GB518608A - Improvements in and relating to fish-treating machines - Google Patents

Abstract

518,608. Dressing fish. ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES CO. June 14, 1939, No. 17378. Convention date, Aug. 27, 1938. [Class 28 (ii)] In a machine for scaling, heading and cleaning fish, the fish is advanced sidewise over a table 55 by the conveyer and clamp means described in Specification 518,607, and is positioned relatively to the knife by the engagement of a pectoral fin with an inclined edge 56 of the table, the fin being loosened from the body, if adhering thereto, so that it can extend beneath the table 55, by water jets 59a which are directed against\the fin and force it against an inclined plate 57 which extends beneath an opening 58 in the table 55. The opening 58 is enlarged adjacent to the jets 59a to provide clearance for receiving the fin, which is guided by the plate 57 to beneath the edge 56. The fish is held against the table 55 by presser bars 68, each mounted on. pair of links 69 which are pivoted to a bar 70. The bars 68 are held down by springs 72, the heads of the fishes being thus held down with the pectoral fins in engagement with the guide 56. The bars 68 may extend through the whole length of the machine, and more preferably to the cutting station to hold the fish during decapitation. The first bar 68 is toothed to turn the fish on its side if it has rolled out of that position. The fishes pass over wires 75 where they are subjected to the action of scales-removing jets 78, 79, which preferably act towards the heads of the fishes, although with certain kinds of fishes, the opposite arrangement may be used. A rubber or like flexible curtain extends across the wires 75 near the forward end thereof, to wipe the fishes, after they are positioned by the guide 56, to bring them into the proper positions before the clamps close to hold them for decapitation by the saw 92. The body of the fish is supported during decapitation by weighted pivoted arms 86, and the heads are engaged by a plate 110, on a spring-loaded pivoted arm 111, which tends to draw the head of the fish from its body as the saw 92 operates. A guide plate 120 is shaped to guide the heads downwardly and outwardly to the receiving-means as the fish is advanced past the saw. The removal of the heads in the manner described permits the greater part of the entrails to drop out, but if further cleaning of the belly cavities is required, this may be effected by water jets.