Patent GB-643176-A (GB)
Title: Fish-filleting machines
IPC: A22C25/16
Filed: 1947-10-20
Abstract: 643,176. Filleting fish. ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES CO. Oct, 20, 1947, No. 27969. Convention date, Nov. 16, 1946. [Class 28(ii)] In a machine for shaving fillets off each side of a fish such as described in Specification 637,126, the tail of a fish is directed by a tail elevator trough 48 into a tail guide 80 from which it is received by the filleting wheels 26 and the hold down discs 34. The tail elevator trough is pivoted and so balanced that the weight of the fish pivots it down so that the tail is inserted in the tail guide 80. This mechanism, however, is preceded by preliminary feeding devices operating as follows. A decapitated but ungutted fish is fed, tail leading and back down. through a feed trough and centering trough by pushers (not shown) on a continuous chain, all as in Specification 572,935. The fish is pushed from a centering trough not shown in this specification into and through the tilting trough 48, the dorsal fin entering a channel 172 in the fin guide plate 170. Before the fish is pushed through the tilting trough 48, Fig. 3, it passes between two swivel gates 195 and 220, Fig. 10, with spring pressed sides to hold it vertical. In passing through the first gate 195 the dorsal fin guide 214 combs out and straightens the dorsal fin. In passing through the second gate 220 the tail passes between guides 250 which hold the tail in the channel extension 260. The swivel plate of each gate are coupled together to swing out equally as the thicker parts of the fish pass through. These plates then swing back by spring action. As the fish leaves the channel 260 at the second gate, the tail enters and passes through the tail elevator trough 48 and the plates 242 maintain the fish vertical. When the tail elevator trough is pivoted down by the fishes' weight to direct the tail into the guide 80 the dorsal fin is in position to p a s s through the first dorsal fin comb 72. The fish when received by the hold down discs 34 is pressed down to rotate the elevator arm 10 clockwise about its pivot 12 whereby the tilting trough 48 is tilted up about its pivot 180 to receive the next fish. Meanwhile the upper end of the elevator arm 10 moves horizontally towards an extension 260 which engages the elevator trough 48 and extends therein. When the tilting trough 48 tilts down a rod 263 cooperates with a cup 261 on a gear segment 234 whereby the gate parts 220 and the attached plates 242 move apart thus clearing the-trough. The heavier body part of the fish passes from the extension 260 riding over the top edges of the trough 48. The dorsal fin, having passed through the first dorsal fin comb 72. passes between back supports 116, through a second dorsal fin comb '112, then between a dorsal fin guide 114, while the back of the fish rides over a back support 116 for feed into the filleting knives 26 between which the dorsal fin is thereby directed. As the fish passes through the tail guide 80 its sides move apart against a torsion spring. When the trough 48 is. tilted down its exit end lies in the pocket 118. The dorsal fin passes between the yieldable comb parts of 118 and then into the dorsal fin guides 114. When the fish has left the trough 48, the trough returns to its normal upward slope by a spring 62.