GB612942A - An improved fish dressing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

612,942. Fish splitting machines. ROWTON, H. S. June 11, 1946, No. 17371. [Class 28(ii)] A machine for preparing herrings for kippering or curing comprises an endless conveyer 1, guides 7, 8 to present the back of the fish to a splitting knife 16 located in a slotted guide 23 which is shaped to spread open the cut to present the fish to a gill remover 43 reciprocated up and down under control of points on the conveyer. The fish tail is clamped in grippers on an intermediate conveyorplate 6 so that its body lies back up partly on two conveyor plates 5 and 6, and is then carried along through openable converging spring pressed guides 7, 8 to the rotated knife 16. After cutting, the guides 23 and/or abrasive rollers 29 therein spread open the body which advances under the gill cutter 43 where a point on the conveyor causes a cam 32 to lower the cutter 23 on to the gills to cut them out. During cutting an adjustable presser foot 31 holds down the head. in presenting the gills to the cutter the fish is supported at its sides by a pair of spring-pressed hinged guides 55, Fig. 11, having shaped parts 55a which engage under the fish one at each side to elevate the gills as they reach the cutter 43. Thereafter the fish may then pass on to a pair of rotary cleaning brushes 60 raised and lowered alternately by a cam 64. Fixed brushes may also be provided behind the guide 23 and also behind the rotary brushes 60. The gill cutter has radially disposed blades with concave recesses leaving cutting edges at their ends.