Apparatus for drying fish, especially squid

Abstract

A novel apparatus and method are provided for drying or otherwise processing fish. The apparatus includes a generally prone or slightly sloped frame having an upper perforated bed or flake and a lower pair of parallel tracks or rails. An upright framework is disposed at one end of the frame and is adapted to run along the tracks or rails from that one end to the opposite end. A roller mechanism including a round or polygonal roller is rotatably and preferably removably mounted in the upright framework. A mesh material is secured at one end to the roller mechanism and is extended along the flake and is secured to the opposite end of the frame. Means are provided for simultaneously moving the upright framework along the rails from the one end of the frame to the opposite end of the frame while winding the mesh material on the roller mechanism. In this way the mesh material is converted from a spread orientation disposed in an extended position atop the flake with the framework at one end of the frame, and a storage orientation with the mesh material wound on the roller mechanism with the framework at the other end of the frame. The fish wound on the mesh material on the roller can be removed and placed in any desired processing atmosphere or may be unwound to an inverted position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.