Method and an apparatus thereof for continuously producing a tubular mantle meat

An apparatus for continuously producing a tubular mantle meat of the cuttlefish in which said apparatus comprises;

• an arm removing unit including an endless chain running continuously and at least one knife element provided on said endless chain, said knife element permitting to support the cuttlefish in a state that the cuttlefish is engaged with said knife element and also cut off a joining portion of the arm connected with an inner face of the mantle of the cuttlefish, thereby removing said arms with a viscera of the cuttlefish and in consequence preparing said mantle;
• a feeding unit including a regulating plate and an opening provided on a portion thereof, with which opening fins and their neighboring/portion of the mantle are engaged, whereby said mantle makes a stop for a while;
• a pair of squeezing rollers provided on the exit of said feeding unit, said squeezing rollers serving to exert a pressure on said mantle therebetween, thereby removing the residual viscera remaining in said mantle;
• an aligning unit including a sliding member disposed in a direction obliquing along the lengthwise direction thereof and an aligning member provided on a lower end of said sliding member, said sliding member permitting a downward slide thereon of the mantle which flows out continuously from said squeezing rollers, till a skirt end of the mantle is brought into contact with said aligning member, thereby preparing the mantle having the skirt end aligned with said aligning member;
• and
• a tubular mantle preparation unit including an upper and a lower belt systems and at least one rotary cutter, said upper and lower belt systems permitting therebetween a continuous movement of the mantle in a state that the skirt end of the mantle stands aligned, said rotary cutter being provided in relation to said lower belt system and also making a cutting of the mantle along lines parallel to the aligned skirt end of the mantle during said continuous movement thereof.