GB289720A - An improved method of and apparatus for filleting fish - Google Patents

Abstract

289,720. Baader, R. Nov. 7, 1927. Fish, dressing.- Previously decapitated and split fishes are cut into fillets by resting each fish with its belly cavity on a block which moves it towards four rotary cutter discs, two of which revolve in fixed planes and are laterally separated to cut, on the upper side of the fish, on each side of the backbone, and the other two revolve on axes which are angularly displaceable, and cut on the other side of the fish in such manner that the prismatic portion of the backbone and the rib bones are cut away. The action of the cutters which are toothed, is shown in Figs. 5, 6. The fish is supported on the block 6, the cutters 10, 11 cut away the back fin, whilst the cutters 12, 13 are angularly disposed to cut away the backbone and the rib-bones. At the end of the belly cavity, the fish is unsupported by the block 6 and the cutters 12, 13 are moved into parallel relationship to cut on each side of the oval portion of the backbone. The machine comprises a fixed annular member 2 and a concentric revoluble ring 3 with teeth on both sides. The cutters 10, 12 are positioned in front of, and the cutters 11, 13 behind, the ring 2. Guides 4 support a slide 5 which carries the block 6 and reciprocates through the ring 2. The tail of the fish is supported on members 7, 8, on the slide 5, beneath which members a clamp for the tail may be provided. The cutter 10 is revolved by gearing 15, 16, 17 and the cutter 11 by similar gearing on the back of the ring 2. The cutters 12, 13 are journaled in blocks 20 slidable in arcuate grooves 19 in the ring and are revolved by gearing 21, 22, 23. The blocks 20 are supported by rods 28, 29 depending from levers 26, 27 which are actuated by rods 30, 31 connected to roller-ended levers 34. The roller 32 on the lever 34 associated with the rod 30 bears on the top left-hand surface of the slide 5, the said surface having a cam depression which allows the lever 26, rod 28 and block 20 to fall when the cutter 13 reaches the end of block 6 and of the belly cavity. The cutter 13 then revolves in a vertical plane to cut the tail part. The cutter is similarly angularly adjusted by a roller engaging with the left hand surface of the slide 5, the cam depression being shown in Fig. 2. The cam depressions are in staggered relationship to correspond with the staggered arrangement of the cutters 12, 13. The arrangement of the machine may be inverted, i.e., the fish may be applied to the underside of the block 6, the cutters 12, 13 then being above the fish. A rotary carrier may be used instead of a reciprocating slide, The cutters do not completely sever the fish, severance being effected after removal from the machine. The fillets are then passed to a skmning-machine.