IES84925Y1 - A fish processing apparatus and method for processing fish - Google Patents
A fish processing apparatus and method for processing fishInfo
- Publication number
- IES84925Y1 IES84925Y1 IE2008/0073A IE20080073A IES84925Y1 IE S84925 Y1 IES84925 Y1 IE S84925Y1 IE 2008/0073 A IE2008/0073 A IE 2008/0073A IE 20080073 A IE20080073 A IE 20080073A IE S84925 Y1 IES84925 Y1 IE S84925Y1
- Authority
- IE
- Ireland
- Prior art keywords
- fish
- processing
- factory
- inlet
- macerated
- Prior art date
Links
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 113
- 238000007781 pre-processing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 241001438449 Silo Species 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000002879 macerating Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000002803 maceration Methods 0.000 description 6
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 241000894007 species Species 0.000 description 5
- 241001214369 Capros aper Species 0.000 description 3
- 230000000903 blocking Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000019733 Fish meal Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004467 fishmeal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229940013317 Fish Oils Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 210000002356 Skeleton Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000001808 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004642 transportation engineering Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
- A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
- A22C25/00—Processing fish ; Curing of fish; Stunning of fish by electric current; Investigating fish by optical means
- A22C25/08—Holding, guiding, or conveying fish before, during or after its preparation ; Devices for sizing fish; Automatically adapting conveyors or processing machines to the measured size
Abstract
ABSTRACT The invention provides a fish processing apparatus that may be used between a fishing vessel and a fish factory. The apparatus is configured to receive fish from the fishing vessel and provides a pre-processing of the fish into a macerated form whicl1 may be then subsequently discharged into the factory.
Description
A Fish Processing Apparatus and method for processing fish.
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fish processing apparatus and in particular to a stand
alone apparatus configured to be used between a fishing vessel and a fish
processing factory so as to achieve a pre-processing of the fish prior to discharge
into the factory for their ultimate processing. The invention also relates to a
method of pre-processing fish.
Background
Fish processing is well known and relates to conversion of a caught fish species
into an ultimate product- be that for human or other consumption. The nature of
the processing undertaken will very much depend on the nature of the fish
species and the intended final product. Traditionally fish processing was only
effected in a fish factory, located close to the quay side where two or more fishing
vessels could berth and discharge their catch. The fishing vessels would return to
the quay after a successful fishing expedition with the fish in the condition that
they were caught, albeit chilled from their storage in the hold of the vessel. The
fish would then be discharged from the vessel to the fish factory where the whole
fish would be processed to form the final product. This type of arrangement is still
very common. Where the fish are pelagic fish they are commonly discharged
from the hold of the fishing vessel under vacuum, whereby fish and water are
sucked from the hold and then discharged to the quayside. Such arrangements
are well known and have worked for many years.
With the development of larger fishing vessels, the distances that the vessels
would travel on each excursion increased. It is also known in such circumstances
to include on one or more of the vessels an element of fish processing on board~
such fishing vessels have become known as fish factory ships. These factory
ships are specifically designed for this purpose and the processing is a
permanent element, integrally provided as part of the design of the Ship.
With the development of fishing quotas the nature of the species that may be
caught by a fishing vessel is highly controlled. As a result of this it has been
necessary for fishing vessels to consider other species which traditionally have
not found favour in the marketplace. Many of these new species are not useful
for human consumption— the ratio of extractable meat to the skeleton of the fish
being too low. Such species can however be used in fish meal for animal feed.
However it has been found that the traditional method of processing fish cannot
always be used for these new species. For example boar fish (Capros aper),
while having been caught as a bycatch for many years, have never been
considered useful as a primary catch. One of the reasons for this is that due to
the spiky nature of the fish it is difficult to transfer the fish from the hold of the
vessel to the fish factory, the fish have a tendency to clog the piping of the
hydraulic feed lines between the vessel and the factory. It will be appreciated that
the inability to effectively and efficiently transfer a catch prejudices the
commercial justification of the catch.
For these reasons and others there is a need to provide new method of fish
processing.
Summary
These and other problems are addressed by a fish processing apparatus
provided in accordance with the teaching of the invention. Such an apparatus is
configured to be provided as a stand-alone, typically portable, arrangement that
can be used in—line between a fishing vessel and the fish factory. A processing
apparatus provided in accordance with the teaching of the invention provides for
an initial pre-processing of the fish subsequent to their discharge from the hold of
the fishing vessel and prior to their ultimate processing in the fish factory.
Desirably the fish processing apparatus provides for a macerating of the whole
fish received from the hold of the vessel through a shredding or blending
arrangement to form a pulp which can then be transferred to the fish factory. By
effecting the conversion of the whole fish to a pulp it is possible to then easily
transfer the fish in this pulp form into the fish factory where ultimate processing
into for example a fish meal may be effected. The provision of the fish in the pulp
form minimises any clogging of the pipework leading into the fish factory.
Accordingly the invention provides a fish processing apparatus according to claim
1. Advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims. The
invention also provides a method of pre—processing fish prior to their discharge to
a fish factory.
These and other features of the present invention will be better understood with
reference to the drawings which follow.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows in schematic form installation of a fish processing apparatus in
accordance with the teaching of the invention.
Figure 2 shows internal portions of the fish processing arrangement of Figure 1.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
Preferred arrangements of a fish processing apparatus provided in accordance
with the teaching of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures
1 and 2. It will be understood that these exemplary arrangements are provided to
assist the person skilled in the art with an understanding of the benefits of an
apparatus provided in accordance with the teaching of the invention and it is not
intended to limit the present invention to such specifics. It will be understood that
modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments hereinafter described
without departing from the scope of the invention which is only to be construed as
limited insofar as is deemed necessary in the light of the appended claims.
As shown in Figure 1, the invention provides a fish processing apparatus 100 for
use in-line between a fishing vessel 110 and a fish processing factory 120. The
apparatus is desirably a stand—a|one apparatus and is portable such that it can be
moved to its desired operational location when desired and then moved to a
storage location during periods of non-use. Such a storage location may be on-
shore, for example on a location away from the immediate quay side 125 on
which the fishing vessels dock or could be on the deck of the actual fishing
vessel 130. in such a latter arrangement the apparatus would travel with the
fishing vessel such that irrespective of the ultimate location of the fish factory that
the vessel decides to use for processing their catch, they have a pre-processing
apparatus with them for installing between the vessel and the factory during the
transfer of the catch from the vessel to the factory. In common with prior art
arrangements fish are discharged under vacuum conditions using an outlet pipe
111 into a dewatering box 112 where the fish and water are separated. Water
may be returned to the hold via a water return pipe 113 while the fish pass under
gravity through fish feed pipe 114 into the apparatus 100.
The apparatus including an inlet 140 for receiving fish from the fishing vessel and
an outlet 150 for discharging processed fish to the fish factory. Both the inlet and
outlet are desirably located on the top or upper surface 105 of the apparatus. As
shown in Figure 2, the apparatus defines an interior volume 160 within which is
located a macerator 170. The macerator 170 is desirably provided adjacent the
inlet 140 and provides for a maceration of the fish on receipt into the apparatus.
Within the context of the present invention the terms “macerating" or “maceration”
refers to a cutting or shredding of fish to form a pulp. Typically the macerator
includes a plurality of blades 175 located below the inlet to the apparatus. On
receipt into the apparatus through the inlet, the received fish fall onto the blades
where they are cut or macerated. A plurality of blades may be provided and two
or more sets could be located one above one another within the apparatus, but
each of the blades being provided in a horizontal configuration. The blades may
be mounted on an axle 176 and are rotatable on that axle to achieve the desired
cutting. it will be appreciated that the speed of rotation of the blades will affect the
cutting efficiency and this may be a user defined and controllable parameter.
Power for the blades may be externally provided through for example a power
connection 141. It will be further appreciated that the angle of the blades, their
length and their number may all be selected to optimise the maceration process.
While not shown in this exemplary embodiment, the blades could be provided
within a conduit that extends vertically down from the inlet into the apparatus.
The provision of such a conduit will control the delivery of the received fish onto
the blades.
Once macerated, the fish may be transferred to a silo 200 for temporarily storing
the macerated fish prior to their discharge from the outlet. The silo is desirably
separated from the macerator by a weir 210, the weir being located between the
macerator and the silo, although of course it is possible to simply direct the fish
through the macerator into a holding tank. A benefit of the separation is that the
degree of maceration is controlled and previously macerated fish are directed
away from the cutting elements.
The weir desirably includes a first vertical separator 220 located within the interior
volume and extending upwardly from the base 225 of the apparatus. An upper
surface 230 of the first separator and the top of the apparatus 105 define a gap
235 through which macerated fish may be displaced into the silo on receipt of
additional fish into the apparatus.
The weir 210 desirably includes a second vertical separator 250 located within
the interior volume between the macerator and the first vertical separator 220
and extending downwardly from the top of the apparatus. A lower surface 255 of
the second separator and the base 225 define a gap through which macerated
fish may pass. It will be understood therefore that within the volume of the
apparatus that the fish pass downwardly through the macerator under the second
vertical separator and then over the first separator prior to their receipt within the
silo. In this way the mixing of macerated fish with the macerator is minimised
such that a defined level of maceration may be achieved. As the fish are
desirably transferred within a volume of liquid this movement within the apparatus
is effected by the receipt into the apparatus from the fishing vessel of additional
fish.
As was mentioned above, the outlet 150 is located at the top of the apparatus
coincident with the silo location. Each of the outlet and inlet are configured to
effect a coupling with pipework 270 that enables the provision of a continuous
line between the vessel, the apparatus and the factory.
Desirably additional pipework may be provided between the factory and the
vessel to provided for a closed loop configuration. In this way any fish oils that
are contained within the water volume that is used for transportation of the fish
are circulated through closed loop such that subsequent passages of that water
volume through the factory can ensure an extraction of such oils from the
volume.
It will be understood that such an arrangement, as provided by usage of an
apparatus as hereinbefore described enables a method of pre-processing fish
including the steps of receiving fish from a fishing vessel, macerating the fish
within the defined volume apparatus, and then discharging the macerated fish
from the defined volume apparatus to a fish factory.
By effecting a maceration of the fish prior to their entry into the fish factory the
form of the fish is in a pulp. This reduces the possibility of the fish blocking the
pipework of the fish factory and is particularly advantageous in the context of
processing of bony fish such as boar fish which would have a tendency to block
the pipework unless shredded or macerated such as herein described. it will be
appreciated that as the fish are delivered from the hold of the vessel under
vacuum pressurised conditions that the chances of the fish blocking the pipework
between the vessel and the apparatus is not that high. Using the teaching of the
present invention the pressure used to deliver the fish from the processing
apparatus to the fish factory does not have to be that high, and indeed transfer
may be effected using impeller technologies, and as the fish are in a macerated
condition, the chances of the fish effecting a blocking of the pipework is
minimised.
It will be appreciated that what has been described herein is an exemplary
arrangement of a fish processing apparatus that may be used between a fishing
vessel and a fish factory. The apparatus is configured to receive fish from the
fishing vessel and provides a pre-processing of the fish into a macerated form
which may be then subsequently discharged into the factory. While the teaching
of the invention has been described with reference to exemplary arrangements
thereof, it will be understood that modifications can be made to that described
herein without departing from the scope of the invention which is to be construed
as limited only insofar as is deemed necessary in the light of the appended
claims.
Where the words “upper", “lower”, “top”, bottom, “interior", “exterior” and the like
have been used, it will be understood that these are used to convey the mutual
arrangement of the layers relative to one another and are not to be interpreted as
limiting the invention to such a configuration where for example a surface
designated a top surface is not above a surface designated a lower surface.
Furthermore, the words comprises/comprising when used in this specification are
to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but
does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,
integers , steps, components or groups thereof.
Claims (5)
1. A fish processing apparatus for use in—line between a fishing vessel and a fish processing factory, the apparatus including an inlet for receiving fish from the fishing vessel and an outlet for discharging processed fish to the fish factory, and wherein the apparatus defines an interior volume including a macerator provided adjacent the inlet for macerating the fish on receipt into the apparatus and a silo for temporarily storing the macerated fish prior to their discharge from the outlet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the macerator includes a plurality of blades providing, in use, for a cutting of the received fish, the inlet being provided on the top of the apparatus and the blades below that inlet such that fish received into the apparatus through the inlet will fall onto the blades.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the apparatus includes a weir located between the macerator and the silo, the weir including: a. a first vertical separator located within the interior volume and extending upwardly from the base of the apparatus, an upper surface of the first separator and the top of the apparatus defining a gap through which macerated fish may be displaced into the silo on receipt of additional fish into the apparatus; b. a second vertical separator located within the interior volume between the macerator and the first vertical separator and extending downwardly from the top of the apparatus, a lower surface of the second separator and the base defining a gap through which macerated fish may pass.
4. A method of pre-processing fish including, a. Receiving fish from a fishing vessel, b. Macerating the fish within the defined volume apparatus, c. Discharging the macerated fish from the defined volume apparatus to a fish factory.
5. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EPEUROPEANPATENTOFFICE(EPO)25/01/2 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
IES84925Y1 true IES84925Y1 (en) | 2008-07-09 |
IE20080073U1 IE20080073U1 (en) | 2008-07-09 |
Family
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