GB2216770A - Fish washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Fish washing apparatus transports fish from an inlet (14) of a tank (12) to an outlet through at least one position where the fish are submerged. The tank has a generally planar plate (18) with a plurality of slots (19). Ends of the plate (18) are coupled to pulleys (22, 24) mounted on the tank sides, so that as they are rotated the plate (18) moves in a generally circular path but remains substantially parallel to the base of the tank. Three spaced rows of upstanding wedge shaped blades (20a, b, c) are disposed on the base of the tank, each having one blade which is accommodated in each slot (19) of the plate (18). The plate moves in its generally circular path between a submerged position where the blades protrude above the plate surface and a non-submerged position where the blades do not protrude. The fish are temporarily held against and between each row of blades as the plate rotates and are washed by being moved in and out of the water. <IMAGE>

Description

FISH WASHING APPARATUS The present invention relates to fish washing apparatus and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for washing gutted fish on board a fishing vessel.

Apparatus for washing fish should satisfy a number of desirable criteria in addition to being easy to manufacture and relatively inexpensive. The apparatus should be relatively easy to use and should be capable of being installed on board a fishing vessel. The fish should receive an effective wash and handling of the fish should be minimised. Damage to the fish should also be minimised whilst being washed. In addition, the fish washing apparatus should desirably form part of a fish processing procedure, accepting fish to be washed from a previous process and delivering the washed fish to the next process on line.

One existing method of washing fish is to use a metal box-like basket into which fish to be washed are placed. The basket is filled with water and then shaken to wash the fish. The fish in the basket often do not get an even wash, and some fish get a less effective wash than others. In addition, shaking the basket requires considerable manual effort and is not suitable for incorporation into an automated fish processing procedure.

An object of the present invention is to provide fish washing apparatus which obviates or mitigates at least one of the aforementioned problems.

This is achieved by providing fish washing apparatus which transports fish from an inlet of a tank to an outlet through at least one position where the fish are submerged in an aqueous solution.

In a preferred embodiment the tank has a generally planar plate with a plurality of elongate slots. Ends of the plate are coupled to respective pulleys mounted on the tank sides so as said pulleys are rotated the plate moves in a generally circular path but remains substantially parallel to the base of the tank. Three spaced rows of upstanding wedge shaped blades are disposed on the base of the tank, each row of blades having one blade which is accommodated in each of the elongate slots of the plate to provide three blades along the length of each slot. The plate is vertically movable, as it moves in its generally circular path, between a position where the blades protrude above the plate surface a maximum amount and a position where the blades do not protrude above the plate surface. The plate moves vertically between a submerged position and a non-submerged position when in use.The fish are temporarily held against and between each row of blades as the plate rotates. Thus fish are continually being moved in and out of the water.

According to the present invention there is provided fish washing apparatus comprising a tank having an inlet for receiving fish to be washed and an outlet for dispensing washed fish, fish transport means for moving said fish from said inlet to said outlet, actuation means coupled to said transport means for effecting movement of said transport means, and fish retaining means coupled to the tank for cooperating with said transport means for retaining said fish temporarily in at least one position between said inlet and outlet so that, in use, fish are adapted to be retained in said tank in said at least one position for a predetermined time and washed in an aqueous solution disposed in said tank as the fish are transported between said inlet and said outlet.

Preferably three separate fish retaining means are coupled to said tank so that said fish are temporarily retained in three different successive positions between said inlet and outlet, for a predetermined time.

Preferably said transport means is a substantially planar plate having a plurality of elongate parallel slots movable in a generally circular path.

Preferably said fish retaining means is provided by three spaced rows of generally wedge shaped blades coupled to the base of the tank each row having one blade which is accommodated in the same slot of said plate.

Preferably said actuation means are provided by a pulley arrangement for causing said plate to move in said generally circular path including moving vertically between a submerged and a non-submerged position when in use.

Conveniently said blades protrude above said plate when said plate is in said submerged position.

Preferably an outlet tray is coupled to said plate, said outlet tray being disposed between the down stream end of the plate and said outlet, said tray being disposed to permit washed fish to be dispensed from said tank.

Preferably fluid supply means are coupled to the tank for supplying fresh washing fluid thereto, said tank having a fluid level control means so that the fluid in said tank is effectively recirculated.

Preferably said fluid supply means comprises, a system of pipes is disposed above said tank having a plurality of apertures therein for permitting fluid to be showered into said tank.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an automatic fish washing apparatus, in use, in accordance with the present invent ion; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the automatic fish washing apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the automatic fish washing apparatus shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is an end elevational view, in direction A of the automatic fish washing apparatus shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an elevational view, similar to Fig. 2, with the fish washing apparatus in a different operational position.

Reference is firstly made to Fig. 1 of the drawings which is a perspective view of an automatic fish washing apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10 comprising a metal box-like tank 12 (shown in broken outline) filled with water to a level 13, an inlet 14 for receiving gutted fish to be washed from a previous process stage and an outlet 16 for dispensing washed fish to a next process stage. A metal plate 18 having a plurality of elongate slots 19 is disposed within the tank 12. The plate 18 is arranged to be movable in a generally circular path so that when in use the plate 18 is vertically movable between a submerged position and a non-submerged position so that fish are washed because they are moved in and out of the water as they travel from the inlet to the outlet as will be later described in detail.

Three spaced apart rows of upstanding generally wedge shaped blades 20a,b and c are disposed on the base of tank 12. Each row of blades 20a,b and c has one blade which is accommodated in each slot 19 of the plate 18 so that three blades are disposed along the slot length. In use, as best seen in Fig. 2, plate 18 is vertically movable between the submerged position 21 where the blades 20 protrude above the surface of plate 18 to a maximum amount and the non-submerged position 23 where the top surface of plate 18 covers the blades 20.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 to 4 of the drawings which show various views of the fish washing apparatus 10 with the plate 18 in a position above the top of the blades. Pulleys 22 and 24 are mounted on the sides of tank 12 and are coupled to each other by belt 26. The ends 28 and 30 of plate 18 are connected to pulleys 22 and 24 respectively by arms 25 so that as pulleys 22 and 24 rotate, the ends 28 and 30 move in a circular path causing the plate 18 to move in a corresponding generally circular path while remaining substantially parallel to the base of tank 12. The pulley 24 is coupled to drive mechanism 32 such as a motor by a drive belt 34 and the drive mechanism 32 is operable to rotate pulley 24 and accordingly pulley 22 and thus plate 18.

A framework of pipes (best shown in Fig. 1) is disposed above tank 12. The framework consists of a feeder pipe 40 connected to shower pipes 42. Water is fed to shower pipes 42 through feeder pipe 40 so that shower pipes spray water into the tank 12 through holes 43 (best shown in Fig. 3). This water spray assists in fish washing and the fresh water causes overflow from the tank so that the tank water is continuously recirculated to maximise washing effectiveness.

The level of opening 16 controls the level 13 of water in the tank 12. An outlet tray 44 is hinged at about axis 46 to the end 30 of plate 18 so that the plate is free to move relative to the outlet when the plates rotates, and the plate adopts a downwardly inclined position from the tank when the plate 18 is in position 23 as shown in Fig. 2. This position permits washed fish to be dispensed down outlet tray 44 through opening 16 as will be later described. If the tray is inclined towards the tank 12 as shown in Fig. 5, that is, when the plate is submerged, washed fish are not dispensed from the outlet 16.

The operation of the fish washing apparatus will now be described. Gutted fish are fed into the tank 12 from inlet shelf 14. When the plate is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the fish initially lie on the surface of the plate 18 in proximity to the inlet 14. As the plate 18 is rotated in the clockwise direction shown the plate 18 moves down and the fish at the inlet descend to become trapped on, and between blades 20a in a submerged position. As the plate continues to rotate it then lifts the trapped fish through the water and as it continues to rotate deposits the fish as before on, and between blades 20b. In the meantime fish is again deposited from the inlet on blades 20a. This procedure is repeated in the next cycle so that fish are moved through the tank water, in steps from blades 20a to 20b and to blades 20c.As the operation continues the fish disposed at blades 20c are moved in the next cycle through outlet 16 and down outlet tray 44 as shown in Fig. 2 to the next processing stage. The washing procedure is repeated for successive groups of fish disposed around the respective rows of blades 20a - c.

Submerging the fish three times provides an effective and thorough wash as they pass through the tank 12. Also the use of shower pipes ensures fresh water to assist in effective washing.

Various modifications can be made to the embodiment hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. Any number of rows of blades may be used, the number of rows of blades corresponding to the number of times the fish are submerged as they are moved from the inlet to the outlet. The pulleys may be driven manually using a crank handle or the like and the pulleys and chains may be replaced with plastic gears.

The water used in the tank could be replaced by any acceptable fish cleaning agent. The apparatus need not form part of a process line and instead could be used independently with the fish being collected at the outlet of the tank. The elongate slots which accommodate the blades could be altered in size and shape to accommodate different sizes and shape of blades.

Advantages associated with the present invention are that the fish washing apparatus is easy to use and manufacture and is relatively inexpensive. The apparatus may be installed on a fishing vessel or elsewhere and may be incorporated into an automated process line. The fish receive an effective wash and there is minimal handling of the fish. Damage of the fish by the apparatus is also minimised. The operation of the automated apparatus requires no manual effort and is relatively quick speeding up the entire fish processing procedure.

Claims (10)

1. Fish washing apparatus comprising a tank having an inlet for receiving fish to be washed and an outlet for dispensing washed fish, fish transport means for moving said fish from said inlet to said outlet, actuation means coupled to said transport means for effecting movement of said transport means, and fish retaining means coupled to the tank for cooperating with said transport means for retaining said fish temporarily in at least one position between said inlet and outlet.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein three separate fish retaining means are coupled to said tank so that said fish are temporarily retained in three different successive positions between said inlet and outlet, for a predetermined time.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said transport means is a substantially planar plate having a plurality of elongate parallel slots movable in a generally circular path.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fish retaining means is provided by three spaced rows of generally wedge shaped blades coupled to the base of the tank each row having one blade which is accommodated in the same slot of said plate.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said actuation means are provided by a pulley arrangement for causing said plate to move in said generally circular path including moving vertically between a submerged and a non-submerged position when in use.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said blades protrude above said plate when said plate is in said submerged position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 3-6 wherein an outlet tray is coupled to said plate, said outlet tray being disposed between the down stream end of the plate and said outlet, said tray being disposed to permit washed fish to be dispensed from said tank.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein fluid supply means are coupled to the tank for supplying fresh washing fluid thereto, said tank having a fluid level control means so that the fluid in said tank is effectively recirculated.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said fluid supply means comprises, a system of pipes is disposed above said tank having a plurality of apertures therein for permitting fluid to be showered into said tank.

10. Fish washing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.