DK179774B1

DK179774B1 - Tool and apparatus for gutting fish by means of suction and scraping elements

Info

Publication number: DK179774B1
Application number: DKPA201770597A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Paulsohn Carsten
Original assignee: Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud Baader Gmbh + Co Kg
Priority date: 2015-03-03
Filing date: 2015-03-03
Publication date: 2019-05-22
Also published as: EP3264904A1; CN107257628A; AU2015385155A1; AU2015385155B2; DK179774B9; WO2016138941A1; DK201770597A1; CN107257628B; EP3264904B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tool (10) for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising a suction element (11) having a suction head (12) for suctioning off the internal organs and at least one scraping element (14) assigned to the suction element (11). The invention is characterised in that the scraping element (14) is arranged pivotably on the suction element (11) about at least one axis (15) such that the scraping element (14) is designed and configured to be movable relative to the suction head (12). The invention further relates to an apparatus for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising the tool (10) referred to hereinbefore.

Description

Tool and apparatus for gutting fish by means of suction and scraping elements

The present invention relates to a tool for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising a suction element having a suction head for suctioning off the internal organs and at least one scraping element assigned to the suction element.

The invention further relates to an apparatus for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising at least one tool for suctioning off the internal organs, a measuring means configured to detect the fish geometry, at least one control means designed to control the tool as a function of the fish geometry detected by the measuring means and at least one positioning device configured to move the tool relative to the fish.

The tool referred to hereinbefore or the said apparatus is used in particular in the automated slaughtering of fish. Such tools and apparatuses are disclosed, for example, in document WO 2007/128386 filed by the applicant’s company. After opening the abdominal cavity of the fish, at least one tool for suctioning off the internal organs and for cleaning is introduced into the opened abdominal cavity. The internal organs are grasped by means of a combination tool consisting of a suction element and an element for clamping/squeezing and are removed from the abdominal cavity by suction. During the gutting process, the combination tool is inserted vertically up to the base of the abdominal cavity and is moved horizontally initially towards the anus. After reaching the anus, the tool is moved towards the head end of the abdominal cavity.

An additional scraping element is provided on the suction element disclosed in document WO 2007/128386. The scraping element is dimensioned such that it forms a projection with respect to the suction element and thus comes into contact with remnants of the internal organs still present on the inner flanks of the fish in order to detach them.

US 7.179.163 disclose an apparatus and associated methods for cleaning residual visceral matter from the belly cavity of a gutted fish. The cleaning apparatus includes a scraper attached at the mouth of a suction tube by a hinge. An actuator pivots the scraper about the hinge between an extended position biased into contact with the interior wall of the belly cavity and a retracted position out of contact with the wall. In the retracted position, the scraper covers the mouth of the suction tube to prevent dislodged visceral matter from falling back into the belly cavity. In the extended position, the scraper uncovers the mouth of the suction tube to allow scraped visceral matter to be sucked from the belly cavity.

- 2 DK 179774 B1

The disadvantage is that, despite using the tools referred to above for gutting and cleaning the abdominal cavity, remnants of internal organs remain in said abdominal cavity.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose a tool which ensures complete removal of remnants of blood and/or internal organs. The object is additionally to propose an apparatus for automated gutting using such a tool.

The object is achieved by a tool having the features referred to hereinbefore in that the scraping element is arranged pivotably on the suction element about at least one axis such that the scraping element is designed and configured to be movable relative to the suction head. In this way, the cleaning effect of the tool is substantially improved compared to the known tools. The mobility of the scraping element relative to the suction element results in the scraping element being able to follow the geometry of each fish body exactly, thus detaching the internal organs and remnants of the internal organs with higher precision. This is achieved by mechanically decoupling the scraping element from the suction element. Although the suction element and the scraping element together form one tool unit which is introduced jointly into the opened abdominal cavity, the tool is nevertheless designed and configured in such a way that the scraping element can be moved largely independently of the suction element during the gutting process inside the abdominal cavity. Thus, in particular remnants of the intestines adhering to the inner abdominal wall can be reliably removed.

According to the invention, the scraping element is arranged pivotably on the suction element by means of a pivot arm. Thus, the scraping element is configured so as to be freely movable at least in the central plane of the fish which extends through the centre bone and the centre of the fish. As a result, the scraping element is configured positionably with regard to the depth of immersion in the abdominal cavity. At the same time, on changing the pivoting position, the scraping element performs a movement in the direction of the head to tail orientation of the fish which additionally assists the scraping process and thus significantly increases the overall level of completeness when removing the internal organs or remnants of the internal organs.

According to the invention, an adjusting means for changing the position of the scraping element relative to the suction head is arranged on the pivot arm. Using the adjusting means, the pivot arm can additionally be loaded with a force or relieved of a force in order, for example, to press the scraping element with increased force against the parts to be cleaned in the abdominal cavity.

- 3 DK 179774 B1

According to the invention, the adjusting means is designed as a spring element. This results in the scraping element being spring-loaded and consequently it is pressed against the base of the abdominal cavity in the region of the centre bone, automatically following the geometry of the abdominal cavity. In this way, it is achieved that the scraping element rests under pressure of force on the inner sides of the portions of the abdominal cavity to be cleaned, particularly in the region of the centre bone, but can yield resiliently at the same time.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivot arm is of two-armed design with respect to the axis, the scraping element being arranged on a first arm and the adjusting means being arranged on a second arm of the pivot arm. In other words, the pivot arm is designed as a two-armed lever. This has the advantage that sufficient space is available for arrangement of the adjusting means on the second arm of the pivot arm as they are not arranged in the region of the suction element.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the spring element is designed and configured for presetting the spring force. This has the advantage that presetting the spring force predetermines the pressing force by means of which the scraping element is pressed against the inner walls in the abdominal cavity. On the one hand, it can thus be ensured that this pressing force is high enough to guarantee removal of the adhering internal organs and/or remnants of the internal organs. On the other hand, any damage or injury to the fish body is prevented by avoiding pressing forces that are too high.

According to another preferred development of the invention, the adjusting means comprises a controllable actuator. Thus, the scraping element can be actively brought into the optimum position in each case. Preferably, the adjusting means comprises one or a plurality of actuators. Alternatively, the adjusting means comprises both an actuator and also one of the spring elements such that the adjusting means is designed as a combined element composed of one of the spring elements and an actuator. For example, the actuator is also configured to move the suction element into a predetermined position while the spring element ensures a corresponding contact force on the region around the centre bone of the fish, thus resiliently bringing the suction element into contact.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the actuator is designed and configured to perform an oscillating movement. The oscillating movement

- 4 DK 179774 B1 additionally assists the process of detaching the internal organs and remnants of the internal organs. In particular, in this way detached portions can slide through under the scraping element during a lifting phase thereof and can be suctioned off by means of the suction element. As soon as the scraping element is lowered again onto the centre bone, the scraping element again takes over its actual scraping or scratching function. The process is repeated continuously due to the oscillating movement of the scraping element. The actuator is especially preferably a pneumatic cylinder. To implement the oscillating movement, the pneumatic cylinder is oscillatingly deflected around each rest position. A plurality of the scraping elements may be designed and configured to be movable independently of each other. E.g., two of the scraping elements are provided which are each configured to be movable using at least one of the actuators. Alternatively, each of the actuators is designed to perform an oscillating movement, the two actuators in particular performing opposing movements such that the scraping elements are moved up and down in a push-pull manner. This has the advantage that one of the scraping elements in each case is in contact with the fish to be gutted in the region of the centre bone, while the other scraping element in each case is in a state of movement in that it has no direct contact with said region.

The present invention, however, is not limited to two of the scraping elements, rather it is advantageous to arrange more than two of the scraping elements so as to be movable independently of one another.

An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the scraping element is configured as a scraping plate, the sides of the scraping plate directed towards the fish flanks each having a texture at least in a partial region. The texture additionally assists the scraping effect of the scraping plate and thus improves the cleaning result.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the suction head comprises a clamping element for clamping and/or squeezing the internal organs to be removed. The clamping element is designed and configured to grasp the internal organs by clamping and/or squeezing such that the internal organs to be removed can first be grasped with the clamping element and subsequently suctioned off.

The object is further achieved by an apparatus having the features referred to hereinbefore in that the tool is configured according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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Further preferred and/or expedient features and embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the description. Especially preferred embodiments are explained in greater detail with reference to the attached drawing. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1 a perspective view of the tool according to the invention and

Fig. 2 a lateral view of the tool shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows the tool 10 according to the invention in a perspective view. Fig. 2 shows the tool 10 according to the invention in a lateral view. The tool 10 is preferably part of a slaughter machine, not shown in the drawing, or of a whole slaughter machine. Especially preferably, the tool 10 is used together with other tools for removing the internal organs.

The tool 10 comprises a suction element 11 with a suction head 12. The suction element 11 and the suction head 12 are designed and configured for suctioning off the internal organs. For this, the suction element 11 is connected to a vacuum unit, not shown. Optionally, the suction element 11 comprises a clamping element, not shown in the drawing, for clamping and/or squeezing the internal organs to be removed. The clamping element comprises a clamping mechanism, by means of which the clamping element is designed to be brought into a clamping position for clamping and/or squeezing the internal organs to be removed.

A scraping element 14 is assigned to the suction element 11. The scraping element 14 is preferably arranged in the region of the suction head 12 at a distance therefrom. The scraping element 14 is thereby arranged pivotably on the suction element 11 about at least one axis 15. In this way, the scraping element 14 is designed and configured in such a way that it is movable relative to the suction head 12. Especially preferably, the suction element 11 and the scraping element 14 are arranged centrally on a notional plane which likewise extends through the centre bone of the fish to be gutted. Especially preferably, the tool 10 according to the invention is used when gutting fish conveyed on a transport device which are oriented with the opened abdominal cavity upwards. In this case, the tool 10 according to the invention operates in the abdominal cavity of the fish from above.

Further preferably, the scraping element 14 is arranged pivotably on the suction element 11 by means of a pivot arm 16. For example, the suction element 11 comprises a suction pipe 18 held by means of a holding element 17. The holding element 17 preferably comprises a bearing element 19 for receiving the axis/axle 15, by means of which the pivot arm 16 is pivotably arranged on the holding element 17. Advantageously, the pivot arm 16 is designed

- 6 DK 179774 B1 at least substantially corresponding to the suction pipe 18 such that the pivot arm 16 and the suction pipe 18 are aligned approximately parallel over broad regions in the pivot position of the pivot arm 16 shown in Fig. 1.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, an adjusting means (not shown in the drawing) configured for changing the position of the scraping element 14 relative to the suction head 12 is arranged on the pivot arm 16. The adjusting means is arranged in this case to move the scraping element 14 relative to the suction head 12 by pivoting the pivot arm 16 and thus to change the position of said scraping element. Advantageously, the pivot arm 16 is of two-armed design with respect to the axis 15. The pivot arm 16 therefore comprises a first arm 20 and a second arm 21. The scraping element 14 is arranged on the first arm 20 while the adjusting means is preferably arranged on the second arm 21. Possible pivot points 22 for the adjusting means are illustrated by way of example in the drawing.

Especially preferably, the adjusting means is designed as a spring element. If the adjusting means is arranged between one of the pivot points 22 of the second arm 21 and one of the pivot points 22 of the holding element 17, then the adjusting means is preferably designed as a tension spring. However, it is also possible for the adjusting means to be arranged between the first arm 20 and the holding element 17. In this case, the adjusting means is preferably designed as a pressure spring.

Advantageously, the spring element is designed and configured for presetting the spring force. In other words, the spring element is configured in such a way that the force acting on the pivot arm 16 or the torque arising therefrom is configured to be preselectable.

According to an advantageous alternative embodiment of the present invention, the adjusting means is a controllable actuator. The controllable actuator is preferably configured to be adjustable in its longitudinal extension. In this way, the angle by which the pivot arm 16 is pivoted about the axis 15 can be actively controlled such that the position of the scraping element 14 can be predetermined by specifying the pivot angle. Any element whose longitudinal extension is designed to be variable by means of corresponding control signals is suitable as a controllable actuator.

Especially preferably, the actuator is designed and configured to perform an oscillating movement. In other words, a control device is provided which activates the actuator in such a manner that it performs oscillating movements. These oscillating movements result in lifting and lowering of the scraping element 14 such that the pressing force of the scraping element

- 7 DK 179774 B1 on the centre bone or on the blood vessels present there is repeatedly and continuously increased and decreased. The actuator is preferably a compressed air driven pneumatic cylinder.

The scraping element 14 is preferably designed as a scraping plate 24. The sides 23 of the scraping plate 24 directed towards the fish flanks of the fish each have a texture at least in a partial region. An additional cleaning effect is achieved by means of the texture. Especially preferably, the texture is designed in the form of grooves and has a series of recesses 25. The scraping plate 24 preferably comprises a protrusion 26, arranged at its lower end, which is directed towards the centre bone of the fish. The protrusion 26 brings about improved detachment of blood kidneys.

The tool 10 according to the invention having the features referred to above is part of a further apparatus according to the invention for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities. In addition to the at least one tool 10 for suctioning off the internal organs, the apparatus comprises the further features referred to below which are not shown, however, in the drawing. The apparatus comprises a measuring means configured to detect the fish geometry, at least one control means designed to control the tool 10 dependent on the fish geometry detected by the measuring means and at least one positioning device configured to move the tool relative to the fish.

The measuring means is preferably a touch sensor with associated evaluation electronics which permits detection of the fish geometry. Alternatively, the measuring means is designed as an opto-electronic sensor. The control means is further configured in such a manner that it both enables the tool 10 to be inserted by means of the positioning device into the opened abdominal cavity of the fish based on the determined fish geometry and it also moves the tool 10 to the desired positions inside the abdominal cavity during the gutting and cleaning process of said abdominal cavity.

The apparatus advantageously comprises a conveying device by means of which the fish are conveyed through the apparatus lying on their back. In this case, the control means and the positioning device are adapted in such a manner that the previously described control of the tool 10 for gutting the fish takes place during conveying of the fish.

Claims

Patent claims

A tool (10) for cleaning fish with open abdominal cavities, comprising a suction element (11), which has a suction head (12) for suction of the internal means and at least one scraping element (14) assigned to the suction element (11), wherein the creating element ( 14) is rotatably located on the suction element (11) about at least one axis (15), so that the scraper element (14) is designed and adapted to be movable relative to the suction head (12) in which the scraper element (14) is rotatably placed on the suction element ( 11) by means of a pivot arm (16);

an adjusting means adapted to change the position of the scraper element (14) relative to the suction head (12) is located on the rotatable arm (16); and is characterized in that the adjusting means is designed as a spring element.

Tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatable arm (16) is a two-arm design relative to the axis (15), wherein the scraper element (14) is located on a first arm (20) and the adjusting means is located on a second arm (21) on the rotatable arm (16).

Tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring element is designed and adapted to preset the spring force.

Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adjusting means comprises a controllable actuator.

Tool according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuator is designed and adapted to perform an oscillating movement.

Tool according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.

Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the scraper element (14) is adapted as a scraper plate (24), in which the sides (23) of the scraper plate (24) facing the fish bellies each have a texture at least in a sub-area.

A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction head (12) comprises a clamping element for clamping and / or clamping the internal means to be removed.

Apparatus for cleaning fish with open abdominal cavities, comprising at least one tool (10) for suction of the internal organs, a measuring means for determining the geometry of the fish, at least one control means adapted to control the tool (10) depending on fish

10 geometry as defined by the measuring means and at least one positioning device adapted to move the tool (10) relative to the fish characterized in that the tool is adapted according to any one of claims 1 to 8.