Descaler roll for fish scaling machine

In a fish scaling machine having a framework, a power source, a conveyor supporting one side of a fish and a hold down assembly yieldably engaging the other side of the fish, a descaler roll mounted on a drive shaft journaled upon the framework and connected to the power source. A pair of aligned engaging cylindrical roller bodies having right angular end faces are mounted end to end upon the drive shaft and secured thereto. Generally parallel helical teeth upon, around and projecting from each roller body, the teeth on said bodies being inclined rearwardly toward each other at an acute angle to the drive shaft. Teeth at their one ends extending to an end face of each roll body and with their other ends having axial projections extending outward of their other end faces, the teeth extensions of one roller body overlying the other roller body, extending between and interlocked with the adjacent teeth of the other roll body at their engaging end faces.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to an improved descaler roll adapted for 
use in conjunction with commercial type of fish scaling machines such as 
shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,927. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the first of a series of transversely arranged power rotated descaler 
rollers of my U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,927 and particularly the descaler roll 
51 shown in FIG. 4, there were included a series of elongated downwardly 
depressed curved blades 55 which were affixed as by welding to the end 
support disks 53 which are secured to a drive shaft 61 journaled on the 
fish scaling machine. The descaler roll was designed to remove the scales 
from the side of a fish as the fish passes thereover movably supported 
upon a conveyor assembly. 
Such descaler roll with its series of elongated curved blades had 
completely open spaces between the blades. These open spaces caused damage 
to the fish eyes and to the fins on the sides of the fish as the fish 
passed over the blades. The open spaces further accumulated the loosened 
scales and eventually clogged up the descaler roll. In the use of a fish 
scaling machine as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,927, the fish descaler 
roll 51 was functionally sufficient in those cases where the customers 
purchase the fish parts with the heads removed. 
In those situations where desirable to ship the descaled fish with the 
heads complete and undamaged, a different type of descaler roll is 
required. 
THE PRIOR ART 
The most pertinent prior art is Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,927 dated 
Jan. 29, 1974 entitled: Fish Scaling Machine, and Applicant's earlier 
issued U.S. Pat. No. 3,088,164 of May, 1963 for a fish scaling machine. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An important feature of the present invention is to provide an improved 
fish descaler roll particularly useful for descaled fish wherein the heads 
remain intact. 
Another feature is to provide an improved descaler roller adapted for use 
in the fish scaling machine such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,927 and 
wherein the open type descaler roll disclosed therein is replaced by the 
present improved descaler roll consisting of a pair of solid rollers. Each 
of the rollers has a series of teeth machined in a helical direction. The 
teeth at one end of the rollers extend axially beyond the one end faces of 
the rollers. 
As another feature each roller body includes helical teeth which at their 
other ends extend to the corresponding right angular end face thereof. 
As another feature a pair of engaging cylindrical roller bodies are 
arranged upon a power driven shaft end to end and each helical teeth 
projection at one end of one roller body overlies the other roller body, 
projects into, and extends between and is interlocked with the adjacent 
helical teeth of the other roller body at their adjacent engaging end 
faces. 
An important feature is to provide a pair of descaler roll bodies of 
cylindrical shape with elongated helical teeth thereon with the bodies 
arranged end to end upon and secured to a power driven shaft and wherein 
there is an overlap between the extended helical teeth of one roller body 
over and onto the surface of the adjacent roller body and an interlock 
between the adjacent helical teeth. This provides a solid surface thereby 
eliminating damage to the fish eyes and fins on the side of the fish as 
the fish passes over the descaler roll at the same time effectively 
removing the scales on one side of the fish. 
A further feature includes the helix of the machined teeth having more of 
an angle than the helix of the curved blades in the descaler roll 51 of 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,927. The increase in the angle of the helix combined 
with solid rollers without open spaces between the teeth prevents the 
loosened scales from building up and clogging the descaler roll as in the 
prior art above. 
A further feature is to provide a descaler roll consisting of a pair of 
engaging cylindrical roller bodies having right angular end faces arranged 
end to end and secured upon a power driven drive shaft and wherein the 
present unique design for such rollers doubles the life expectancy of the 
roller assembly. This is accomplished by reversing the rollers end to end 
upon the supporting drive shaft thereby defining a new set of sharp edges 
provided by the corresponding leading edges of the helically shaped teeth 
which are generally rectangular or square in cross section. 
A further feature is to provide an improved descaler roll consisting of a 
pair of cylindrical roller bodies with right angular end faces, mounted 
and secured end to end upon a power driven drive shaft, wherein the 
respective roller bodies have thereon generally parallel helical teeth 
which are inclined rearwardly towards each other at an acute angle with 
respect to the axis of the drive shaft. 
These and other features and objects will be seen from the following 
specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings, the present fish scaling machine generally 
indicated at 11 has a framework 13 with an underlying longitudinally 
disposed tank 15. The framework includes a pair of spaced longitudinally 
extending rails 17 and mounted thereon opposed pairs of journal blocks 19 
adapted to receive and journal the respective drive shafts 21 for the 
conveyor rolls 23. 
These conveyor rolls are longitudinally spaced along the length of the 
framework and rotate on axes extending at right angles to the path of feed 
movement of fish which move thereover in a continuous manner. Each of the 
feed rolls 23 includes a series of longitudinally spaces sharpened 
sprockets 25 affixed to the respective power rotated shafts 21, FIGS. 1, 6 
and 7. 
Motor 27, schematically shown in FIG. 1, is mounted upon framework 13 and 
is connected by a belt and pulleys to reducer 29 whose output shaft 31 
drives pulley 33 which through a belt 35 and another pulley drives shaft 
37, at 225 rpm, for illustration. Shaft 37 is mounted upon journal blocks 
19 on rails 17. Mounted upon one end of shaft 37 is a feed roll 39 for the 
belt conveyor 41, fragmentarily shown. The fish are successively advanced 
in a line onto the conveyor assembly forming a part of the present fish 
scaling machine which includes a series of longitudinally spaced 
transverse feed rolls 23. 
Power driven shaft 37 for roller 39 through the use of a series of 
additional pulleys and belts between the respective additional shafts 21 
is adapted to affect simultaneous continuous power rotation of the 
respective feed rolls 23 forming a part of the fish conveyor. 
It is regarded as equivalent to the pulleys and belts that there could be 
employed sprockets and chains for the conveyor assembly. 
The roller 39 for the feed belt 41 moves in unison with each of the 
sprocket type feed rolls 23 for transporting fish throughout the length of 
the present fish scaling machine, FIG. 1. A series of longitudinally 
spaced differently shaped descaler rolls 43, 45 and 47 are interposed 
between the respective feed rolls 23 and are adapted to operatively engage 
different areas of one side of the fish as it moves over the conveyor 
rolls, FIGS. 3 and 7. 
In the operation of the fish scaling machine in the U.S. Pat. No. 
3,787,927, the corresponding descaler roll 51 damaged the eyes and the 
fins of fish passing thereover. Such roll being open was frequently 
clogged with scales. Accordingly for the purpose of the present invention 
and in situations for the use of the present fish scaling machine wherein 
the heads remain intact with the fish body the first descaler roll 43 
replaces the descaler roll 51 shown in FIG. 4 of Applicant's earlier U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,787,927. 
The first descaler roll 43 is shown on an enlarged scale in FIGS. 2 and 3 
and includes a pair of aligned engaging cylindrically shaped roller bodies 
53 and 55 having right angularly related end faces 57 and 59. 
Each of the roller bodies 53 and 55 have thereon opposed rearwardly 
converging sets of helical teeth 61, which are rectangular or square in 
cross section. The teeth have defined therein the sharpened edges 63 
adapted for operative engagement with the fish, as fragmentarily shown in 
FIG. 3. The respective sets of generally parallel helical teeth 61 upon 
the respective cylindrical bodies 53 and 55 and projecting therefrom are 
machined as an integral part of the respective cylindrical bodies. 
For each of the respective bodies 53 and 55, the helical teeth at their one 
ends extend to the corresponding end face 57. The helical teeth on said 
helical bodies at their other ends have teeth extensions 65 of the same 
cross sectional shape which project axially outward of the corresponding 
end face 59. These extensions 65 overlie the corresponding adjacent body 
55, extend between the respective teeth 61 upon body 55 and are 
interlocked therewith. 
The respective cylindrical bodies 53 and 55 when assembled, FIG. 2, upon 
drive shaft 51 are secured thereto by the radial set screws 67, FIGS. 2 
and 3. As distinguished from the blades 55 FIG. 4 in reference U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,787,927 which provided an open descaler roll 51 there is thus 
provided for the present descaler roll 43 a pair of solid roller bodies. 
Each of these roller bodies include a series of teeth 61 machined in a 
helical direction with the teeth extending approximately 1/16 of an inch 
past the end face 59 at one end of the roller body. 
The respective roller bodies 53, 55 which constitute the present descaler 
roll 43 are interlocked, FIG. 2, and secured upon the stainless steel 
drive shaft 51 forming a part of the fish scaling machine shown in FIG. 1. 
With the roller bodies 53 and 55 positioned end to end on shaft 51 and with 
the elongated teeth 61 of one roller body interlocking with the teeth 61 
of the other roller body there becomes a solid surface in the center of 
the descaler roll 43. 
This solid surface eliminates the damage caused by the descaler roll 51 of 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,927, to the eyes and to the fins on the side of the 
fish as it passes over the descaler roll, while effectively removing all 
of the adjacent scales on said one side of the fish. 
The helix of the machined teeth 61 of the present descaler roll 43 has more 
of an angle than the helix of the curved blades 55 in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,787,927. The increase in the angle of the helix combined with the solid 
roller bodies 53, 55 without open spaces prevents the loosened scales from 
building up and clogging the descaler roll as was the case in the prior 
art. 
In assembly of the present descaler roll 43, roller body 53 is positioned 
upon stainless steel drive shaft 51 of the fish scaling machine with the 
extending teeth elements 65 pointed axially outwardly of body 53 then 
secured to shaft 51 by set screws 67, FIGS. 2 and 3. 
The second roller body 55 is then positioned on the same shaft so that the 
end face 57 of roller body 55 without the extended teeth is positioned 
snugly against the end face 59 of roller body 53. The extended teeth on 
roller body 53 interlock with the teeth of the second body 55. Thereafter 
the second roller body is secured upon drive shaft 51 by set screws 67 or 
other fastener. It is contemplated that the mounting of the respective 
roller bodies 53 and 55 could include a suitable key interposed between 
respective bodies and drive shaft 51. 
The present descaler roll 43, because of its unique design with the 
corresponding roller bodies 53 and 55, has an increased life expectancy. 
This is achieved by reversing the roller bodies 53 and 55 upon the drive 
shaft 51. Roller body 53 is positioned first on drive shaft 51 with 
elongated teeth 61 extending axially inward. Then the roller body 55 is 
positioned on shaft 51 with the elongated teeth 61 facing roller 53 so 
that they interlock with teeth 61 on end face 57 of roller body 53, and 
are thus secured end to end. Simply by reversing the first roller body 53 
and roller body 55, the descaler roll 43 has new sharp edges 63. 
A similar construction of the elongated blades as rearwardly inclined is 
characteristic of all three of the descaler rolls 43, 45 and 47, FIGS. 1, 
2, 4 and 5. 
The present improved descaler roll 43 as affixed upon drive shaft 51 is 
parallel to the respective feed roll drive shafts 21 which through 
suitable pulleys and a belt 35 is connected to output shaft 28 of motor 
27. Since it is directly connected to said motor, the descaler roll 43 may 
rotate at 3,000 rpm, for illustration. 
Of importance in connection with descaler roll 43 is that the teeth 61 
converge rearwardly and serve as a guide means to assure a path of 
rectilinear movement of the fish F as they move thereover upon their one 
sides upon conveyor rolls 23. 
There is provided a centrally spaced additional descaler roll 45, FIGS. 1 
and 4, wherein between the support plates or disks 71 mounted and secured 
upon drive shaft 49 are a series of more steeply and inwardly inclined 
blades 73. These are for operatively engaging side portions of fish F not 
engaged by the firt descaler roll 43. 
The central depressed portion of descaler roll 45 also functions to 
centralize and guide the fish along a rectalinear path on conveyor 
assembly 23. The driven shaft 49 is mounted upon journal blocks 19 upon 
rails 17 and with suitable pulleys and belt 35 is connected to motor shaft 
28 and is power rotated at 3,000 rpm in the illustrative embodiment. 
The third descaler roll 47, FIGS. 1 and 5, includes power driven shaft 69 
connected to motor drive shaft 28 and having secured thereon an opposed 
pair of blade elements 47. Each of the blade elements includes a support 
disk 77 mounting a suitable bushing 79. Steeply inclined blades 75 at 
their one ends are secured to the respective disks 77 as by welding and at 
their other ends are suitably secured as by welding to the bushings 79, 
FIG. 5. 
The opposed pair of descaler rolls 47 with their blades at an increased and 
steeper angle than the angle of the blades 73 are adapted to operatively 
engage other side portions of the fish in order to remove the remainder of 
the scales as the fish F passes thereover. 
Power driven shaft 69, FIGS. 1 and 5, extends through bushings 79, is 
affixed thereto and is parallel to the other shafts 49, 37 and 21. Shaft 
69 through suitable pulleys and belt 35, FIG. 1, is conneced to motor 
output shaft 28 for power rotation at 3,000 rpm, for illustration. 
HOLD DOWN AND GUIDE MECHANISM 
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 as the fish F lying on one side is fed by the 
belt 41 onto the conveyor rolls 23, its undersurface is operatively 
engaged by the longitudinally spaced descaler rolls 43, 45 and 47 which 
due to their different shapes, and the inclination of respective cutting 
blades are adapted to remove the scales from one side of the fish. 
During the scale removing operation there is provided a resilient yieldable 
hold down mechanism, FIGS. 6 and 7, which operatively and yieldably 
engages the opposite side of the fish as it moves successively along a 
rectilinear path over the conveyor rolls 23 throughout the length of 
scaling machine 11. 
Forming a part of the fish scaling machine upon framework 13 is a pair of 
laterally spaced longitudinally extending rails 81 which are spaced above 
the feed rolls 23 and the descaler rolls 43, 45 an 47. Upon the rails 81 
are mounted the present fan shaped longitudinally overlapping blades 83, 
FIGS. 6 and 7. These blades are adapted to operatively engage the opposite 
side of a fish during the descaling operation. 
Spanning the rails 81 are a series of longitudinally spaced rock shafts 93 
journaled within bushings 94 upon said rails. There are a plurality of fan 
shaped overlapping and longitudinally extending hold down blades 83, whose 
opposite sides 85 extend angularly outward, downwardly and whose forward 
end portions at 87 diverge rearwardly. These blades are of such shape as 
to operatively yieldably engage the opposite side of fish F from which the 
scales are being removed, FIG. 7. 
Each of the fan shaped blades 83 is independently mounted for its own 
pivotal yielding movements with respect to the fish moving thereunder. The 
mounting of the respective blades 83 includes for each blade a support bar 
89 which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly corresponding to the 
inclination of the respective blade 83, FIG. 7, and affixed thereto as at 
91. As shown in FIG. 6, the bars 89 are laterally displaced with respect 
to the longitudinal axis of the respective blade 83 so as to provide 
suitable clearance for the succeeding and adjacent support bars of 
adjacent blades in the overlapping manner shown, FIGS. 6 and 7. 
Each support bar 89 extends upwardly and rearwardly, past the corresponding 
rock shafts 93 and is secured thereto as by the weld 95. Bars 89 terminate 
in the upright extensions 97, FIG. 7. Brackets 99 are adjustably mounted 
upon the support bar extensions 97 and are suitably secured thereto. Each 
bracket includes an apertured ear 101 which receives as at 103 one end of 
elongated coil spring 105. Its opposite ends is anchored to one of the 
support rails 81 as at 107. 
The respective successively aligned and overlapped fan shaped hold down 
blades 83 are at all times biased towards the descaling rolls 43, 45 and 
47. Thus they are adapted to yieldably engage the opposite side of the 
fish as it moves over the respective descaler rolls on the feed conveyor 
23 to assist descaling in a continuous manner. The succeeding fish are in 
alignment centrally of descaling rolls 43, 45 and 47 and conveyor assembly 
23. 
Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the following 
claims.