Fish processing machine with automatic length responsive cutting control mechanism
OwnerJames J. Kinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fish processing device with an automatic length responsive cutting control mechanism which controls fish processing operations in response to fish length according to fish specie input. Fish length is determined and geometrically compared to proportionality values, selected according to fish specie, through similar triangle associations to control processing mechanisms, e.g., to engage or disengage cutting devices along the fish processing path.
Claims19
An apparatus for automatically controlling engagement of processing mechanisms comprising:
- a substantially linear guide structure forming a processing path;
- first transport carriage means for conveying items along said processing path comprising a first transport carriage;
- a substantially straight bar having first and second ends, said first end being pivotally associated with said first transport carriage;
- locking means for enabling angular and linear displacement of the second end of said bar when the first end of said bar is aligned with a first measuring portion of said processing path and restraining such angular and linear displacement when the first end of said bar is aligned with a second portion of said processing path downstream from said first measuring portion;
- at least one control means for controlling engagement of at least one of the processing mechanisms;
- and
- at least one sensing means for sensing when a portion of said bar is disposed vertically beneath said second path portion and generating an actuation signal denoting such a condition to said at least one control means.
An apparatus for automatically controlling cutting tool engagement in a fish processing device comprising:
- a substantially linear guide structure having at least one cutting tool associated therewith and forming a fish processing path;
- transport carriage means for conveying a fish along said processing path comprising a first transport carriage;
- a substantially straight bar having first and second ends, said first end being pivotally associated with said transport carriage;
- locking means for enabling angular and linear displacement of the second end of said bar when the first end of said bar is aligned with a first measuring portion of said fish processing path and restraining such angular and linear displacement when the first end of said bar is aligned with a second portion of said fish processing path downstream from said first measuring portion;
- at least one control means for controlling engagement of said at least one cutting tool with a fish traveling along said fish processing path;
- and
- at least one sensing means for sensing when a portion of said bar is disposed vertically beneath said second path portion and generating a signal denoting such a condition to said at least one control means.
A method of processing fish comprising the steps of:
- providing a preselected proportionality value;
- mechanically setting a representation of a dimension of a fish comprising the step of locking a measuring bar in a particular orientation indicative of the length of the fish;
- conveying the fish to at least one processing device for processing the fish;
- and
- controlling the processing device in accordance with the representation of fish length and the preselected proportionality value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.