Device and method for filleting and pin-bone removal

A method for processing gutted fish including mechanically filleting and removing pin-bones from the fish, the method comprising the steps of:

• j) mounting the gutted fish onto a saddle for attaching and supporting said gutted fish on a first conveying means,
• k) conveying the gutted fish in conveying direction,
• l) obtaining first image data and position data of each fish on the first conveying means using a first imaging means,
• m) processing the first image data using computing means,
• n) conveying the gutted fish to a first cutting unit for making cuts in the abdominal flaps along the pin-bones as the fish is being advanced on the first conveying means 3 further comprising a set of water-jet devices.
• o) conveying the gutted fish to a second cutting unit for making dorsal and ventral cuts into the fish as the fish is being advanced on the first conveying means 3 further comprising two pairs of cutting knifes,
• p) conveying the gutted fish to a third cutting unit for detaching the fillets from the backbone of the fish by making cuts along the dorsal fins of the fish using a separating cutting tool,
• q) receiving fillets after separation from the backbone in the third cutting unit on a second conveying means, and
• r) obtaining second image data of the fillets using a second imaging means,
• characterized in determining the position of the fish on the first conveying means and the position of the pin-bones in each fillet of each fish by the computing means based on the first image data and determining a cutting pattern for the set of water-jet devices to make cuts in the abdominal flaps along the pin-bones, and
• in that performing cuts along the pin-bones using the first cutting unit prior to separating the fillets from the backbone using the second cutting unit.

A system for processing gutted fish including mechanically filleting and for removing pin-bones from the fish, the system comprising:

• mounting the gutted fish onto means for attaching and supporting said gutted fish on a first conveying means and conveying the gutted fish in conveying direction,
• first imaging means for obtaining first image data and position data of each fish on the first conveying means,
• computing means 6 for performing image analysis of the image data,
• a first cutting unit 7 comprising a set of water-jet devices 8 for making cuts in the abdominal flaps along the pin-bones as the fish is being advanced on the first conveying means 3,
• a second cutting unit 9 comprising two pairs of cutting knifes 10/11 for making dorsal and ventral cuts into the fish as the fish is being advanced on the first conveying means 3,
• a third cutting unit comprising a separating cutting tool for detaching the fillets from the backbone of the fish by making cuts along the dorsal fins of the fish,
• second conveying means for receiving fillets after separation from the backbone in the third cutting unit,
• second imaging means for obtaining second image data of the fillets,
• characterized in that the computing means determine the position of the fish on the first conveying means and the position of the pin-bones in each fillet of each fish based on the first image data and determine a cutting pattern for the set of water-jet devices to make cuts in the abdominal flaps along the pin-bones, and
• in that the first cutting unit is positioned in front of the second cutting unit in order to perform cuts along the pin-bones before the second cutting unit starts separating the fillets from the backbone.