Patent GB-452688-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in means and method of filleting fish
IPC: A22C25/16
Filed: 1935-10-04
Abstract: 452,688. Endless - chain conveyers. HUNT, W. H., 270.5, B Avenue, National City, California, U.S.A. Oct. 4, 1935, No. 27501. Convention date, Nov. 26, 1934. [Class 78 (i)] [See also Group VI] In a machine for the filleting of fish, these are pushed singly, tails first and bellies up, through pivoted gates 21, which are allowed to open under spring action when levers 24 are disengaged from the gates by the passage of the guides 9 on conveyer chains 8. The fish tail is gripped by spiked clamp members 10, 13 which arc slidable in the guides 9 and are projected or withdrawn by rollers 11, 12 engaging cam tracks. The guides 9 are positioned when traversing the upper run of the conveyer by sliding engagement with strips 19 which are longitudinally curved to constrain the upper run of the conveyer into an arcuate path over the jockeys 7. After leaving the gates 21, the fish rests upon a back fin straightener frame 26 having a longitudinal slot 26<a>, side walls the upper parts of which diverge, a shelf 26<c> closing the forward end of the slot 26<a>, and a series of inwardly directed fin deflectors 26<c> which terminate in springy elements 27 which draw across the spines of the fins and spread to their maximum width. The frame 26 is pivoted to swinging guards 30 for the knives 29 and also at 18<a>. It is urged upwardly by a spring 32 in such manner that the frame is adjusted, as explained below, to the size or section of the fish. The frame 26 carries thin fin guiding plates 33 to ensure the accurate presentation of the fish to the knives 29 which are spaced sufficiently to receive the back fin between them. The fish is held against the knives 29 by a retainer guard 34b on pivoted arms 34<a> and by a pair of serrated idler wheels 36 on arms 35<a> which cause the frame 26 to tilt downwardly when the section of the fish increases in height. Cam portions on the arms 35<a> normally rest on the strips 19 and are engaged by the guides 9 as they pass, thereby delaying the action of the wheels 36 until the more substantial parts of the fish are thereunder. A pair of plates 40 are arranged to reciprocate alongside of and closely adjacent to the knives 29, the ends 40<a> being formed as piercing knife portions. The tail of the fish is first sliced by the knives 29 whereupon the plates 40 are moved past the knives 29 towards the frame 26, in such manner that the plates 40 engage the sides of the backbone and guide it accurately between the knives 29. The reciprocation of the plates is effected by pivoted cams 41, 43 actuated by the guides 9 and links 42, 44 connecting the cams and the plates 40. The plates 40, at one end of their reciprocations, are in proximity to spaced rotary discs 46 which receive the fish from the plates, the back fins and back spines being guided between the discs by thin metal plates 52 resting against the outer faces of the discs. Whilst the fish is on the plates 40, the belly fins are straightened by a pivoted frame 55 similar in construction to the frame 26, the belly fins being thus directed between spaced bellyslitting disc knives 47 opposed to the discs 46. When the fish is received by the discs 36 engaging the incisions made by the knives 29, the clamp members 10, 13 move downwardly around the end sprockets of the conveyer, and are cam-actuated to release the fish tail. The feeding of the fish is continued by the action of the discs 36 and knives 47, the fish being supported beyond the discs and knives by spaced severing and ribbing blades 61 which engage the incisions. The tail, being now unsupported, sags downwardly between the blades 61 which, at the upper parts adjacent to the discs 46, are sharpened, to cut the flesh on each side of the backbone to connect the upper and lower incisions. In the direction of travel of the fish, the upper parts of the blades 61 diverge and are sharpened to form rib scraping or removing portions. Further along, the blades 61 are formed with horizontal shelf portions 61<d> which support the fillets as the remaining connection between the fillets and the bony part of the fish is severed bv disc knives 63. The fish is moved along the blades 61 by a conveyer-like structure comprising toothed pivoted arms 70 which bear against the inside of the belly of the fish adjacent to its backbone, the arms being staggered and relatively offset to engage the fish on each side of the spikes extending from the backbone. The arms 70 are retracted during the inoperative portions of their travel, by arms 70<c> engaging cam tracks 71, 72.