DK180525B1

DK180525B1 - Assembly and method for processing fish

Info

Publication number: DK180525B1
Application number: DKPA201900980A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Jacobsen Ulf
Original assignee: Nordischer Maschinenbau
Priority date: 2017-03-15
Filing date: 2019-08-20
Publication date: 2021-06-10
Also published as: EP3376141A1; RU2711745C1; CN110418928A; AU2018233468B2; WO2018166704A1; AU2018233468A1; DK201900980A1; EP3376141B1; CL2019002562A1; CN110418928B

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement for processing fish, comprising a fish slaughter device with a fish counting device, a first conveying device for transferring the stunned fish to a spiral tank device, said first conveying device having at least one first measuring device that is designed to record a first mass throughput of the stunned fish and the spiral tank device, which comprises a receptacle that is designed to receive liquid, said receptacle being equipped with a rotatably supported screw conveyor which together with the receptacle forms a plurality of fish receiving chambers in order to convey fish present in the fish receiving chambers through the liquid, a second conveying device arranged at the second end of the receptacle which is designed to transfer the fish to at least one fish processing machine arranged downstream of the spiral tank device and a control device with an evaluation unit which is designed to determine in each case a fish-quantity-related prediction variable for at least one of the fish receiving chambers based on the number of fish recorded and the first mass throughput recorded. The invention additionally relates to a method for processing fish.

Description

| DK 180525 B1 Assembly and method for processing fish The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for processing fish.

Such arrangements and methods are used in the processing of sea fish, in particular salmon. Such an arrangement and such a method are known, for example, from printed document WO 2016/170550 Al. After slaughtering, the fish are put in a spiral tank device which is filled with chilled seawater. To delay the onset of rigor mortis, the fish are cooled down to a specified target temperature using the spiral tank device. At the same time, rinsing of the fish with seawater in the spiral tank device supports the bleeding process. One or a plurality of machines are used as fish slaughter devices by means of which the fish are first stunned and then bleeding of the fish is initiated. Such fish slaughter devices comprise appropriate fish slaughter tools which are configured as a stunning means and as a bleeding tool.

WO 2016/135758 A1 relates to a method and a device for batching fish into cooling devices. The method and the device can be used for receiving fish after bleeding and gutting freshly caught fish on board a fishing vessel and batching the fish into cooling devices. The batching and cooling apparatus and method may be used to increase the value of the fish by shortening the time from the fish is caught until the fish is chilled for storing. A transfer/rinsing belt feeds the fish individually onto a feeding conveyor, where a series of images is obtained of every fish by a camera which in a certain embodiment is a line scanner. The fish is then diverted to distribution conveyors and from the distribution conveyors into a spiral tank device for bringing the fish to an undercooled state.

In such spiral tank devices, the fish are stored temporarily according to the FIFO principle. Thus, the fish that have been transferred first into the spiral tank device (first- in) also leave the spiral tank device first after passing through it (first-out). After passing through the spiral tank device, the fish are transferred to one or a plurality of downstream fish processing machines for further processing there. The fish processing machines are, for example, slaughter machines for gutting the fish and for subsequent further processing.

The disadvantage is that the size and weight of the fish which are transferred from the spiral tank device to the fish processing machine is randomly subject to fluctuations. As

, DK 180525 B1 a result, the fish processing machines are confronted with a large range of different fish sizes and fish weights. This results in several disadvantages. Thus, it is either necessary to divide the fish up onto different processing lines according to size and/or weight before further processing in the fish processing machines or to fixedly pre-set the fish processing machines to a specific fish size. Consequently, because of the fluctuating distribution of fish sizes and fish weights, optimum processing of the fish by the fish processing machines is only possible for the fish whose size and/or weight are within a range for which the fish processing machine is optimally set.

lt is therefore the object of the present invention to propose an arrangement that ensures optimum fish processing. The object is further to provide the load status of the spiral tank device with fish according to relevant fish parameters.

The object is achieved by the arrangement referred to hereinbefore in that a fish slaughter device designed to stun and initiate bleeding of the fish, which has a fish counting device designed to record the number of fish, a first conveying device designed to transfer the stunned fish to a spiral tank device, wherein the conveying device has at least one first measuring device for recording a first mass throughput of the stunned fish and the spiral tank device comprises a receptacle designed to receive aliquid, in which vessel a screw conveyor extending from a first end to a second end is arranged in a rotatably supported manner, wherein the screw conveyor forms a plurality of fish receiving chambers with the inner wall of the receptacle, the screw conveyor is designed to be rotatably drivable by means of a first drive unit in order to convey fish present in the fish receiving chambers through the liquid towards the second end of the receptacle by means of the screw conveyor, a second conveying device arranged at the second end of the receptacle which is designed to transfer the fish to at least one fish processing machine downstream of the spiral tank device and a control device to which at least the fish counting device, the first measuring device and the first drive unit are connected, wherein the control device comprises an evaluation unit which is designed to determine in each case a fish-quantity-related prediction variable for at least one of the fish receiving chambers based on the number of fish recorded and the first mass throughput recorded.

Based on the fish-quantity-related prediction variables determined by means of the control device and the evaluation unit, it is possible for the first time in a surprisingly simple manner to provide an estimated value which allows conclusions to be drawn

3 DK 180525 B1 about the relevant contents of the fish receiving chambers. Thus, the quantity of fish located in the fish receiving chambers can be estimated without having to laboriously measure every single one of the fish. In other words, the evaluation unit is designed and configured to record the load status of the spiral tank device.

An expedient development of the invention is characterised in that the control device is configured to determine the relevant prediction variable as an average fish weight for each fish receiving chamber based on the first mass throughput recorded and the number of fish recorded. In other words, in each case one prediction variable is assigned to each one of the fish receiving chambers in the form of an average fish weight. This has the advantage that the average weight of the fish in each of the fish receiving chambers is determined as an estimated value. Advantageously, the individual weight of the fish is thus determined in an effective manner, without the need for complex measuring devices which, for example, would record the actual individual weight of every single fish. Preferably, each of the average fish weights is determined by quotient formation from the recorded first mass throughput and the recorded number of fish. According to an expedient embodiment of the invention, the control device comprises a prediction unit which, based on the average fish weights determined with the help of at least one specified fish size distribution dataset for each of the fish receiving chambers, is designed to determine fish size distribution prediction values as further prediction variables, which provide information about the respective individual weight of the fish present in the fish receiving chambers in each case. Thus, it is possible by using the prediction unit to estimate the respective individual weights of the fish present in the fish receiving chambers. With the help of the average fish weight determined, the prediction unit is designed to determine the respective individual weights of the fish based on the fish size distribution dataset. The fish size distribution dataset comprises, for example, information about the weight distribution of the fish of a specific fish species. More preferably, the prediction unit is designed to access a plurality of specified fish size distribution datasets in each of which weight distributions of fish of different average fish weights are stored. The fish size distribution datasets consequently establish a connection between the respective individual weights of the fish and the frequency of their presence. Alternatively, the prediction unit is designed to determine the fish size

4 DK 180525 B1 distribution datasets algorithmically, for example by calculating the corresponding probability distribution.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the prediction unit is further designed to determine an estimated total weight value for each of the fish receiving chambers which represents the total weight of all fish present in any one of the fish receiving chambers. This has the advantage that the total fish mass located in any one of the fish receiving chambers is predicted.

An expedient development of the invention provides for the control device to comprise a volume prediction unit which, based on the number of fish and the first mass throughput, is designed and configured to determine a volume prediction variable which represents the volume of fish transferred per time unit to the spiral tank device. Advantageously, the fish volume transferred to the spiral tank device is thus determined by the volume prediction unit. For this purpose, the volume prediction unit accesses, for example, at least one specified fish volume distribution dataset, with the help of which the fish volume is determined by estimation.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the control device comprises a first control unit which, by comparing a specified receiving chamber filling volume and the volume prediction variable, is designed to control the conveying speed, at which the fish present in the fish receiving chambers are conveyed by the screw conveyor, by means of the drive unit in such a manner that the volume of fish present in the respective fish receiving chambers corresponds at most to the specified receiving chamber filling volume. This has the advantage that the volume available in any one of the receiving chambers is utilised optimally when filling with fish such that the fluid flows optimally around the fish for chilling purposes. The fish quantity present in any one of the fish receiving chambers preferably corresponds to at least 50% to at most 60% of the receiving chamber filling volume available. Maintaining this mixing ratio of fluid and fish guarantees optimal guidance of the fluid around the fish to ensure even cooling of the fish. This reliably prevents the possibility of the fluid otherwise flowing over or past without intimate contact with all the fish bodies.

In other words, the control unit is preferably further designed to control the conveying speed, at which the fish are conveyed by the screw conveyor, by means of the drive

DK 180525 B1 unit in such a manner that the volume of fish present in the respective fish receiving chambers corresponds at least to a specified minimum volume.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the 5 arrangement according to the invention comprises a parameterisation device which is designed and configured to pre-set the at least one fish processing machine according to predetermined parameterisation data based on the prediction variable determined for each of the fish receiving chambers. This ensures that the fish processing machine is optimally set or parameterised to the fish to be processed.

With the present invention, it is possible for the first time to pre-parameterise the fish processing machines in advance. The length of stay of the fish in the spiral tank device can thus be used to make the required settings based on the predetermined parameterisation data. Since a corresponding prediction variable is determined for each of the fish receiving chambers, the parameterisation device is designed in each case to pre-parameterise the fish processing machine to different fish batches located in the respective fish receiving chambers. The parameterisation data comprise relevant machine setting instructions which are used by the parameterisation device depending on the type of prediction variable determined in each case, that is for example the respective individual weights of the fish, the individual volumes of the fish, the respective average fish weight, the fish size distribution prediction values, the estimated total weight value and/or the respective volume prediction variable for parameterisation of the fish processing machine(s).

A further advantage is that, based on the prediction variable determined, it is possible to make product forecasts and thus the entire production process is optimised. For example, it is possible to carry out a production simulation based on the prediction variable and to determine the expected production results in advance by simulation. For example, if this production simulation shows that more raw material will be required in order to execute the envisaged production in full, this can be determined early on and, if necessary, re-ordered before the actual production process begins.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the second conveying device comprises a second measuring device designed to record a second mass throughput of the fish transferred from the spiral tank device to the at least one downstream fish processing machine. The second measuring device is preferably

DK 180525 B1 designed as a belt weigher or flow weigher. In this way, the mass throughput of the fish leaving the spiral tank device is recorded. The second measuring device is also connected to the control device or the evaluation unit for forwarding the recorded mass throughput. The connection is made, for example, via a corresponding electrical or 5 — opto-electronic data bus system. A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the control device comprises a second control unit which is configured, by comparing the recorded second mass throughput with a specified throughput rate of the at least one fish processing machine, to control the conveying speed of the second conveying device in such a manner that the second mass throughput corresponds at least substantially to the throughput rate of the at least one fish processing machine.

This has the advantage that the fish processing machine is supplied with a substantially constant mass flow rate of fish. In other words, the fish which leave the spiral tank device are fed by the second conveying device to the fish processing machine in such a manner that said machine can process the fish quantity supplied according to its current throughput rate.

Further preferably, the control device is designed, provided that the recorded second mass throughput is smaller than the fish quantity dispensed by the spiral tank device, to use the first drive unit to reduce the conveying speed at which the fish present in the fish receiving chambers are conveyed by the screw conveyor. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the arrangement according to the invention further comprises a distributing device configured to charge the fish receiving chambers with fish, wherein the distributing device has a distributing conveying device for changing over the fish from the first conveying device and a deflector element designed to be movable along the screw conveyor between the first end and the second end for transferring the fish into one of the fish receiving chambers.

The distributing device has the advantage that, particularly in the start-up phase of the spiral tank device, the individual fish receiving chambers are designed to be controllably charged with fish. Thus, it is possible, for example when charging a spiral tank device not yet filled with fish, to first charge the fish receiving chambers nearest to the second end with fish. For this purpose, the deflector element is moved progressively, starting from the second end towards the first end of the receptacle, by

; DK 180525 B1 means of the control device so that the receiving chambers are gradually filled in succession. In this way, the fish receiving chambers can initially be charged with fish in the shortest time possible. Another advantage is that the distributing conveying device is designed to charge the individual fish receiving chambers evenly with fish in dynamic operation.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a corresponding method having the features referred to hereinbefore, the method according to the invention comprising the following steps: stunning and initiating bleeding of the fish by means of a fish slaughter device, recording the number of fish by means of a counting device, transferring the stunned fish to a spiral tank device by means of a first conveying device, recording a first mass throughput of the stunned fish by means of a first measuring device during the transfer, wherein the spiral tank device comprises a receptacle designed to receive a liquid, in which a screw conveyor extending from a first end to a second end is arranged in a rotatably supported manner, wherein the screw conveyor forms a plurality of fish receiving chambers with the inner wall of the receptacle and the screw conveyor is rotatably driven by means of a first drive unit in order to convey fish present in the fish receiving chambers through the liquid towards the second end of the receptacle by means of the screw conveyor, transferring the fish to at least one fish processing machine downstream of the screw conveyor by means of a second conveying device arranged at the second end of the receptacle, and determining a fish- quantity-related prediction variable for at least one of the fish receiving chambers based on the number of fish and the first mass throughput recorded by means of an evaluation unit of a control device to which at least the fish counting device, the first measuring device and the first drive unit are connected, the control device comprising the evaluation unit. According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the relevant prediction variable is determined as an average fish weight for each fish receiving chamber based on the first mass throughput recorded and number of fish recorded. According to a preferred embodiment, fish size distribution prediction values, which provide information about the respective individual weights of the fish present in the fish receiving chambers, are determined as further prediction variables by means of a

: DK 180525 B1 prediction unit, based on the average fish weights determined with the help of at least one specified fish size distribution dataset for each of the fish receiving chambers. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the method is characterised by determining the estimated total weight values by means of the prediction unit for each of the fish receiving chambers, the estimated total weight values representing the total weight of all fish present in any one of the fish receiving chambers.

An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterised by determining a volume prediction variable based on the number of fish and the first mass throughput, wherein the volume prediction variable represents the volume of fish transferred per time unit to the spiral tank device.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the conveying speed at which the fish present in the fish receiving chambers are conveyed by the screw conveyor is controlled. The conveying speed is controlled by means of a first control unit by comparing a specified fish receiving chamber filling volume and the volume prediction variable and operating the drive unit in such a manner that the volume of fish present in the respective fish receiving chambers corresponds at most to the specified receiving chamber filling volume.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterised by pre-setting the at least one fish processing machine according to predetermined parameterisation data based on the prediction variable determined for each of the fish receiving chambers. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a second mass throughput of the fish, transferred by means of the second conveying device from the spiral tank device to the at least one downstream fish processing machine, is recorded.

A second measuring device is advantageously provided for this purpose.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveying speed of the second conveying device is controlled by comparing the recorded second mass throughput with a specified throughput rate of the at least one fish processing machine in such a manner that the second mass throughput corresponds at least substantially to the throughput rate of the at least one fish processing machine.

; DK 180525 B1 A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterised by randomly charging one of the fish receiving chambers by means of a distributing device, wherein the fish are taken over from the first conveying device onto a distributing conveying device and are transferred by means of a deflector element, designed to be movable along the screw conveyor between the first end and the second end, into one of the fish receiving chambers. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description of the arrangement according to the invention in respect of the advantages associated with the method according to the invention and with regard to alternative embodiments. The statements made there also apply analogously to the method according to the invention. Further preferred and/or expedient features and embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the description. Especially preferred embodiments are explained in greater detail with reference to the attached drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a plan view of the arrangement according to the invention for processing fish in a schematic representation.

The arrangement according to the invention for processing fish and the method accord- ing to the invention will be described in greater detail based on Fig. 1. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a fish slaughter device 10 which is designed to stun fish conveyed to the fish slaughter device via a fish feeder 11 and to initiate bleeding. For this purpose, the fish slaughter device 10 comprises corresponding tools, not shown in Fig. 1, in particular in each case a first fish slaughter tool which is configured as a stunning means and a second fish slaughter tool which is used as a bleeding tool for cutting the main artery. As illustrated by way of example in Fig. 1, two of the fish slaughter devices are operated in parallel. The number of fish slaughter devices is arbitrarily selectable. The arrangement further comprises a fish counting device 12 which is designed to record the number of fish. In this way, the number of animals processed in the fish slaughter device 10 is recorded and monitored so that the number of stunned fish provided by the fish slaughter device 10 is available as an input variable for a control device that will be described in detail further on. A first conveying device 13 is designed

DK 180525 B1 10 to transfer the stunned fish to a spiral tank device 14. The first conveying device 13, for example, is configured as an continuous belt conveyor. The first conveying device 13 has at least one first measuring device 15, wherein the measuring device 15 is designed to record a first mass throughput of the stunned fish. The measuring device 15 is preferably configured as a belt weigher or as a flow weigher respectively. The mass of stunned fish conveyed per time unit is thus recorded continuously by the first measuring device 15. The spiral tank device 14 serves to receive the stunned fish such that they bleed out completely in the spiral tank device 14 and their temperature is brought to a specified target temperature. For this purpose, the spiral tank device 14 comprises a receptacle 16 designed to receive a liquid. The receptacle 16 is preferably filled with seawater, the temperature of which is held at a specified target temperature by cooling units, not shown in the drawing.

In the receptacle 16, a screw conveyor 19 extends from a first end 17 to a second end

18. The screw conveyor 19 is preferably designed as an Archimedes screw. In addition, the screw conveyor 19 is arranged so as to be rotatably supported in the receptacle 16 and is designed to be rotatably drivable by a first drive unit 20. The screw conveyor 19, together with the inner wall 21 of the receptacle 16, forms a large number of fish receiving chambers 22. The screw conveyor 19 is therefore designed to convey fish present in the fish receiving chambers 22 through the liquid towards the second end 18 of the receptacle 16.

A second conveying device 23 is arranged at the second end 18 of the receptacle 16. The second conveying device 23 is designed to transfer the fish to at least one fish processing machine, not shown in the drawing, which is arranged downstream of the spiral tank device 14. The at least one fish processing machine is, for example, a fish slaughter and/or gutting machine.

At least the fish counting device 12, the first measuring device 15 and the first drive unit 20 are connected to a control device, not shown in the drawing. Said components are preferably connected by means of electrical connection or opto-electronic connection via appropriate data bus systems.

DK 180525 B1 The control device comprises an evaluation unit which is designed to determine a fish- quantity-related prediction variable for at least one of the fish receiving chambers 22 based on the number of fish recorded and the first mass throughput recorded. The prediction variable determined represents an estimated value which provides information about the filling level for each of the fish receiving chambers 22. In other words, with the prediction variable it is possible to predict the filling state of the spiral tank device with fish highly accurately for each of the individual fish receiving chambers

22.

Advantageously, the control device is configured to determine the relevant prediction variable as an average fish weight for each of the fish receiving chambers 22. For this purpose, the control device is designed, for example, in such a manner that the average fish weight for each of the fish receiving chambers 22 is determined by quotient formation. By way of the first mass throughput recorded, the control device preferably determines for each of the fish receiving chambers 22 the total mass of the fish located therein in each case. The control device is further designed to determine the average fish weight for each of the fish receiving chambers 22 as a prediction variable by quotient formation from the total weight determined in each case and the number of fish located in each one of the fish receiving chambers. For this purpose, the control device is further designed, based on the number of fish recorded and specification of the conveying speed of the screw conveyor by the first drive unit 20, to determine how many fish are located in any one of the fish receiving chambers 22. Advantageously, the control device further comprises a prediction unit which, based on the average fish weights determined with the help of at least one specified fish size distribution dataset for each of the fish receiving chambers 22, is designed to determine fish size distribution prediction values as further prediction variables, which provide information about the respective individual weight of the fish present in the fish receiving chambers 22. In other words, the prediction unit is designed to determine estimated values which provide information about the weight distribution of the fish located in any one of the fish receiving chambers 22.

The expected individual weights for fish of a particular fish species are stored for this purpose in the control device as the specified fish size distribution dataset. Using the prediction unit, which is designed in particular as a weight prediction unit for determining the individual weights of the fish by estimation, the individual weight of the

DK 180525 B1 12 fish is determined in each case with knowledge of the specified fish size distribution dataset. The prediction unit preferably comprises a fish size distribution dataset for each fish species. Furthermore, it is possible to store a plurality of fish size distribution datasets for different average fish weights in the prediction unit in the control device.

Alternatively, the fish size distribution dataset or fish size distribution datasets are provided algorithmically. The fish size distribution datasets preferably include further characteristics, such as the origin of the fish from various production sites. Thus, for example, information about the origin of the fish from a particular fish farm or the location of the nets is included in the fish size distribution datasets as an output value.

Advantageously, the prediction unit is further designed to determine an estimated total weight value in each case for each of the fish receiving chambers 22. In each case, the estimated total weight value represents the total weight of all fish present in one of the fish receiving chambers 22.

Further preferably, the control device comprises a volume prediction unit. The volume prediction unit is designed and configured to determine a volume prediction variable, based on the number of fish and the first mass throughput, which represents the volume of fish transferred per time unit to the spiral tank device 14. The volume prediction unit advantageously comprises a fish volume distribution dataset, based on which a relationship is established between the respective fish-quantity-related prediction variable and the expected fish volume. The control device further comprises a first control unit for controlling and regulating the conveying speed of the screw conveyor 19. The control unit is designed to control the conveying speed by means of the first drive unit 20 by comparing a specified receiving chamber filling volume and the volume prediction variable in such a manner that the volume of fish present in the respective fish receiving chambers 22 corresponds at most to the specified receiving chamber filling volume. In other words, the control unit is designed in such a manner that the conveying speed at which the fish present in the fish receiving chambers 22 are conveyed by the screw conveyor 19 is automatically adjusted such that filling of the respective fish receiving chambers 22 as completely as possible is enabled.

The control unit is designed in particular to adjust the ratio of the volume fraction of the fish and the fluid in a range between 50:50 to 60:40. Maintaining this volume ratio

DK 180525 B1 13 range has the advantage that the fluid flows around the fish evenly and completely and thus contact between the fluid and each of the fish is guaranteed. In this way, an even temperature of all the fish is ensured.

Advantageously, a parameterisation device is further provided which is designed and configured to pre-set the at least one fish processing machine according to pre- determined parameterisation data based on the prediction variable determined for each of the fish receiving chambers. In this way, it is possible to pre-set the fish processing machine downstream of the spiral tank device 14 optimally to the expected fish with corresponding time-based notice. The second conveying device 23 preferably comprises a second measuring device 24. The second conveying device 23 is therefore designed such that, by means of the second measuring device 24, it records a second mass throughput of the fish, transferred by the spiral tank device to the at least one downstream fish processing machine. The control device further comprises a second control unit. The second control unit is configured, by comparing the second mass throughput recorded with a specified throughput rate of the at least one fish processing machine, to control the conveying speed of the second conveying device 23 in such a manner that the second mass throughput corresponds at least substantially to the throughput rate of the at least one fish processing machine. In other words, the second control unit is designed on the one hand to keep the mass flow rate of the fish which leave the spiral tank device 14 in the direction of the at least one fish processing machine as constant as possible and on the other hand to adjust the quantity of fish transferred per time unit to the at least one fish processing machine to the throughput rate, i.e. to the receiving capacity of the at least one fish processing machine. For this purpose, the second mass throughput is advantageously set by the second control unit such that said mass throughput corresponds to the throughput rate of the at least one fish processing machine. The arrangement according to the invention advantageously further comprises a distributing device 25. The distributing device 25 is designed and configured for randomly charging one of the fish receiving chambers 22. For this purpose, the distributing device 25 has a distributing conveying device 26. The distributing

DK 180525 B1 14 conveying device 26 is configured to change over the fish from the first conveying device 13. The distributing device 25 further comprises a deflector element 27. The deflector element 27 is designed to be movable between the first end 17 and the second end 18 of the spiral tank device 14 and to transfer the fish into one of the fish receiving chambers 22. The distributing device 25 is preferably connected to the control device such that the distribution of the fish in the individual fish receiving chambers 22 can be specified via the control device.

The distributing device 25 is preferably used when starting up the arrangement according to the invention to fill the chambers up with fish as evenly as possible before the screw conveyor 19 is set in rotation. For this purpose, the deflector element 27 initially moves to the second end 18 of the spiral tank device 14 so that those fish receiving chambers 22 that are close to the second end 18 are filled with fish first. The deflector element 27 is moved progressively by the control device towards the first end 17 such that, starting from the second end, the individual fish receiving chambers 22 are gradually filled with fish towards the first end 17. When all the fish receiving chambers 22 are filled, the control device causes the screw conveyor 19 to be set in rotation via the first drive unit.

Claims

DK 180525 B1 PATENTKRAVDK 180525 B1 PATENT REQUIREMENTS

1. Arrangement til forarbejdning af fisk, omfattende en fiskeslagtningsindretning (10), som er indrettet til at bedøve og indlede blod- tømning af fiskene og omfatter en fisketællerindretning (12), som er indrettet til at registrere antallet af fisk, en første transportindretning (13), som er indrettet til at overføre de bedøvede fisk til en spiraltankindretning (14), og spiraltankindretningen (14) omfatter en optagebeholder (16), som er indrettet til at optage en væske, hvori der er anbragt en roterende støttet skruetransportør (19), som strækker sig fra en første ende til en anden ende, hvor skruetransportøren (19) danner en flerhed af fiskeoptagekamre (22) med indervæggen (21) i optage- beholderen (16), og skruetransportøren (19) er indrettet til at være roterende drivbar ved hjælp af en første drivenhed (20) for at transportere fiskene, som findes i fiskeoptagekamrene (22), gennem væsken mod den anden ende (18) af optagebeholderen (16) ved hjælp af skruetransportøren (19), en anden transportindretning (23), som er anbragt ved den anden ende (18) af optagebeholderen (16) og er indrettet til at overføre fiskene til mindst en fiske- forarbejdningsmaskine nedstrøms fra spiraltankindretningen (14), og en styreindretning, hvormed mindst fisketællerindretningen (12) og den første drivenhed (20) er forbundet, kendetegnet ved, at - den første transportindretning (13) har mindst en første måleindretning (15), som er konfigureret til at registrere et første massegennemløb af de bedøvede fisk, ogAn arrangement for processing fish, comprising a fish slaughter device (10), which is arranged to anesthetize and initiate blood emptying of the fish and comprises a fish counter device (12), which is arranged to record the number of fish, a first transport device ( 13), which is arranged to transfer the anesthetized fish to a spiral tank device (14), and the spiral tank device (14) comprises a receiving container (16), which is arranged to receive a liquid, in which a rotating supported screw conveyor (19) is arranged ) extending from a first end to a second end, the screw conveyor (19) forming a plurality of fish receiving chambers (22) with the inner wall (21) of the receiving container (16), and the screw conveyor (19) being arranged to be rotatably drivable by means of a first drive unit (20) for transporting the fish contained in the fish receiving chambers (22) through the liquid towards the other end (18) of the receiving container (16) by means of the screw conveyor (19), a second transport device (23) arranged at the other end (18) of the receiving container (16) and arranged to transfer the fish to at least one fish processing machine downstream of the spiral tank device (14), and a control device with which at least the fish counter device (12) and the first drive unit (20) is connected, characterized in that - the first transport device (13) has at least one first measuring device (15) which is configured to register a first mass passage of the anesthetized fish, and

, DK 180525 B1 - den første måleindretning (15) også er forbundet med styreindretningen, og - Styreindretningen omfatter en evalueringsenhed, som er indrettet til at bestemme en fiskemængderelateret prædiktionsvariabel for mindst et af fiskeoptagekamrene (22) baseret på antallet af registrerede fisk og det registrerede første massegennemløb., DK 180525 B1 - the first measuring device (15) is also connected to the control device, and - The control device comprises an evaluation unit, which is arranged to determine a fish quantity-related prediction variable for at least one of the fish catch chambers (22) based on the number of registered fish and the registered first mass passage.

2. Arrangement ifølge krav 1, kendetegnet ved, at styreindretningen er konfigu- reret til at bestemme den relevante prædiktionsvariabel som en gennemsnitlig fiskevægt for hvert fiskeoptagekammer (22) baseret på det registrerede første massegennemløb og det registrerede antal fisk.Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device is configured to determine the relevant prediction variable as an average fish weight for each fish capture chamber (22) based on the recorded first mass flow and the recorded number of fish.

3. Arrangement ifølge krav 2, kendetegnet ved, at styreindretningen omfatter en prædiktionsenhed, som baseret på de gennemsnitlige fiskevægte, som bestemmes ved hjælp af mindst et specificeret fiskestørrelsesfordelingsdatasæt for hvert af fiskeoptagekamrene (22), er indrettet til at bestemme fiskestørrelses- fordelingsprædiktionsværdier som yderligere prædiktionsvariabler, som giver information om de respektive individuelle vægte af fiskene, som findes i fiske- optagekamrene.Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device comprises a prediction unit which, based on the average fish weights determined by means of at least one specified fish size distribution data set for each of the fish receiving chambers (22), is arranged to determine fish size distribution prediction values as further prediction variables that provide information about the respective individual weights of the fish found in the fish capture chambers.

4. Arrangement ifølge et af kravene 2 eller 3, kendetegnet ved, at prædiktions- enheden endvidere er indrettet til at bestemme en anslået samlet vægtværdi for hvert af fiskeoptagekamrene (22), som repræsenterer den samlede vægt af alle fisk, som findes i et hvilket som helst af fiskeoptagekamrene (22).Arrangement according to one of Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the prediction unit is further adapted to determine an estimated total weight value for each of the fish receiving chambers (22), which represents the total weight of all fish present in any one. any of the fish receiving chambers (22).

5. Arrangement ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1 til 4, kendetegnet ved, at styreindretningen omfatter en volumenprædiktionsenhed, som baseret på antallet af fisk og det første massegennemløb er indrettet og konfigureret til at bestemme en volumenprædiktionsvariabel, som repræsenterer voluminet af fisk, som overføres pr. tidsenhed til spiraltankindretningen.Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control device comprises a volume prediction unit, which based on the number of fish and the first mass flow is arranged and configured to determine a volume prediction variable, which represents the volume of fish, which transferred per unit of time for the spiral tank device.

2 DK 180525 B12 DK 180525 B1

6. Arrangement ifølge krav 5, kendetegnet ved, at styreindretningen omfatter en første styreenhed, som ved sammenligning af et specificeret optagekammer- fyldningsvolumen og volumenprædiktionsvariablen er indrettet til at styre trans- porthastigheden, ved hvilken fiskene, som findes i fiskeoptagekamrene (22), transporteres af skruetransportøren (19) ved hjælp af den første drivenhed (20) på sådan en måde, at voluminet af fisk, som findes i de respektive fiskeoptage- kamre (22), højst svarer til det specificerede fiskekammerfyldningsvolumen.Arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the control device comprises a first control unit which, by comparing a specified receiving chamber filling volume and the volume prediction variable, is arranged to control the transport speed at which the fish present in the fish receiving chambers (22) are transported. of the screw conveyor (19) by means of the first drive unit (20) in such a way that the volume of fish contained in the respective fish receiving chambers (22) does not correspond to the specified fish chamber filling volume.

7. Arrangement ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1 til 6, som endvidere omfatter en parametriseringsindretning, som er indrettet og konfigureret til at forudindstille den mindst ene fiskeforarbejdningsmaskine ifølge forudbestemte parametriseringsdata baseret på prædiktionsvariablen, som er bestemt for hvert af fiskeoptagekamrene (22).An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a parameterizing device arranged and configured to preset the at least one fish processing machine according to predetermined parameterization data based on the prediction variable determined for each of the fish receiving chambers (22).

8. Arrangement ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1 til 7, kendetegnet ved, at den anden transportindretning (23) omfatter en anden måleindretning (24), som er indrettet til at registrere et andet massegennemløb af fiskene, som overføres fra spiraltankindretningen (14) til den mindst ene nedstrøms beliggende fiske- forarbejdningsmaskine.Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second transport device (23) comprises a second measuring device (24) which is arranged to register a second mass passage of the fish which is transferred from the spiral tank device (14 ) to the at least one downstream fish processing machine.

9. Arrangement ifølge krav 8, kendetegnet ved, at styreindretningen omfatter en anden styreenhed, som er konfigureret til ved sammenligning af det andet massegennemløb, som registreres med en specificeret gennemløbshastighed for den mindst ene fiskeforarbejdningsmaskine, at styre transporthastigheden af den anden transportindretning (23) på sådan en måde, at det andet massegennemløb svarer mindst i det væsentlige til gennemløbshastigheden for den mindst ene fiskeforarbejdningsmaskine.Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the control device comprises a second control unit, which is configured to, by comparing the second mass throughput, which is registered with a specified throughput speed for the at least one fish processing machine, control the transport speed of the second transport device (23). in such a way that the second mass throughput corresponds at least substantially to the throughput speed of the at least one fish processing machine.

10. Arrangement ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 1 til 9, som endvidere omfatter en fordelingsindretning (25), som er konfigureret til tilfældigt at læsse et af fiskeoptagekamrene (22), hvor fordelingsindretningen (25) har en fordelings-An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a distribution device (25) configured to randomly load one of the fish receiving chambers (22), the distribution device (25) having a distribution device.

1 DK 180525 B1 transportindretning (26) til at overtage fiskene fra den første transportindretning (13) og et afbøjningselement (27), som er indrettet til at være bevægeligt langs skruetransportøren (19) mellem den første ende (17) og den anden ende (18) til overførsel af fiskene ind i et af fiskeoptagekamrene (22).1 180525 B1 conveying device (26) for taking over the fish from the first conveying device (13) and a deflection element (27) arranged to be movable along the screw conveyor (19) between the first end (17) and the second end ( 18) for transferring the fish into one of the fish receiving chambers (22).

11. Fremgangsmåde til forarbejdning af fisk, omfattende trinene: at bedøve og indlede blodtømning af fiskene ved hjælp af en fiskeslagtnings- indretning (10), at registrere antallet af fisk ved hjælp af en tællerindretning, at overføre de bedøvede fisk til en spiraltankindretning (14) ved hjælp af en første transportindretning (13), kendetegnet ved at omfatte følgende trin: at registrere et første massegennemløb af de bedøvede fisk ved hjælp af en første måleindretning (15) under overførslen, hvor spiraltankindretningen (14) omfatter en optagebeholder (16), som er indrettet til at optage en væske, hvori der er anbragt en roterende støttet skruetransportør (19), som strækker sig fra en første ende (17) til en anden ende (18), hvor skruetransportøren (19) danner en flerhed af fiskeoptagekamre (22) med indervæggen (21) i optagebeholderen (16), og skruetransportøren (19) drives roterende ved hjælp af en første drivenhed (20) for at transportere fisk, som findes i fiskeoptagekamrene (22), gennem væsken mod den anden ende (18) af optagebeholderen (16) ved hjælp af skruetransportøren (19), at overføre fiskene til mindst en fiskeforarbejdningsmaskine nedstrøms fra spiraltankindretningen (14) ved hjælp af en anden transportindretning (23), som er anbragt ved den anden ende (18) af optagebeholderen (16), ogA method of processing fish, comprising the steps of: stunning and initiating blood drainage of the fish by means of a fish slaughter device (10), recording the number of fish by means of a counter device, transferring the anesthetized fish to a spiral tank device (14 ) by means of a first transport device (13), characterized by comprising the steps of: recording a first mass flow of the anesthetized fish by means of a first measuring device (15) during the transfer, the spiral tank device (14) comprising a receiving container (16) , which is arranged to receive a liquid, in which a rotating supported screw conveyor (19) is arranged, which extends from a first end (17) to a second end (18), the screw conveyor (19) forming a plurality of fish receiving chambers. (22) with the inner wall (21) in the receiving container (16), and the screw conveyor (19) is rotatably driven by means of a first drive unit (20) for transporting fish contained in the fish receiving chambers (22), g by transferring the liquid towards the other end (18) of the receiving container (16) by means of the screw conveyor (19), to transfer the fish to at least one fish processing machine downstream of the spiral tank device (14) by means of a second transport device (23) arranged at the other end (18) of the recording container (16), and

DK 180525 B1 at bestemme en fiskemængderelateret prædiktionsvariabel for mindst et af fiskeoptagekamrene (22) baseret på antallet af registrerede fisk og det første massegennemløb, som registreres ved hjælp af en evalueringsenhed i en styre- indretning, hvormed mindst fisketællerindretningen (12), den første måleindretning 5 (15) og den første drivenhed (20) er forbundet, hvor styreindretningen omfatter evalueringsenheden.DK 180525 B1 to determine a fish quantity-related prediction variable for at least one of the fish capture chambers (22) based on the number of registered fish and the first mass flow, which is registered by means of an evaluation unit in a control device, with which at least the fish counter device (12) 5 (15) and the first drive unit (20) are connected, the control device comprising the evaluation unit.

12. Fremgangsmåde ifølge krav 11, kendetegnet ved, at den relevante prædik- tionsvariabel bestemmes som en gennemsnitlig fiskevægt for hvert fiskeoptage- kammer (22) baseret på det registrerede første massegennemløb og det regi- strerede antal fisk.Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the relevant prediction variable is determined as an average fish weight for each fish receiving chamber (22) based on the recorded first mass throughput and the registered number of fish.

13. Fremgangsmåde ifølge krav 12 kendetegnet ved, at fiskestørrelses- fordelingsprædiktionsværdier, som giver information om de respektive individuelle vægte af fiskene, som findes i fiskeoptagekamrene, bestemmes som yderligere prædiktionsvariabler ved hjælp af en prædiktionsenhed baseret på de gennem- snitlige fiskevægte, som bestemmes ved hjælp af mindst et specificeret fiske- størrelsesfordelingsdatasæt for hvert af fiskeoptagekamrene (22).Method according to claim 12, characterized in that fish size distribution prediction values, which provide information about the respective individual weights of the fish present in the fish receiving chambers, are determined as additional prediction variables by means of a prediction unit based on the average fish weights determined by by means of at least one specified fish size distribution data set for each of the fish capture chambers (22).

14. Fremgangsmåde ifølge et af kravene 12 eller 13, kendetegnet ved bestem- melse af de anslåede samlede vægtværdier ved hjælp af prædiktionsenheden for hvert af fiskeoptagekamrene (22), hvor de anslåede samlede vægtværdier repræsenterer den samlede vægt af alle fisk, som findes i et hvilket som helst af fiskeoptagekamrene (22).Method according to one of Claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the estimated total weight values are determined by means of the prediction unit for each of the fish receiving chambers (22), the estimated total weight values representing the total weight of all fish contained in a fish. any of the fish receiving chambers (22).

15. Fremgangsmåde ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 11 til 14, kendetegnet ved bestemmelse af en volumenprædiktionsvariabel baseret på antallet af fisk og det første massegennemløb, hvor volumenprædiktionsvariablen repræsenterer voluminet af fisk overført pr. tidsenhed til spiraltankindretningen (14).A method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized by determining a volume prediction variable based on the number of fish and the first mass throughput, wherein the volume prediction variable represents the volume of fish transmitted per unit of time for the spiral tank device (14).

A DK 180525 B1A DK 180525 B1

16. Fremgangsmåde ifølge krav 15, kendetegnet ved styring af transport- hastigheden, ved hvilken fiskene, som findes i fiskeoptagekamrene (22), trans- porteres af skruetransportøren (19), ved hjælp af en første styreenhed ved sammenligning af et specificeret fiskeoptagekammerfyldningsvolumen og volu- menprædiktionsvariablen og drift af den første drivenhed (20) på sådan en måde, at voluminet af fisk, som findes i de respektive fiskeoptagekamre (22), højst svarer til det specificerede optagekammerfyldningsvolumen.Method according to claim 15, characterized by controlling the transport speed, in which the fish present in the fish receiving chambers (22) are transported by the screw conveyor (19), by means of a first control unit by comparing a specified fish receiving chamber filling volume and volume. the prediction variable and operation of the first drive unit (20) in such a way that the volume of fish present in the respective fish receiving chambers (22) does not correspond to the specified recording chamber filling volume.

17. Fremgangsmåde ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 11 til 16, kendetegnet ved forudindstilling af den mindst ene fiskeforarbejdningsmaskine ifølge forud- bestemte parametriseringsdata baseret på prædiktionsvariablen, som bestemmes for hvert af fiskeoptagekamrene (22).A method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized by presetting the at least one fish processing machine according to predetermined parameterization data based on the prediction variable determined for each of the fish receiving chambers (22).

18. Fremgangsmåde ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 11 til 17, kendetegnet ved registrering af et andet massegennemløb af fiskene, som overføres ved hjælp af den anden transportindretning (23) fra spiraltankindretningen (14) til den mindst ene nedstrøms beliggende fiskeforarbejdningsmaskine, ved hjælp af en anden måleindretning (24).Method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized by registering a second mass passage of the fish, which is transferred by means of the second transport device (23) from the spiral tank device (14) to the at least one downstream fish processing machine, by means of of another measuring device (24).

19. Fremgangsmåde ifølge krav 18, kendetegnet ved styring af transport- hastigheden af den anden transportindretning (23) ved sammenligning af det andet massegennemløb, som registreres med en specificeret gennemløbs- hastighed for den mindst ene fiskeforarbejdningsmaskine, på sådan en måde, at det andet massegennemløb svarer mindst i det væsentlige til gennemløbs- hastigheden for den mindst ene fiskeforarbejdningsmaskine.A method according to claim 18, characterized by controlling the transport speed of the second transport device (23) by comparing the second mass flow rate, which is recorded at a specified flow rate for the at least one fish processing machine, in such a way that the second mass throughput corresponds at least substantially to the throughput speed of the at least one fish processing machine.

20. Fremgangsmåde ifølge et hvilket som helst af kravene 11 til 19, kendetegnet ved tilfældig læsning af et af fiskeoptagekamrene (22) ved hjælp af en fordelings- indretning (25), hvor fiskene overtages fra den første transportindretning (13) på en fordelingstransportindretning (26) og overføres ved hjælp af et afbøjnings- element (27), som er indrettet til at være bevægeligt langs skruetransportøren (19)Method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, characterized by random reading of one of the fish receiving chambers (22) by means of a distribution device (25), wherein the fish are taken over from the first transport device (13) on a distribution transport device ( 26) and is transmitted by means of a deflection element (27) which is arranged to be movable along the screw conveyor (19)

, DK 180525 B1 mellem den første ende (17) og den anden ende (18), ind i et af fiskeoptage- kamrene (22)., DK 180525 B1 between the first end (17) and the second end (18), into one of the fish receiving chambers (22).