WO2004066739A1

WO2004066739A1 - Apparatus and method for processing objects

Info

Publication number: WO2004066739A1
Application number: PCT/IS2004/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ingolfur Arnason; Hördur GARDARSSON
Original assignee: Skaginn Hf.
Priority date: 2003-01-31
Filing date: 2004-02-02
Publication date: 2004-08-12
Also published as: IS7967A

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and apparatus for dressing of food products wherein the dressing is conducted in periods as well as forward movement so that handling and bad treatment is minimized. The movement is conducted in alternating forward speed movements. Thereby the worker at a dressing line achieves the best working conditions and handling is minimized. This is achieved by providing a rustic an more economical equipment than known before.

Description

Apparatus and method for processing objects

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing object portions such as fish fillet. In particular method and apparatus for dressing of fish filets on a processing line.

Background

In the last years there has been much development in methods and devices for processing raw material such as fish. The demand is typically high processing speed, information related to the performance from each individual operator and cleanness during the processing.

Methods and apparatus for processing product objects exist for processing fish fillet. A typical processing line consists of an in-feed station that feeds a conveyor belt with means that conveys the objects to a plurality of processing stations, positioned along the conveyor belt. An operator processes the objects until they are fully processed. This may comprise removing the bones, the skin and damaged parts of the fish, often described as dressing.

The problem with such methods is that the apparatus is usually very complicated, space demanding, which is reflected in high purchase and operation costs. Another problem of prior art methods is that the processing table where the fish (or other objects) are processed are not regularly cleaned. This can therefore cause a circulation of bacterium between the products lo be processed. Even though such methods require an expensive and complicated apparatus, the processing speed can still be increase significantly.

Description of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for processing objects that increases the performance, efficiency and the quality of the objects. It is a further object of the present invention to minimize the cost for such processing apparatus by providing a simpler solution of such apparatus.

According to the first aspect the present invention relates to a method of processing food products on a processing line, said processing line having an longitudinal conveyor belt with an in-feed end and out-feed end and at least one work-stations arranged along said processing line, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• arranging a plurality of said products to be processed in a first arranging position at said in-feed end of said conveyor belt,

» advancing said products along said conveyor belt of said processing line from said in-feed end to said out-feed end, wherein said advancing is conducted in a periodically alternating speed, including first advancing speed and a second processing speed,

• processing said products at said work-stations as the product being advanced along said conveyor in said processing speed, and rearranging from said first position to a second position,

• wherein said first advancing speed represent the time of advancing at least one product from the said in-feed area to a work-stations to another and said second processing speed represent the time for processing at least one product at said working station,

and thereby enhancing the efficiency of the processing.

In one preferred embodiment the number of conveying means is two and the conveying means is a conveyer belt. Different number of conveying means is also possible, such as three, four or higher. Preferably processing the products, which may be fish fillet, is performed on the conveyer belt. The product may also be chicken or any kind of poultry items, meat etc. Preferably the conveyor belt is consistently washed during the processing. This ensures a clean environment during the processing at all time and for minimizing the circulation of bacterium between the fish fillet.

The first and the second processing stations may be adjacent processing stations or adjacent running processing station.

According to the second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for processing objects in a conveying process by advancing the objects between a plurality processing stations where at least one part of the objects is processed, said device comprising:

• at least one conveying means for conveying the objects to be processed,

• means for feeding said at least one conveying means with objects to be processed in a diagonal first position,

• a plurality of processing stations arranged side by side adjacent to said at least one conveying means,

o means for advancing the objects in a periodical way between processing stations, each period representing the time interval for advancing the objects from a first processing station to a second processing station and the lime interval where the objects are in a rest-position adjacent to one of said at least one processing station, said rest position time interval being utilized to process at least one object part of the objects, wherein the processing comprises repetitively advancing the objects between processing stations until the objects are fully processed.

The conveying means is a conveyor belt, preferably made of a transparent or semitransparent material, such as plastic material. Said means for advancing the objects in a periodic way may controlled with a frequency-controlled motor with a pulse counter so that the controlling system of the device knows at any instant of time the exact position of the belt. For maintaining a clean conveyor belt during the processing, the apparatus may be provided with means for washing the conveying means while said objects are being processed. The apparatus may further be provided with computer system for recording information related to the processing. These information are as an example the number of processed items, the weight of the waste and the quality of the processed items, assuming a quality control station is provided.

Detailed description

In the following the present invention, and in particular preferred embodiments thereof, will be described in greater details in connection with the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1: show overview of dressing line for white fish

Figure 2: show overview of dressing line for salmon

Figure 3: show outline figure of dressing line for whitefish - perspective view seen from the side Figure 4: show inn feeding conveyor belt 4 and 5

Figure 5: shows outline figure of dressing-line delivering product at one destination

Figure 6: shows descriptive diagram for a time period of the processing line

Figure 7: shows descriptive plan (a) for one time period for the processing line Figure 8: shows descriptive plan (b) for a particular time slot in the processing line.

Figure 1 shows equipment comprising a dressing line for white fish receiving products form a filleting machine (1) such as Baader 252. The filleting machine release double stream of filets delivered onto a conveyor away from the filleting machine. Said streams are mirrored so that right side filets are in one stream and left side filets in another stream. This means that it is economical to divide the stream into two so that following processing lines being double and receive each one stream of filets.

In this way it is achieved to arrange the filets in the same position in front of the processor during the dressing process. Further by this it is easier for the worker to plan his work as the work can be different depending on the left side or wrights side arrangement of the filet.

From the filleting machine 1 the filets are transported to a chute 3 which divides left side and right side filets to respective sides of the processing line having the tail said facing forward.

The filets are delivered from the in-feeding conveyor 4, 5 arranged diagonally with respect to the processing conveyor belt 5 and 7 and transported further along the processing conveyor belt. A number of workers at respective processing stations 8 - 15 process (dress) each filet at each station and thereafter rearrange its position (longitudinal with the tail forward) on the conveyor belt. The products (fish filets) are after processing delivered to the next stage in the processing or an intermediate storage 26 - 29.

Figure 2 show in principle the same processing line as in figure 1 apart from the in-feeding conveyor 36 and 37 which are equipped to rotate filets having their skin side facing up so the filets has the skin side facing downward for easier processing. This is practical for processing of salmon.

Figure 3 show a single lane processing line shown in perspective view.

Figure 4 show in further detail in-feeding conveyor 4, 5 receiving filets from a filleting machine and delivering onto a processing conveyor 7. Figure 5 show yet another example of arrangement of the in-feeding, the conveyor processing line and single point delivery.

Figure 6 shows for a time period of the processing line and the conveyor belt speed during processing. The conveyor is moved forward on full speed for a one-unit period and thereafter on a slow speed for a period of three units. This time represent the time it takes to process one item at one processing station.

Figure 7 and 8 show in a simple and schematic manner the processing of fillets according to the invention on the processing line.

The speed of the conveyer belt 6, 7 and the distance that the belt and therefore the fish fillet is transferred is controlled with an frequency-controlled motor with pulse counter so that the controlling system of the apparatus knows at any time the exact position of the belts. Accordingly, the rest-time interval can be varied, as well as the distance that the belt moves. If the next adjacent processing station is not running, the distance that the conveyer belt can be to the next running processing station.

In the most preferred embodiment the conveyer belts 6, 7 are consistently washed. This ensures a clean environment during the processing is clean at all time. Further, it is ensured that the distance between the fish fillet is such that they are never in contact, which minimizes the circulation of bacterium between the fish fillet.

All the controlling is preferably done by industrial computer system connected to a computer system that controls the processing and record information related to the processing, such as number of processed fish fillet, waste, quality etc..

It is obvious that the number of conveyor belts can be varied as well as the number of processing station. Also the fish fillet is just an example of the products to be processed. These products could as well be poultry items and meat.

Claims

1. A method of processing food products on a processing line, said processing line having an longitudinal conveyor belt with an in-feed end and out-feed end and at least one work-stations arranged along said processing line, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

advancing said products along said conveyor belt of said processing line from said in-feed end to said out-feed end, wherein said advancing is conducted in a periodically alternating speed, including first advancing speed and a second processing speed,

processing said products at said work-stations as the product being advanced along said conveyor in said processing speed, and rearranging from said first position to a second position,

and thereby enhancing the efficiency of the processing.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the number of conveying means is t o.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveying means is a conveyer belt.

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the processing is performed on the conveyer belt.

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyer belt is consistently washed during the processing.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the object is a fish fillet.

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second processing stations are adjacent processing stations.

8. A device for processing objects in a conveying process by advancing the objects between a plurality processing stations where at least one part of the objects is processed, said device comprising:

• at least one conveying means for conveying the objects to be processed,

• means for feeding said at least one conveying means with objects to be processed,

o a plurality of processing stations arranged side by side adjacent to said at least one conveying means,

o means for advancing the objects in a periodical way between processing stations, each period representing the time interval for advancing the objects from a first processing station to a second processing station and the time interval where the objects are in a rest-position adjacent to one of said at least one processing station, said rest position time interval being utilized to process at least one object part of the objects,

wherein the processing comprises repetitively advancing the objects between processing stations until the objects are fully processed.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the conveying means is a conveyor belt.

10. A device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the conveyor belt is transparent material.

11. A device according to any of the claims 8-10, wherein the belt is a semi transparent material.

12. A device according to any of the claims 8-11 , wherein the said means for advancing the objects in a periodic way is controlled with a frequency-controlled motor with a pulse counter so that the controlling system of the device knows at any instant of time the exact position of the belt.

13. A device according to any of the claims 8-12, further comprising means for washing the conveying means while said objects are being processed.

14. A device according to any of the claim 8-13, wherein a computer system records information related to the number of processed items and/or the waste and/or the quality of the processed items.