Patent GB-110539-A (GB)
Title: A Method of and Apparatus for Gutting Herrings and other Fish.
Inventor: JZN NICOLAAS VAN DEN BERG
IPC: A22C25/14
Filed: 1917-08-04
Abstract: 110,539. Berg, N. van den, Berg, P. van den, Berg, D. van den, and Berg, J. van den. Oct. 18, 1916, [Convention date]. Fish, treating.-Herrings and other fish are gutted by a mechanically operated scissors-like tool which draws out the gills and other refuse parts. Fig. 1 shows a machine comprising a fish-holder 1 on an inter. mittently-rotating shaft 2. The gills &c. of a fish are cut and removed by a pair of cutters and grippers 6, 7 on two parallel spindles 8, 9, the necessary oscillating and longitudinal movements being derived from a spindle 27 and cam-levers 28<a>, 28<b>. The machine, one or more of which are mounted on a beam 26, comprises a guide 25 in which slides longitudinally a block 10 carrying the spindles 8, 9 and also a structure of bars 19, 20 carrying a vertically movable framework of bars 21 - - 24. The rotation of the shaft 27 in the direction of the arrow causes the arm 28<a> to bear upon the part 23, forcing to the left the bars 19 - - 24 and the slide 10 on which they arc mounted. At the end of the leftward movement, a protuding part 30 on the bar 21, passes from under a roller 31 on a post 32 on the beam 26, so that the arm 28<a> is enabled to lift the frame of bars 21 - - 24, which rise on the bars 19, 20 and lift a bar 18, and by means of links and levers 16, 14, rotate the spindles 8, 9, so as to open the grippers 6, 7. A further rotation of the shaft 27 causes the arm 28b to bear against the bar 24, moving the slide 10 and the bars 19- 24 to the right. The bars 21 - - 24 are, during this movement, maintained in their raised position by a roller 34 on the post 32 engaging with the projecting part 33 of the bar 22, thus keeping open the grippers 6, 7 until they have reached the extreme position to the right. The frame 21 - - 24 is then sustained by arm 28<b>, and descends gradually and at the end of the descent, suddenly closes the grippers 6, 7 upon the gills &c. of the fish in the holder 1. The holder consists of a block containing two grooves 3 in which the fish are placed singly, back downwards. The nose is positioned against a stopplate and the body is supported by lugs 5. The grippers 6, 7, shown also in Figs. 4 and 6, have serrations or the like on their rear parts 11, 12 to enable them to grip the gills firmly. The grippers being thus closed on the gills, a further rotation of the shaft 27 moves them with the slide 10 &c. to the left, thus drawing out the refuse parts, which fall from the machine when the slide &c. reaches its extreme left position. The fish is held in the block 1 by a block 46 which is mounted on the free ends of bars 42 pivoted on uprights 41 and fitted slideably in pivoted blocks 44 on the bar 24, so that the block 46 rises and falls with the frame 21 - - 24. At the extreme left position of the slide 10 &c., the shaft 2 and holder 1 are rotated by a rack 35 and pinion 37. The rack 35 is pivoted on the pivot connecting the link 16 and lever 14 actuating one of the spindles 8, and is lifted with the frame of bars 21 - - 24 by the action of the arm 28a. At the end of the upward movement the upper face of a projection 38 on the rack 35 engages with one side of a squared part 39 of the shaft 2 and positions the holder 1 rigidly for receiving the fish.