NZ626747B2 - Method for mechanically removing pin bones from filet parts of conveyed fish and device for performing said method - Google Patents
Method for mechanically removing pin bones from filet parts of conveyed fish and device for performing said method Download PDFInfo
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- NZ626747B2 NZ626747B2 NZ626747A NZ62674712A NZ626747B2 NZ 626747 B2 NZ626747 B2 NZ 626747B2 NZ 626747 A NZ626747 A NZ 626747A NZ 62674712 A NZ62674712 A NZ 62674712A NZ 626747 B2 NZ626747 B2 NZ 626747B2
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- fish
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- pinbone
- abdominal
- cutting tools
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- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 123
- 210000000988 Bone and Bones Anatomy 0.000 title claims abstract description 24
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 133
- 230000003187 abdominal Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 92
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 claims description 38
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000001419 dependent Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 210000001015 Abdomen Anatomy 0.000 claims description 9
- 210000003491 Skin Anatomy 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000002093 peripheral Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 210000003109 Clavicle Anatomy 0.000 claims 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 235000019688 fish Nutrition 0.000 description 98
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 210000000683 Abdominal Cavity Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 4
- 241001313700 Gadus chalcogrammus Species 0.000 description 3
- 241000277331 Salmonidae Species 0.000 description 3
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 3
- 241000277326 Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241000442132 Lactarius lactarius Species 0.000 description 1
- 210000002356 Skeleton Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000000436 anus Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007790 scraping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Abstract
system for removing a row of pin bones from the abdominal flaps of a cleaned, gutted fish is described. The system performs several cutting steps simultaneously to optimise throughput. The fish is conveyed through (F) two pairs of filleting blades (5, 51, 52), with a gap (A, Figure 4) defined by the width of the row of bones (B, Figure 6C, 7C), which slice the unwanted skeletal remains from the surrounding flesh leaving the fish deboned. the width of the row of bones (B, Figure 6C, 7C), which slice the unwanted skeletal remains from the surrounding flesh leaving the fish deboned.
Description
Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GmbH + Co. KG, Geniner Strasse 249, 23560
Lübeck, Germany
Method for mechanically removing pinbones from fillet parts of conveyed fish and
apparatus for performing said method
The invention concerns a method for mechanically removing inatermuscular bones, so-
called pinbones, from fillet parts of fish conveyed in the conveying direction, from
which the head, including the collarbone, has been separated, which are at least
essentially freed of entrails and which have fillet parts and abdominal flaps, which
contain only a row of pinbones, wherein the pinbones are removed in that parts of the
abdominal flaps which contain the pinbones are cut out with pinbone cuts. The
invention also refers to an apparatus for mechanical processing of fish conveyed on a
conveying path in a conveying direction, each said fish having the head, including the
collarbone, separated and each at least essentially freed of entrails, comprising a
conveying means conveying the fish along the conveying path and a pinbone/abdominal
flap cutting device for separating parts of abdominal flaps and removing pinbones.
According to DE 2 317 622 B, a method is known for mechanically removing
intermuscular bones, in which the beheaded fish is filleted by guided cuts on both sides
of the belly spokes. A wedge-shaped piece of intermuscular bones, which contains the
intermuscular bones, is cut out of each abdominal flap of the fish in the area of the
abdominal cavity. Meat parts must be folded particularly for cutting. The throughput
speed is low. Abdominal flaps, whose meat is of lower value, remain part of the fillet.
The cutting of wedge shaped pieces of intermuscular bones is limited to fish which have
only a relatively low number of pinbones.
A tool for intermuscular bones is known from DE 36 32 561; it has circular knives
driven circumferentially around a shaft and a burin arranged between these circular
knives. This known arrangement requires three cuts to remove intermuscular bones.
Cuts are made parallel to the spinal column and thus exclusively linear in course, above
and below the row of pinbones up to the spinal column. A third cut is necessary using
the burin to separate a strip of meat containing the pinbones by scraping and lifting. The
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pinbone strips can twist, with the consequence that a loss of yield occurs and the
processing speed is lowered. In this process with three cuts as well, the abdominal flaps
remain part of the fillet pieces, which cannot be handled satisfactorily.
Another usual measure these days consists of separating the abdominal flap which
contains the pinbones in a controlled manner corresponding to the fish size. Such
separated abdominal flaps, which are relatively large pieces and contain pinbones,
remain unsatisfactory for further economic processing. They must be skinned,
transported and fed to separators for separation. A relatively large quantity of separated,
low value meat arises, from which fish forcemeat in particular is produced. The
abdominal flaps containing pinbones are not available for so-called “block yield”, which
is determined by combining pieces of meat free of pinbones in blocks in transport
frames, boxes or the like.
It is the object of the invention to improve the separation of abdominal flaps containing
pinbones with respect to greater yield of grown meat and simplified, faster subsequent
processing operations. In particular, the mass of meat to be separated in separators is to
be significantly reduced, and separated abdominal flaps free of pinbones should
contribute to the increase of block yield. Abdominal flaps free of fish bones should
arise, which after skinning can be combined for the most part in a relatively large
volume block, which, for example is formed in a mold and subsequently frozen. The
quantity of abdominal flap parts bearing pinbones, whose meat must be separated from
fish bones in separators, ought to be reduced to a great extent.
In conjunction with the method steps mentioned hereinbefore, the objects are achieved
according to the invention in that each abdominal flap is separated by means of a
continuous, curved double separating cut with which two parallel separating cuts are
performed simultaneously, in which the abdominal flap is separated simultaneously into
two parallel cut, completely free-moving parts having fish skin, which are conveyed
away separate from one another, wherein the first part is obtained as a narrow pinbone
strip, which is curved in its length dimension with a length, i.e. over it, which is
determined by the cutting length of the continuous double separating cut and has a
narrow width which corresponds to the width of the row of pinbones and is limited
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thereto, and wherein the second part is obtained as an abdominal flap meat body
determined by the largest part of the separated abdominal flap, free of pinbones, with a
cutting length having the curvature and corresponding to the cutting length of the
pinbone strip.
In conjunction with the features mentioned hereinbefore, the objects are achieved by an
apparatus where for completely separating the abdominal flaps, the pinbone/abdominal
flap cutting device comprises two pairs of simultaneously cutting cutting tools, which
each are arranged and configured for performing an associated double separating cut of
the abdominal flaps producing two curved, parallel separating cuts according to the
method according to any one of the method claims, so that simultaneously the narrow
pinbone strip and the abdominal flap meat body free of pinbones are obtained, wherein
a guiding device with a guide, which is height-adjustable in a height corresponding to
the flank-side height of the fish, is configured in such a way that it holds, orients and
guides the pairs of cutting tools for performing the curved double separating cut on fish
passing in a conveying direction, and wherein the two cutting tools of the pairs of
cutting tools each are arranged with a distance which is adapted to the narrow width of
the pinbone strip and corresponds thereto. The guide is formed by a guiding means.
A number of advantages is achieved with the measures according to the invention. In
particular, one can successfully obtain fish fillets which are free of abdominal flaps with
relatively high throughput speed, in such a way that each abdominal flap when
completely separated by only one cutting process is simultaneously cut into a piece free
of fish bones which constitutes the greatest part of the abdominal flap and a small, strip-
shaped piece containing the pinbones, a so-called “pinbone strip”, which is small in
mass compared to the first piece. This is achieved with the continuous and curved
double separating cut over the abdominal flap according to the invention, which is
determined by separating cuts parallel over the entire cutting length. The double
separating cut of the abdominal flaps is performed on fish which have had the backbone
removed. The fillet parts are still connected with a strip having the dorsal fins.
Abdominal flaps are understood to be the parts of fish which are or are to be separated,
which as such have at least partially formed the abdominal cavity. The length and/or
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size of such an abdominal flap is determined by the length of the pinbone zone and the
curved cut to be made after the pinbone zone.
The pinbones are included in the curved cut strip if the fish to be processed is still in its
essentially natural position or form, respectively, thus before the fillet pieces are
completely separated. The two unequal, simultaneously cut and separated parts are parts
having fish skin. The lower large-mass part of each abdominal flap, which is free of
pinbones, can be recovered with relatively high speed in most cases. Pieces of
abdominal flap meat without fish bones are obtained, which can be processed further
profitably, particularly by increasing the block yield. Likewise, the narrow, curved
pinbone strips allow optimal for further processing, with the mass of meat to be
separated reduced for the benefit of recovering grown meat.
The double separating cut according to the invention captures the row of continuous
(single-row) pinbones targeted with respect to place and time, wherein the optimal
application of the cut and guidance is such that the double separating cut is curved at
least outside the row of pinbones and runs transverse to the length of the fish. For
example, the method according to the invention can be applied for filleting whitefish,
for example Alaska pollock, having a relatively short row of pinbones. However, it has
proven particularly advantageous for the removal of pinbones from salmonids,
particularly from pink salmon. This fish contains a considerable number of pinbones in
a row, which are captured completely in the curved strips produced by the double
separating cut, with abdominal flap meat bodies free of pinbones with a size particularly
good for processing and particular suitability for further processing being obtained.
The removal of the pinbone strips from the conveying path of the fish trunks, i.e. from
the main conveying path, can be supported particularly in that the pinbone strips are
moved on a discharge path for removal, wherein, at least for entry onto the discharge
path, they are advantageously moved along a track limited on four sides with guiding
facilities.
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The narrow pinbone strips can advantageously be cut with a width which is at most a
quarter of the dimension of the uncut abdominal flap to be separated in a corresponding
dimension.
It is practical for the curved double separating cuts to be performed, depending on the
fish size, between two cutting points depending on the fish size, namely at an associated
flank side of the fish between a cutting point on the head side and a cutting point on the
abdominal side.
The method according to the invention can be applied equally with head-first and tail-
first conveyance. For example, the fish are conveyed head-first with belly downwards in
a conveying direction. For such an application, the curved double separating cut begins
at a higher position on the head side of the fish and is guided downward on a curved
path in the direction of the anus.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the double separating cut according to the
invention can produce optimally small pinbone strips dependent on the fish size for each
individual fish. Using per se known, preferably computerised fish control, control
movements are produced, particularly as a consequence of control signals, which
represent the fish size of each fish arriving for processing, and the parallel separating
cuts of the double separating cuts are performed with parallel distances which are
automatically changed dependent on the control in each case to adapt to the size of the
fish arriving for processing. Fish size data can be obtained in the usual way with the
help of measurements on the fish to be processed. Measurement data obtained by
sensors in particular can be processed by computer control in conjunction with control
elements or actuators.
It is practical to perform cuts which mostly free the fish meat from fish bones prior to
the start of the curved double separating cut. Prior to the start of the curved double
separating cut, the backbone can be separated by cutting it free over the entire length of
the fish up to the dorsal fin roots, wherein the back side of the fish remains connected
with back meat and bears the fillet parts with abdominal flaps.
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The cutting tools of the apparatus can be designed and arranged in any way to suit the
purpose if they are configured such that they can execute the curved double separating
cut according to the invention. For example, cutting can be performed with water jets or
jig saws. A particular design consists of the two cutting tools of the pair of cutting tools
being constituted by a pair of circular knives which are arranged parallel at a distance
on a common drive rotary axis for cutting the narrow width of the pinbone strip. A
particular benefit is obtained if the two circular knives of the pair of cutting tools have
the same circular diameter. They are then completely the same.
Between said two circular knives in a pair of cutting tools, it is advantageous to provide
a discharge path which guides the pinbone strips and leads away obliquely from the
conveying path, said discharge path being advantageously formed by at least two
deflector walls extending in the direction of discharge or by suchlike deflecting
elements.
One embodiment of the discharge path consists of an inner deflector wall formed
between the two circular knives, namely situated towards their drive rotary axis, from
the middle area up to the peripheral area of the two circular knives between
therebetween. The inner deflector wall can be constructed with such a length that it
passes the drive rotary axis. Between the two circular knives an outer deflector wall, i.e.
lying towards the edges of the two circular knives, can be designed, which guides the
pinbone strip on the discharge path at least to the beginning of the cut.
A meat body deflector wall guiding the abdominal flap meat body away or a similar
deflector element can be advantageously arranged and provided with an extension
which together with the inner deflector wall forms a pinbone strip discharge path.
A particularly simple embodiment is obtained as well if a pinbone strip deflector wall
and the meat body deflector wall form a cutting counter-surface for completely cutting
off the pinbone strip and the abdominal flap meat body. A preferred embodiment
consists of the cutting counter-surface being equipped with a knife slot which separates
the outer pinbone strip deflector wall and the meat body deflector wall from one another
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and in which a circular knife facing the belly side of the fish trunk engages with its
cutting edge.
A preferred embodiment which optimally produces the curved double separating cuts
consists of the height-adjustable guide of the guiding device being designed in such a
way that it automatically adjusts the height of the pairs of cutting tools as a function of
the fish size, in particular in conjunction with a fish size measurement, to cut the
continuous curved pinbone strips over the extent of the abdominal flap. The guiding
device is controlled dependent on fish size data in such a way that the movement of the
pairs of cutting tools in combination with the fish movement brings about the curved
cutting line. The height adjustment comprises the setting of a height/initial position,
with which the double separating cut begins, to the position of the pinbones individually
for each fish.
A further advantageous embodiment is obtained where the cutting tools of the pair of
cutting tools are connected with an adjusting device with which the distance of the
cutting tools can be changed. Preferably, this adjusting device is designed as an
automatic adjusting device with which the distance of the cutting tools can be set and
adjusted automatically dependent on control movements and/or signals which represent
the size of fish to be processed.
Advantageously, at least one fish bone cutting device for cutting free and separating the
backbone is arranged upstream of the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device, wherein
the back side of the fish remains connected to back meat and bears fillet parts with the
abdominal flaps containing the pinbones.
Dependent claims are based on the embodiments of the invention described and on
other expedient and advantageous embodiments. Only particularly expedient and
advantageous forms and options of design are described in more detail based on the
following description of the exemplary embodiments represented in the schematic
drawing. Each individual or detailed design in an exemplary embodiment is to be
understood as an independent detailed example for other implementations and designs
in the scope of the invention which are not described or not described completely.
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The drawings show in:
Fig. 1 an axonometric view of a fish processing machine with a
section A for beheading and gutting and a section B for
filleting fish, and there the location for arranging an
apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 2 a top view in section B of Fig. 1, of a backbone cutting
device, of a pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device
according to the invention and of a separating cut cutting
device;
Fig. 3 to 5 an axonometric representation of a back-side oblique
view, a rear view and a top view of an apparatus according
to the invention which is formed by a pinbone/abdominal
flap cutting device; and
Fig. 6A to 6D and Fig. 7A to 7D fish parts which are cut during the passage
of a fish to be processed through the pinbone/abdominal
flap cutting device.
The invention will be explained in conjunction with a process line, as is per se known,
based on Fig. 1 and 2. A beheading, gutting and filleting machine is shown, which is
designed in particular for processing salmonids. The machine has a section A in which
fish to be processed, in particular pink salmon, are placed next to each other in troughs,
beheaded and gutted. The fish are transferred to a section B for filleting, where, one
after another in a row, in the exemplary embodiment head-first and belly downwards,
they receive a series of cuts.
Section B comprises an apparatus 1 for mechanical fish processing, which is equipped
with the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device 3 according to the invention. Devices
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14, such as machine housings, control and drive assemblies or suchlike, are arranged on
a base or frame 100 on the processing path. A discharge chute 15 for removing cutting
waste and a discharge chute 16 are provided below the conveying line, the latter
receiving cut abdominal flap meat bodies 942 according to the invention (Fig. 6 and 7)
and guiding them away.
As is generally known, in section B the abdominal cavity of the fish is first opened from
below with an abdominal cut, wherein lower ray bones are cut free up to the backbone
from the end of the abdominal cavity to the root of the tail. Then a flank cut is
performed to separate the fish meat on the abdominal flaps from flank bones, during
which the flank bones still remain connected to the backbone as a skeleton. Then a flank
bone cut takes place, which separates the flank bones from the backbone. Then a
backbone cut is performed with a backbone cutting device 12. Two backbone circular
knives 121 cut the backbone free from below up to the dorsal fin roots over the entire
length of the fish so that it is separated. Toward the back side of the fish 9, its fillet parts
96 remain connected with the abdominal flaps 94 via the back meat 91. The backbone
cut is followed by the abdominal flap and pinbone cut according to the invention, which
is performed with the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device 3 according to the
invention. A separating cut takes place at the end of the filleting process. From above,
two circular knives cut a strip with the dorsal fins from the fish 9. Two fish fillets 96 are
produced. In the exemplary embodiment, the separating cut cutting device 13 is
envisaged. The fish fillets 96 are guided away, for example via belts or chutes, which
are not shown.
Assemblies of the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device 3 according to the invention
are shown in the example based on the Figures 3 to 5. Two pairs 4 of simultaneously
cutting cutting tools 5 are a significant part of the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting
device, which pairs are arranged with a distance A in each pair. A guiding device 2 with
height-adjustable guidance, shown in Figures 4 and 5, controls and guides the pairs of
cutting tools 4. These have a V-shaped arrangement symmetrical to a vertical conveying
plane 111, which can be moved to a desired height and is movable to perform the
abdominal flap/pinbone cuts. The V-arrangement is such that the pairs of circular knives
limit a V-shaped space which narrows downward to a restricting gap. The circular
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knives 51, 52 each lie opposite with cutting edges 510, 520 forming knife edges in the
area of the restricting gap at the same height and/or a corresponding height in the
vertical conveying plane 111. Beheaded, gutted fish with the backbone removed, as
seen in particular in Fig. 4, pass the restricting gap in the conveying direction.
Each pair of cutting tools 4 is constituted by a pair of identical circular knives, namely a
lower circular knife 51 and an upper circular knife 52, which are arranged in parallel
with the distance A on a common drive rotary axis 50 which drives them at the same
circumferential speed. The two drive axes 50 are driven around on a common main
shaft 181 of a drive 18, which is supported in a console 10 and rotatable on an axis 180,
with gears which are not shown.
A special pair of cutting counter-surfaces 60 is associated with the restricting gap. The
two cutting counter-surfaces 60 have plate-like guiding parts which are roof-shaped in
orientation and, guiding the fish 9 to be cut in the conveying direction F, are defined by
contact areas and guiding surfaces which are symmetrical with respect to the vertical
guiding plane 111 and form between them a trapezoidal space narrowing towards the
top, said space lying partially under the pairs of cutting tools 4 and extending vertically
into the restricting gap between the knife edges of the pairs of cutting tools 4 which face
each other. Each cutting counter-surface 60 is attached to the console 10 with an angled
foot section 602.
The pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device 3 has two alike sides or halves, which form
units, and which are arranged opposite to each other on the conveying path respectively
on the conveying plane 111. Each device unit comprises in a spatially fixed arrangement
with respect to each other the pair of cutting tools 4, the cutting counter-surface 60, a
discharge path in the form of a slide 64 and the console 10 supporting the units. This is
connected to a pivot arm 23 in a manner secured against rotation, so that it is pivotally
supported by means of the pivot arm 23 around a pivot axis 21 of the guiding device 2
to set the aforementioned pivot-height setting and pivot guide of the pairs of cutting
tools in the height corresponding to the flank side height of the fish. The free end of the
pivot arm 23 is connected with an actuator or a controlling element, for example with a
servo motor or step motor, to form the height guidance, namely the guiding means of
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the guiding device 2, in conjunction with the mounting and/or pivot linkage of the units.
The pivot axis 21, viewed in the conveying direction F, is provided, for example, before
the pairs of cutting tools 4 using a pivot bearing on the machine base frame or frame
100 of the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device 3. The console 10 is also supported on
this frame base or frame. The pivot axis 21 extends crossways, in the exemplary
embodiment perpendicular to the conveying direction F. It is located below a horizontal
conveying plane 112 for the fish 9 at a distance such that each pair of cutting tools 4 in
the area of the restricting gap is able to pivot into the desired height or initial position
there and, starting from this position, is able to pivot such that a particular cutting line is
performed which is described further below. Any guiding device which executes a
controlled height setting and movement can be provided.
The vertical conveying plane 111 and the horizontal conveying plane 112 perpendicular
thereto which extend in the conveying direction F are determined by a conveying means
11 with which the fish 9 are conveyed through between the cutting device units and/or
the pairs of cutting tools 4. The conveying means 11 is formed, for example, by a spike
conveying chain device shown in Fig. 4. In such a conveying device, the fish 9 are held
and conveyed in the conveying direction F between revolving spike conveying chains
110 head-first and belly downward. The spike conveying chains 110 run over chain
guide rollers. Any other conveying means for fish conveyance in a filleting line can be
provided.
The cutting counter-surface 60 of each cutting device unit comprises, in the conveying
direction F, a front part parallel to the conveying direction F and a back part bending
outward away from the processing line at an obtuse angle. The back part forms a
pinbone strip deflector wall 62 with an upper part facing the back side of the fish, said
part reaching between the circular knives 51, 52, and forms a deflector wall 63 with a
lower part 631, which is located under the pair of circular knives 51, 52. The deflector
wall 62 and the deflector wall 63 are separated by a knife slot 601, which ends open at
the free and in the conveying direction F back edge of the cutting counter-surface 60.
The front contact part, in which the knife slot 601 begins, is formed by the roof-shaped
surface which extends under the pair of cutting tools 4. In the exemplary embodiment,
the deflector wall 62 is only a little smaller than a fixed or minimal distance A between
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the two circular knives 51, 52 of the pair of cutting tools 4, so that it remains free from
the interior surfaces of the circular knives 51, 52 which face each other. The deflector
wall 62 is the extension of an upper contact surface 620 of the front contact part. As can
be seen in particular in Fig. 5, the lower circular knife 51 extends through the knife slot
601 in the free end area of the same transverse to the conveying direction F. In this
manner, the cutting tool 5 with its parallel circular knives 51, 52 of the same diameter
forms the pair of cutting tools 4 which performs the double separating cut.
The deflector wall 62 extends as an outer deflector wall with a secant section in a secant
line of the circular knives 51, 52. The upper circular knives 52 have been removed in
the representation in Fig. 5. It is particularly well apparent that the secant section of the
outer deflector wall 62 overlaps with an inner deflector wall 61 also being arranged in a
secant section, the secant line of which is offset with respect to the centre of rotation of
the circular knives 51, 52 and which extends to the edges of the circular knives 51, 52
protruding a little past them. A discharge path 6, which leads away obliquely from the
conveying path or the process line, is thus formed in the space between the two circular
knives 51, 52. The inner deflector wall 61, situated towards the drive rotary axis 50 of
the circular knives 51, 52, is located in a position in which it passes the drive rotary axis
50 and extends from the middle area up to the peripheral area of the two circular knives
51, 52. A four-walled guiding section similar to a channel forms in the area of overlap
of the two deflector walls 61, 62.
The discharge path 6 ends in a slide 64 which is added with an inlet side tangential to
the pair of cutting tools 4, i.e. in an oblique position to effect a sliding motion with the
force of gravity. The slide 64 is aligned parallel to the conveying direction F in the
exemplary embodiment. Any other orientation in which the discharge paths 6 lead to the
chutes 64 is possible.
The cutting tools 5 of the pair of cutting tools 4 are connected with an adjusting device
53 shown with a dash-dot line, with which the distance A of the two circular knives 51,
52 can be changed.
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The parts and assemblies described for the device units are set and designed in such a
way and are operated such that, as shown in Fig. 6 and 7, on each flank side of the
gutted, beheaded fish 9 passing through between the two device units in the conveying
direction F, the abdominal flap meat body 942 essentially determined by the size of the
fish abdominal flap and a pinbone strip 941 containing pinbones 95 are cut, with the
pairs of cutting tools 4 each executing a curved double separating cut over the
abdominal flaps 94 with which two parallel separating cuts take place simultaneously in
such a way that the abdominal flap meat body 942 and the pinbone strip 941, come
completely free at the same time after completion of the double separating cut. The
abdominal flap meat bodies 942 are guided away via the parts 631 of the deflector walls
63 so that they reach the discharge chute 16 below, shown only in Fig. 1. Separately, the
pinbone strips 941 are guided along the deflector walls 61, 62 into the slides 64.
The functions and the method according to the invention are performed in detail as
follows. Fish 9 with the head, including the collarbone and backbone, separated and at
least essentially freed of entrails are conveyed in a row one after another in fish
conveying direction F into the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device 3. These fed
products are produced in the filleting line B with an abdominal cut, a flank cut, a rib
bone cut and a backbone cut as described above. They then have only fillet parts 96 and
the abdominal flap 94, the latter containing a row of pinbones 95 with a row width R.
Parts of the abdominal flaps 94 which contain the pinbones 95, i.e. the pinbone strips
941, are cut out of the fish 9, with each pair of cutting tools 4 performing the curved
double separating cut pass over the abdominal flaps 94, which is determined as such by
two simultaneous, parallel separating cuts and separates the abdominal flap 94 passing
The course of the continuous curved double separating cut is shown in Figures 6A to 6D
with the exemplary embodiment for Alaska pollock. As is clear from Fig. 6A, the
double separating cut runs from the head side of the fish 9 beginning outward or below
toward the belly side. If one considers a line which lies somewhat in the swimming line
of the fish 9 as a central fish axis 97, then it is important that the pair of cutting tools 4
on each flank side of the fish 9 conveyed in a swimming position begins the double
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separating cut on the head side on or near the fish axis 97 to ensure that the abdominal
flap 94 is included completely with pinbone strips 941 and abdominal flap meat bodies
942. The double separating cut is then carried out in such a way that the narrow strip
941 containing the pinbones 95 is cut curved in its longitudinal dimension first along
the row of pinbones and then in the height corresponding to the flank-side height of the
fish with a curvature length L which is determined by the cutting length S of the
continuous double separating cut. Along the row of pinbones, the cutting line can be at
least essentially straight, but begin already appropriately with curvature, if necessary at
first with a small measure of curvature. The pinbone strip 941 has a narrow width B
which corresponds to the width R of the row of pinbones 95 and is limited thereto. At
the same time, the abdominal flap meat body 942, which is determined by the largest
part of the abdominal flap 94 and free of pinbones, is obtained with a cutting length S’,
which corresponds to the cutting length S containing the curvature for the pinbone strip
941. The cutting length S and the curvature length L in Fig. 6C are measured and/or
viewed along a dash-dotted centre line of the pinbone strip 941. The cutting length S’ of
the abdominal flap meat body 942 is viewed as a length of its cut edge.
To obtain an optimal pinbone strip 941 with width B all the time, the automatic height
control of the pairs of cutting tools 4 takes place by means of the guiding device 2 with
a height-adjustable guide such that it is ensured that the pair of cutting tools 4 includes
in each case the row of pinbones dependent on their position individually for each fish
9. A per se known fish size control device 17 is provided for this purpose; it processes
the measured or recorded values or data representing the size of each fish in a suitable
way. Such a device advantageously comprises a computing device to which signals,
obtained for example by fish size measurement with sensors, are fed and which, with
suitable path monitoring of the measured fish 9, controls the pairs of cutting tools 4 in
each case with an adjusting device controlled by the device 17, in the exemplary
embodiment by means of the actuator 22, adjusting height and its movement for cutting
and thus controlling the cutting line. The fish size control device 17 is shown only in
Fig. 4. The row of pinbones can also be recorded in each case with respect to size, shape
and/or dimensions. Corresponding data are used for computerised control.
SPC-CLM-AMN-CLN 2014-
09-19.docx
A special measure is also that in each case the distance A of the cutting tools 5 of the
pair of cutting tools 4, i.e. the width B of the double separating cut, is controlled
according to the measure of individual pinbone arrangement/structure, fish size and/or
fish type. For this purpose, the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device 3 comprises the
adjusting devices 53 shown dash-dotted in the drawing, which adjust the distance
between the circular knives 51, 52, for example by spacer elements between the circular
knives 51, 52 which can be changed in length axially. Also for this purpose the
aforementioned data and/or dimensions are obtained from each fish 9, with which the
fish size control device 17 controls the optionally provided adjusting devices 53.
The curved cut is adapted to the position and length of the row of pinbones by moving
in (height setting) and deflecting (cutting line) the pairs of cutting tools 4 with the
guiding device 2 by means of the control device 17. Whereas with one type of fish, for
example Alaska pollock, the row of pinbones is determined by only a few, in particular
four pinbones (Fig. 6A to 6D), the number of pinbones in other fish, for example
salmonids, is considerably greater, as shown in Fig. 7A to 7D. The line of curvature is
controlled in this respect dependent on the type of fish with measured and/or pre-
specified stored fish data for operating the control device 17. Individual separate control
modules can be provided instead of the control device 17.
SPC-CLM-AMN-CLN 2014-
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Claims (22)
1. A method for mechanically removing intermuscular bones, so-called pinbones (95), from fillet parts (96) of fish (9) conveyed in conveying direction (F), from 5 which the head, including the clavicle, has been separated, which are at least essentially freed of entrails and which have fillet parts (96) and abdominal flaps (94), which contain only a row of pinbones (95), wherein the pinbones (95) are removed in that parts of the abdominal flaps (94) which contain the pinbones (95) are cut out with pinbone cuts, characterised in that each abdominal flap (94) 10 is separated by means of a continuous, curved double separating cut with which two parallel separating cuts are performed simultaneously, wherein the abdominal flap (94) is separated simultaneously into two parallelly cut, completely free-moving parts having fish skin, which are conveyed away separate from one another, wherein the first part is obtained as a narrow, curved 15 pinbone strip (941), which is curved in its length dimension with a length (L), which is determined by the cutting length (S) of the continuous double separating cut and has a narrow width (B) which corresponds to the width (R) of the row of pinbones (95) and is limited thereto, and wherein the second part is obtained as an abdominal flap meat body (942) determined by the largest part of 20 the separated abdominal flap (94), free of pinbones, with a cutting length (S’) having the curvature and corresponding to the cutting length (S) of the pinbone strip (941).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the pinbone strips (941) 25 are moved on a discharge path (6) for removal, wherein, at least for entry onto the discharge path (6), they are moved along a track limited on four sides with guiding facilities.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pinbone strips 30 (941) are each cut with a narrow width (B) which is at most a quarter of the dimension of the uncut abdominal flap (94) in a corresponding dimension. SPC-CLM-AMN-CLN 2014- 09-19.docx
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, depending on the fish size, the curved double separating cuts are performed between two cutting points, namely at an associated flank side of the fish (9) between a cutting point on the head side and a cutting point on the abdominal 5 side.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the fish (9) are conveyed head-first with belly downwards in conveying direction (F). 10
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that control signals are generated which represent the fish size of each fish (9) arriving for processing, and that the parallel separating cuts of the double separating cuts are performed with parallel distances (A) which are automatically changed dependent on the control signals in each case to adapt to the size of the fish (9) 15 arriving for processing.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that prior to the start of the curved double separating cut, cuts are carried out which mostly free the fillet meat of the fish (9) from fish bones.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that prior to the start of the curved double separating cut, the backbone (91) is separated by cutting it free over the entire length of the fish up to the dorsal fin roots (93), wherein the back side of the fish (9) remains connected with back meat (91) and 25 bears the fillet parts (96) with abdominal flaps (94).
9. An apparatus (1) for mechanical processing of fish (9) conveyed on a conveying path in conveying direction (F), each said fish having the head, including the collarbone, separated and each at least essentially freed of entrails, comprising a 30 conveying means (11) conveying the fish (9) along the conveying path and a pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device (3) for separating parts of abdominal flaps (94) and removing pinbones (95), characterised in that for completely separating the abdominal flaps (94), the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device SPC-CLM-AMN-CLN 2014- 09-19.docx (3) comprises two pairs (4) of simultaneously cutting cutting tools (5), which each are arranged and configured for performing an associated double separating cut of the abdominal flaps producing two curved, parallel separating cuts according to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, so that 5 simultaneously the narrow pinbone strip (941) and the abdominal flap meat body (942) free of pinbones are obtained, wherein a guiding device (2) with a guide, which is height-adjustable in a height corresponding to the flank-side height of the fish (9), is designed in such a way that it holds, orients and guides the pairs of cutting tools (4) for performing the curved double separating cut on fish (9) 10 passing in conveying direction (F), and wherein the two cutting tools (5) of the pairs of cutting tools (4) each are arranged with a distance (A) which is adapted to the narrow width (B) of the pinbone strip and corresponds thereto.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the two cutting tools (5) 15 of the pair of cutting tools (4) are formed by a pair of circular knives (51, 52) which are arranged parallel at distance (A) on a common drive rotary axis (50) for cutting the narrow width (B) of the pinbone strip (941).
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that the two circular 20 knives (51, 52) of the pair of cutting tools (5) have equal circular diameters.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that between the two circular knives (51, 52) of a pair of cutting tools (4), a discharge path (6) is provided which guides the pinbone strips (941) and leads away obliquely from 25 the conveying path, said discharge path (6) being formed by at least two deflector walls (61, 62) extending in the direction of discharge.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterised in that an inner deflector wall (61) situated between the two circular knives (51, 52), namely situated towards 30 the drive rotation axis (50), is formed from the middle area up to the peripheral area of the two circular knives (51, 52) therebetween. SPC-CLM-AMN-CLN 2014- 09-19.docx
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterised in that the inner deflector wall (61) passes the drive rotary axis (50).
15. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterised in that 5 between the two circular knives (51, 52) a deflector wall (62) is arranged which is situated towards the edges of the two circular knives (51, 52), which deflector wall guides the pinbone strip (941) on the discharge path (6) at least to the beginning of the cut. 10
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterised in that assigned to the two circular knives (51, 52) of a pair of cutting tools (4) is a cutting counter-surface (60), which is formed with a deflector wall (62) conveying away the pinbone strip (941) and with a corresponding deflector wall (63) conveying away the abdominal flap meat body (942).
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterised in that the cutting counter- surface (60) is equipped with a knife slot (601) which separates the pinbone strip deflector wall (62) and the meat body deflector wall (63) from one another and in which the circular knife (51) facing the belly side of the fish (9) engages with 20 its cutting edge (510).
18. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 17, characterised in that the height-adjustable guide of the guiding device (2) is designed in such a way that it automatically adjusts the height of the pairs of cutting tools (4) dependent on the 25 fish size to cut the curved pinbone strips (941) which continue over the extent of the abdominal flap.
19. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 18, characterised in that the cutting tools (5) of the pair of cutting tools (4) are connected with an adjusting 30 device (53) with which the distance (A) of the cutting tools (5) can be changed.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterised in that the adjusting device (53) of the pair of cutting tools (4) is an automatic adjusting device with which SPC-CLM-AMN-CLN 2014- 09-19.docx the distance (A) of the cutting tools (5) is automatically adjustable and can be set dependent on control signals which represent the size of fish to be processed.
21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 20, characterised in that a 5 fishbone cutting device (12) for separating the backbone (91) is situated before the pinbone/abdominal flap cutting device (3) in such a way that the back side of the fish (9) remains connected still to back meat (91) and bears fillet parts (96) with the abdominal flaps (94). 10
22. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 21, characterised in that the conveying means (11) is designed for conveying the fish (9) in an orientation with their bellies downward and head-first. SPC-CLM-AMN-CLN 2014- 09-19.docx
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2012/054817 WO2013139369A1 (en) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-03-19 | Method for mechanically removing pin bones from filet parts of conveyed fish and device for performing said method |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ626747A NZ626747A (en) | 2015-05-29 |
NZ626747B2 true NZ626747B2 (en) | 2015-09-01 |
Family
ID=
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