WO1995018536A1

WO1995018536A1 - Fish descaling apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1995018536A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Meier Uri; David Tsherkes
Original assignee: Rapaport, Erich
Priority date: 1994-01-07
Filing date: 1995-01-05
Publication date: 1995-07-13
Also published as: JPH09511128A; IL108300A0; AU1532995A

Abstract

A method and machine for descaling fish by means of high velocity water jets, by exposing fish corpses to high velocity water jets. The apparatus comprises a supporting structure in which are located two in parallelism disposed conveyorbands and drive means for said conveyor. There is further provided means for directing water jets at high velocity onto fish carried by the conveyor arrangement.

Description

DESCRIPTION
FISH DESCALING APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning, especially removing scales from fish which are destined for consumption.

Generally, the descaling of fish is performed in a manual operation consisting - as it has since time immemorial - of scraping off the scales with the aid of knives or knife-like implements. This is not only a time consuming operation but also frequently causes harm and wounds to the hands of persons labouring in the said generally practiced operation.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
It is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus performing the cleaning, mainly descaling, of fish which reduces the contact by human hands to wet fish to a minimum, thus preventing the frequently occuring harm to the hands of respective operators.

The new apparatus is mainly intended for use by fishmongers, i.e. those who supply fish to consumers, thus freeing a householder from attending to the cleaning operation which - as is well known - causes a great deal of inconvenience in domestic establishments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to the invention the descaling operation is performed by means of high velocity water jets. Incidentally, the means for performing the descaling can be made to perform additional ancillary cleaning steps as will become clear from the following detailed description.

The invention - accordingly - consists of a method of descaling, i.e.

removing scales from the body of sweet or salt water fish, by exposing fish corpses to high velocity water jets.

The invention further comprises an apparatus for practising the above method, the said apparatus comprising a supporting structure in which are located two in parallelism disposed conveyor bands, drive means for said conveyors being provided as well as generally known means for directing water jets at high velocity onto fish carried by the said conveyor arrangement.

These and further features will become clear from the following detailed description which has reference to the accompanying drawings.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational, schematic side view of the new apparatus, Fig. 2 being a like end view of the apparatus turned through 90 degrees relative to the position of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top, plan view of the new apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
In a supporting structure S which is placed on top of a tank T is provided a pair of band conveyors 1 and 1' (see also Fig. 3).

The bands of the conveyors 1 and 1' move in opposite directions as indicated by arrows in Fig. 3. Both conveyor bands move "on edge", the operative surfaces of two oppositely disposed bands thus facing each other.

For each conveyor there is provided a drilling roller 2 and each include a number of bands stretching rollers 3. An electromotor 8 preferably one having variable rotational speed arrangement including a worm 7, extending along the row of rollers 3 and being coupled thereto is providing rotational move to rollers 3.

There is also provided a compressor - pumps 9 which delivers water at elevated pressure via nozzle hoses 9' to the spare 9" between the two band conveyors 1 and 1'. So far the basic elements of the new apparatus.

Further parts of the installation will become clear from the following description which recites parts which, depending on local conditions, are advantageously employed.

These additional parts comprise the tank T which makes possible the recirculation and re-use of water for the sake of generally economizing by reusing at least a great part of water (in practice about 80% and adding only 20% of fresh water).

In practice, fish are introduced into the space 9" at one end thereof indicated by the arrow at bottom of Fig. 3, the tail end of the fish leading, such that the free edge of the scales is facing in direction of travel of the bands. The water jets meet, the scales, at high velocity, lift them from the skin of the fish tearing them off. The fish is ejected free of scales, at a chute 5 at the far end of the band conveyors 1 and 1". Water and offal, scales and blood may be directed straight into the sewage system unless the water circulation and water sewage tank T is installed, in that case water is directed via a return flow pipe 12 into tank T. For further use the returned water is again directed upwardly via a suction pipe 11 and a sifting sieve 10 to pump 9 to be delivered for further de-scaling to space 9".

An additional ancillary member may be provided in space 9" in form of a knife disc 6 cutting open the underside of a passing fish, such that intestines and other offal are being washed out by that water.

While in the foregoing description reference has been made to a water jet employed in the cleaning and descaling operation, it should be clear that the term "water" is intended to include water to which has been added some detergent or other cleaning substance of generally known kind.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method of descaling and cleaning fish by exposing fish corpses to high velocity water jets while the said fish corpses are positioned with their tail ends leading towards the water jets.

2. The method of Claim 1, characterised thereby that the water with added detergents or other conventional cleaning substance is used.

3. An apparatus for practising the method of Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised thereby that the apparatus comprises a supporting structure in which are located two in parallelism disposed conveyor bands, drive means for said conveyors being provided as well as generally known means for directing water jets at high velocity onto fish carried by the said conveyor arrangement.

4. The apparatus according to Claim 3, when located on top of a water tank, the assembly of apparatus and tank being connected by pipe conduits directing spent water into the tank and by a suction pipe returning water via a sifting means from the tank to the apparatus.

5. The apparatus characterised by Claim 3 characterised by comprising in audition a knife disc located in the space between the two conveyor bands.