GB222621A - Machine for decapitating and gutting fish - Google Patents

Abstract

222,621. Morton, Ltd., C. & E., and Morton, O. L. Aug. 14, 1923. Fish, dressing.-In a machine for heading and gutting fish, the fish are placed one by one on carriers mounted on an endless conveyer, an adjustable rotary knife, preferably of the disc type, partly severs the head, but not the gut, and the head, together with the gut, is pulled away from the body. The carriers 3 are mounted on endless chains 4 and each one carries a fixed jaw 7 and a sliding jaw 8 provided with spring-supported blocks 9 between which blocks and the jaw 7 the body of the fish is held. The head is gripped between a jaw 14, on the end of a rod 16 slidably mounted in the fixed jaw 7, and a jaw 15 on a rod 17 similarly mounted in the movable jaw 8. The jaws 8, 15 are normally held in the open position by springs 13, and are closed, to grip the fish, by pivoted members 18, 18a which engage cams 19, 19<a> and bear on jaw 8. The jaws 14, 15 are mounted on a plate 14<a>, a slot 11<a> permitting movement of the jaw 15, and a gauge plate 21, preferably adjustable, is carried by the plate 14a and serves to position the fish. A roller 22, on the underside of the plate 14<a>, engages a cam track 23, the jaws 14, 15 being thereby laterally separated against the action of springs 25, from the jaws 7, 8, after the backbone has been severed by the knife, to remove the head and gut. The jaws 14, 15 have knife edged claws 20 which grip the fish behind the head and assist the knife in its partial severing operation. The jaws 14, 15 are held laterally displaced, by an extension of the cam track 23 until the carrier is inverted by passing around the end sprockets, the jaws 7, 8 and 14, 15 being separated to release the body and head. The jaws 14, 15 are returned laterally by the springs 25 or by a cam engaging the roller 22. The conveyer may move wholly in a horizontal plane. Spring-pressed gripping blocks may be provided on each of the jaws 7, 8, 14, 15. According to the Provisional Specification, a cam on the carrier lifts a knife which makes an incision across the underside of the fish, near the vent, by which the gut is cut.