Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Cleaning or Treating Fish.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1897--Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Cleaning or Treating
Fish.
I, MARTIN EKENBERG, Doctor of Philosophy, of Agnegatan, 3, Stockholm, in the
Kingdom of Sweden, 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 :-
-
This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning fish by mechanical means so as to
admit of large quantities being cleaned in a short time. The apparatus consist partly
of arrangements for turning the fish into the proper position and partly of a cleaning
machine which receives the properly turned fish and performs the cleaning operation.
The latter is accomplished by carrying the fish by the aid of yielding rollers against
a knife, for cutting open its belly and subsequently against a revolving brush, for
removing the intestines, and against other brushes which clean the outside of the
fish. The brushes revolve in water, or water is continually poured over them, for
keeping them clean and for carrying off the offal separated from the fish.
In the annexed drawing,
Figs. 1 to 4 show an apparatus for turning the fish into a position so as to bring it
head first to the cleaning machine Figs. 5 to 16 represent the apparatus for turning
the fish on edge and Figs. 17 to 20 the cleaning machine proper.
The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is based on the fact that if a fish is supported
at the middle of its length and otherwise left to the influence of gravity, it will fall
head first owing to the fact that the centre of gravity of the body of the fish lies
somewhat in front of the middle point mentioned. In its simplest form the
apparatus consists of a couple of supports or an aperture across which the fish is
carried along in the direction of its length said supports or the edges of the aperture,
being at a distance or not more than half a fish length from one another. As the
lengths of the fishes may vary a series of supports may be employed situated at
varying and increasing distances from each other the fishes by this means being
sorted according to their lengths.
The apparatus is shown in Fig. 1 viewed from one side in Fig. 2 in an end view
and in Fig. 3 in plan. Fig. 4 serves to illustrate what has been said above of the fall
of a fish, a fish supported at the middle being shown on which the centre of gravity
also is indicated.
On a suitable frame 1 is carried an endless belt 2 and a series of rolls 3 forming
the supports mentioned and located at increasing distances apart beginning at the
belt 2. At one side of the belt is an inclined table 4 from which the fish is allowed
to drop on to the belt, and below the rolls there are arranged laterally bent guide
funnels 5. The rolls are provided with grooved pulleys 6 around which is carried the
weighted driving rope 7 which also drives one of the belt rolls. The belt 2 rotate,

page_text: in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1). The fish which by suitable means for instance
by locating the lower edge of the inclined table 4 quite close to the belt is caused to
drop on to the belt so as to lie parallel to the latter is carried by the belt out over the
rolls 3 which move it along until it falls between them this occurring when the fish
in accordance with what has been said above, arrives at an aperture of sufficient
width between the rolls. The fish thus falls head first into one of the funnels 5.
The drawing shows two or more apertures above each funnel so that the fish will be
sorted in three sizes only but it is evident that a funnel may be used for each
aperture between the rolls.
The apparatus serving to turn the fishes on edge is composed of an inclined chute
which is wide and flat-bottomed at the top so that the fish can lie on its side in the
same and narrows down towards the lower end so that the descending fishes are
compelled to rise on edge. By letting the chute gradually pass into the shape of an
oval tube which is twisted half a turn so as to approach in shape a screw of very
coarse pitch it is also possible to turn the fish in such a manner that the edge,
belly or back, which was previously turned down will face upwards.
The apparatus is shown in Fig. 5 in a side view, in Fig. 6 in an end view and in
Fig. 7 in plan. Figs. 8 and 9 indicate alternative positions of the fish in the upper
portion of the chute. Figs. 10 11 and 12 show the arrangement of the oval tube
combined with the chute. Fig. 10 being a side view of said arrangement. Fig. 11
an end view and Fig. 12 a plan view of the same. Figs. 13 to 16 represent a
modified form of the apparatus.
The chute which is designated by Figure 8 is mounted in an inclined position on a
frame 9. At the top the chute is comparatively wide and its bottom is flat or nearly
so while at the lower end it grows narrower being pressed together as shown by the
sections in Fig. 5 the sides of the chute being vertical and the bottom bent to a
semi-circle. When the fish slides downwards in the chute one of its edges is
gradually tipped up and consequently the fish at the lower end of the chute will
be on edge. Which edge of the fish will be turned upwards depends on whether its
back is heavier than its belly, or the reverse. In the former case its centre of gravity
will be nearer its back and consequently the latter in the movement referred to will
be turned downward, and, in the latter case, the reverse will occur (see Figs. 8 and 9).
Should the fish owing to the reason just referred to be found to turn for instance so
as to face downwards with its back instead of upwards the latter position being
required for the succeeding operation, the tube shown in Figs. 10 to 12 may be
attached as an extension to the chute. As may be seen from the sections. in Fig. 10
the tube 10 is flattened and twisted as already mentioned so as to cause the fish
while sliding through the tube to revolve one half turn and thus turning for instance
the belly upwards in case the latter was turned downwards before. The fish now
proceeds to the apparatus or machine where it is to be subjected to further
treatment.
The modified form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 13 to 16 is characterised by
the substitution for the chute of a series of grooved rollers 11 forming a more or less
inclined roller plane. The rollers are kept revolving by means of a belt or in another
suitable manner made to rotate all in the same direction. The grooves are reduced
in width this reduction increasing in amount towards one end of the series of rollers.
Thus Fig. 14 represents one of the first rollers in the series, Fig. 15 a roller at the
middle and Fig. 16 one at the end of said series (see the arrow Fig. 13). If feeding
is done in the direction of the arrow it will be found that the fish travelling along
over the rollers gradually rises on edge owing to the change of shape of the rollers.
In Figs. 14 to 16 the cross section of the fish is indicated by a dotted line.
With the view to facilitate the feeding, the rollers may be mounted somewhat
eccentrically on their pivots so as to cause the fish to be alternately raised and
lowered.
The cleaning machine is shown in Fig. 17 in a side view, in Fig. 18 in a plan
view, in Fig. 19 in an end view and in Fig. 20 in a side elevation on a smaller

page_text: The machine is composed of two rows of rollers 12 so placed that those of the one
row will be directly opposite those of the other. The rollers thus arranged in pairs
slightly taper upwards and over the passage thus formed and corresponding to the
cross section of the fish is placed longitudinally a grooved guide with which the
backs of the fishes are in contact. The bearings of the rollers consist of forks 14 of
which those belonging to one row of rollers are provided with horizontal sliding
stems 15 entering into the frame portion 16 where pockets 17 are arranged containing
springs 18 which force the forks and thus the rollers towards the similarly journalled
rollers of the other row. The tension of the springs may be adjusted at will by
means of the adjusting screws 20 bearing against caps 19 the rollers being thus
caused to exert a suitable pressure on the fish passing between. The rollers derive
their motion from the driving shaft 22 journalled in the upper portion 21 of the
frame and connected by bevel gears with flexible shafts 23 issuing vertically from the
one of the rows of rollers. The other row of rollers is provided with corresponding
shafts these however being driven by ordinary spur gears 24 from the shafts just
mentioned so that the rollers will revolve in opposite directions.
At the lower portion of the passage formed between the rollers there is arranged a
knife 25 having its point directed backward said knife being located at a suitable
height for cutting open the belly of the fish advancing over it. The knife is attached
so as to be easily adjusted in the proper position for directing the cut accurately
toward the middle of the belly and avoiding a deeper incision than is necessary for
laying the belly open. Close beyond the knife is located the brush 27 mounted on a
horizontal shaft 26 and shaped as a disc decreasing in thickness toward the
circumference and rounded off at the latter, said brush being located at the proper
height for brushing clean the cavity in the opened fish. Evidently the brush must
be made of some stiff material in order to enable it to dislocate and carry with it the
contents of the belly. The brushes 28, 28 located beyond the brush 27 are mounted
on vertical shafts and revolve opposite each other in about the same manner as the
rollers though in opposite directions to the latter. The fish being carried further in
its course by the rollers passes between the brushes 28, 28, which rid it of scale etc.,
and thus clean its sides, back and belly. On passing the last rollers the cleaned fish
finally drops into a receiver. While passing the whole series of operating parts, the
fish slides along steadily with its back pressed upwards against the grooved guide 13
in consequence of the conicity of the rollers. Consequently the fishes inay be large
or small without necessitating the readjustment of the machine, since the rollers are
self regulating changing their relative positions according to the size of the fish. By
the aid of the arrangement previously described the fishes are introduced into the
machine in a certain position this being accomplished by allowing the fish to fall
from the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4 to that illustrated by Figs. 5 to 16 and
enter from the latter for instance direct from the chute 8 or tube 10 in between the
rollers 12.
It is evident that the machine described may easily be modified in the manner
that additional knives brushes scraping or other cleaning tools can be placed in the
path of the fish apart from those shown in the drawing. Such modifications,
however are only to be regarded as unessential additions to the construction
described. The arrangement for washing over the fish with water is not shown
in the drawing; it is easily understood, however, how this may be accomplished
in various ways.
It is also evident that non-conical rollers may be employed, if a second guide or
support be placed underneath, similar to the grooved guide 13 above, said support
being discontinued at the points where the knife, brushes etc. are to be inserted in
the path of the fish. By using rollers having a concave surface the separate guides
or supports may be entirely dispensed with since the fish will then be guided by the
rollers themselves. The rollers should be placed at such intervals along the path of
the fish that each fish will be grasped by at least two pairs of rollers at a time. What
has been said above refers only to the cleaning of the fish; it is evident however that

page_text: the apparatus described might also find application to other processes of treatment to
which the fish may be subjected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
=
1. In apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating fish a feeding arrangement by
means of which the fish is brought to occupy the required position, consisting of
supports (as 3, 3) or an aperture across which the fish is fed in the direction of its
length by means of an endless belt or by equivalent means, said supports or the
edges of said aperture being located at a maximum distance from cach other of half
a fish's length for the purpose of causing the fish to drop head first between the
supports or through the aperture substantially as set forth.
2. In the arrangement specified in Claim 1 supports composed of a series of rotating
rolls placed at gradually increasing distances from each other in the direction of
feeding for the purpose of causing the fish carried forward on the rollers to drop
between the latter when arriving at an aperture of sufficient length and thus sorting
the fish according to size, substantially as set forth.
3. In apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating fish an arrangement for turning
the fish composed of an inclined chute of sufficient width at the top to provide room
for the fish to lie on its side in it and narrowing down towards its lower end so as to
cause the descending fish to rise on edge substantially as set forth.
4. An extension of the chute referred to in Claim 3 consisting of an inclined tube
which is of oval section and placed on edge this tube being twisted spirally so as to
cause the fish to be turned as it passes through it substantially as described and
illustrated in Figures 10 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A fish cleaning machine consisting of two rows of yielding rollers (as 12)
between which the fish is fed the intervals at which the rollers are placed in said
rows being less than a fish's length a knife (as 25) located in the plane dividing the
rows of rollers and adapted to cut open the belly of the fish, and a brush (as 27) also
located in the same plane beyond the knife and serving to remove the contents of
the belly of the fish substantially as described.
6. In apparatus of the character specified in Claim 5 guide and carrying rollers
conical or tapering towards one end and close to the opening thus formed between
the rows of rollers a longitudinal support or guide (as 13) for the fish advancing
between the rows of roller said support or guide being preferably grooved substantially
as described.
7. In apparatus of the character specified in Claim 5 and as an alternate form of
the arrangement in Claim 6 the employment of rollers which are smaller in diameter
at some portion between their extremities in order that they may guide the fish
themselves substantially as described.
8. In the machine specified in Claim 5 the arrangement of bearings of the rollers
movable at an angle to the row of rollers and actuated by springs (as 18) serving to
keep the rows of rollers pressed towards each other flexible shafts (23) connecting the
rollers with their respective driving gears which are geared to the main driving shaft
substantially as described.
Dated the 1st day of June 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.