A NEW OR IMPROVED FISH CUTTING OR SPLITTING MACHINE
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Watson Miller at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1879.
JOHN WATSON MILLER, of Leith, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED FISH CUTTING OR SPLITTING MACHINE."
The said Invention relates to a new or improved fish cutting or splitting machine
which is constructed as follows:-
The stand of the machine consists of two parallel sides resting upon legs, from
each of which sides rise two pillars forming supports as hereinafter described.
The main shaft is mounted across the stand between the pillars, and a counter
shaft is mounted at right angles to the main shaft and parallel with the stand,
motion being imparted to it by suitable gearing.
A polygonal drum is placed at each end of the stand between the sides. Upon
each side of the drums there is a projection serving the purpose of and of a similar
form to a tooth. Motion of rotation is given to one drum by the counter shaft.
An endless chain composed of plates linked together runs upon the drums, each
plate consisting of three principal parts, viz., the bed plate and two side plates.
The bed plate is the portion which forms part of the chain proper, each one being
linked to another by two strips (one on each side) through which bolts pass into
the stand of the bed plate. In the middle of each bed plate is a longitudinal slit
running as nearly as may be from end to end. The surface is depressed along this
slit gradually both in a longitudinal and lateral direction so as to form a hollow.
Each side is extended laterally to form a strip which is straight for the purpose of
supporting the plate upon bearers hereinafter mentioned, the said strips not
extending the whole length of the plate. On the lower surface of the bed plate, at
each corner of that part of the plate which extends beyond the strips, are four
projections serving various purposes, viz., to give stability to the bed plate when it
rests upon either of the drums; to give substance sufficient for the bolts; and to
form a catch for the tooth upon each side of the drums. These projections I will
hereinafter designate "stands." The side plates are the same length as the bed
plate, the inner surface being slightly concave and the upper edge of each being
serrated in such a manner that when they are placed face to face, with their
concave sides next each other, the teeth of one pass into the space between the
teeth of the other. Upon the outside or convex side is a straight ridge projecting
from the surface. The side plates are attached to the bed plate by four arms.

page_text: The lower end of each arm is attached to the end of the bed plate by a bolt passing
through it into the stand, so as to allow of the oscillation of the arm. The upper end
of each arm is attached to an end of a side plate by means of a bolt passing through it
into the said end. The side plates swing freely on these bolts, their lower edge being
prevented from turning outwards, when the bed plates are upside down in going
round the drums, by pins in or projections on the bed plate. The lower and inner
corner of each arm projects below the lower surface of the bed plate stand when
the arm is in a perpendicular position, the purpose of this projection being to force
the side plates apart by the pressure on the drum of the projecting corner. The
arms are prevented from falling outwards too far by suitable projections on the
bed plate. Attached to the pillars are two bearers upon which the bed plates rest
and slide, which bearers also act as guides to keep the bed plates in position
laterally. About midway between the drums, and at a distance above the bearers
to correspond with the ridges on the side plates aro two frames in which are set a
number of vertical rollers. The frames are parallel with the bearers and are
placed face towards face at a sufficient distance apart, one end of each frame being
curved outwards. The said frames are held in position by two rods fixed to each,
which rods pass through holes in supports attached to the pillars so as to work
easily to allow the frame to move in a lateral direction. The frames are pressed
inwards towards each other by means of spiral springs whose pressure is
adjustable.
Supported across the stand of the machine is an oscillating shaft. Two arms
are firmly fixed to this shaft and extend in one direction to an equal distance, and
extending in the reverse direction is an arm carrying a counter weight. These
arms support the revolving shaft upon which the cutting instrument is secured,
which is so placed that it may pass up through the slit in the bed plates. The
said cutting instrument is circular and with either a knife, chisel, or saw edge. It
receives motion of revolution from the main shaft through the oscillating shaft.
The arms supporting the cutting instrnment are caused to oscillate by means of
connexion with a cam upon the counter shaft. This cam may be brought in or
out of position for operation by means of a clutch.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The machine being put in motion, the
fish to be cut, or split, are fed from a suitable table at one end of the machine,
into or between the side plates resting (either on their back, or their belly,
according to the kind of fish) in the hollow in the bed plate, the side plates being
apart for the purpose of receiving the fish. The side plates being carried forward
pass between the frames containing the rollers which press upon the ridge on each
side plate, the spiral springs giving the requisite pressure and allowing of the
reception of different sized fish; the fish are thus firmly held. When the plate
arrives at the proper position, the aforesaid cam having been brought into position
for operation, the cutting instrument is raised through the slit and into the fish,
cutting or splitting it as the plate proceeds, and when the plate has progressed far
enough to permit of the fish having been cut, the cutting instrument descends, the
ascending and descending motion being adjusted according to the form of fish.
When the side plates pass from between the frames they are forced apart upon the
drum, and thus the fish fall therefrom.