderly transfer of fish to a fish processing machine, which device comprises: A supply conveyor, means for distributing and separating the fish from a fish stock, means for longitudinal placement of the fish with a reversing device for placing the fish in uniform head-ha le-bearing, means for placing the fish in uniform bug-back bed, means for single withdrawal and 20 tempo-wise administration of the fish in a transporter with chambers for single-take-up of the fish, sensor means for controlling the bug-back. a bearing for each fish and means for turning faulty fish into uniform bug-back bearing, the sensor means comprising a reflector sensor having a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, said reflex sensor disposed over the path of the transporter.

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The functional security thus obtained lies in the combination of optimization measures that manifest themselves in the design of these agents, their interrelationship and the order of their placement.

Similarly advantageous details appear in the dependent claims.

30 3 DK 176180 B1

At the same time, the performance characteristics of the means for distribution and excretion cause the fish to be subjected to longitudinal placement and isolation as well, which effect is an essential basis for a flawless function of the coupled means for longitudinal placement. These 5 placement rods are designed so that the fish are transferred to a subway of! the channel, in which there is a further separation, in that the fish, as a result of the oscillation movement of the placement channel, are each moved in their direction of swimming. Thus, in the static means, half of the fish fed to the placement channel is transported opposite the working direction of the total system, the reversing device positioned on their path causing a reversal and at the same time leading these fish into the second subway of the placement channel, whereby the fish are passed on in two streams at once! direction without blocking each other. In the subsequent bug-back placement, each fish in the passageway is first placed in a swimming position below the utilization of the geometry for its cross-section and then transferred to a uniform lateral position with respect to the back, where the fish are held in waiting position from which they are retrieved individually. and progressively led on.

Preferably, the means are designed so that the fish are not subjected to damaging load despite high feed speed, which is achieved by gripping the fish in the waiting position at a relatively low rate which is gradually increased until the fish are released again to avoid damaging acceleration forces.

For correcting any remaining bug-back misplacement, means may be provided in the region of the cross conveyor serving as the feed conveyor of the processing machine to reverse such fish, which means are activated as required by light optical sensor means. The sensor means may preferably be designed as a reflex sensor whose reflex signal is evaluated for its intensity course. On the basis of the darker color of the fish's back and the lighter color of the fish's belly, 4 DK 176180 B1 sends a signal based on the minimum-maximum result of a misalignment that can be corrected by activating the reversing means. To this end, the turning arm is controllable against the turntable, so that the misaligned fish is affected by a turning moment which rotates it 180 ° about its longitudinal axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following, the device according to the invention is explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing, in which 1 is a diagrammatic and perspective view of a single-lane device 10 with a conveyor which, for the sake of clarity, is depicted too high in relation to the longitudinal positioning device; FIG. Figure 2 is a cross-section through the means for distributing and separating the fish, depicted with only one trajectory; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the longitudinal positioning means of the fish with integrated head-tail turning device; 4 shows a detail of the reversing device according to FIG. 3

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FIG. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a drive diagram of the location gutters in a four-way design of the longitudinal positioning means; 6 is a schematic side elevation of the means of separation; FIG. 7 shows schematically the sensor means; FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the means for reversing fish misplaced with respect to the belly-back bed; and FIG. 9 shows the bug-back process in the individual phases a) to c).

DK 176180 B1 5

The arrangement for the orderly transfer of fish to a fish processing machine comprises, as can be seen in FIG. 1, a feed conveyor not shown, usually formed as a sloping conveyor, a conveyor 1 distributing and separating the fish, a longitudinal positioning device 2 with a positioning ring 5 2.1 for the fishes, a reversing device 3 for placing the fish in uniform main tail bearing, a positioning device 4 for placing the fish in uniform bug-back bed, a timing device 5 for receiving the prepared fish individually and delivering the fish temporarily to a transporter 6, measuring means 7 for checking the bug-back bed for each fish and a turning mechanism 8 for reversing 10 misplaced fish.

The conveyor 1 consists of FIG. 1 and 2 of a walking grating 1.1 having a transport surface 1.2 formed by grating rods 1.3 placed side by side in the transport direction of the fish. The grate bars 1.3 are, as seen in FIG. 2, are connected to each other by means of yokes 1.4 and 1.5 in such a way that the grating surface is formed by two partial grids which interlock cam-like. Each partial grid is connected via support arms 1.6 and 1.7 to a pair of synchronously circular crankshaft 1.8, the two partial grids 1.6 and 1.7 each gripping cranks 1.9 and 1.10, which are 180 ° in relation to each other. The conveying surface 1.2 is formed in the supply area 1.11 increasing and decreasing in the delivery area, whereby the conveying surface 1.2 ends over the positioning ring 2.1 of the longitudinal positioning device 2. The width of the conveying surface 1.2 is adapted to the width of the positioning trough 2.1, with the edge bars 1.12 and the center bar 1.13 being extended. In a multi-lane embodiment of the walking grid 1.1, a shoulder element 1.14, which is arranged on the inner edge bar 1.12, takes over the boundary with respect to the neighboring transport surface. In the region of the extension of the edge bar 1.12 a guide surface 1.15 is arranged on its underside, which ends above the longitudinal axis of the positioning trough 2.1.

The positioning ring 2.1 of the longitudinal positioning device 2 has a U-shaped cross section and is oscillating longitudinally in a suitable manner. In order to eliminate the mass forces, in a four-way embodiment, an outer positioning ring and the positioning ring located adjacent to the second outermost positioning ring in the opposite side are connected to each other by a pair of two-armed guide arms 2.2, which are pivotally mounted about a vertical center axis 2.3. The operation takes place in such a way that the outermost positioning edges oscillate in the opposite direction to the inner ones.

The location trough 2.1 is provided in its supply area with a guide rail 10 2.5, which divides its supporting surface 2.4 along the center into two sub-lanes, which guide rail is extended beyond the rear end of the placement trough 2.1 and ends in a section wedge 2.6. Underneath the end of the positioning trough 2.1 is a slider 3.1, which is a component of the turning device 3. This consists as shown in FIG. 1 and 3 of a brush roller 3.3, which is rotated 15 about a horizontal axis 3.2, on whose underside the slit 3.1 forms a tangent plane. Slip 3.1 enters a guide sheath 3.4 which surrounds the rear circumference of the brush roll 3.3 and over its culmination point ends in a guide surface 3.5 which bends forwardly towards the supporting surface 2.4 of the placement trough 2.4. On the inside of the guide sheath 3.4 20 there is a guide rail 3.6 (Fig. 4), which is shaped as a screw thread and with an end piece 3.7 is free of contact with the part wedge 2.6 on the positioning rail 2.1 of the positioning ridge 2.1.

The device 4 for placing the fish in uniform bug-back position is arranged at the exit side of the placement trough and consists of opposite guide faces 4.2 forming a guide channel 4.1, which guide faces at the entrance side of the guide channel 4.1 are provided with openings 4.3 for discharging excess added fish. On the output side, the guide surfaces 4.2 are designed to be twisted in the same direction, so that the channel cross-section at the fish passage 30 causes a rotation about their longitudinal axis.

in 7 DK 176180 B1

The control channel 4.1 proceeds in a transfer channel 4.4, which is connected to the device 5 for single acquisition of the prepared fish and the tempo- rary transmission (Fig. 6). The device 5 comprises a guiding 5.1 with a U-shaped cross section, the bottom surface of which is formed by the conveying surface 5.2 of an endless conveyor belt 5.3. The conveyor belt 5.3 is passed over a guide roller 5.4 and a drive pulley 5.5 and is provided on its transport surface with a number of adjacent spokes 5.7, the division of which is in an integer relation to the circumference of the drive pulley. The drive disc 5.5 is driven via an ellipse wheel gear 5.6 and is coupled to this in such a way that the spikes 5.7 when they emerge and 10 move into the transport surface 5.2 are driven at minimum speed and when they emerge are driven at maximum speed.

In the area above the place where the spikes 5.7 appear, a catch flap 5.8 is arranged which is pivotable in the running direction 5.3 of the conveyor belt 5.3 around a stationary axis against the force of a spring 5.9. The catch flap 5.8 is designed as a tunnel and is provided in the tunnel cross-section with a front stop 5.10 which is resiliently resilient in the vertical plane.

The guide 5.1 of the tapping device 5 ends over the cross conveyor 6. This 20 is preferably identical to a trough conveyor in e.g. a fish-head filleting machine and consists of a chain of take-up trough 6.1, which is placed adjacent to each other and serves to receive a single fish. The take-up troughs 6.1 consist of a body trough 6.2 and a main trough 6.3 which are arranged in relation to each other so that a gap 6.4 is formed between them. In the area opposite the guide end 5.1 mouth there is a stop rail 6.5 for stopping the fish at their mouth.

The transporter 6 guides the fish through the measuring means 7 (Fig. 7). These consist of a reflector sensor 7.1 arranged over the path 30 of the transverse conveyor 6 and comprises a transmitter portion 7.2 and a receiver portion 7.3, as well as an additional receiver portion 7.4 which is arranged in the gap 6.4 and together with

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j DK 176180 B1 8 transmitter part 7.2 forms a light counter 7.5. The transmitter portion 7.2 is positioned against the receiver portion 7.4 for this purpose, while the receiver portion 7.3 is focused on an observation point located on the 7.5 axis of the light counter above the fish surface 6.6 in the recording troughs 6.1 at a distance 5 corresponding to the average thickness of a fish.

The measuring means 7 are connected to the turning mechanism 8 via a control unit (not shown) (Fig. 8). As shown in FIG. 8 is a driven turntable 8.1, which is placed in the gap 6.4 between the body troughs 6.2 and 10 the main troughs 6.3 and with its periphery protrudes slightly above the support surface 6.6. The turntable 8.1 is driven at approximately twice the speed of the cross conveyor 6 and runs in the same direction as this one. Opposite the turntable 8.1 lies a retainer 8.2 which projects into the gap 6.4 and is designed as a towed swing arm which can be pushed away by the fish against the force of a spring 8.3.

The retainer 8.2 is pivotable about a stationary axis 8.4 and has in its area of free end a hook-shaped turning arm 8.5 hinged on the retainer 8.2 and mounted pivotally in its pivotal plane. The turning arm 20 8.5 has a concave trapping surface 8.6 facing the turntable 8.1, which spans the part of the turntable 8.1 which protrudes over the mounting surfaces 6.6 of the recording troughs 6.1. A control rod 8.7, which is connected to a crank 8.8, whose crankshaft corresponds to the shaft 8.2 corresponding to the shaft 8.4, grips the swing arm 8.5. The crank 8.8 can be pivotally actuated by means of a pneumatic cylinder 8.9.

The operation of the device described above is as follows: The fish, which, by means of a suitable feeding device, are usually brought into the supply area 1.11 of the conveyor 1, first come to the transport surface 1.2 of the grating 1.1 which, due to the opposite and raised feeding of the partial grids, respectively. - and lower retraction oscillation movement DK 176180 B1 9 causes the accumulation of fish to be transformed into a single stream of fish flow. Thereby, due to the laminating effect of the conveying surface 1.2 formed by the grate rods 1.3, the fish are largely positioned longitudinally and are guided in this position to the release end of the rake 1.1. Here, the fish 5 falls into the positioning trough 2.1 which is located below, the extensions of the two edge rods 1.12 and the middle rods 1.13 forming traps which the fish can only pass if they are placed longitudinally. The ejection is guided by the guide surface 1.15 into one of the two sub-lanes of the placement trench 2.1, which are separated by the guide rail 2.5. As a result of 10 of the location trend's 2.1 oscillation movement, the fish are pushed forward while maintaining their longitudinal position, each fish being carried only in its swim direction. As the fish enter the placement trough 2.1 with both the head front and the tail front, this means that the latter is transported upwards in the placement trough 2.1.

While the fish having the head forward is pushed forward and downward in the positioning trough 2.1, the fish having the tail downwards, with the head forwardly facing the reversing device 3, is gripped by its brush roller 3.3 and is again returned to the positioning trough 2.1 in the reversed state. Under the action of the control arm 3.6, these fish are transferred to the free subway of the location trough 20 2.1, so that two streams of fish are formed which, without blocking each other, are moved further downwards and with their heads forward to the placement device 4 to be uniformly placed in terms of bug-back hire.

In the location device 4, the two streams of fish are joined. Each fish, using its cross-sectional geometry, is first aligned to the swimming position and then placed in uniform lateral position. Too many feed fish can be diverted from the fish stream via the side openings 4.3 and returned to the process by a suitable conveyor.

In the subsequent timing device 5, the fish are first stopped by the catch flap 30, as their mouths come into contact with the front end area thereof.

Another fish, possibly pushed in over the first fish, is held back by the stopper 5.10. The first fish, located at the bottom, is now grabbed by the spikes 5.7, which with the conveyor belt 5.3 are brought up in the guide end 5.1, and 5 are moved forward. Thereby the catch flap 5.8 is pulled by the fish until it is released. Due to the location of the pivot shaft of the catch flap 5.8, the height position of the stopper 5.10 is hardly changed, so that an upward second fish is held back again during this process. After the bottom fish has been pulled out, the fish lying on top 10, pushed forward by the transport pressure of the placement trench 2.1, takes over its original position until the subsequent spikes 5.7 emerge and seize it.

The catch of the fish using the spikes 5.7 is done at low speed, which! is increased after seizing, so that a relatively small mass force affects the j fish.

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The transfer of the fish to the transporter 6 takes place at a speed maximum while temporarily adjusting the tempo- rary advance to the position of the recording troughs 6.1. 1 20 Since the natural product fish, especially with regard to the bug-back bed, does not allow for a flawless placement, the bed is checked for the fish transported in the recording troughs 6.1. This is done in the measuring station 7, where the control process is initiated by the fish switching off the light fixture 7.5, after which a reflex measurement is made, at which the reflex signal is evaluated with respect to its intensity course. Thus, a minimum 25 minimum signal order indicates a misplacement as this means that the fish is transported with the dark, ie. stronger light absorbing, back front. In such a case, the post-coupled turning mechanism 8 is set to act when this fish has reached that position.

As seen in FIG. 9a) to c) the reversing arm 8.5 is caused for this purpose in! 30 11 DK 176180 B1 by activating the pneumatic cylinder 8.9 to swing into the trajectory where the fish to be turned (Fig. 8), grab behind it and push it towards the turntable 8.1. Since the turnaround speed of the turntable 8.1 is greater than the transport speed of the transporter 6, the fish is turned about its longitudinal axis in a rolling motion.

In the drawing, a single-lane supply device is depicted for greater clarity. In order to achieve the supply capacity required by the subsequent machining machine, a four-lane device has proven to be effective in practice. The drawing further shows a sequence of functions which, however, can be changed without leaving the idea of the invention. It could thus be imagined that the positioning device 4 is integrated into the working area of the timing device 5.

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Claims (31)

An automatic device for the orderly transfer of fish to a fish processing machine comprising: 5 a feed conveyor, means (1) for distributing and separating the fish from a fish stock, means (2) for longitudinal placement of the fish along a 10 reversing device (3) for placement of the fish in uniform head-tail bearing, means (4) for placing the fish in uniform bug-back bearing, means (5) for single withdrawal and the timely administration of the fish ** in a transporter (6) with chambers for single recording of the 15 fish, sensor means (7) for controlling bug-back bed for each fish and means (8) for turning faulty fish into uniform bug-back bed, the sensor means comprising a reflex sensor (7.1) with a transmitter part (7.2 ) and a receiver portion (7.3), said reflector sensor being disposed over the path of the transporter (6). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (1) for distributing and separating comprise a walking grating (1.1) with grating rods (1.3) located in the transport direction of the fish, where adjacent grating rods 25 (1.3) each perform an opposite direction. raise-forward and lower-retract oscillation motion, respectively. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the conveying surface (1.2) of the travel grate (1.1) has at least one longitudinal chamber limited by 30 side shoulder elements (1.14), the width of which corresponds to about twice the width of the largest fish capable of are machined, as both the edge bars (1.12) and the middle grid bar (1.13) located between them are extended beyond the end of the other grid bars at the outlet end. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the transport surface (1.2) of the travel grate (1.1) is at least regionally increasing in the transport direction. Device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the longitudinal positioning means (2) have at least one longitudinal 10 oscillating driven positioning ring (2.1) having a substantially U-shaped cross section, the width of the positioning trend ( 2.1) supporting surface (2.4) is about twice the width of the largest fish to be processed, and the positioning trough (2.1) is positioned below the exit end of the transport surface (1.2) of the walking grate (1.2). t 15 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the positioning trough (2.1) is provided at least in the area under the extended grating bars (1.3) with a guide rail (2.5) which divides the placement trough (2.1) into two subways along the middle. . 20 Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a guide surface (1.15) for guiding the fish is arranged in the area of the extension of one of the guide rods (1.1) and between it and the positioning trough (2.1). which is delivered from the walking grid (1.1) into one of the paths of the location gutter (2.1). Device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the reversing device (3) comprises a driven brush roller (3.3) which is mounted in the region above the rear end of the positioning trough (2.1) and is surrounded by a concentric guide sheath (3.4) with the brush roller (3.3) substantially surrounding the brush roller (3.3) at its rear circumference. 14 DK 176180 B1 Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide cover (3.4) of the brush roll (3.3) is provided on its inside with a helical guide strip (3.6). 5 Longitudinal placement device in an automatic arrangement for transferring fish to a fish processing machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, with two pairs of adjacent gutters (2.1), characterized in that each of the outermost gutters is driven oscillatingly in counter phase with respect to the inner placement gutters. 10 Device according to claim 10, characterized in that an outer positioning ring and the positioning ring located next to the second outermost positioning ring are connected to each other by means of at least one two-armed control arm (2.2) pivotable about a vertical 15 center axis (2.3). Device according to any one of claims 5-11, characterized in that the supporting surfaces (2.4) of the placement gutters (2.1) are rough. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the ridge is produced by cross-grinding the support surfaces (2.4). Device according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that the means (4) for placing the fish in uniform bug-back bed 25 each comprise a positioning station assigned to each positioning channel (2.1) on the exit side. , each positioning station having a guide channel (4.1) of guide faces (4.2), with the aid of which each fish can be placed on the abdomen and transferred to a lateral position which is uniform with respect to the position of the back. 30 Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the guide surfaces of | ________ | 15 DK 176180 B1 (4.2) at the output end of the control channel (4.1) is provided with openings (4.3) for the discharge of surplus feed fish. in Device according to any one of claims 1-15, characterized in that the means (5) for separating and temporarily dispensing are assigned to each positioning ring (2.1), each positioning ring having a rigid guide (5.1), flush with the associated positioning ring (2.1) and arranged adjacent to its positioning device (4), the bottom surface of which is formed by the conveying surface (5.2) on an endless driven conveyor belt (5.3) and above which a catch flap ( 5.8) which is resilient to the force of a spring. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the conveyor belt (5.3) is provided on its conveying surface with carriers (5.7) in a longitudinal distribution which is at least equal to the total length of the largest fish to be processed. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the carriers (5.7) consist of one or more spikes arranged side by side. 20 Device according to any one of claims 16-18, characterized in that the conveyor belt (5.3) performs an irregular movement, with the gripping of the fish taking place at a minimum speed and the release of the fish taking place at a maximum speed. 25 Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the conveyor belt (5.3) is driven by an ellipse wheel gear (5.6). A fish processing machine comprising a chambered conveyor (6) for receiving the fish and transporting the same across their longitudinal axis, as well as means for turning fish misplaced in | ij 16 DK 176180 B1 for the belly-back bearing, to a uniform location, characterized in that the means (8) for turning comprise a driven turntable (8.1) arranged in a slot (6.4) in the supporting surface (6.6) for the fish, the turntable being mounted so that it with its circumference protrudes slightly above the support surface 5 (6.6) and with a retainer (8.2) which can be pushed away against the force of one! spring is placed opposite the turntable (8.1). Fish processing machine according to claim 21, characterized in that the down holder (8.2) is provided with a hook-shaped turning arm (8.5) which is pivotally mounted in the end area of the down holder (8.2) and has a concave catch face (8.6) facing the turntable (8.1). ) substantially extending over the portion of the circumference of the turntable (8.1) which protrudes above the supporting surface (6.6) of the recording troughs (6.1). t. Fish processing machine according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the turntable (8.1) is driven at a higher speed relative to the speed of the conveyor (6), the direction of rotation being chosen such that the circumferential contact with the fish has a movement component , pointing in the transport direction of the conveyor (6). i 20 Fish processing machine according to any one of claims 21-23, characterized in that the circumference of the turntable (8.1) is non-slip. in Fish processing machine according to any one of claims 21-24, characterized in that the reversing arm (8.5) is provided with an adjusting means (8.9) which can be actuated by means of sensor (7) comprising a control unit. Fish processing machine according to claim 25, characterized in that the sensing means comprise a path arranged over the transporter (6) | 17 GB 176180 B1 reflector sensor (7.1) with a transmitter part (7.2) and a receiver part (7.3). Fish processing machine according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that an additional receiver part (7.3) is placed opposite the transmitter part (7.2), which is arranged in the slot (6.4) and together with the transmitter part (7.2). ) forms a counter. Fish processing machine according to any one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that the sensor means (7) operate with laser light. 10 Fish processing machine according to any one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that the sensor means (7) are connected to a control unit which only allows an evaluation of the reflex sensor (7.1) signal when the light counter is switched off. 15 Fish processing machine according to claim 29, characterized in that the signal evaluation consists in recording the intensity course of the light received by the reflector sensor (7.1) (7.3). Fish processing machine according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that the control unit generates a control signal when the intensity course of the reflected light has a minimum-maximum-intensity order.