GB2103920A - Device for the aligned conveying of fish - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for conveying fish comprises a conveyor with a conveying element for conveying fish with their head ends foremost past processing tools, to provide constant pressure over the entire length of the fish. To this end the conveying element is provided with entraining elements (11) having a V-shaped recess (12) for engaging the backs of the fish. These entraining elements (11) are arranged on chain members (9) of a conveyor formed by a link chain (8) and are positively driven by pins (7) on drive roller (3). Resilient pressure on the working run of the conveyor is provided by spring-loaded rollers (14). Alternatively, the conveyor may be a toothed belt and roller (3) has a corresponding profile. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for the aligned conveying of fish The present invention concerns a device for conveying fish with their head ends foremost through a fish-processing machine.

In German (Fed. Rep.) patent specification 11 54 913 there is disclosed a device comprising a conveyor endlessly running about at least one deflection pulley and one drive pulley in the plane of symmetry of the fish to be processed and comprising prismatic entraining elements for engaging the fish in its back region, a working run of the conveyor being resiliently supported by presser elements distributed over its length. The conveyor comprises a belt with grippers, the belt being arranged above the fish path of a fish processing machine and having the task of conveying the fish through this machine for the purpose of being processed.The grippers are so formed that the conveying engagement or grip takes place in the region of the back so that the flanks of the fish remain accessible for the guiding elements and the processing operations which, for example, enable optimal separation of the ribs in respect of the yield by precise guiding of each fish.

The task upon which that construction is based in view of the constructions known at that time is also directed to improving the conveying engagement in order to guarantee a safe entrainment of the fish during the operation of the tools. This goal is reached due to the flexibility of the conveyor effecting an improved adaptation to the back contour of the fish and thus enabling a better transmission of the conveying forces. It becomes apparent, however, that, especially with spindle-shaped fish, for example mackerel or tuna, the course of the filleting cuts in the tail region cannot be controlled in a positive manner. The reason for this is that the flexibility of the conveyor achieved is not sufficient to guide the thin tail part of the fish, as well, so that there is not sufficient support against the efficient cutting forces of the filleting tools in this part.The consequence of this is the observed extreme dependence of the cutting result on the condition of the cutting tools.

In trying to remedy this deficiency the solution upon which German (Fed. Rep.) patent specification 28 04 232 is based was found. The back part of the fish is made accessible by the arrangement of two wedge profile belts lying adjacent to each other and each carrying one half of the grippers with no change in the conveying effect occurring, so that additional guide elements could be provided to cope with the mentioned problems.

This functionally satisfactory concept is, however, very costly and therefore uneconomical.

Furthermore, although it is possible to use tools which are effective from above, it does not serve to facilitate the necessary cutting sequence, since, for example, the separation of the back part may be performed quite easily from the abdominal side of the fish.

There is accordingly a need for a device of the type described above in which the conveying equipment of the first-mentioned German patent specification is improved with little expenditure to enable a safe support of the back part of the fish and thus the guiding of the same over the entire length.

According to the present invention, them is provided a device for conveying fish with their head ends foremost through a fish processing machine, the device comprising an endless conveyor guided around at least one deflection pulley and a drive pulley and comprising a positively driven conveying element arranged to be highly flexible in the running plane of the conveyor and a plurality of prismatic entraining elements for engaging fish in their back regions, and presser means arranged along and resiliently supporting a working run of the conveyor.

Due to the positive driving of the conveying element its longitudinal stress can be adjusted taking the desired flexibility into account, i.e. it car be minimised so that appropriate adjustment of the entraining elements to the back contour of the fish takes place.

In order to avoid impairment of the flexibility by the driving torque resulting from the frictional and cutting forces, the working run of the conveying element may be driven in a pushing manner, which may be effected by the drive pulley being arranged on the intake side of the working run.

In an especially advantageous embodiment of the device, the conveying element is formed as a link chain composed of chain members endlessly connected to each other. The chain members can be made of highly wear-resistant and tough synthetic material, as can the link pins which join them.

The prism-shaped entraining elements which engage the fish may advantageously either be connected detachably to the chain links or manufactured integrally with these.

In order to obtain high degree of wearresistance, a toothed belt may expediently be used as the conveying element, which belt may be provided with prismatic entraining elements on its outer surface.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective overall view of a conveying device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevation of part of the conveying element, formed as a link chain, of the device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an elevation of part of the conveying element, formed as a toothed belt, of a conveying device according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, arranged in a frame (not shown) of a fish-processing machine, for example a filleting machine, is a conveyor 4, which is disposed above a fish path 1 and circulates about a deflection pulley, roller or wheel 2 and a drive pulley, roller or wheel 3 in a vertical plane, namely the plane of symmetry of fish to be processed. The drive pulley 3 is driven by means of a suitable driving mechanism 5 in the direction of the arrow 6, and with the conveyor according to Fig. 1, positively transmits the driving torque via pins 7 arranged on the periphery of the drive pulley 3 to the conveying element formed by a plate link chain 8.This conveying element is built up from single chain members 9 connected to each other by means of link pins 10, each of the chain members 9 carrying on its outer surface an entraining element 11 with a prismatic recess 12 on the side coming into contact with the fish. A working run or slack 1 3 of the conveying element is resiliently held down against the fish path 1 by spring-biassed presser rollers 14. For the sake of clear representation, only one of these presser rollers forming a compact chain is schematically shown. The conveying element is guided laterally by guide elements 1 5 in the region of the working run 13 and supported in height above the fish path 1 in such a way that there will always be a minimum distance to the latter.

According to Fig. 3 a toothed belt 1 6 is used as a conveying element, which belt serves as a carrier band for the entraining elements 11. In this case the deflection pulley 2 and the drive pulley 3 are provided with corresponding profiles on their periphery.

The working function of the above-described conveying device is as follows: Fish 1 7 suitably fed to the fish path 1 head first come into contact in the region of their backs with the entraining elements 11 of the working run 1 3 of the conveyor 4 and are led past processing tools (not shown) arranged along the fish path 1.

Each fish 1 7 is led in the fish path 1 in such a way that its backbone runs almost parallel to it. The guiding of the conveying element, which may be performed to change in height, enables the accordingly necessary adjustment to the back contour of the fish, the resiliently downward urging presser rollers 1 4 guaranteeing a defined conveying pressure. Due to the high flexibility of the conveying element which is a result of its construction and which, due to the thrusting or pushing effect of the drive, is maintained independently of its charge, each fish is conveyingly engaged ablong its whole length and thus guided simultaneously. These features enable precise adjustment so that an extremely careful handling of the fish and safe transport is made possible.

Claims (8)

1. A device for conveying fish with their head ends foremost through a fish processing machine, the device comprising an endless conveyor guided around at least one deflection pulley and a drive pulley and comprising a positively driven conveying element arranged to be highly flexible in the running plane of the conveyor and a plurality of prismatic entraining elements for engaging fish in their back regions, and presser means arranged along and resiliently supporting a working run of the conveyor.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means to drive the working run of the conveyor from the upstream end thereof.

3. A device as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the conveying element comprises an endless link chain composed of interconnected chain members.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the chain members are interconnected by link pins, the members and pins being made of tough wearresistant synthetic material.

5. A device as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each of the entraining elements is detachably connected to a respective one of the chain members.

6. A device as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each of the chain members is formed as a respective one of the entraining elements.

7. A device as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the conveying element comprises a toothed belt, the entraining elements being provided on the outer face of the belt.

8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.