DK201900980A1 - Assembly and method for processing fish - Google Patents

Assembly and method for processing fish Download PDF

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Publication number
DK201900980A1
DK201900980A1 DKPA201900980A DKPA201900980A DK201900980A1 DK 201900980 A1 DK201900980 A1 DK 201900980A1 DK PA201900980 A DKPA201900980 A DK PA201900980A DK PA201900980 A DKPA201900980 A DK PA201900980A DK 201900980 A1 DK201900980 A1 DK 201900980A1
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Denmark
Prior art keywords
fish
receiving chambers
designed
prediction
screw conveyor
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DKPA201900980A
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Danish (da)
Inventor
Jacobsen Ulf
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Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader Gmbh + Co. Kg
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D13/00—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms
    • F25D13/06—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
    • A22B5/0076—Chilling or lowering the temperature of carcasses
    • 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
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
    • A23B4/00—General methods for preserving meat, sausages, fish or fish products
    • A23B4/06—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D13/00—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms
    • F25D13/06—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
    • F25D13/065—Articles being submerged in liquid coolant

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)
  • Meat, Egg Or Seafood Products (AREA)
  • Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)

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 toconvey 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 massthroughput recorded. The invention additionally relates to a method for processing fish.

Description

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 A1. 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.
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 (firstin) 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 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.
DK 2019 00980 A1
It 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 a liquid, 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 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
DK 2019 00980 A1 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 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.
DK 2019 00980 A1
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 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 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.
DK 2019 00980 A1
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 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 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
DK 2019 00980 A1 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 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
DK 2019 00980 A1 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 fishquantity-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 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
DK 2019 00980 A1 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.
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
DK 2019 00980 A1 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 according 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 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
DK 2019 00980 A1 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.
The control device comprises an evaluation unit which is designed to determine a fishquantity-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
DK 2019 00980 A1 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 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.
DK 2019 00980 A1
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 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 predetermined 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.
DK 2019 00980 A1
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 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.
DK 2019 00980 A1
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 (20)

  1. Claims
    1. Arrangement for processing fish, comprising a fish slaughter device (10) designed to stun and initiate bleeding of the fish, having a fish counting device (12) designed to record the number of fish, a first conveying device (13) designed to transfer the stunned fish to a spiral tank device (14), wherein the first conveying device (13) has at least one first measuring device (15) configured to record a first mass throughput of the stunned fish and the spiral tank device (14) comprises a receptacle (16) designed to receive a liquid, in which is arranged a rotatably supported screw conveyor (19) extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the screw conveyor (19) forms a plurality of fish receiving chambers (22) with the inner wall (21) of the receptacle (16) and the screw conveyor (19) is designed to be rotatably drivable by means of a first drive unit (20) in order to convey fish present in the fish receiving chambers (22) through the liquid towards the second end (18) of the receptacle (16) by means of the screw conveyor (19), a second conveying device (23) arranged at the second end (18) of the receptacle (16) which is designed to transfer the fish to at least one fish processing machine downstream of the spiral tank device (14) and a control device to which at least the fish counting device (12), the first measuring device (15) and the first drive unit (20) are connected, wherein 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.
  2. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the control device is configured to determine the relevant prediction variable as an average fish
    DK 2019 00980 A1 weight for each fish receiving chamber (22) based on the first mass throughput recorded and the number of fish recorded.
  3. 3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that 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 (22), is designed to determine fish size distribution prediction values as further prediction variables, which provide information about the respective individual weights of the fish present in the fish receiving chambers.
  4. 4. Arrangement according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the prediction unit is further designed 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 of the fish receiving chambers (22).
  5. 5. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the control device comprises 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.
  6. 6. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterised 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 designed to control the conveying speed, at which the fish present in the fish receiving chambers (22) are conveyed by the screw conveyor (19), by means of the first drive unit (20) 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.
  7. 7. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising 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 (22).
    DK 2019 00980 A1
  8. 8. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the second conveying device (23) comprises a second measuring device (24) designed to record a second mass throughput of the fish transferred from the spiral tank device (14) to the at least one downstream fish processing machine.
  9. 9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that the control device comprises a second control unit which 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.
  10. 10. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a distributing device (25) configured to randomly charge one of the fish receiving chambers (22), wherein the distributing device (25) has a distributing conveying device (26) for taking over the fish from the first conveying device (13) and a deflector element (27) designed 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. 11. Method for processing fish, comprising the steps:
    stunning and initiating bleeding of the fish by means of a fish slaughter device (10), recording the number of fish by means of a counting device, transferring the stunned fish to a spiral tank device (14) by means of a first conveying device (13), recording a first mass throughput of the stunned fish by means of a first measuring device (15) during the transfer, wherein
    DK 2019 00980 A1 the spiral tank device (14) comprises a receptacle (16) designed to receive a liquid, in which is arranged a rotatably supported screw conveyor (19) extending from a first end (17) to a second end (18), wherein the screw conveyor (19) forms a plurality of fish receiving chambers (22) with the inner wall (21) of the receptacle (16) and the screw conveyor (19) is rotatably driven by means of a first drive unit (20) in order to convey fish present in the fish receiving chambers (22) through the liquid towards the second end (18) of the receptacle (16) by means of the screw conveyor (19), transferring the fish to at least one fish processing machine downstream of the spiral tank device (14) by means of a second conveying device (23) arranged at the second end (18) of the receptacle (16), and determining 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 by means of an evaluation unit of a control device to which at least the fish counting device (12), the first measuring device (15) and the first drive unit (20) are connected, wherein the control device comprises the evaluation unit.
  12. 12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the relevant prediction variable is determined as an average fish weight for each fish receiving chamber (22) based on the first mass throughput recorded and the number of fish recorded.
  13. 13. Method according to claim 12, characterised 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 further prediction variables by means of a 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 (22).
  14. 14. Method according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterised by determining the estimated total weight values by means of the prediction unit for each of the fish receiving chambers (22), wherein the estimated total weight values represent the total weight of all fish present in any one of the fish receiving chambers (22).
    DK 2019 00980 A1
  15. 15. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, 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 (14).
  16. 16. Method according to claim 15, characterised by controlling the conveying speed at which the fish present in the fish receiving chambers (22) are conveyed by the screw conveyor (19), by means of a first control unit by comparing a specified fish receiving chamber filling volume and the volume prediction variable and operating the first drive unit (20) 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.
  17. 17. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, 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 (22).
  18. 18. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterised by recording a second mass throughput of the fish, transferred by means of the second conveying device (23) from the spiral tank device (14) to the at least one downstream fish processing machine, by means of a second measuring device (24).
  19. 19. Method according to claim 18, characterised by controlling the conveying speed of the second conveying device (23) by comparing the second mass throughput recorded 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.
  20. 20. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, characterised by randomly charging one of the fish receiving chambers (22) by means of a distributing device (25), wherein the fish are taken over from the first conveying device (13) onto a distributing conveying device (26) and are transferred by means of a
    DK 2019 00980 A1 deflector element (27) designed to be movable along the screw conveyor (19) between the first end (17) and the second end (18) into one of the fish receiving chambers (22).
DKPA201900980A 2017-03-15 2019-08-20 Assembly and method for processing fish DK180525B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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EP17161101.5 2017-03-15
EP17161101.5A EP3376141B1 (en) 2017-03-15 2017-03-15 Assembly and method for processing fish
PCT/EP2018/052563 WO2018166704A1 (en) 2017-03-15 2018-02-01 Assembly and method for processing fish

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DK201900980A1 true DK201900980A1 (en) 2019-08-21
DK180525B1 DK180525B1 (en) 2021-06-10

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AU (1) AU2018233468B2 (en)
CL (1) CL2019002562A1 (en)
DK (1) DK180525B1 (en)
RU (1) RU2711745C1 (en)
WO (1) WO2018166704A1 (en)

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WO2022023791A1 (en) * 2020-07-28 2022-02-03 Mackenna Salinas Carlos Adolfo A system for the processing of biomass or food product or fish for processing, achieving an optimisation of the thermal potential energy with regard to the volume of a coolant fluid
NO347049B1 (en) * 2022-01-21 2023-05-02 Cflow Fish Handling As A treatment system and a method for treatment of slaughtered fish

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US6308529B1 (en) * 1999-10-20 2001-10-30 Morris & Associates, Inc. Poultry chiller with open auger
EP2245941A1 (en) * 2009-04-27 2010-11-03 3x Technology An apparatus for thawing or cooling food products
PT3261782T (en) * 2015-02-26 2023-08-18 Lambhusasund Ehf Apparatus for imaging, sorting and batching whole fish
US20190116812A1 (en) 2015-04-21 2019-04-25 Skaginn Hf. Method and device for delaying rigor mortis in fish
BR112018001476B1 (en) * 2015-08-10 2022-05-03 Morris & Associates, Inc Poultry chiller, and kit for a poultry chiller

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EP3376141A1 (en) 2018-09-19
RU2711745C1 (en) 2020-01-21
CN110418928A (en) 2019-11-05
AU2018233468B2 (en) 2020-04-09
WO2018166704A1 (en) 2018-09-20
AU2018233468A1 (en) 2019-08-01
DK180525B1 (en) 2021-06-10
EP3376141B1 (en) 2020-02-26
CL2019002562A1 (en) 2020-01-10
CN110418928B (en) 2021-01-08

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