EP3448162A1

EP3448162A1 - Fish-supplying device and method therefor

Info

Publication number: EP3448162A1
Application number: EP16720089.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan-Patrick Herbst; Frank Schubert; Ulf JACOBSEN; Christian Lohse; Ib Verner DALGAARD-NIELSEN
Original assignee: Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud Baader GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud Baader GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2016-04-26
Filing date: 2016-04-26
Publication date: 2019-03-06
Also published as: WO2017186274A1; CN109068667A; AU2016405226A1; EP4256963A2; CA3019454A1; CN117044768A; EP4256963A3; US10588323B2; US20190116817A1; DK180467B1; RU2716206C1; AU2016405226B2; CA3019454C; DK201800740A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fish-supplying device (10), which is designed to supply fish (13) to a plurality of fish-processing devices and comprises: a transverse conveyor (14), which is designed to convey the fish (13) transversely to the head-tail orientation thereof in a transverse conveying direction (15), wherein the transverse conveyor (14) comprises a plurality of holding elements (17), each of which is designed to individually hold one of the fish (13), and the transverse conveyor (14) has a controllable drive unit (19); at least one loading device (11), which is designed to load the holding elements (17) of the transverse conveyor (14) with the fish; a plurality of transfer devices (16), which are designed to selectively transfer the fish (13) from the transverse conveyor to the longitudinal conveyors (12) arranged before the respective fish-processing devices, wherein the longitudinal conveyors (12) are designed to convey the fish (13) along the head-tail orientation thereof to the fish-processing machines; and a control device, which is designed to control the at least one loading device (11), the transfer devices (16), and the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor (14) on the basis of at least one predefined adjustment specification. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for supplying fish.

Description

Fish feeder and method for this

The present invention relates to a fish feeder adapted and adapted for feeding fish to a plurality of fish processing devices. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for feeding fish to several fish processing machines.

Such arrangements and methods are used in the fish processing industry. In particular, in the automatic processing of fish, it is necessary to automatically deliver the fish to the respective fish processing facilities.

From the document WO 03/013262, for example, a method for the automated processing of fish and a plant for processing and processing of fish is known. The fish are fed automatically to the processing machines, for example machines for automated gutting, via corresponding feed devices. As feeding a Zuführband is used, on which the fish are promoted in the fish longitudinal direction. By means of controllable deflectors, the fish are fed to the respective processing machines by the fish are pushed by the deflector from the conveyor belt each on a chute, which leads to the respective processing machines.

The known devices and methods for feeding fish have a number of disadvantages. On the one hand, the number of fish that can be conveyed per unit time is limited upwards in the case of advancing the fish in the longitudinal direction, that is to say the head or tail, which is known from the prior art. The promotion of fish in the longitudinal direction is usually by means of conveyor belts on which the fish are transported lying. In order to avoid uncontrolled slipping of the fish when loading such conveyor belts, there is an upper barrier for the maximum conveying speed. Another disadvantage is that each of the fish on the conveyor belt in the conveying direction occupies a section, the least At least his body length corresponds, so that also the maximum conveying speed is limited.

A further disadvantage is that, with the high throughputs of fish per unit time desired today, it is no longer possible for auxiliaries to place the fish manually on such a conveyor belt in order to be able to reach the desired conveying speeds at all.

Furthermore, there is a need to feed the fish as far as possible at a central location of the plant for further fish processing and then to distribute this with high throughput as possible to several of the fish processing facility automatically.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to suggest a fish feed device which ensures optimal feeding of the fish to a plurality of processing devices at the same time as high as possible conveying speeds. Furthermore, the object is to propose a corresponding method.

The object is achieved by the fish feeding device mentioned above, wherein this comprises a cross conveyor arranged for conveying the fish transversely to their head-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction, wherein the transverse conveyor has a plurality of receiving elements each for individual recording of one of the fish, the transverse conveyor also a controllably arranged drive unit, and the fish feed device further comprises at least one feed device for feeding the receiving elements of the cross conveyor with the fish and comprises a plurality of multiple transfer devices, which are designed for selective transfer of the fish from the cross conveyor to each of the fish processing facilities upstream longitudinal conveyor, wherein the Longitudinal conveyors are arranged to convey the fish along their head-to-tail orientation to the fish processing machines, as well as a controller that is set up t to control the at least one charging device, the transfer devices and the conveying speed of the cross conveyor based on at least one predetermined distribution rule. In this way it is possible to optimally distribute the fish at high conveying speeds to several of the fish processing facilities. On the one hand, the cross conveyor has the advantage that the fish are packed tightly and thus a large number of fish are conveyed per section of length. the. On the other hand, the cross conveyor allows correspondingly high conveying speeds, since the fish are kept safely centered in single shot by means of the receiving elements and at the same time the space requirement in the conveying direction is essentially limited to the width of the fish.

Another advantage is that the feeding of the receiving elements with the fish is essentially automated by means of the feeding devices. The loading devices are thus set up and designed for the exact automatic loading of the receiving elements, so that even at high conveying speeds of the transverse conveyor precise feeding of the receiving elements is ensured at all times.

Due to the control of the at least one feed device, the transfer device and the conveying speed of the cross conveyor by means of the control device, the feeding of the fish to the further fish processing devices is optimized in every respect. By means of the predetermined distribution regulation, the total conveying capacity of the transverse conveyor is predetermined on the basis of the available removal capacities of the respective fish processing facilities. In the case of a failure of one of the fish processing facilities or a shortage of the same, the respective transfer means is caused by the control device based on the predetermined distribution rule, corresponding to transfer less of the fish on the respective longitudinal conveyor. The fish, which are not delivered to the failed fish-processing machines, are transferred to the respective others of the longitudinal conveyors by means of the transfer devices, if the removal capacities of the other fish-handling devices are still present, and / or the conveying speed of the cross-conveyor is correspondingly reduced.

It is particularly advantageous that by means of the fish feeder device according to the invention and by means of the method according to the invention, the overall systems consisting of fish feeder and fish processing facilities in terms of their spatial arrangement has a high flexibility. Thus, the distances between the individual fish processing devices can also not be set up equidistantly, since the transfer of the fish by means of the predetermined distribution rule is adapted to these specifications. An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the at least one charging device comprises at least one control-movable single-start flap element which is set up to control the charging of one of the receiving elements with fish at a preselected delivery time by means of a single-ended control signal generated by the control device. In this way, the fish are transferred in each case to the exact clock in each of the Eintaktklappenelement passing receiving element. Because of the control device designed and set up to control the single-flap element, it is possible to feed the receiving elements precisely and at correspondingly high conveying speeds of the transverse conveyor.

A further advantage is that if one of the fish processing devices fails in dynamic operation, the feeding of that of the receiving elements from which the fish were transferred to them by means of the correspondingly assigned transfer device in normal operation could be omitted. In this way, the operation can be maintained uninterrupted even in case of failure of individual fish processing machines or a stoppage of the entire system are largely avoided. A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the loading device comprises a guide plane arranged inclined such that the fish come to lie in a closed position of Eintaktklappenelements before this in a first holding area due to gravity automatically and in an open position of Eintaktklappenelements themselves in the Move each of the receiving elements in the direction of the cross conveyor. This ensures that the fish are controlled and cyclically transferred to the receiving elements. The fish initially come to rest in the holding area. From this rest position, the fish are then transferred by means of Eintaktklappenelements in the respective receiving elements.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the loading device comprises a control-movable storage flap element, wherein the storage flap element is cascade upstream of the single-flap element to form a flap. In other words, the charging device are each designed as a step cascade. This ensures, on the one hand, that none of the fish is left uncontrolled, ie, level sliding down when both the Eintaktklappenelement and the memory flap element are in the open position. On the other hand, this provides an increased ease of use for the auxiliary power that feeds the fish to the feeder. Since it is ensured that the fish are stopped by means of the aforementioned valve cascade for a short time, and then starting from this rest position, that is, starting from defined initial conditions, are transferred to the receiving elements, the assistant has solely and exclusively to focus on it, in a timely manner Place one of the fish in an area in front of the storage element. The further loading of the receiving elements takes place - as described above - automatically by the control device and requires no further intervention of the assistant.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control device is set up to control the flap cascade such that, as far as the single-flap flap element is moved from an open position to a closed position, the storage flap element is moved from a closed position to an open position and vice versa , In this way, the charging performance, ie the number of fish per unit time that can be fed with the respective feed devices, of the charging device is further increased. Thus, the required time for moving the Eintaktklappenelements and the storage flap element and the inertia of the fish when accelerating on the management level by gravity by the controller are taken into account, so that, for example, the storage flap element already releases a fish, while the Eintaktklappenelement not yet reached the closed position Has.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a sensor means for fish identification is arranged in the region of the storage flap element, which is designed and set up to detect the presence of a fish in a waiting area in front of the storage flap element and to report it to the control device. By means of the sensor means, the control device automatically recognizes that a fish is present in front of the storage flap. The control device is designed, in particular, to guide it as directly as possible into the holding area in front of the single-flap element as soon as the holding area in front of the single-flap element is free of fish. A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a plurality of the feed devices in the transverse conveying direction are each moved by min. at least one width of the receiving elements are arranged offset side by side. This offers the advantage that the number of fish that can be converted into the receiving elements per unit of time and thus the overall throughput of the feeding device according to the invention is increased. Another advantage is that the receiving elements can be made completely without gaps due to the staggered arrangement of the feeding devices, that is, the receiving elements can be charged without some of the receiving elements remaining empty. In this way, the existing conveying capacity of the cross conveyor is optimally utilized. The transverse conveyor is designed and set up in particular as a circulation conveyor.

An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that each of the receiving elements is arranged in each case pivotable about a transverse axis. The receiving elements of the transverse conveyor are designed and arranged such that they can be tilted to transfer the fish to the respective one of the transfer devices in order to transfer the fish to the respective one of the longitudinal conveyors.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the transfer devices each comprise a discharge gate, which is designed and set up to pivot the respective of the receiving elements from a fish transport position into a fish discharge position by means of a transfer control signal generated by the control device. In the fish transport position, the receiving elements are therefore preferably arranged horizontally and form a corresponding transport plane in order to convey the fish individually in each of the receiving elements in the conveying direction. In the fish discharge position, an inclination of the receiving elements takes place so that the fish slip under the action of gravity under the transport plane formed by the receiving elements and are transferred to the respective longitudinal conveyor. Particularly preferably, the discharge diverter comprises a pivoting control which can be controlled by means of the transfer control signal.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the transfer devices each comprise, in the region of the discharge gate, guide means which are set up to transfer the fish from the receiving elements in the fish discharge position to the respective longitudinal conveyor under the action of gravity. The guiding agents ensure a controlled transfer of the fish to the respective one the longitudinal conveyor so that the fish are passed harmless and targeted.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the transfer devices each comprise fish occupancy sensors which are set up to report to the control device whether the respective longitudinal conveyor in the area of the transfer device is occupied or free by one of the fish. The fish occupancy sensors are set up to report to the control device whether more of the fish can be transferred to the respective one of the longitudinal conveyors at the respective transfer device. If, for example, a failure of one of the fish processing devices occurs, the respective longitudinal conveyor temporarily can not accept any further fish. This is reliably detected by the fish occupancy sensors and taken into account by the control device when transferring the fish by means of the transfer devices on the basis of the predetermined distribution rule.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control device is designed to associate the receiving elements when feeding them with fish in each case to one of the fish processing machines on the basis of the predetermined distribution rule and to determine a ZuOrdnungsvorschrift. The predetermined distribution rule comprises a predetermined distribution key according to which the fish are to be allocated to the respective fish processing facilities. On the basis of this predetermined distribution rule, the control device sets the ZuOrdnungsvorschrift which assigns each of the loaded receiving elements one of the longitudinal conveyor or one of the respective Fischbearbeitungseinrichtun- gene. In other words, each of the receiving elements is assigned to one of the fish processing devices initially. If, during the dynamic operation, the removal performances of the individual fish processing facilities change, for example due to disruptions or other events relevant to the respective throughput, the control device is designed to adapt the distribution regulation and / or the regulation accordingly, in order to further optimize the fish's delivery to ensure the respective fish processing machines.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device is set up to determine the positions of the receiving elements and to determine the respective delivery times on the basis of the ZuOrdnungsvorschrift and the determined positions of the receiving to determine meelements. In other words, the control device is designed to track the position of the receiving elements at any time.

An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control device is designed to determine in each case the removal performance of the fish processing machines and / or the occupancy states of the transfer devices and to determine therefrom an actual decrease performance for each of the fish processing device. This offers the advantage that at any time, the distribution and / or ZuOrdnungsvorschrift is optimally adjusted depending on the respective actual acceptance rates.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device comprises a comparator unit, which is adapted to compare the actual decrease power of each of the fish processing devices respectively with a predetermined, the respective Fischbearbei- processing device associated target decrease power and, if at least one of the actual decrease power the respectively associated Reduced nominal output power that predetermines distribution rule to adjust such that the respective of the target acceptance power is set at least temporarily reduced. In this way, reductions of individual fish processing facilities are detected by the control device and the supply of fish to the longitudinal conveyor adjusted accordingly.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control unit is further set up to determine a total actual decrease performance as the sum of the actual removal performances of the fish processing machines and to control the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor such that the loading of the receiving elements takes place without gaps. The continuous filling of the receiving elements has a particularly advantageous effect that after a stop of the cross conveyor or after the renewed acceleration of the cross conveyor to the original conveying speed, the receiving elements have been charged gapless, so that immediately the maximum feed power is provided.

The object is also achieved by the method mentioned at the outset, the method comprising the following steps: conveying the fish transversely to their head-to-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction by means of a multiplicity of receiving elements of a transverse conveyor, respectively for individual reception of one of the fish. By means of a feeder, selectively transferring the fish from the cross conveyor to longitudinal conveyors upstream of the fish processing machines by means of transfer devices, conveying the transferred fish along their head-to-tail orientation to the fish processing machines by means of the longitudinal conveyors, controlling the loading of the receiving elements and the selective transfer of the fish on the basis of at least one predetermined distribution rule.

The advantages associated with the method according to the invention have already been explained above in connection with the fish feed device according to the invention. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the advantages mentioned there, which apply analogously to the method according to the invention.

An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by generating a Eintaktsteuersignals by means of the control device and driving at least one controllable Eintaktklappenelements the loading device and feeding the receiving elements with fish at a preselected discharge time.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the fish come to lie in a closed position of the Eintaktklappenelements before this in a first holding area and move in an open position of the Eintaktklappenelements themselves automatically into the respective of the receiving elements in the direction of the cross conveyor due to gravity by the fish sliding down an inclined guide plane.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, when feeding the receiving elements, the fish undergo a cascade control of the flaps formed from the single-flap flap element and a control movable storage flap element arranged in front of it.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control of the flap cascade by means of the control device is such that, if the Eintaktklappenelement is in the open position, the storage flap element is in a closed position, or, if the storage flap element is in an open position, the Eintaktklappenelement is in the closed position. According to a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises detecting by means of a sensor means whether a waiting area in front of the storage flap element is occupied or free for one of the fish and signaling the detected state to the control device.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by feeding the receiving elements by means of several in the transverse conveying direction each offset by at least one width of the receiving elements juxtaposed feeding devices.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized by generating a transfer control signal by means of the control device and causing a pivotal movement of the receiving elements from a fish transport position into a fish discharge position by means of a respective discharge gate each for transferring one of the fish from a receiving element to the respective longitudinal conveyor.

An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by passing the fish on the respective longitudinal conveyor under the action of gravity in each case in the region of the discharge gate by means of conductive agents.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by detecting the occupancy statuses of the transfer devices by means of fish occupancy sensors and reporting whether the respective longitudinal conveyor in the transfer device is occupied by one of the fish or is free by transmitting the recorded occupancy states to the control device.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the transverse conveyor is driven by means of a controllable drive unit and the conveying speed is set by means of the control device.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by assigning the receiving elements when loading them with fish in each case to one of the fish processing machines on the basis of the predetermined distribution rule and creating a ZuOrdnungsvorschrift. An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by determining the positions of the receiving elements and determining the respective delivery times based on the ZuOrdnungsvorschrift and the determined positions of the receiving elements.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment, removal performances of the fish processing machines and / or the occupancy states of the transfer devices are monitored, and from this the actual removal services are determined for each of the fish processing devices.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by comparing the actual decrease performance of each of the fish processing devices in each case with a predetermined, the respective fish processing device associated target decrease power and, if at least one of the actual acceptance power falls below the respective target decrease power, adjusting the predetermined distribution rule so, that the respective one of the nominal acceptance powers is reduced at least temporarily.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by ascertaining a total actual decrease performance as the sum of the actual removal performances of the fish processing machines and controlling the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor such that the loading of the receiving elements takes place without gaps.

Further preferred and / or expedient features and configurations of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to avoid repetition, the method according to the invention will be explained in more detail below together with the fish feed device according to the invention. In the drawing shows:

1 is a perspective view of an exemplary Fischzuführeinrichtung invention with three feeders and eight longitudinal conveyors, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cross conveyor according to the invention with a transfer device, 3 shows a partial section of the fish feeder shown in FIG. 1, FIG.

4 shows an exemplary embodiment of one of the charging devices in a perspective view,

5 shows a perspective detail view of the cross conveyor and a transfer device,

6 shows the detailed view shown in Figure 5 from the rear perspective, and

7 shows the detailed view shown in Figures 5 and 6 with a view from below.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a fish feed device 10 according to the invention. By way of example, the fish feed device 10 is designed with three feed devices 11 each and eight longitudinal conveyors 12. By means of the longitudinal conveyors 12 - not shown in Figure 1 - fish 13 are directed to several fish processing facilities. The fish processing facilities, such as slaughter and / or Entweidemaschinen are not shown in the drawing for reasons of clarity. The number of fish feed devices 10 shown, as well as the number of longitudinal conveyors 12, is of course not limited to the number shown in FIG. 1, but purely by way of example. As explained above, a significant advantage of the present invention is that the number of feeders 1 1 and the number of longitudinal conveyor 12 and the connected fish processing machines is set arbitrarily configurable depending on the application.

The fish feed device 10 according to the invention comprises a transverse conveyor 14, which is set up to convey the fish 13 transversely to their head-to-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction 15. The head-tail orientation is oriented on an imaginary axis, which runs from the head to the tail of the fish 13, respectively. The fish 13 are conveyed transversely to this axis in the transverse conveying direction 15 by means of the transverse conveyor 14. The transverse conveying direction 15 and the said axis form a legal th angle or an approximately right angle. The orientation of the fish 13, ie the direction in which the head of the fish 13 points, is basically arbitrary. Preferably, however, the fish are oriented on the transverse conveyor 14 in such a way that they are subsequently conveyed by means of the longitudinal conveyor 12 with the tail in advance.

From FIG. 2, which shows a perspective view of the transverse conveyor 14 according to the invention with only one transfer device 16, it can be seen that the transverse conveyor 14 comprises a multiplicity of receiving elements 17 which are each designed to receive one of the fish 13 individually. The length of the receiving elements 17 is in each case selected to be greater than the largest length of the fish 13. Preferably, the receiving elements 17 edge elements 18, which protrude above the bottom of the receiving elements 17 upwards, so that the fish 13 are conveyed safely in the transverse conveying direction 15 of the receiving elements 17. More preferably, the bottom is inclined towards the center of the receiving elements 17, so that the fish 13 are centered automatically in the receiving element 17 under the action of gravity. The transverse conveyor 14 has a controllably arranged drive unit 19 which, for example, comprise one or more controllable servo-motor drives.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the fish feed device 10 according to the invention comprises at least one feed device 1 1 set up to feed the receiving elements 17 of the transverse conveyor 14 with the fish 13. The fish 13 are preferably transferred manually by operating personnel to the feeders 1 1, which then feed the receiving elements 17 of the transverse conveyor 14 fully automatically with the fish 13. The loading devices 11 and the receiving elements 17 are set up so that each of the receiving elements 17 can be fed with one of the fish 13.

Furthermore, the fish feed device 10 according to the invention comprises a plurality of the transfer devices 16, which are designed for the selective transfer of the fish from the cross conveyor 14 to the longitudinal conveyors 12 respectively upstream of the fish processing devices.

By means of a control device (not shown in the drawing), the at least one loading device 1 1, the transfer devices 16 and the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor 14 on the basis of at least one predetermined controlled distribution. In other words, the control device is designed and configured to control or regulate the aforementioned components.

Preferably, the feed device 1 1 shown by way of example in FIG. 4 comprises at least one control-capable single-flap element. This is set up to control the charging of one of the receiving elements 17 with fish 13 at a preselected discharge time by means of a single-ended control signal generated by the control device. In other words, the control device is designed and set up such that by means of the one-fold flap element 20-provided that a feed with fish 13 is provided according to the predetermined distribution rule-one of the fish 13 is transferred into the respective receiving element 17 passing through the single-flap element 20, so that the receiving element 17 is fed with a single fish 13. Advantageously, the feed device 1 1 comprises a guide plane 21 arranged inclined such that the fish 13 automatically come to rest in a closed position of the single-flap element 20 in a first holding region 22 due to the action of gravity and in an open position of the single-flap element 20 automatically into the respective one of the receiving elements 17 in the direction of the cross conveyor 14 move. In Fig. 4 the Eintaktklappenelement 20 is shown in each case in the closed position.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the loading device 11 comprises a control-type storage flap element 23. The storage flap element 23 forms a flap cascade 24 with the single-flap element 20. The fish 13 are introduced via the guide plane 21 into a waiting area 25 in front of the storage flap element 23. In an open position of the storage flap element 23, the respective fish 13 passes under the influence of gravity into the first holding region 22 and comes to rest in the closed position Eintaktklappenele- element 20 until it is moved to the open position and the fish 13 as described above - in the respective receiving elements 17 passes.

Advantageously, the control device is arranged to control the flap cascade 24 such that, if the single-flap element 20 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the storage flap element 23 is moved from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. The control device is consequently a directed, with knowledge of the inertial behavior of the fish 13, to consider the delays occurring such that the opening operation of the memory flap element 23, for example, already already begins when the Eintaktklappenelement 20 is still in the open position. However, it is ensured that the single-flap element 20 is already in the closed position or has already closed so far that the respective fish 13 comes to lie in the first holding region 22. In this way, it is ensured that the fish 13 temporarily remains at rest, at least in the first holding region 22. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a sensor means 26 for fish identification is arranged in the region of the storage flap element 23. The sensor means is designed and set up to detect the presence of one of the fish 13 in the waiting area 25 in front of the storage flap element 23 and to report it to the control device.

Advantageously, a plurality of the charging device 1 1 in the transverse conveying direction 15 are each arranged offset by at least one width of the receiving elements 17 side by side. The number of staggered loading devices 1 1 is freely selectable depending on demand. As shown by way of example in FIG. 4, the fish feed device 10 according to the invention can comprise four of the feed devices 11. The charging devices 1 1 are preferably arranged offset by the width of one of the receiving elements 17, so that in each case successive of the receiving element 17 can be loaded without gaps. The receiving elements 17 of the cross conveyor 14 preferably form a circulation conveyor. The receiving elements 17 forming the transverse conveyor 14 are each guided via at least two drive wheels 27 each driven by the drive unit 19. More preferably, each of the receiving elements 17 is arranged in each case pivotable about a transverse axis 33. In other words, the receiving elements 17 and the transverse conveyor 14 are designed such that the receiving elements 17 can be tilted by means of the control device. The fish 13 located in each case in the receiving element 17 is thus slid out of it by the inclination of the respective receiving element 17 under the action of gravity and is guided in the region of the transfer devices 16 onto the respective longitudinal conveyor 12. In Fig. 5, the cross conveyor 14 and one of the transfer device 16 are shown in perspective in detail. The transfer devices 16 each comprise a discharge disc 28, which is designed and arranged to pivot the respective one of the receiving elements 17 from a fish transport position into a fish discharge position by means of a transfer control signal generated by the control device. The fish discharge position corresponds to the above-described skew of each of the receiving elements 17, wherein only the fish transport position is shown in the drawing. A preferred development is characterized in that the discharge gate 28 comprises a pivoting guide 29 which is controllably arranged by means of the transfer control signal. The pivoting guide 29 in each case comprises pivoting elements 30. In the fish transport position, the pivoting elements 30, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, are aligned such that the receiving elements 17 are guided in the transverse conveying direction 15. If, by means of the transfer control signal, the pivoting element 30 is pivoted into a lower position (not shown in the drawing), the rear part of the receiving elements 17 is tilted about the transverse axis 33 with respect to the transverse conveying direction 15 by the rear part of the receiving elements 17 via the pivoting element 30 and the deflection guide 31 is guided so that the respective one of the receiving elements 17 is moved into the fish discharge position.

Preferably, the transfer devices each comprise, in the region of the discharge gate 28, guide means 32 which are set up to transfer the fish 13 from the receiving elements 17 in the fish discharge position to the respective longitudinal conveyor 12 under the action of gravity.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the detailed view shown in FIG. 5 is additionally shown from the rear perspective or from below. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the transfer devices 16 each comprise fish occupancy sensors (not shown in the drawing). The fish occupancy sensors are set up to report to the control device whether the respective longitudinal conveyor 12 is occupied or free by one of the fish 13 in the area of the transfer device 16. Preferably, the control device is designed to assign the receiving elements 17 when feeding them with fish 13 in each case to one of the fish processing machines on the basis of the predetermined distribution rule and to determine a ZuOrdnungsvorschrift. Furthermore, the control device is set up in particular to determine the positions of the receiving elements 17 and to determine the respective delivery times on the basis of the ZuOrdnungsvorschrift and the determined positions of the receiving elements 17. The position determination can be carried out for example by a reference sensor which detects the passage of one of the receiving elements 17 at a reference position. Since the control device is set up at the same time to specify and adjust the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor 14, it is further preferably set up to determine the positions of the receiving elements 17 on the basis of the position signals and the conveying speed supplied by the reference sensor.

Advantageously, the control device is designed to determine in each case the removal performance of the fish processing machines and / or the occupancy states of the transfer devices 16 and to determine therefrom in each case an actual decrease performance for each of the fish processing device.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the control device comprises a comparator unit, which is adapted to compare the actual decrease performance of each of the fish processing devices respectively with a predetermined, the respective fish processing device associated target decrease performance and, if at least one of the actual decrease performance each associated target decrease power falls below, to adapt the predetermined distribution rule such that the respective of the target decrease power is set at least temporarily reduced.

Preferably, the control unit is further configured to determine a total actual decrease performance as the sum of the actual removal performances of the fish processing machines and to control the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor 14 such that the loading of the receiving elements 17 takes place without gaps.

Claims

claims

A fish feeder (10) arranged and adapted for feeding fish (13) to a plurality of fish processing devices, comprising a cross conveyor (14) arranged to convey the fish (13) transversely to their head-to-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction (15), the cross conveyor (14) comprises a plurality of receiving elements (17) each formed for single picking up of one of the fish (13) and the transverse conveyor (14) has a controllably arranged drive unit (19), at least one for feeding the receiving elements (19) of the transverse conveyor (14 ) feeder (1 1) provided with the fish, a plurality of transfer devices (16) designed to selectively transfer the fish (13) from the cross conveyor to longitudinal conveyors (12) upstream of each fish processing device, the longitudinal conveyors (12) being arranged, to convey the fish (13) along their head-to-tail orientation to the fish processing machines and a control device which is set up to control the at least one loading device (11), the transfer devices (16) and the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor (14) on the basis of at least one predetermined distribution rule.

Fish feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one feeding device (1 1) comprises at least one controllable single-flap flap element (20) which is set up to charge one of the receiving elements (17) with fish (13) by means of a single-ended control signal generated by the control device ) at a preselected delivery time. Fish feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the loading device (1 1) comprises a guide plane (21) arranged inclined such that the fish (13) automatically move in a closing position of the single-flap flap element (20) in a first holding area (22 ) come to rest and move in an open position of Eintaktklappenelements (20) automatically in the respective of the receiving elements (17) in the direction of the transverse conveyor (14).

Fish feed device according to claim 3, characterized in that the loading device (1 1) comprises a control-movable storage flap element (23), wherein the storage flap element (23) to form a flap cascade (24) the Eintaktklappenelement (20) is arranged upstream.

Fish supply device according to claim 4, characterized in that the control device is arranged to control the flap cascade (24) such that, if the Eintaktklappenelement (20) is moved from an open position to a closed position, the storage flap element (23) from a closed position into a Open position is moved and vice versa.

Fish feed device according to claim 5, characterized in that in the region of the storage flap element (23) a sensor means (26) for fish identification is arranged, which is designed and set up, the presence of a fish (13) in a waiting area (25) in front of the storage flap element (23 ) and report to the controller.

Fish feed device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a plurality of the feed devices (1 1) in the transverse conveying direction (15) are arranged offset by at least one width of the receiving elements (17) side by side. Fish feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the receiving elements (17) of the transverse conveyor (14) form a circulation conveyor.

Fish feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each of the receiving elements (17) is arranged in each case pivotable about a transverse axis (33).

Fish feed device according to claim 9, characterized in that the transfer devices (16) each comprise a discharge gate (28) which is designed and arranged to pivot the respective one of the receiving elements (17) from a fish transport position into a fish discharge position by means of a transfer control signal generated by the control device ,

Fish feeding device according to claim 10, characterized in that the discharge gate (28) comprises a means of the transfer control signal controllably arranged pivot guide (29).

Fish feeding device according to one of claims 9 to 1 1, characterized in that the transfer devices (16) in each case in the region of the discharge gate (28) guide means (32) which are adapted to the fish from the receiving elements (17) in the fish discharge position on the to transfer respective longitudinal conveyor (12) under the action of gravity.

Fish feed device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the transfer devices (16) each comprise fish occupancy sensors which are adapted to report to the control device, whether the respective longitudinal conveyor (12) in the transfer device (16) by one of Fish (13) is occupied or free. Fish feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the control device is designed to assign the receiving elements (17) when feeding them with fish (13) in each case to one of the fish processing machines based on the predetermined distribution rule and to determine a ZuOrdnungsvorschrift.

Fish feed device according to claim 14, characterized in that the control device is set up to determine the positions of the receiving elements (17) and to determine the respective delivery times on the basis of the assignment specification and the determined positions of the receiving elements (17).

Fish feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the control device is designed to determine respectively the removal performance of the fish processing machines and / or the occupation states of the transfer devices (16) and to determine therefrom each an actual decrease performance for each of the fish processing facilities.

A fish feeder according to claim 16, characterized in that the control means comprises a comparator unit adapted to compare the actual intake power of each of the fish processing devices respectively with a predetermined one of the respective fish processing means associated target decrease power and, if at least one of the actual power take-offs respectively assigned target decrease power is below, the predetermined distribution rule to be adjusted so that the respective of the target decrease power is set at least temporarily reduced.

18. Fish feed device according to claim 17, characterized in that the control unit is further set up to determine a total actual take-off capacity as a sum of the actual take-off capacities of the fish processing machines and to control the conveying speed of the cross conveyor (14) such that the loading the receiving elements (17) takes place without gaps.

19. A method of feeding fish to a plurality of fish processing machines comprising the steps of:

Conveying the fish (13) transversely to their head-to-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction (15) by means of a multiplicity of receiving elements (17) of a transverse conveyor (14) which are each designed to receive one of the fish individually

- Loading the receiving elements (17) of the transverse conveyor (14) by means of a loading device (1 1),

selective transfer of the fish (13) from the transverse conveyor (14) to longitudinal conveyors (12) upstream of the fish processing machines by means of transfer devices (16),

Conveying the transferred fish (13) along their head-to-tail orientation to the fish processing machines by means of the longitudinal conveyors (12),

- Controlling the feeding of the receiving elements (17) and the selective transfer of the fish (13) based on at least one predetermined distribution rule.

A method according to claim 19, characterized by generating a single-ended control signal by means of the control means and driving at least one control flap movable element (20) of the loading device (11) and feeding the receiving elements (17) with fish at a preselected delivery time.

21. A method according to claim 20, characterized in that the fish automatically due to gravity in a closed position of Eintaktklappenelements (20) in front of this lie in a first holding area. men and in an open position of Eintaktklappenelements (20) move automatically into the respective one of the receiving elements (17) in the direction of the transverse conveyor (14) by the fish (13) slide down an inclined guide plane (21).

A method according to claim 21, characterized in that the fish (13) when loading the receiving elements (17) from the Eintaktklappenele- element (20) and this upstream, controllable memory flap element (23) formed flap cascade (24) through the control clock.

A method according to claim 22, characterized by controlling the flap cascade (24) by means of the control device such that, if the single flap element (20) is in the open position, the storage flap element (23) is in a closed position, or if so Memory flap element (23) is in an open position, the Eintaktklappenelement (20) is in the closed position.

A method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized by detecting by means of a sensor means (26) whether a waiting area (25) in front of the storage flap element (23) is occupied or free with one of the fish (13) and reporting the detected state to the control device ,

Method according to one of claims 19 to 24, characterized by feeding the receiving elements (17) by means of a plurality in the transverse conveying direction (15) in each case by at least one width of the receiving elements (17) juxtaposed staggering feeders (1 1).

Method according to one of claims 20 to 25, characterized by generating a transfer control signal by means of the control device and effecting a pivotal movement of the receiving elements (17) from a fish transport position into a fish discharge position by means of a respective discharge gate (28). because for transferring one of the fish (13) from a receiving element (17) to the respective longitudinal conveyor (12).

Method according to one of claims 19 to 26, characterized by passing the fish (13) on the respective longitudinal conveyor (12) under the action of gravity in each case in the region of the discharge gate by means of guide means (32).

Method according to one of claims 19 to 27, characterized by detecting the occupancy states of the transfer devices (16) by means of fish occupancy sensors and report whether the respective longitudinal conveyor (12) in the transfer device (16) is occupied by one of the fish (13) or free is by transmitting the detected occupancy states to the controller.

Method according to one of claims 19 to 28, characterized by driving the transverse conveyor (14) by means of a controllable drive unit (19) and adjusting the conveying speed by means of the control device.

30. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 29, characterized by assigning the receiving elements (17) when loading the same fish (13) each to one of the fish processing machines based on the predetermined distribution rule and creating a ZuOrdnungsvorschrift.

31. Method according to claim 30, determining the positions of the receiving elements (17) and determining the respective delivery times on the basis of the assignment rule and the determined positions of the receiving elements (17).

32. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 31, characterized by monitoring of take-off performances of the fish processing machines and / or the occupation states of the transfer devices (16) and therefrom determining the

Actual acceptance services for each of the fish processing facilities. A method according to claim 32, characterized by comparing the actual decrease performance of each of the fish processing devices each with a predetermined, the respective fish processing device associated target decrease power and, if at least one of the actual decrease power below the respective target decrease power, adjusting the predetermined distribution rule such that the respective ones of the target acceptance powers is at least temporarily reduced.

Method according to one of claims 32 or 33, characterized by determining a total actual decrease performance as a sum of the actual removal performance of fish processing machines and controlling the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor (14) such that the loading of the receiving elements (17) takes place without gaps.