Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Cutting and Gutting Fish.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1897 --Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Cutting and Gutting Fish.
We, GEORGE WILLIAM STEVENSON, Machinist and THEODORE LEAS, Broker,
both of Cramer's Hill, in the County of Camden, State of New Jersey, United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention consists of a machine for cleaning, cutting and gutting fish,
wherein the various and sucessive steps which have heretofore been performed by
hand, are performed mechanically and automatically.
It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter
fully set forth.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.
Figure represents a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof on line a—a
Figure 3.
Figure 3 represents a plan view thereof.
Figure 4 represents an end view thereof.
Figures 6, and 8 represent perspective views of detailed portions of the
machine on an enlarged scale.
Figure 7 represents a vertical section of a cutting device, employed, shown
detached.
Figure 9 represents an elevation of a fish showing in dotted lines the shape of
the cut formed by the machine.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.
Referring to the drawings:-
1 designates the frame or support for the machine, on which is suitably secured
the head 2. Attached thereto or forming part thereof is a guide or trough 3,
the same being provided with standards 4 and having in the bottom thereof the
openings 5 and 6. Journaled in the head 2 of the machine is a shaft 7 which
carries the pulleys 8 and 9 to which power is applied.
Movably attached to said shaft 7 is a cam 10 in which is the slot 11 in which
is adapted to move a stud 12, the latter being attached to or forming part of a
table 13, which has a raised portion 14, and which carries the knife 15, the latter
being provided with an upright portion 16, said table being provided with
lugs which are movably mounted on bars 2 carried in the head 2, and upon
which said table is adapted to move in the direction indicated by the arrow
Figure 7, said head 2 having an opening 17 through which a portion of said
table 13 is adapted to pass when the knife has performed the cutting.
The trough or guide 3 is cut away at 13. and has secured thereto & plate 19,
which is so situated as to leave spaces 20 and 64 between it and the said trough,
in which spaces the knife 15 and upright portion 16 are adapted to enter.
21 designates a cam which is mounted on the shaft 7 and is adapted to contact
with the arm 22 of the elbow lever 23 which is pivoted at 24 to the trough 3.
the other arm 24 of said elbow lever having pivoted thereto at 25 the transferrer 26

page_text: which passes up through the opening 5 in the trough 3. and has the nose piece or
stop 27 adjustably attached thereto, by means of the pin 27*, said nose fitting
in said trough 3 so as to act as a stop for the fish, after it has been placed in said
trough said nose piece being adapted to be adjusted in said trough depending
upon the size of the fish by loosening the pin 27 and moving, the said nose piece
to the desired point, after which the said pin can again be tightened.
A spring 28 has one end-secured to said arm 24 of the elbow lever 23, the other
end being attached to the trough 3, or to any other suitable portion of the head 2,
and is adapted to return the elbow lever to its normal position. If desired other
means may be employed for returning the lever.
Mounted on the shaft 7 is a gear or sprocket 29 around which passes a-chain 30
which also passes around the gear or sprocket 31 which is mounted or carried by
the shaft 32, the latter being supported in the standards 4 on the trough 3, and has
secured thereto the ears 33 in which is movably mounted the arm 34, the same
having secured thereto by the collar 35 the fingers 36 which are formed of rubber
or other elastic or resilient material. and which are substantially V-shaped
having the cut-away portion 37 said fingers having bearing thereagainst the
springs 38 which are secured to the collar 35, and are adapted to hold the fingers
normally in position. as seen in Figure 1.
On said arm 34 is a coiled spring 39. which bears against said ear 33 and said
collar 35. A nut 40 at or near the opposite end of said arm 34 holds the same in
place and allows adjustment thereof, this arrangement permitting a certain play
in the parts as is required.
O
On said shaft 32 is a second sprocket 41. around which passes the chain 42.
which meshes with a sprocket 43, which is carried by the shaft 44, the latter
having secured thereto a lug 45, which carries an arm 46 which carries a finger 47
similar to 38, and has a spring 48 bearing thereagainst, and is further previded
with a coil spring 49, the operation being the same as in the previously described
arm 34.
51 designates a sprocket which is mounted on the shaft 7 around which passes
the chain 52, the same meshing with the sprocket 53 which is carried by the
shaft 54, said shaft having a bearing in the plate 55 which is pivotally attached
at 56 to the head 2 of the machine, and is provided with a slot 57 through which
passes a headed pin 58, the same being adapted to lock said plate to the trough 3,
and if necessary a screw 59 may be employed as an additional fastening device.
Carried on said shaft 54 is a collar 60 Figures 2 and 3 which is provided with
lugs 61 to which are adjustably secured by the bolts 62 the fingers 63, which are
likewise formed of rubber or other elastic material, and which are adapted to
pass up through the opening 6 in the trough 3.
3 Figures 3, 4. and 5 designates spring arms which are immovably attached
to the side of the trough 3, and extend partially over the opening 5 in the bottom
thereof, and upon said spring arms the fish is adapted to rest when it is first
placed in the trough.
The operation is as follows:-
The parts are in the position as seen in Figure 1, and the fish is placed in the
upper end of the trough or guide 3, and its head or nose bearing against the nose
piece 27 of the transferrer 26, which it will be noted is in the path thereof.
The machine is now started, and power is applied to the shaft 7, this causing
the block 10 to revolve therewith, and causing the stud 12 to move in the slot 11,
which gives a reciprocating rectilinear motion thereto and carries with said stud
the table 13, which moves in the direction indicated by the arrow Figure 7, and
with it the knife 15 and upright portion 16, which latter cuts off the head of the
fish, and the portion 16 of the knife removes the lower portion or belly of the
fish, the table 13 passes through the opening 17 and the knife edge 15 through
the opening 20, while the upright portion 16 of the knife enters the space 64 as
seen in Figure 5. The table is now carried back by the stud moving in the slot 11
and with it the knife, so that the same will be removed after the cutting and be
26

page_text: ready for the next operation. Meanwhile the cam 21 which is on the shaft 7 is
turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, and contacts with the
arm 22 of the elbow lever 23 and causes the arm 22 to move in the direction in-
dicated by the arrow in Figure 1, which also moves the arm 24 and carries with
it the transferrer 26, the pin 27 of which strikes the severed head of the fish
and carries the same together with the other portion of the fish which has been cut
away, through the opening 5, said portion falls into a suitable receptacle, said
transferrer 26 continuing its downward movement to a point that the same will
be out of the path of the fish or on a level with the bottom of the trough 3, thus
making the walls and the bottom thereof, continuous and preventing the fish from
being displaced.
The chain 30 which passes around the sprocket 29 has been operated and gives
motion to the shaft 32, which causes the ear 33 and its component parts to be
carried in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. The finger 36
engages with the fish at a point about the rear of the top fin and forces the same
down the trough past the transferrer 26, where it is engaged by the finger 47
which has been operated by reason of the chain 42 giving motion to the shaft 44,
upon which the lug 45 which carries the said finger 47 is mounted. Said finger 47
carries the fish onward until it reaches the fingers 63 which have been caused to
revolve by reason of the movement of the chain 52 which passes around the
sprocket 51 on the shaft 7 and passes around the sprocket 53 which is secured to
the shaft 54 upon which the collar 60 is mounted, which caries said fingers, and
as the fish has been opened said fingers will enter the same and remove the
entrails which will fall through the opening 6 in the trough 3 and be directed
into a proper receptacle the fish being carried past the opening 6 and may be
removed from the trough 3 after having been cleaned etc. and is ready for pickling
or other purposes.
It will be noted that as the finger 36 are of rubber or other suitable material,
the same will bend, and when contacting with the fish, the same will give
slightly so as to engage the body thereof securely and if the pressure should
be too great the spring arms 3 will give to a certain extent, thus preventing
breakage or tearing of the fish, while the said arms will hold the fish upright,
allowing however the same to be passed along by said fingers.
As soon as the cam 21 has passed the arm 22 the spring 28 returns the arm 24
to its normal position which carries with it the transferrer 26, the shafts 33
and 44 meanwhile revolving and carrying with them the arms 34 and 46, so that
the same will be ready for the next operation, which can be repeated, new fish
being placed in the trough as required.
Particular attention is called to the shape of the trough 3, which is practicularly
that if a fish, so that the same will always be held upright to prevent any turning
and to assure the proper cutting of the same.
In the drawings, I have shown a single set of parts, but it will of course be
evident that the parts may be multiplied as many times as desired, the operation
being the same in each case, since by simply extending the various shafts motion
may be imparted to mechanism similar to that shown, and thus a single machine
may have as many guides and necessary parts as desired, depending upon the
amount of work that is to be done.
It will of course be evident that various changes may be made without depart-
ing from my invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to the exact
construction I have herein shown and described, but may make such changes as
will come within the scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: -
1st. In a machine of the character named, a receptacle for a fish, a knife
automatically operated to cut the same, a transferrer in said receptacle which is

page_text: adapted to remove the cut away portions of the fish and means which are suitably
operated to remove the entrails of said fish.
.
2nd. In a machine of the character named, a receptacle for a fish, a knife
suitably operated for cutting the same, a transferrer in said guide for removing
the cut away portions of the fish, mechanism suitably operated for removing the
entrails thereof and means for removing the fish from the knife to said latter
mentioned mechanism.
3rd. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish, a
knife automatically operated to cut the same, a transferrer in said guide which
is adapted to cut away portion of the fish, a nose piece or stop adjustably secured
to said transferred, mechanism suitably operated for removing the entrails of
said fish and mechanism for removing the fish from the knife to said finger.
4th. In a machine of the character named a guide adapted to receive a fish, a
knife automatically operated to cut the same, a transferrer in said guide which is
adapted to act as a stop and to remove the cut away portions of the fish, and
fingers which are suitably operated to remove the entrails of said fish.
5th. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish, a
knife suitably operated for cutting the same, a transferrer in said guide which is
adapted to remove the cut-away portions of the fish, fingers suitably operated for
removing the entrails thereof, and mechanism for moving the fish from the knife
1 said fingers.
6th. In a machine of the character named, a table, means for operating the
same, a knife mounted on said table, a guide adapted to receive the fish, said knife
being adapted to enter said guide, means for holding said fish during the cutting,
fingers suitably operated to remove the entrails of said fish, and arms having
fingers thereon which are adapted to transfer the fish in said guide.
7th. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish,
a power shaft; a cam thereon, a table adapted to be operated by said cam, a knife
carried by said table and means for holding said fish during the operation of
cutting.
8th. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish, a
power shaft, a cam thereon, a table adapted to be operated by said cam, a knife
on said table, means for holding said fish during the operation of cutting, and a
transferrer adapted to act as a stop and be operated to remove the cut-away
portions of the fish.
9th. In a machine of the character named, a guide for the fish, a power shaft,
a table, means on said shaft for imparting motion to said table, a knife carried by
said table. means for holding the fish during the cutting a second shaft mechanism
thereon for removing the entrails of the fish. and means for imparting motion
from one shaft to the other.
10th. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish,
a power shaft, a table, a knife for said table. mechanism on said power shaft for
operating said table, a transferrer in said guide adapted to be operated by said
power shaft, arms having fingers thereon mounted on a second shaft, and means
for imparting motion thereto.
11th. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish,
mechanism for holding said fish therein, a power. shaft. a table, means on said
power shaft for operating the same, a knife on said table, a transferrer, an elbow
lever secured thereto, means on said power shaft for operating said elbow lever,
arms having fingers adapted to be operated in order to move the fish, a second
shaft and fingers mounted thereon adapted to remove the entrails of said fish.
12th. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish,
said guide having openings in the bottom thereof, spring arms secured to said
guide adapted to hold said fish. a table carried on suitable bearings, a power
shaft, means on said power shaft for operating said table, a transferrer movable
in said guide, means on said power shaft for operating said transferrer, arms
having fingers carried by suitable shafts, means for imparting motion to said shafts

page_text: and fingers carried by a shaft which are adapted to remove the entrails of the
fish.
13th. In a machine of the character named, a guide having openings in the bottom
thereof, a power shaft, a cam on said power shaft, a table suitably mounted pro-
vided with a stud which is adapted to move in a groove in said cam, a knife
on said table which is adapted to operate in one of said openings in said guide, spring
arms extending partially over one of said openings a transferrer moving in ono
of said openings and an elbow lever suitably connected, means for returning
said elbow lever to its normal position, arms suitably mounted adapted to operate
in order to remove fish from said guide, a shaft having fingers suitably mounted
thereon adapted to operate in the other opening in said guide, means for imparting
motion to the latter mentioned shaft.
14th. In a machine of the character named, a guide having openings therein, a
power shaft, a cam carried by said power shaft, a table suitably supported and
adapted to be operated by said cam, a knife carried by said table, an elbow lever
suitably supported and adapted to be operated by said power shaft, means for
returning said elbow lever to its normal position, and a transferrer moving in
an opening in said guide and pivotally attached to said elbow lever, a shaft
carrying an arm, means for imparting motion thereto, and fingers which are
adapted to operate in an opening in said guide, said fingers being mounted on a
shaft to which motion is imparted from said power shaft.
15th. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish, a
knife automatically operated to cut the same, a transferrer in said guide, which
is adapted to remove the cut-away portions of the fish and elastic fingers adjust-
ably mounted which are suitably operated to remove the entrails of said fish.
16th. In a machine of the character named, a guide adapted to receive a fish,
a knife suitably operated for cutting the same, a transferrer in said guide, which
is adapted to remove the cut-away portions of the fish, fingers suitably operated
for removing the entrails thereof, elastic fingers suitably mounted on the arm
which is operated and move the fish from the knife to said fingers and springs
mounted on said arm.
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. Agents for the Applicant.