NZ195750A - Device with fluted jetting head for gutting squid - Google Patents

Description

<K y j NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL NO: 195750 DATED: 4 December 1980 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FOOD PROCESSING APPARATUS WE, 3AYBEL NICHIMO LIMITED a New Zealand company of Fishermans Wharf, Corner Customs Street West and Packenham Street, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention)relates to food processing apparatus and in particular is concerned with a device to facilitate,the gutting of squid.

The intention of this invention is to provide a device whereby squid can be gutted to thereby facilitate processing for use as a foodstuff.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a gutting device comprising a hollow shaft!, adapted for rotation by a prime mover and having an inner section separated from a projecting stub section by a wall, through which the shaft extends, of a gut receiving unit, a rotary fluid transfer gland mounted to the inner section of the shaft to conjoin a fluid supply conduit to the bore of the shaft and a gut extractor head mounted to the free end of the stub section of the shaft in longitudinal axial alignment therewith the head incorporating an elongate body tapering to a free end of a reduced diameter and the outer face thereof incorporating longitudinally disposed flutes therein and at least one fluid passageway b'eing formed in the head to conjoin one or more outlet ports in the outer face thereof to the bore of the shaft.

In further describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment and wherein: Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view of the device forming jPreferably a work station in the form of a bench 3 is fabricated from suitable materials, for example stainless steel, to meet food processing part of a work station.

Figure 2 is a cross-section view on line A-A on Figure 1.

$ X and health regulations. An upper section 5 of the v/ork station bench 3 forms a gut receiving receptacle preferably being a sluice trough 6 enabling the ready sluicing away of waste gut material.

A rear wall 7 of the sluice trough 6 is preferably angled upwardly and 5 away from the trough 6 to form at the rear thereof an enclosed cabinet 8. On the upper face of the cabinet 8 a processed product receiving tray 9 is preferably provided.

An hollow shaft 10 is mounted to extend through the inclined wall 7 to thus have an inner section 10- within the cabinet 8 separated from a 10 projecting stub section 10- inclined upwardly and adjacently over the gut receiving trough 6.

Preferably sealing means are provided about the junction of the wall 7 and the shaft 10 the sealing means preferably being in the form of a sealed bearing 11 to support for axial rotation the shaft 10 therein.

On the inner section 10- of the shaft a rotary fluid transfer gland 12 is mounted in appropriate manner. A spigot type inlet port 13 is provided on the gland 12 to thus enable a fluid supply conduit to be conjoined to the bore of the shaft 10. In the preferred embodiment a conventional hose is coupled to the spigot 13 to enable water from an appropriate source to be pumped into the bore of the shaft 10 to facilitate the gutting operation of the device as hereinafter described.

A suitable prime mover, for example a compressed air operated motor 14, is also mounted within the cabinet 8 to provide for the axial rotation, of the shaft 10.

An extractor head 15 is mounted to the projecting stub section 10~ of the shaft 10 to, in brief, enable the impaling of a squid or partly gutted squid thereon to remove waste gut material therefrom. The. extractor head 15 preferably comprises a cast metal or moulded plastics body. The extractor tapers longitudinally to terminate with a free end 16. of a reduced diameter, the tapering being reasonably pronounced such that the extractor is of a generally spike like configuration save the free end 16 is rounded-off rather than terminating with a sharp point.

At a mounting end of the head 15 the body thereof preferably is flared radially outward in the form of a flange 17. At that end of the body the extractor 15 is adapted for mounting in longitudinal axial alignment to the shaft 10 to thus be axially rotated therewith. Preferably the body incorporates a screw-threaded axially disposed aperture 18 centrally in that end to enable mounting to the shaft 10 by attachement to a corresponding screw-thread provided on the end thereof. The extractor 15 mounting aperture 18 conjoins with at least one passageway 19 through the body, each passageway 19 terminating with at least one port 20 in the outer face of the head 15. Thus fluid can be passed from a source through the rotary gland 12 to the bore of the shaft 10 and from there exhausted from the port or ports 20 in the extractor head 15 to facilitate a gutting operation.

In the preferred embodiment the. .. mounting aperture 18 beyond the 195750 screw-threaded mounting section is considerably reduced in diameter and extends substantially to the free end of the head to partly form passageway 19. A plurality, for example four outlet ports 20 are formed through the wall of the extractor head 15 at longitudinally 5 spaced apart intervals to conjoin with the so extended aperture 18 to complete the passageway(s) 19. Preferably the ports 20 are inclined away from a true radial disposition as to be angled back toward the flange 17 of the extractor 15. Thus fluid exhausting therefrom is appropriately directed to flush-out a gut cavity and also away from an 10 operator.

/ The outer face of the extractor 15 is formed with longitudinally disposed flutes 21 therein. Preferably four flutes 21 are provided they extending the full length of the extractor 15 including across the associated face of flange 1 7 at the mounting end thereof. In conformity 15 with the taper of the extractor 15 the flutes 21 become further spaced apart toward the flange 17 with the configuration of the flutes 21 providing that they are in close proximity to one another at the free end 16 of the extractor 15. The flutes 21 are preferably of a concave cross-sectional shape and thus abruptly intersect with the outer face of 20 the extractor head 15 to thus provide a "cutting edge" 2k along the ribs 22 formed between the flutes 21. It is not envisaged that the cutting edges 2k will be sharpened.

Preferably the flutes 21 have a gradual helical configuration along the length of extractor 15, the helical configuration providing for approximately 25 a one-half turn for each flute 21 along the length of the head 15.

Preferably the fluid outlet ports 20 are disposed in the bottom of the flutes 21 with two ports 20 being disposed toward the tip of the extractor 15 and two adjacent the flange 17 mounting end thereof.

In use, the device is set-up as depicted in the drawings and with rotation of the extractor head 15 and with water exhausting from the ports 20 as aforesaid a squid or other appropriate matter to be gutted is impaled upon the extractor head 15. The rotary action of the head 15 together with the washing action of the water either completely gutting or at least providing for the final gutting of the gut cavity. 195750

Claims (5)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A gutting device comprising an hollow shaft adapted for rotation by a prime mover and having an inner section separated from a projecting stub section by a wall, through which the shaft extends, of a gut receiving unit, a rotary fluid transfer gland mounted to the inner 5 section of the shaft to conjoin a fluid supply conduit to the bore, of the shaft and a gut extractor head mounted to the free end of the stub section of the shaft in longitudinal axial alignment therewith the head incorporating an elongate body tapering to a free end of a reduced diameter and the outer face thereof incorporating longitudinally 10 disposed flutes therein and at least one fluid passageway being formed in the head to conjoin one or more outlet ports in the outer face thereof to the bore of the shaft. \

2. A gutting device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the flutes are helically disposed along the extractor head, the outlet port or ports 15 being disposed in the bottom of the flutes.

3. A gutting device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the port or ports are angled back toward the shaft to correspondingly direct fluid exhausting therefrom.

4. A gutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 20 wherein the extractor head integrally incorporates a flange at its inner mounting end, the flutes extending across the face of the flange.

5. A gutting device substantially as herein described with reference i95/50 - 8 - the accompanying drawings. JAYBEL NICHIMO LIMITED