Method and apparatus for processing fish into transverse sections

An apparatus for processing a frozen elongated fish body, wit a longitudinal axis extending from the fish head to tail, into a plurality of transverse fish body sections comprising:

• a) support frame defining a work station;
• b) holding means for supporting a fish body to be processed with respect to the work station;
• c) cutting means positioned adjacent the frame for making a transverse cut through the fish body to be processed;
• d) the work station having moving means for transporting the holding means and cutting means with respect to each other between first and second positions and along a travel path which traverses the fish body across the cutting means so that a transverse cut can be made at a desired position on the fish body with the cutting means;
• and
• e) means for positioning the fish body and the cutting mean with respect to each other so that multiple transverse cuts of substantially equal spacing can be made at various positions along the same fish body being processed to produce transverse fish body sections of substantially uniform thickness wherein the positioning means can adjust the distance between the cutting means and holding means so that sequential cuts at various positions can be made to the same fish body.

An apparatus for processing a fish body into a plurality of transverse fish body sections, comprising:

• a) a plurality of spaced apart work stations, each including structural support frame;
• b) a continuous runway defining a travel path through the stations;
• c) a plurality of holders mounted for travel upon the runway so that the holders can traverse the runway, the holders supporting the fish body to be processed so that the fish body can travel along the runway;
• d) cutting means included at selected work stations for making transverse cuts of equal spacing across the fish body section as it travels the runway;
• and
• e) alignment means for adjusting the fish body and cutting means with respect to each other into a plurality of different sequential positions as the fish body progresses on the runway into different sequential positions that allow the cutting means to sever transverse fish body sections of equal thickness from the fish body.

An apparatus for processing a fish body into a plurality of transverse fish body sections, comprising:

• a) a plurality of work stations;
• b) a runway extending between the work stations to define a travel path between the work stations;
• c) a plurality of spaced apart holders, each movably supported upon the runway;
• d) each holder including a pair of opposed jaws supporting the fish body to be processed so that the fish body can travel the runway while held by the jaws;
• e) cutting means positioned to make transverse cuts from each fish body that travels the runway in a holder.

A method of processing a fish body into a plurality of transverse fish body sections comprising the steps of:

• a) movably supporting a fish body and a cutter with respect to each other upon a runway and along a path of travel;
• b) making sequential, substantially equally spaced transverse cuts through the fish body as the fish body is advanced on the runway along the path;
• and
• c) adjusting the cutter and fish body positions relative to one another between each transverse cut.

A method for processing a fish body into transverse fish body sections comprising the steps of:

• a) holding the fish body with a mechanical holder for gripping the fish;
• b) traversing the fish body with a cutter at generally right angles to the longitudinal axis of the fish body to form a transverse cut at a first position along the fish body;
• c) sequentially advancing the fish body and with respect to the cutter during a traversing of the fish body with the cutter;
• and
• d) changing the distance between the mechanical the transverse cut position defines equally spaced transverse cuts from one end of the fish body to the other to generate transverse fish body sections of substantially equal thickness.

A method of processing a fish body with a longitudinal axis extending from its head to its tail into multiple transverse fish body sections comprising the steps of:

• a) movably supporting the fish body with a mechanical holder in a position which maintains its longitudinal axis in a first plane;
• b) defining a second plane with a powered cutter that is perpendicular to the first plane and which includes a cutting line;
• c) moving the fish body and cutter relative to one another so that the fish body traverses the cutting line to form a transverse cut through the fish body;
• and
• d) precisely guiding the mechanical holder and cutter with respect to each other during cutting with a support frame that maintains the holder in the first plane and the cutter in the second plane;
• and
• e) sequentially readjusting the fish body and cutter positions by equal distances so that uniform thickness transverse fish body sections are produced.