Abstract:
An apparatus and method for removing a pin bone or pin bones from a fillet of fish. The apparatus of the present invention uses a rotating stack of individual disks that are engaged by a shaft, oscillate axially and are timed to alternately tilt in a rapid fashion so as to effect the action of multiple pairs of tweezers. The pin bone is disposed between a pair of tweezer or two adjacent rotating disks and pulled out of the fillet by the rotating disks. The rotating stack of individual disks operates at different speeds in an operation circle to enhance the operational efficiency.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/190,820, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Removing Pin Bones,” which was filed on Mar. 21, 2000, and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/253,262, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Removing Pin Bones,” filed Feb. 19, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,614, which itself claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/075,316, filed Feb. 20, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for removing bones from a fish and, more specifically, for removing pin bones from a fillet of salmon, pollack, mackerel, trout, whitefish, haddock, scrod, and the like. 
     2. Background Art 
     Fish possess a skeletal structure that has a vertebral column, or back bone, from which spines extend upwardly (dorsal spines) and downwardly (ventral spines). No ventral spines are located in the region of the fish&#39;s belly cavity, however. Vertebrae extend over the top of the belly cavity for a short distance on either side of the mid-line, from which rib bones depend and curve downwardly to enclose the belly. Pin bones extend horizontally from the rib bones and terminate at or near the skin. There are about forty pin bones in salmon. 
     The normal method of filleting fish, by hand or machine, is to cut through the fish following the line of the bones from the dorsal to ventral fins and to pass over the rib bones, which severs the connections between the pin bones and the rib bones. Thus, a line of pin bones remains in the fillet. 
     There are two methods commonly used to remove the remaining pin bones from the fillet: cutting out the pin bones or pulling them out. For the first option, filleting machines exist in the prior art that can produce bone-free fish fillets, but the yield is substantially lowered since the whole belly flap is cut off to ensure complete removal of the pin bones. The flesh of the belly flap can be recovered in a minced form after its passage through a bone separating device. 
     However, since salmon and other fish are expensive, removal of the pin bones without extracting substantial quantities of meat is desired. Thus, the second option of pin bone removal is used, which is to pull the bones out of the fillet. The oldest technique is pulling out the bones using a gripping tool, such as pliers. However, this option is time-consuming and labor-intensive, which results in higher cost to the consumer and potential injuries to the workers, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. 
     Therefore, a need exists in the art for a relatively inexpensive device to remove pin bones from fish. It is desired that the device can be used in an automated process, instead of having an operator who removes the bones by manually maneuvering a machine. Still another need in the art is for a device that reliably extracts the pin bones without removing a significant amount of meat from the fillet, creating an unattractive surface appearance, or otherwise damaging the fillet. 
     New apparatus and method have been developed to meet these and other needs in the art. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/253,262, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, in one aspect discloses an apparatus and method utilizing a plurality of substantially identical, spring-tempered sheet metal disks that each has a periphery that can be linear or non-linear to removing pin bones. The disks are assembled on a splined shaft to form a stack of the disks aligned so that the peripheries form an alternating pattern of “pinch-points,” in which the periphery of two disks contact each other, and gaps, in which the peripheries are separated from each other. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to removing pin bones from a fillet of salmon, pollack, mackerel, trout, whitefish, haddock, scrod, and the like. The present invention, in one aspect, relates to an apparatus and method for removing a pin bone or pin bones from a fillet or like which use a rotating assembly or stack of individual disks that are engaged by a shaft, oscillate axially and are timed to alternately tilt in a rapid fashion so as to effect the action of multiple pairs of tweezers. The pin bone is disposed between a pair of tweezer or two adjacent rotating disks and pulled out of the fillet by the rotating disks. The rotating stack of individual disks operates at different speeds in an operation circle to enhance the operational efficiency. Various types of disks, such as disks disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/253,262 and disks existing in the prior art, can be utilized in the present invention. 
     Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention provides a pin bone removal apparatus comprising a frame having a first end and an opposed second end defining an axis therebetween, a plurality of disks, each disk having a center, a periphery circumscribing the center to form an opening, a diameter, a first side, and an opposed second side, and a shaft positioned between the first end and the second end of the frame and rotatable around the axis of the frame. The shaft has a circumference of a size to be complementarily received by and disposed through the opening in each disk to form a stack of the disks having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the axis of the frame. The apparatus further includes a first movable arm and a second movable arm positioned apart from the first movable arm thereby to define a space therebetween for receiving the stack of the disks therein. The first and second movable arms can move synchronously along the axis of the frame to cause the stack of the disks to move along with them to process a fillet or fillets. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a pin bone removal apparatus comprising a frame having a first end and an opposed second end defining an axis therebetween, a plurality of disks, each disk having a center, a periphery circumscribing the center to form an opening, a diameter, a first side, and an opposed second side, and a shaft positioned between the first end and the second end of the frame and rotatable around the axis of the frame. The shaft has a circumference of a size to be complementarily received by and disposed through the opening in each disk to form a stack of the disks having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the axis of the frame. The apparatus further includes at least one endless belt for transferring a fillet, wherein the endless belt has a top surface and a lower surface opposite the top surface. A floating feed roller is positioned above the top surface of the endless belt, and a nose roller is positioned beneath the top surface of the endless belt, thereby defining a space between the floating feed roller and the nose roller to allow the fillet to pass therethrough to the stack of the disks to be processed. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a pin bone removal apparatus comprising means for positioning the fillet over a stack of a plurality of disks at a first position, each disk having a center and a periphery that circumscribes the center to form an opening, the stack of the disks having a longitudinal axis extending through the centers of the disks, and means for moving the stack of the disks in a first direction longitudinally at a first speed and the fillet relative to each other so that the pin bone is disposed intermediate the periphery of two adjacent disks in the stack and removed thereby as the pin bone engages a portion of the periphery of each of the two adjacent disks, and moving the stack of the disks at a second speed in a second direction opposite the first direction substantially back toward the first position, wherein the second speed and the first speed are different. 
     In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of removing a pin bone from a fillet comprising the steps of positioning the fillet over a stack of a plurality of disks at a first position, each disk having a center and a periphery that circumscribes the center, the stack of the disks having a longitudinal axis extending through the centers of the disks, moving the stack of the disks in a first direction longitudinally at a first speed and the fillet relative to each other so that the pin bone is disposed intermediate the periphery of two adjacent disks in the stack and removed thereby as the pin bone engages a portion of the periphery of each of the two adjacent disks, and returning the stack of the disks at a second speed toward the first position, wherein the second speed and the first speed are different. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of one disk used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the first embodiment of a stack of the disks, one of which is shown in FIG. 1, in which gaps and pinch-points are formed between the peripheries of adjacent disks in the stack. 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a stack of the disks, in which disks are substantially planar and the sides of the disks are aligned in a parallel arrangement. 
     FIG. 4 shows a top view of one disk used in the second embodiment shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a partial side view of a pin bone removing apparatus of the present invention using one of the stacks of the disks shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the nose roller used in the pin bone removing apparatus shown in FIG. 5 at a first position. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the nose roller used in the pin bone removing apparatus shown in FIG. 5 at a second position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in the specification and in the claims, “a,” “an,” and “the” can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. The preferred embodiment is now described with reference to the figures, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the figures. 
     To start the process, a fish is gutted and decapitated. A machine or operator then longitudinally cuts as close to the dorsal spines as is practical, without cutting into the bones, to leave the maximum quantity of meat on a fillet F. However, the longitudinal cut also severs the pin bones from the rib bones so that the pin bones remain within the fillet F. 
     Referring generally to FIGS. 1-7, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing a pin bone or pin bones (not shown) that remain in the fillet F. The present invention uses a plurality of disks aligned and positioned relative to each other, in which relative movement exists between the fillet F and the disks. The disks engage and hold the pin bone and the relative motion therebetween causes the pin bone to be plucked out of the fillet F. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, each disk  20  has a center  22 , a periphery  24  circumscribing the center  22  to form an opening therein, a first side  26 , and an opposed second side  28 . The disks  20  are preferably formed of spring-tempered sheet metal that is corrosion resistant, but can be formed from any suitable material including plastics and metals. The disks  20  are substantially circular in plan view, i.e., a view of the first side  26  or the second side  28  from directly above or below when the disk  20  is horizontally disposed. The disks  20  also have a diameter extending from opposed portions of the periphery  24  through the center  22  of the disk  20 . The diameter of the disks  20  can be varied according to the needs; in one embodiment, the diameter is between 2 and 10 inches. If the shape of the disk  20  is not circular in plan view (e.g., elliptical), then the diameter would be the “effective” diameter, which is calculated using the area of the cross section. That is, 
     
       
           D= 4×( A /π) 0.5 =2.26×( A ) 0.5 , 
       
     
     in which D is the effective diameter, A is the cross-sectional area, and π is the constant pi. 
     The first side  26  and the second side  28  of each of disks  20  can be non-planar or substantially planar. FIG. 1 shows a non-planar disk  20  used in one embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the periphery  24  of each disk  20  is non-linear to form a wavy pattern when the first and second sides  26 ,  28  are horizontally disposed. In contrast, a compact disk is substantially planar and has a linear periphery. The disks  20  are usually pressed to assume the wave form in their respective peripheries  24 . 
     Still referring to FIG. 1, the periphery  24  of the disk  20  forms a plurality of upwardly positioned sections  30 , a plurality of downwardly positioned sections  32 , and a plurality of connecting sections  34  in the periphery  24  that connect the upwardly and downwardly positioned sections  30 ,  32 . The upwardly and downwardly positioned sections  30 ,  32  sequentially alternate around the periphery  24  of the disk  20 . The upwardly positioned sections  30  of the periphery  24  are substantially coplanar with each other and the downwardly positioned sections  32  are also substantially coplanar with each other. Accordingly, the connecting sections  34  are disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to the upwardly and downwardly positioned sections  30 ,  32 . Thus, when disposed on a horizontal surface as shown in FIG. 1, the disk  20  rests on three equally-spaced portions of its periphery  24 , which are the downwardly positioned sections  32 , and three opposite and equally-spaced portions extend upwardly, which are the upwardly positioned sections  30 . 
     As one skilled in the art will appreciate, other patterns of wavy peripheries  24  can be used, such as a sinusoidal pattern, a squared step pattern, and the like. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a plurality of the non-planar disks  20  can be utilized to form a stack  40 . Specifically, the present invention encompasses a means for positioning the disks  20  relative to each other to form the stack  40 . The centers  22  of each of the disks  20  are aligned substantially linearly with each other so that the stack  40  has a longitudinal axis LA extending through the centers  22  of each of the disks  20 . Also, the diameters of the disks  20  are substantially the same. Alternatively, the diameters of the disks  20  can be different. 
     The periphery  24  of adjacent disks  20  in the stack  40  are separated from each other at different distances. The closest distance separating the peripheries  24  of two adjacent disks  20  is less than the width of the pin bones in the fillet F. Preferably, portions of the respective peripheries  24  of the adjacent disks  20  contact each other, which, obviously, is the closest distance separating the peripheries  24  of two adjacent disks  20  in the stack  40 . The contacting portions of the peripheries  24  of the disks  20  are known as “pinch-points”  42 . Gaps  44  exist between the radially separated pinch-points  42 , in which the respective peripheries  24  of the adjacent disks  20  contact each other at one pinch-point  42 , bow away from each other to form a gap  44 , and then converge again to form another pinch-point  42 . Preferably the separation distance of the peripheries  24  of adjacent disks  20  forming the gaps  44  is, at a minimum, at least twice the width of the pin bones in the fillet F. In one embodiment, the widest portion of the radially extending gap  44  is approximately 0.125 inches. 
     Still referring to FIG. 2, one of the disks  20  in the stack  40  can be considered to be a first disk  46  and an adjacent disk considered to be a second disk  48 . Each of the downwardly positioned sections  32  of the periphery  24  of the first disk  46  is in registry with and contacts one respective upwardly positioned section of the periphery  24  of the second disk  48  to form a pinch-point  42 . In conjunction, each of the upwardly positioned sections  30  of the first disk  46  is in registry with and is spaced apart from one respective downwardly positioned section of the second disk  48  to form the widest portion of a radially extending gap  44 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the disks  20  in the stack  40  each can be substantially planar. For the planar disks, the sides of the disks  20  can be aligned in a parallel arrangement with the sides of adjacent disks along the longitudinal axis LA. In this arrangement, the sides of the two adjacent disks in the stack  40  are substantially parallel to each other, but can be tilted so that the sides of two adjacent disks in the stack  40  may move toward to each other and form a single pinch-point as described below. 
     Different structures can be used for positioning disks relative to each other to form the stack  40 , depending on whether the disks  20  are non-planar or planar. Referring now to FIG. 2, to address the means for positioning the non-planar disks  20  relative to each other to form the stack  40 , the center  22  of each disk  20  preferably defines an opening  36  therethrough. The stationary positioning means include a shaft (not shown) having a circumference of a size to be complementarily received by and disposed through the opening  36  in each disk  20  so that the shaft is disposed along the longitudinal axis LA of the stack  40 . Optionally, the opening  36  in each of the disks  20  further defines a keyway  38  and the shaft is splined to be complementarily received in the keyway  38  of the opening  36 . Thus, the interface of the keyway  38  and the spline prevent relative rotational movement between the shaft and the disks  20  in the stack  40 . FIG. 2 shows the disks  20  aligned to be assembled on the splined shaft forming an alternating pattern of pinch-points  42  and gaps  44 . Also, the stationary positioning means can include an appropriate spacer (not shown) between each disk  20  in the stack  40  to provide the desired axial tension. This assembly of the disks  20  and spacers on a shaft can be of any suitable length. In one embodiment, each stack  40  can include about 132 disks per linear foot. Other arrangements can be made to accommodate, for instance, the size of the fish to be processed. 
     The means positioning the planar disks  20  relative to each other to form the stack  40  can have different structures. As shown in FIG. 3, the positioning means  50  has a shaft  52  having a circumference of a size to be complementarily received by and disposed through the opening  36  in each disk  20  so that the shaft is disposed along the longitudinal axis LA of the stack  40 . The shaft  52  has a first end  52   a  and a second end  52   b . Additionally, the shaft  52  defines a plurality of recesses  54 , each recess sized to receive a pair of arms  56   a  and  56   b . More than one pair of arms can be received by the shaft  52 . For the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, up to four (4) pairs of arms can be utilized. It is not necessary for each recess  54  to receive a pair of arms  56   a ,  56   b ; it can just receive a single arm. If more than one arm is utilized, these arms are substantially similar to each other in shape. 
     The first arm  56   a  has a body portion  58  and a teeth portion  60 . The body portion  58  of the first arm  56   a  is sized to be complementarily received by and disposed through the recess  54  so that when shaft  52  rotates, the first arm  56   a  rotates with the shaft  52  as well. The teeth portion  60  is sized to complementarily receive one keyway  38  of the disk  46  therein. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, keyway  38  has a step structure with a first slot  38   a  and a second slot  38   b . The teeth portion of each arm is sized so that when two arms  56   a ,  56   b  are both received in the keyway  38 , the first arm  56   a  is received in slot  38   a  and the second arm  56   b  is received in slot  38   b.    
     Referring back to FIG. 3, the teeth portion  60  of each arm  56   a ,  56   b  contains a plurality of spread apart teeth  64  defining a groove  62  between each adjacent pair of teeth  64 . Each groove  62  is sized to receive one of the disks  20  through the interface of the keyways with the teeth portion  60 . When a disk, say disk  46 , is received within a groove  62 , the opposite sides of the disk  46  each contact two teeth  64  that are adjacent to the groove  62 . The teeth  64  thus function as spacers to position disks  20  of the stack  40  at proper axial locations with appropriate relative axial separation from each other. Therefore, the interface of the keyways  38  and the teeth portion  60  prevents relative rotational movement as well as the relative lateral movement between the shaft  52  and the disks  20  in the stack  40 . Again, the total number of disks  20  in a stack  40  can be easily adjusted according to the need. For the second embodiment of FIG. 3, each stack  40  includes about 86 disks. 
     Preferably, the first arm  56   a  and the second arm  56   b  work in pairs to hold disks  20  in a stack  40 . As shown in FIG. 4, each disk  20  has four keyways  38 . Addressing a single keyway  38 , disk  46  is received by a groove  62  of the first arm  56   a  through the slot  38   b  of the keyway  38 . Disk  48 , adjacent to the disk  46 , has the positions of the slots  38   a ,  38   b  reversed from disk  46  in each of the four keyways  38 . The sides of disk  48  are received by a groove  62  of the second arm  56   b  through the slot  38   a . Accordingly, for the single keyway  38  in disks  46  and  48 , first arm  56   a  engages disk  46  with its teeth  64  and does not contact disk  48  because the corresponding slot is higher and second arm  56   b  engages disk  48  with its teeth and does not contact disk  46 . This pattern is repeated along the longitudinal axis LA, thereby providing a pattern of notches by which each arm  56   a ,  56   b  engages every other disk  20  of the stack  40 . Moreover, the engaging mechanism provided by the shaft  52  and the first arm  56   a  and the second arm  56   b  can also be used to position the non-planar disks  20  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 relative to each other to form a stack  40  with minor modifications. 
     Two stationary first and second cams  66   a ,  66   b  are located near the first end  52   a  of the shaft  52  with first and second cam followers  68   a ,  68   b . Similarly, two similar stationary third and fourth cams  66   c ,  66   d  (not shown) and the third and fourth cam followers  68   c ,  68   d  are located near the second end  52   b  of the shaft  52 . The first cam  66   a  and the second cam  66   b  define a nonlinear surface  69   a , and the third cam  66   c  and the fourth cam  66   d  also define a similar nonlinear surface (not shown). The first and second cam followers  68   a ,  68   b  are connected to the shaft  52  and interface with the nonlinear surface  69   a . Thus, the first and second cam followers  68   a ,  68   b  move back and forth along the longitudinal axis LA when they are rotated by the shaft  52  and contact the nonlinear surface  69   a  that is stationarily positioned circumscribing the shaft  52 . Similarly, the third and fourth cam followers  68   c ,  68   d  interface with the nonlinear surface formed by the third cam  66   c  and the fourth cam  66   d  and also moves along the longitudinal axis LA when they are rotated by the shaft  52 . Each cam follower also engages one arm; for instance, the cam follower  68   b  engages with the arm  56   a  while the cam follower  68   d  engages the arm  56   b . Because the cam followers  68   b  and  68   d  are located at the opposite ends of the shaft  52 , they move in opposite directions. When the shaft  52  rotates, therefore, the second cam follower  68   b  causes the arm  56   a  to move along the longitudinal axis LA and at the same time, the fourth cam follower  68   d  causes the arm  56   b  also to move along the longitudinal axis LA, but in an opposite direction of the axial or longitudinal motion of the arm  56   a , so that the disks received by the arm  56   a  tilt to a first direction, for instance, left, and the disks received by the arm  56   b  tilt to a second direction opposite the first direction, for instance, right. Therefore, two adjacent disks are tilted and bent relative to each other and form a pinch-point at the peripheries of the disks to grip a pin bone. As the shaft  52  continues to rotate, the relative motion of arms  56   a ,  56   b  causes the two adjacent disks to tilt in reverse directions and thus the two disks disengage and separate from each other and the pinch-point no longer exists. Multiple arms can be utilized to form more pinch-points during a complete round of the rotation by the shaft  52 . For the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, four pairs of arms engage the disks  20 . Alternatively, arms can be introduced into different keyways separately. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus  500  that has a frame  502  having a first end  504  and an opposed second end  506  defining an axis LB therebetween. A stack  540  of disks  520  is positioned between the first end  504  and the second end  506 . The disks in the stack  540  are positioned relative to each other by a shaft  552  to form the stack  540  having a longitudinal axis LA. The shaft  552  is positioned between the first end  504  and the second end  506  of the frame  502  such that the longitudinal axis LA of the stack  540  is parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of LB of the frame  502 . The shaft  552  is rotatable about the axis LB of the frame  502 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the axis LB of the frame  502  and the longitudinal axis LA of the stack  540  are parallel. In the following text, unless otherwise specified, the axis LB of the frame  502  and the longitudinal axis LA of the stack  540  are thus considered as one axis and interchangeable. 
     As discussed above for FIGS. 1-4, each of the disks  520  of the stack  540  has a center, a periphery circumscribing the center to form an opening, a diameter, a first side, and an opposed second side. The disks  520  of the stack  540  can have the same or different geometric shape or size, be made from the same or different materials, and have openings with a different shape or size. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the disks  520  of the stack  540  are substantially the same. The opening of each disk  520  of the stack  540  can be substantially circular, elliptical, rectangular, square, or another geometric shape. The shaft  552  has a circumference of a size to be complementarily received by and disposed through the opening in each disk thereby to form the stack  540 . Thus, the shaft  552  cross-sectionally can be substantially circular, elliptical, rectangular, square, or another geometric shape. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the shaft  552  is cylindrical with a circular cross-section. The embodiments of the stack of the disks  520  and the shaft shown in FIGS. 1-4 can be utilized as the stack  540  and the shaft  552  in FIG. 5 to practice the present invention. For example, shaft  552  can be cam-operated to drive the disks  520  as discussed above and shown in FIGS. 3-4. Alternatively, other types of the disks and complimentary shafts can also be used to practice the present invention. 
     Still referring to FIG. 5, the apparatus  500  has a first movable arm  512  and a second movable arm  514 , which are positioned apart from each other to define a space  515  therebetween to receive the stack  540  of the disks  520 . A first clamping device  566  associates or couples one end  542  of the stack  540  with the first movable arm  512 , and a second clamping device  568  associates or couples the other end  544  of the stack  540  with the second movable arm  514 , respectively. Each clamping device can include and use cam and cam follower means as discussed above and shown in FIG. 3. A motor  516  is coupled to the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514  to drive the arms  512 ,  514 . An additional transmission devices  517  engages the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514  and the motor  516  so that the motor  516  can drive the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514  to move synchronously along the axis LB. The motor  516  is coupled to the transmission device  517  which drives a lead screw  513  that is threaded through a follower  511  fixed to the frame  502 . Because the stack  540  of the disks  520  is engaged to the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514 , the axial movement of the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514  causes the stack  540  of the disks to move along with them. In this embodiment, the frame  502  is set up to allow the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514 , together with the stack  540 , to move back and forth vertically. Alternatively, the frame  502  can be set up to allow the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514 , together with the stack  540 , to move horizontally. 
     The apparatus  500  further includes means for rotating the stack  540  of the disks  520  about its longitudinal axis LA. The rotating means can be a motor  518  or the like that produces a rotational output to which the shaft  552  of the stack  540  is coupled. The motor  516  and the motor  518  can be different, as shown in FIG.  5 . Alternatively, they can be just one single motor to drive the first and second movable arms  512  and  514  and to rotate the shaft  552  with proper transmission gears and/or control device, such as a controller (not shown). 
     Still referring to FIG. 5, the apparatus  500  has means for positioning a fillet F (or fillets) over the stack  540  of the disks  520 . In one embodiment, the position means has a longitudinally extending endless belt  570 , where the endless belt  570  has a top surface  572  that moves in the first direction FD. The endless belt  570  is positioned in a spaced-apart relationship to the frame  502  so that the longitudinal axis LA of the stack  540  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first direction FD. 
     Additionally, a floating feed roller  590  having a segment  592  and a wheel  596  is mounted to the segment  592 . One end  594  of the segment  592  is pivotally connected to a supporting frame (not shown) or other type of support. The wheel  596  is rotatably connected to the other end of the segment  592  and has an outer perimeter  598  adapted to roll over the upper side U of the fillet F as it moves in the first direction FD. 
     A nose roller  580  is positioned beneath the top surface  572  of the endless belt  570 , as shown in FIG.  5 . The nose roller  580  and the feed roller  590  are positioned relative to each other to define a space therebetween to allow the fillet F, which is carried by the endless belt  570 , to pass therethrough to be positioned so as to be in contact with the stack  540  of the disks  520 . The nose roller  580  also can provide support and at least partial driving force to the endless belt  570 . A roller  571  can also provide driving force to the endless belt  570 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, the nose roller  580  has a center  582  and a plurality of spikes  584  at the periphery of the nose roller  580 . The nose roller  580  is movable between a first position O 1  and a second position O 2 . At the first position, where the center  582  of the nose roller  580  is substantially located at O 1 , the spikes  584  of the nose roller  580 , which are in direct contact with the lower surface  574  of the endless belt  570 , exert pressure to the fillet F through the endless belt  570  and carry the fillet F to come into contact with the stack  540  of the disks  520  without significant slipping. Alternatively, the endless belt  570  can have a plurality of openings therethrough in registry with the spikes  584  to allow the spikes  584  to pass through and engage the fillet F. Because the nose roller  580  rotates continuously during the operation, the fillet F is carried approximately in a 90 degrees of rotation at the edge of the endless belt  570  when the fillet F comes into contact with the stack  540  of the disks  520 . Additionally, the wheel  596  of the feed roller  590  cooperates with the nose roller  580  to exert a nominal amount of pressure to the upper side U of the fillet F to secure the fillet F to the spikes  584  as the fillet F moves through the space between the nose roller  580  and the feed roller  590  in the first direction FD. 
     Although not necessary to function properly, once the whole fillet F passes over the nose roller  580 , the nose roller  580  can retract from the first position O 1  to the second position O 2 . At the second position O 2 , where the center  582  of the nose roller  580  is substantially located at O 2 , the nose roller  580  and therefore the endless belt  570  are positioned away from the stack  540  of the disks  520  so that a space S is defined between the stack  540  of the disks  520  and the nose roller  580  to allow the stack  540  to move at a fast pace when there is no fillet between the stack  540  of the disks  520  and the nose roller  580 . Alternatively, the nose roller  580  can be positioned so that when there is a fillet between the stack  540  of the disks  520  and the nose roller  580 , the spikes  584  of the nose roller  580  can exert pressure to the fillet through the endless belt  570 , and when there is no fillet between the stack  540  of the disks  520  and the nose roller  580 , there is a space between the stack  540  of the disks  520  and the nose roller  580  to allow the stack  540  to move at a fast pace. 
     For the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5-7, the nose roller  580  has spikes  584  to engage with the endless belt  570  and hence the fillet F. Alternatively, the nose roller  580  can have other configurations, such as a wheel with substantially round periphery. 
     Additional elements can be utilized to practice the present invention, such as optional rollers  586 ,  588  shown in FIG. 5, to facilitate the movement of the endless belt  570 . Moreover, a second endless belt  578 , which is positioned underneath the endless belt  570 , can be used to transfer the fillet F out or away from the frame  502  once the fillet F is processed through the stack  540  of the disks  520 . 
     Still referring to FIGS. 5-7, the arm drive motor  516  can be set to cause the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514  to move along the axis LB of the frame  502  at adjustable speeds. In one embodiment, the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514  move at a first speed V 1  when the nose roller  580  is at the first position O 1  and at a second speed V 2  when the nose roller  580  is at the second position O 2 . The first speed V 1  and second speed V 2  can be same or different. When the speed V 2  is chosen as greater than V 1 , the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514  cause the stack  540  of the disks  520  to quickly move back to a starting position after a fillet is processed, which improves the operation efficiency and productivity. A computer or controller (not shown) can be utilized to coordinate various components of the apparatus  500  during the operation. 
     A process of removing a pin bone from a fillet utilizing the apparatus according to the present invention is now described as follows. Referring to FIG. 5, the in-feeding, endless belt  570  carries the fillet F with its skin side in contact with the top surface  572 , towards the stack  540  of the disks  520  in the direction FD. When the fillet F is carried into the space between the feed roller  590  and the nose roller  580 , the feed roller  590  provides a nominal amount of pressure to the fillet F to secure it to the spikes  584  of the nose roller  580 , which is now at the first position O 1 . The nose roller  580  cooperates with the feed roller  590  and carries the fillet F through approximately 90 degrees of rotation to come in contact with the stack  540  of the disks  520 . The stack  540  of the disks  520  rotates about the longitudinal axis LB, which is caused by the rotation of the shaft  552 , and travels vertically downwardly from a start or first position P 1  at a first speed to a second position P 2 . The stack  540  will travel back from the second position P 2  to the first position P 1  at a second speed as discussed in more detail below. The movement from position P 1  to P 2  is caused by the movements of the first movable arm  512  and the second movable arm  514 . The first speed can be chosen to be substantially the same as the speed rate, or a third speed, at which the endless belt  570  carries the fillet F such that the fillet F is steadily fed to the stack  540  of the disks  520 . Thus, as the fillet F moves from being horizontally oriented, to substantially vertically oriented, the upper side of the fillet F contacts and engages the stack  540  of disks  520 , which moves vertically downwardly synchronously with the fillet F. As the fillet F bends or moves from the horizontal to the vertical orientation, the fillet F is positioned adjacent the stack  540  and a portion of the pin bone is disposed in one gap between the peripheries of two adjacent disks in the stack  540 . As the fillet F and the stack  540  of the disks  520  move relative to each other as a result of the rotation of the stack  540 , the pin bone becomes wedged in a portion of the gap as the bone and a pinch-point move closer together. Additional relative motion by rotation of the stack  540  causes the wedged pin bone to be plucked from the fillet F as the fillet F and portion of the periphery that detachably hold the pin bone separate from each other. The resulting removal of the pin bone occurs without removing the meat from the fillet F or creating an unattractive appearance. 
     When the portion of the fillet F that contains pin bones has passed over the nose roller  580 , the nose roller  580  retracts from the first position O 1  to the second position. O 2 , thereby removing the fillet F from contact with the rotating tilting stack  540  of the disks  520 . The fillet F continues to be fed over the nose roller  580  and contacts the out-feed, second endless belt  578 , which carries the fillet F, skin side up, out of the apparatus  500 . Once the nose roller  580  retracts to the second position O 2 , the rotating tilting stack  540  of the disks  520  travels vertically upwardly from the second position P 2  to the starting, first position P 1  at a second speed rate that is greater than the first speed rate. This cycle is repeated when the next fillet is fed into the apparatus  500  and triggers the return of the nose roller  580  to the first position O 1  and the start of the downward movement of the rotating tilting stack  540  of the disks  520 . Thus, the rotating stack  540  is oscillating between the first position P 1  and the second position P 2  with variable speeds to process incoming fillets. Each cycle can be started by the contacting of the feed roller  590  by an incoming fillet, by a switch, by a light beam detector or other suitable electronic detection device, or by any combination of them. The retraction of the nose roller  580  from the first position O 1  to the second position O 2  and the rapid return of the rotating stack  540  can be triggered by, for example, a preset limit switch (not shown) that is set to encompass the length of the pin bone line for the size and species of fish fillets being processed. One advantage of the process performed by the apparatus  500  is that the rotating stack  540  operates at different speeds in an operation circle, which offers a more efficient pin-bone removal apparatus and method. 
     As the fillet F initially contacts the rotating stack  540 , the pin bones that were severed when the head was cut off, are removed. The fillet F is then carried around the nose roller  580  by the downward movement of the rotating stack  540 . Because the fillet F is bent around the nose roller  580 , the pin bone ends are forced to project from the flesh further than when the fillet F is horizontally disposed, and the pin bone ends are then gripped by the rotating disks  520  and removed. The nose roller  580  can be weighted or spring-loaded to provide an amount of pressure on the fillet F against the rotating stack  540 , self-adjusting for the varying thickness of the fillet. Scavenging and removal of the pulled pin bones is by water blast (not shown) directed at the side of the rotating stack  540 . Many fillets can be consecutively fed through the arrangement of components. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus (not shown) can be configured to process fillets simultaneously from each side of the apparatus and will have a duplication of those elements herein described on each side that processes the fillets, with the rotation of the stack of the disks each being in an appropriate direction to accommodate the natural lay of the pin bones in the fillets. 
     Many other variations can be made within the spirit of the present invention. For example, the process could be performed without using the out-feed endless belt. Moreover, the process can be performed by allowing the stack of the disks to move back and forth at different speeds horizontally, in which case the relative position and orientation between the frame  502  and the endless belt  570 , among other things, need to be adjusted accordingly. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except as and to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.