GB383733A - Improvements in method and apparatus for skinning fish - Google Patents

Abstract

383,733. Skinning fish. ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES CO., 111, John Street, New York, U.S.A. Oct. 30, 1931, No. 30094. Convention date, Oct. 30, 1930. [Class 28 (ii).] - Fish or other objects of a like wet nature are mechanically treated on a support to which they are frozen. As shown, a metal band 4 is trained over drums 2, 3, the drum 2 being cooled and the drum 3 being warmed, whereby the fish is frozen to the band in the vicinity of the drum 2 and, after being skinned by the reciprocating knife 30, is released therefrom in the vicinity of the drum 3. The drums are driven by a belt 12 trained over pulleys 13, 14 and tensioned by an adjustable jockey 23. The drums are rotatable on stationary hollow shafts 5, 5<1> which are plugged to separate the bores into inlet and outlet passages. The inlet portions of the bores are connected to perforated pipes 9, 91 and the outlet portions to draw-off pipes 11, 11<1>. The drum 2 is partially lugged with felt 15 on a wood backing 16, and the drum 3 may be similarly insulated. The band tension is adjusted by screws 22 and, to prevent sagging under the load of fish, the upper run is supported by a table 17. The sides of the band are guided by side strips 19. The skinning knife 30 is secured by screws 32 to a holder 31, which is angularly adjustable by slots 35 and bolts 34 to the disc 36 to which it is secured. The disc 36 is vertically adjustable to compensate for the wear of the knife-edge, by bolts 38 engaging with the slotted end 39 of the slide 40 which is reciprocated by a crank and connecting-rod. The slide 40 is supported by guides 41, one guide having an extension 46 pivoted at 45 and located by a set-screw 48 and a locking bolt and nut 50, 51. The nut 51, when released, allows the knife assembly to be swung, about the pivot 45, away from the drum for sharpening the knife. In operation, the fillets slide over a shoot 53 on to a discharge conveyer 54, and the band 4 is kept free from frost &c. by a non-freezing liquid dripped from a reservoir 55. Suitable liquids are glycerin, ethylene glycol or solutions thereof, or calcium chloride brine. The liquid is prevented from reaching the working surface of the band by wipers 56.