NZ736499B2 - Automatic skinning device - Google Patents
Automatic skinning device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ736499B2 NZ736499B2 NZ736499A NZ73649916A NZ736499B2 NZ 736499 B2 NZ736499 B2 NZ 736499B2 NZ 736499 A NZ736499 A NZ 736499A NZ 73649916 A NZ73649916 A NZ 73649916A NZ 736499 B2 NZ736499 B2 NZ 736499B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- skinning
- food product
- hold down
- down mechanism
- conveyor
- Prior art date
Links
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 68
- 210000003491 Skin Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 208000006440 Open Bite Diseases 0.000 claims description 2
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 description 7
- 235000019688 fish Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 235000013622 meat product Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 241000972773 Aulopiformes Species 0.000 description 1
- 229920004943 Delrin® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- ACKALUBLCWJVNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylidene diacetate Chemical compound CC(=O)OC(C)OC(C)=O ACKALUBLCWJVNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 208000002473 Lacerations Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010038584 Repetitive strain injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000007933 dermal patch Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002825 nitriles Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019515 salmon Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
- A22B—SLAUGHTERING
- A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
- A22B5/16—Skinning instruments or knives
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
- A22B—SLAUGHTERING
- A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
- A22B5/16—Skinning instruments or knives
- A22B5/166—Drum skinners
-
- 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
-
- 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
- A22C25/12—Arranging fish, e.g. according to the position of head and tail
-
- 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
- A22C25/17—Skinning fish
Abstract
Some skinning mechanisms can cause damage to the food product being skinned. Disclosed herein is an automatic skinning device that comprises an infeed conveyor (12), a take away conveyor (18), a skinning mechanism (16) positioned between the infeed conveyor (12) and the take away conveyor (18), and a hold down mechanism (14) positioned above at least a portion of the infeed conveyor (12) and the skinning mechanism (16). The hold down mechanism (18) is configured to remove all pressure from a food product (40) as the skinning mechanism (16) begins skinning the food product (40) to prevent damage to the food product. The skinning mechanism (16) is configured to remove skin from the food product (40) when the food product (40) is oriented skin side down. a hold down mechanism (14) positioned above at least a portion of the infeed conveyor (12) and the skinning mechanism (16). The hold down mechanism (18) is configured to remove all pressure from a food product (40) as the skinning mechanism (16) begins skinning the food product (40) to prevent damage to the food product. The skinning mechanism (16) is configured to remove skin from the food product (40) when the food product (40) is oriented skin side down.
Description
TITLE: AUTOMATIC SKINNING DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed toward a device for removing skin from food products
and more particularly to a device for removing skin from delicate food products such as
fish.
In the meat processing industry it is desirable to remove the skin from meat parts
such as fish fillets. Today this is done by using a knife or one of several conveyor fed
skinning machines. Removing skin with a knife may cause lacerations or repetitive
motion injuries. Also, skinning with a knife typically results in poor yields.
Alternatively skinning machines often require feeding fish fillets tail first for good
results. This requires turning fish either manually or automatically to accommodate tail
first skinning which can result in damage to fish fillets. It is desirable that the fillets be
fed head first in some cases to match the rest of the production line. Furthermore, it is
desirable to have a machine that can easily or automatically be adjusted to
accommodate demands for different skin thicknesses and/or product appearances.
Skinning machines fed with a conveying system normally require some type of
opening bite at the skinning mechanism to start the meat product. To do this, most
manufacturers take a thicker cut at the start of the skinning action by moving the
skinning mechanism out and/or in and/or up and down. The other method used is to
rotate the skinning mechanism around the product pulling roller and pinch the leading
edge of the product. In all cases a hold-down mechanism is used to keep the product in
place, during the skinning. Typical hold-down devices include individual rubber (nitrile)
rollers, conveyor belts over the infeed conveyor and skinning mechanism or delrin
rollers only over the skinning mechanism. Each of these methods can be
disadvantageous. First, they may not provide even pressure over products that have
varying shapes front to back or side to side. Second, these devices may cause damage
and yield loss due to their aggressive nature. Particularly with fish such as salmon,
constant pressure causes gapping or separation of the meat fibers. In fact, once the
skinning has begun, holding down on the product is not necessary or desirable in some
cases.
Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a method and
apparatus that can skin meat products such as fish fillets either head first or tail first
with minimal skin patches.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hold-down system that
provides sufficient pressure over the varying thicknesses of a single piece of product.
A still further objective of the present invention is to provide linking the
skinning mechanism with the hold-down device to reduce adjustments.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a skinning mechanism
and a hold-down device where the hold-down device follows the position of the skinning
mechanism as it moves in and out of its opening bite and/or height adjustments.
Another objective of the present invention is to remove all hold down pressure on
the food product to ensure that damage to the product via hold down force is eliminated.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to adapt this method to either a
dual lane or single lane skinning device.
Also, another objective of the present invention is to be easily and/or
automatically adjusted for different skinning thicknesses or product requirements.
Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to use this method to
eliminate skinning with a knife and the undesirable impact that knife skinning has
on workers.
Alternatively or additionally, an objective of the present invention is to at least
provide the public with a useful choice.
These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill based upon
the following written description, drawings and claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an automatic skinning device, comprising:
an infeed conveyor and a take away conveyor;
a skinning mechanism positioned between the infeed and takeaway conveyor; and
a hold down mechanism positioned above at least a portion of the infeed conveyor
and the skinning mechanism;
wherein the hold down mechanism is configured to remove all pressure from a
food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning the food product; and
the skinning mechanism is configured to remove skin from the food product when
the food product is oriented skin side down.
The present invention further provides a method of skinning a food product,
comprising the steps of:
placing the food product on an intake conveyor such that a head portion of the
food product is ahead of a tail portion;
transporting the food product toward a skinning mechanism;
skinning the food product with the skinning mechanism;
removing all pressure from the food product as the skinning mechanism skins the
food product; and
removing skin from the food product when the food product is oriented skin side
down;
wherein a hold down mechanism is linked to the skinning mechanism so the hold
down mechanism is configured to follow the position of the skinning mechanism as the
skinning mechanism moves position.
Disclosed herein is an automatic skinning device having an inlet conveyor, a hold
down mechanism, a skinning mechanism, and a take away conveyor. The hold down
mechanism is linked to the skinning mechanism such that the hold down mechanism
follows the movement of the skinning mechanism during the opening bite and/or height
adjustments and then removes pressure from a food product once the skinning of the
food product begins.
The hold down mechanism includes at least one disc having a plurality of
deformable curved spokes that extend from a central opening to an outer perimeter. The
hold down mechanism provides a consistent pressure to a food product without the
presence of a gap between the hold down mechanism and the food product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of an automatic skinning
device; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an automatic skinning
device;
Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of an automatic skinning device; and
Fig. 4 is an end view of an automatic skinning device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the Figures, an automatic skinning device 10 includes an infeed
conveyor 12, a hold down mechanism 14, a skinning mechanism 16, and an exit or take-
away conveyor 18. The infeed conveyor 12 has a continuous belt 20 mounted about
rollers/pulleys 22
The skinning mechanism 16 has a shoe 28 with an arcuate surface that receives a
tooth roll 30. A blade holder 32 is connected to the top of the shoe 28 and the blade holder
32 with an edge adjacent the outer circumference of the tooth roll 30.
Moveably positioned above a portion of the skinning mechanism is the hold down
mechanism 14. The hold down mechanism 14 includes one, and preferably a plurality of
discs 36, mounted to a rotatable shaft 38. The number of discs 36 used is determined by
the width of a food product 40. The discs 36 preferably are made of a polymer material
that has a diameter that varies based upon the type of food product 40. Each disc 36 has a
continuous outer perimeter 42 and a plurality of arcuate spokes 44 that extend between
the outer perimeter 42 and a central opening 46 of the disc 36. The discs 36 are closely
spaced and/or engage one another such that when engaged by a food product 40 the discs
deform to provide a consistent pressure to the food product 40 of varying thickness
without gaps.
The rotatable shaft 38 is mounted to a support arm 48 that preferably extends
upwardly and reanvardly of the discs 36 and then curves downwardly toward a
connecting end 50. The connecting end 50 is pivotally connected to a plate 52 that is
attached to the skinning mechanism 16. A pneumatic piston 54 is connected to and
extends between the support arm 48 and plate 52.
Positioned adjacent the infeed conveyor 12. upstream of the hold down mechanism
14 and the skinning mechanism 16 is a sensor 56 that detects the presence of a food
product 40. The sensor 56 is connected to a computer 58 that is also connected to a
source of pressurized air 60 that extends or contracts piston 54.
Downstream of the skinning mechanism 16 and positioned to receive a skinned
food product 40 is the exit or take-away conveyor 18. The take-away conveyor 18 has a
continuous belt 62 mounted about rollers or pulleys 64.
In operation, the food product 40 is placed on the infeed conveyor 12 with the
head portion ahead of the tail portion. As the infeed conveyor 12 transports the food
product 40 toward the skinning mechanism 16, the food product 40 engages the hold
down mechanism 14 which exerts a consistent pressure against the food product 40
without the presence of a gap between the hold down mechanism 14 and the food
product 40. The hold down mechanism 14 and the skinning mechanism 16 are linked
by a support arm 48 and a plate 52. As a result, the hold down mechanism 14 follows
the position of the skinning mechanism 16 as the skinning mechanism 16 moves in
and out of its opening bite.
Once the skinning mechanism 16 begins skinning the food product 40, the open
bite moves from open to skinning position and the hold down mechanism 14 is raised
removing all hold-down pressure from the food product 40 to ensure that damage to the
food product is eliminated. To move the skinning mechanism and the hold down
mechanism 14, a signal is sent from sensor 56 to computer 58. The computer 58
calculates when skinning begins based upon the speed of conveyor 12 and the distance of
the sensor 56 from the skinning mechanism 16. The timing of the movement and opening
bite can be altered to maximize yield based on a variable profile of a leading edge of the
food product. This can be done either manually by an operator or electronically using
electronic means of measurements. The computer 58 sends a signal actuating pressurized
air to activate piston 54. The piston 54 retracts which causes support arm 48 to rotate
upwardly in relation to plate 52 at connection end 50.
The food product 40 is engaged by the tooth roll 30 and the blade 34 separates the
skin from the meat or lean portion. The skin falls below the skinning device to a hopper
or conveyor while the lean portion is transported to the take away conveyor 18 for further
processing. Once the food product 40 passes sensor 56 the computer activates cylinder 54
lowering the hold down mechanism 16. While a single lane device has been shown, two
or more lanes are contemplated as well.
Thus, a skinning device has been disclosed that at the very least meets all the
stated objectives.
While an embodiment of the present invention have been described above, it
should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not
by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that
various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by
any of the above described exemplary embodiment(s).
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word
"comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to
imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or method step or group of elements
or integers or method steps but not the exclusion of any element or integer or method
step or group of elements or integers or method steps.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information
derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an
acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication
(or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general
knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.
Claims (12)
1. An automatic skinning device, comprising: an infeed conveyor and a take away conveyor; a skinning mechanism positioned between the infeed and takeaway conveyor; and a hold down mechanism positioned above at least a portion of the infeed conveyor and the skinning mechanism; wherein the hold down mechanism is configured to remove all pressure from a food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning the food product; and the skinning mechanism is configured to remove skin from the food product when the food product is oriented skin side down.
2. The skinning device of claim 1, wherein the hold down mechanism is configured to exert a consistent pressure against the food product without the presence of a gap between the hold down mechanism and the food product.
3. The skinning device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the hold down mechanism is linked to the skinning mechanism such that the hold down mechanism is configured to follow the position of the skinning mechanism as the skinning mechanism moves position.
4. The skinning device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hold down mechanism is comprised of at least one disc having a deformable curved spoke that extends from a central opening of the disc to an outer perimeter of the disc.
5. The skinning device of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a sensor mounted adjacent the infeed conveyor that detects the presence of the food product and sends a signal to a computer that activates movement of the hold down mechanism and opening bite of the skinning mechanism.
6. The skinning device of claim 5, wherein the timing of the opening bite is altered to maximize yield based on a variable profile of a leading edge of the food product.
7. The skinning device of claim 6, wherein the timing of the opening bite is manually adjustable.
8. A method of skinning a food product, comprising the steps of: placing the food product on an intake conveyor such that a head portion of the food product is ahead of a tail portion; transporting the food product toward a skinning mechanism; skinning the food product with the skinning mechanism; removing all pressure from the food product as the skinning mechanism skins the food product; and removing skin from the food product when the food product is oriented skin side down; wherein a hold down mechanism is linked to the skinning mechanism so the hold down mechanism is configured to follow the position of the skinning mechanism as the skinning mechanism moves position.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing consistent pressure to the food product having various thickness without gaps with the hold down mechanism.
10. The method of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the step of removing all pressure from the food product comprises raising the hold down mechanism to remove all pressure from the food product when the skinning mechanism moves from an open bite position to a skinning position.
11. The method of any one of claims 8 to 10, comprising the step of calculating when skinning begins based upon the speed of the conveyor and the distance of a sensor from the skinning mechanism.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of adjusting when skinning begins to maximize yield.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201562150572P | 2015-04-21 | 2015-04-21 | |
US62/150,572 | 2015-04-21 | ||
US15/075,271 | 2016-03-21 | ||
US15/075,271 US9545115B2 (en) | 2015-04-21 | 2016-03-21 | Automatic skinning device |
PCT/US2016/026128 WO2016171903A1 (en) | 2015-04-21 | 2016-04-06 | Automatic skinning device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ736499A NZ736499A (en) | 2021-02-26 |
NZ736499B2 true NZ736499B2 (en) | 2021-05-27 |
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