FR2542576A1 - AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE FOR A FISH PREPARING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE CONTAINS AT LEAST ONE ARRIVAL CORRIDOR 2, THROUGH WHERE THE BODIES OF THE FISH TO BE PROCESSED ARRIVE, FLAT, HEAD FORWARD. A MECHANISM 17 A DRIVE SHAFTS 19, TRAINS THE FISH BODIES ONE BY ONE TOWARDS A STRAIGHTENING PASSAGE, CLEANING BETWEEN THE SIDE WALL 7 OF A ROTATING TOOTH DRUM 4 AND AN ARTICULATED GUIDE PLATE, ARRANGED TO THE DRUM 4 THE TRANSPORT MECHANISM 17 CONSTITUTES A PART OF THE BOTTOM 15 OF THE ARRIVAL RIGOLE 2, AND INCLUDES AN ENDLESS TRANSPORT BELT 18, ARRANGED BELOW THE BOTTOM 15, WITH A RETURN PULLEY 20 LOCATED IN THE NEARBY OF THE ROTATING DRUM 4. THE ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT 18 CARRIES SPACE SNAPS 19, THE INTERVAL OF WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM LENGTH OF THE FISH TO BE PROCESSED. APPLICATION TO FISH PREPARING MACHINES.

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic feeding device

  for a machine for preparing the fish, comprising at least one guiding and straightening system, to take in turn the body of each of the fish to be treated, which arrive flat to the head in order to straighten the body and to put it flat always

  in the same way; this system is equipped with a

  equipped with a hook-and-pinch transport mechanism for driving the fish forward and a straightening passageway between the side wall of a toothed drum and an articulated spring-return plate; this

  Recovery passage opens into an outlet channel.

  DE-C-1 454 092 discloses a device of the kind in question, in which the fish coming in front of the head are grasped by driving lugs of a transport wheel arranged on the entering a turnaround station, and operating at a rate such that the drive pins pass through the bottom of the inlet channel at the top of their circular path, to capture each a fish; the rate of movement of the pins

  of training corresponds to the rate of arrival of the fish.

  The kinetic energy thus communicated to the body of each fish ensures the movement of the body to the recovery station, which comprises a rotating toothed drum whose side wall is projecting on the bottom of the inlet channel A hinged guide plate , biased by a return spring, and whose front end is curved, is arranged facing the side wall of the rotating drum The inlet channel has a significant downward slope, and opens slightly upstream of the rotating drum , on an outlet channel that has a slope

weaker.

  In practice, the use of this known system is satisfactory, that is to say having a sufficient safety operation sequence to allow

  enjoy the benefits of a self-powered

  only in the case where the fish to be treated are of excellent quality The satisfactory functioning of the device depends largely on the variety of the batch of fish to be treated, the greater or lesser abundance of the fish of size greater or less than the desirable size, of the greater or lesser abundance of the wounds or deformities inflicted on the bodies of the fish at the time of their

  capture or storage-of-waiting, as well as the

  and the changes in profile that they may have depending on the time of the fishery, especially if they are fish caught during the spawning season. The proper functioning of this known automatic feeding device also depends on a correct presentation of the body of each fish which must arrive flat, with the flank of the head resting on the bottom of the corridor which leads to the recovery passage, formed between the side wall of the rotating drum and the hinged guide plate This correct presentation of the body of each

  fish is an imperative condition, on which the recovery depends

  The different slopes of the arrival and exit channels contribute to

  ensure that the correct presentation of the body of each

  his; but experience shows that further improvement is necessary. Furthermore, this arrangement results in a large height of the device, which is unfavorable.

  for the layout of the machine workstation

  In addition to this first disadvantage, it is necessary to provide a special transport device for raising the bodies of the fish to the desired height, in addition to platforms or access steps for the staff.

  The object of the invention is to simplify this

  known positive, to be able to operate correctly with

  fish of relatively more varied quality.

  For this purpose, the automatic feeding device

  according to the invention, of the kind defined above, is characterized in that the transport mechanism constitutes

  at least a part of the bottom of the entrance channel, and

  carries an endless conveyor belt arranged under the bottom of the inlet channel, with a return pulley located in the vicinity of the rotating drum; and in that the endless conveyor belt carries spaced drive lugs, the interval of which is greater than the maximum length

fish to treat.

  Advantageously, a brake flap

  is arranged in the vicinity of the place where the driving pins

  The arrangement is such, in relation to the trajectory of the fish arriving from the top of the sloping channel, that the body of each fish is gripped by an ergot.

  of training, a little below the scapular belt.

  Thanks to these provisions, the flank of the head of each fish is well-applied against the bottom of the arrival channel In fact, the ergot of the training take a more and more accentuated obliquity when arriving at the place o they disappear below the bottom of the inlet channel; and the flank of the head of each fish is thus subjected to a pressing effort which applies against the bottom of

the channel.

  By giving the driving pins an inclination

  In the direction of the movement of the fish to be moved, it is possible to accentuate this application effect against the bottom of the inlet channel. For the same purpose, the articulated guide plate can advantageously have, at the location of its lower edge. facing the bottom of the inlet channel, a beveled profile groove, projecting from the opposite side to the side wall of the toothed drum; this beveled profile groove terminates at the location of the guide plate which is

  closest to the side wall of the drum.

  As the fish arriving flat, the head forward, are indifferently in one direction or in

  the other, the device according to the invention can advantageously

  comprise an auxiliary baffle, located laterally at the downstream end of the inlet channel, opposite the hinged guide plate, to cooperate with this plate, forming with it a shaped hopper passage; at the location of the lower edge of the auxiliary baffle, and the lower edge of the hinged guide plate, these members are bent so as to protrude outwardly and to form with the bottom of said channel a V-shaped groove , who comes to die near the side wall of the

toothed drum.

  To ensure the catch effect of the rotating toothed drum on the body of each fish, shortly before the body is raised, it is advantageous to provide on the periphery of the underside of the drum, facing the

  bottom of the outlet channel, a connecting part

  that, and provided with teeth which correspond to those of the side wall of the rotating drum, and which together with the bottom of said channel, a groove V-section. To achieve a device according to the invention and reduced space in height, it is advantageous to provide an inclined outlet channel, and the toothed drum, and downwardly sloping in the direction of movement of the

  fish to be processed; the arrival channel is then sensitive

  horizontal, and abutment plate is mounted above the upper face of the toothed drum This configuration of the device according to the invention allows to interrupt

  the bottom of the arrival channel, opposite the

  in such a way as to let down the small fry

and foreign bodies.

  By producing the abutment plate associated with the upper face of the toothed drum in the form of a disk integral with the drum and rotating with it, the presentation of the body of each of the fish to be treated can be substantially improved. entry of the recovery station, to the point of further reducing the risk of jamming

of a fish in this place.

  Advantageously, in this case, the hinged guide plate, at its upper edge facing the plate or stop disc, is folded so as to project outwardly, and to constitute, with this stop, a V-section groove, which comes to die in the part of said guide plate which is closest to the

drum wall.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will still be apparent from the description of some

  embodiment, presented hereinafter by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic simplified section of a device according to the invention, for the automatic feeding of a FIG. 2 is a plan view over the device of FIG. 1; FIG. 3, similar to FIG. 1, is a schematic simplified section of a variant of the automatic feeding device;

  FIG. 4 is an axonometric perspective view

  corresponding to the line I-I of FIG.

  On a frame (not shown), are arranged several guide and rectifying corridors, serving to lay flat, always in the same direction on the stomach or on the back, fish to prepare that arrive by the corridors with the head in front For clarity, there is shown a single guide lane 1 on the sectional view

  of Figure 1 The guide channel 1 consists essentially of

  tilally by an inclined inlet channel 2, and -by a horizontal outlet channel 3 In the vicinity of the end of the outlet channel 3 opposite the machine to be fed, is a rotating toothed drum 4, mounted along an axis 6, perpendicular to the bottom plate 5 of the outlet channel 3, and offset laterally with respect to this channel The rotary drive of the toothed drum 4 is ensured so that its side wall 7 moves

  towards the end of the outlet channel of the drum

  3 at the time when it protrudes into the outlet channel 3 The side wall 7 of the drum is connected to the bottom 8 of the latter, disposed opposite the bottom 5 of the outlet channel by a beveled portion constituting a groove 9 to V. Section facing the side wall 7 of the drum 4, is arranged an articulated guide plate 10, mounted on which a vertical pivot axis 11, which / is located on the side of the outlet channel 3 upstream of the toothed drum 4 in the direction of arrival of the fish The articulated guide plate 10 cooperates with the side wall 7 of the drum

  rotating 4, to form a narrow passage 12, with sensitive edges

  parallel, and which can widen by going against the force of a return spring 13 associated with the hinged guide plate 10 Beyond its portion closest to the side wall 7 of the drum 4, the

  articulated guide plate 10 has a curved end

  In addition, an insterstice 14 is provided between the lower edge of the hinged guide plate 10 and the bottom of the outlet channel 3 -The inlet channel 2 is connected to the outlet channel 4 slightly upstream of the drum toothed 4, and presents with respect to the outlet channel 3 a slope of about 150 The bottom 15 of the inlet channel 2 has an axial slot 16, in which pass the lugs 19 of a movement drive system continuous 17 This drive system comprises an endless belt 18, on which are mounted the lugs 19, with between these lugs a gap greater than the maximum length of the fish

  The endless belt 18 is mounted on two

  20, in such a way that the lugs 19 come

  in turn projecting above the bottom 15 of the inlet channel 2, facing an articulated braking flap 21, a return spring urges against the bottom

  of the arrival channel 2 After having come thus

  connected above the bottom 15 of the inlet channel 2, the lugs 1 of the drive system 17 return below the bottom of the inlet channel 2, in the vicinity of the connection

  from the inlet channel 2 on the outlet channel 3.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the device according to the invention comprises, in the arrival area preceding the toothed drum 4, a deflector 29 disposed laterally at the end of the inlet channel, at the opposite of the articulated guide plate 10, and cooperating

  with it to form a hopper shaped inlet.

  The lower edge of the deflector 29, and that of the hinged guide plate 10, each have, on the edge facing the bottom 15 of the inlet channel, an oblique folded portion, outwardly projecting, which forms with the bottom of the channel a V-shaped groove 30, which comes to die in the vicinity of the side wall 7 of the toothed drum 4 In the embodiment of Figure 3, it is the inlet channel 2 which is horizontal, while the outlet channel 22, connected to the inlet channel 2, is inclined downwards at an angle of about 15 On the bottom 23 of the outlet channel 22, is disposed a toothed drum 24 which is rotated along an axis 25 perpendicular to the bottom 23 of the outlet channel On its upper face 26, the toothed drum 24 carries a stop disc 27 integral with the drum and rotating therewith As already stated, the

  side wall 28 of the rotating drum 24 is disposed laterally

  compared to outlet channel 3, the opposite

  In this case, the agency-

  is such (FIG. 3) that it is the stop disc 27 projecting radially at the top of the rotating drum 4 which serves as a bearing surface for the straightening of the body of each

  In this respect, the stop disc 27 plays an analogous role

  5, in the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In the variant of FIG. 3, the bottom 15 of the arrival jig 2 ends a little before the drum. toothed 24, leaving a free opening 28 facing the drum We will now expose the operating mode of the device according to the invention. The fish arrive from a suitable device which directs them with the head forward, and reach the bottom of the inlet channel 2 where they are first held by the brake damper 21, until one of the lugs 19 of the drive system 17 comes to project on the bottom This lug enters the abdominal wall a little behind the scapular belt and leads the fish

  to the recovery system When he gets there, the hoist

  The lugs 19 are inclined in the advancing direction, with the result that the head of the fish bears against the bottom 5 of the laughs

  exit 3 before the lug 19 is clear of the body of the fish.

  The remaining kinetic energy pushes the fish into the

  pass 12 between the guide element 10 and the lateral surface

  As the body of the fish has a cross-section in the form of a drop of water, with a tapered ventral contour, this contour is engaged in the groove 9 at the base of the drum 4 or in the interstice 14 under

the guide plate 10.

  At the same time, dragged forward by the drum

  4 rotating toothed jaw, the body of the fish pushes the articulated guide plate 10, against the effort of his

  spring 13, and recovers in its natural position.

  the bottom belly Then the curved end

  of the articulated guide plate 10 ensures the flattening of the body of the fish, always on the same side, in

the outlet channel 5.

  As mentioned above, to ensure a

  If the body of each fish is correct, it is compulsory that the head of the fish is flat on the bottom of the inlet channel 2 The arrangements shown in Figure 4 help to ensure this condition because the body edge fish located on the side of the lower jaw then engages flat in the groove 30, formed in the lower part of the hinged guide plate 10, or in the similar groove 30 formed in the lower part of the auxiliary baffle 29, in either case, the opposite groove 30 provides no guiding effect, because of the width of the skull of the fish, so that after a flattening of the side of the head on the bottom 15 of the inlet channel 2, a rectification torque is already applied to the body of the fish, around the longitudinal axis thereof, in this part of the feed device according to the invention. In the embodiment of FIG.

  arrangement of the feeding device according to the

  vention is such that the body of each fish hits with a certain kinetic energy the lower face of the disc-abutment 27, which is inclined downwards The trajectory of the fish has an acute angle of incidence relative to

  to the stop disk 27, and the downward reaction thus applied.

  the fish body ensures the flattening of the side of the head, against the underside of the disc-abutment 27 ON thus ensures a correct presentation of the body of the fish for its recovery, which in this embodiment,

  is done by putting the fish with the belly up.

Claims (12)

  Automatic feeding device for a machine for preparing the fish, comprising at least one guiding and straightening system, to take in turn the body of each of the fish to be treated which arrive flat down the head in front, in order to straighten the body and lay it flat in the same direction; this system being provided with an inlet channel, associated with a transport mechanism with pins to drive the fish forward, and a righting passage, formed between the side wall of a rotating toothed drum and a hinged guide plate with return spring; this recovery passage opening into an outlet channel; the device being characterized in that the transport mechanism (17) constitutes at least   part of the bottom (15) of the inlet channel (2), and   carries an endless conveyor belt (18) disposed under the bottom (15) of the inlet channel (2), with a return pulley (20) located in the vicinity of the rotating drum (4); and in that the endless conveyor belt (18) carries spaced lugs (19), the interval of which is greater than   the maximum length of the fish to be treated.   2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a braking flap (21),   disposed in the vicinity of the place where the driving lugs   (19) protrude above the bottom (15) of the inlet channel (2), with such an arrangement, with respect to the path of the fish arriving from the top of the sloping channel (2), that the body of each fish is seized by a trapping pin a little below the shoulder girdle.   Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive pins (19) are   inclined in the direction of the movement of the fish to move.   4 Device according to one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that the hinged guide plate (10) is folded on the part of its lower edge which is opposite the bottom (15) of the inlet channel (2), so as to project into the direction opposite to the drum (4) and   forming with the bottom of said channel, a groove (19) with   Cen V / coming from the guide plate   (10) which is closest to the side wall (7) of the drum. bour.   Device according to one of the claims   1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a deflector auxi-   liar (29), located laterally at the downstream end of the inlet channel (2), opposite the hinged guide plate (10) and cooperating with this guide plate (10) to constitute an inlet in hopper shape; and in   the lower edge of the deflector (29), and the lower edge   of the guide plate (10) facing the bottom (15) of the inlet channel (2) are folded so as to protrude outwardly and to form with the bottom of said channel, a V-shaped groove (30) which comes to die in the vicinity of the side wall (7) of the toothed drum (4).   Device according to one of the claims   1 to 5, characterized in that the toothed drum (4) has on the periphery of its lower face, facing the bottom (5)   the outlet channel (3), a connecting part   that, provided with teeth which correspond to those of the side wall (7) of the drum (4) and which is, with the bottom of said channel, a V-section groove.   Device according to one of the claims   1, 2 and 4, characterized in that the outlet channel (22) is inclined, as well as the toothed drum (24), and slopes downward in the direction of movement of the fish to be treated, the inlet channel (2) being substantially horizontal; and in that an abutment plate (27) is mounted above   the upper face (26) of the toothed drum (24).   8 Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the articulated guide plate (105 at its upper edge opposite the stop disc (27) is folded so as to project away from the side wall of the toothed drum (24) and forming with the disc-abutment (27) a V-section groove which is to die in the part of said articulated guide plate (10) which is closest to the wall side of the drum.   Apparatus according to one of the claims   7 or 8, characterized in that the stop plate (27) is constituted by a disk which caps the upper face (26)   of the rotating drum (24), this disk being integral with the drum   bour, so as to turn with him.