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US 5,980,376 AGranted
Method and apparatus for gutting fish
AssigneeNordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Bader GmbH + Co. KG
InventorsWerner Grosseholz, Ulrich Gutte, Andreas Holzhuter, Conrad Torkler, Ralf Neumann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention pertains to an apparatus for gutting fish which serves for preventing flaws that reduce the quality e.g., colon and blood residues or damage to the walls of the abdominal cavity, and for attaining a highly aesthetic product. The invention proposes that the rectum is initially supported by inserting an element through the anus in order to separate the rectum within the region of the anus, and that the lateral and dorsal connections between the rectum and the abdominal walls are subsequently separated.
Claims27
A method for gutting fish having an abdominal cavity, a rectum and an anus, comprising the steps of:
- opening the abdominal cavity by slitting an abdominal wall surrounding the abdominal cavity from a tail end along an abdominal seam;
- separating the rectum within a region of the anus by supporting at least an end region of the rectum via the anus, separating lateral connections between the rectum and the abdominal walls while the end region of the rectum is supported, and separating dorsal connections between the rectum and the abdominal wall;
- and
- removing the guts by suction and progressively collecting them from the anus toward a head portion of the fish.
1 more element
An apparatus for gutting fish having a tail, an abdominal cavity, a rectum and an anus, comprising:
- a conveyor having at least one receptacle for accommodating the fish to be processed while positioned on a backside, and conveying said fish along a transport path with the tail pointing forward;
- a measuring instrument configured to acquire specific fish data;
- and
- a processing unit arranged above the transport path and configured to be controlled relative to the transport path and parallel to a plane of symmetry of the fish, and to open the abdominal cavity along an abdominal seam and to remove the guts by suction, the processing unit comprising:
- a cutter device configured to open the abdomen and to include a pair of circular knives spaced apart from one another, each circular knife having an edge,
- a puncturing tool configured to be positionable in a retracted position and a functional position, and provided with a guide tip arranged between the circular knives, the guide tip protruding over the edges of the circular knives within an effective region in the functional position, and being directed in a direction opposite the transport direction of the fish;
- a separator configured to separate the rectum within the region of the anus, the separator being arranged directly behind the cutter device and having a separating tool configured to be briefly displacable into the abdominal cavity within the region of the anus, whereby the separating tool extends into the region of the blood stream.
4 more elements
An apparatus for gutting fish, comprising:
- at least one fish receptacle;
- at least one transport path;
- at least one means for determining morphologic properties of the fish;
- at least one control unit;
- and
- at least one processing means, the processing means for opening the abdominal cavity and/or removing guts, the processing means communicating with the means for determining morphologic properties via the control unit.
3 more elements
An apparatus for gutting fish having a tail, an abdominal cavity, a rectum and an anus, comprising:
- a conveyor having at least one fish receptacle configured to accommodate the fish to be processed while positioned on a backside, and to convey said fish along a transport path with the tail pointing forward;
- means for acquiring specific fish data;
- and
- processing means arranged adjacent the transport path and configured to be controlled relative to the transport path and parallel to a plane of symmetry of the fish for opening the abdominal cavity along an abdominal seam as well as removing the guts by suction, the processing means comprising:
- a device for opening the abdomen having a pair of circular knives that are spaced apart from one another,
- a puncturing tool configured to be positioned between a retracted position and a functional position and provided with a guide tip arranged between the circular knives, the guide tip protruding over edges of the circular knives within their effective region in the functional position and is directed opposite the transport direction of the fish;
- a device for separating the rectum within the region of the anus, the device being arranged directly behind the device for opening the abdomen, and having a separating tool configured to be temporarily displaced into the abdominal cavity within the region of the anus, wherein a penetration depth of the separating tool extends into the region of the blood stream.
4 more elements
An apparatus for gutting fish having a tail, an abdominal cavity, a rectum and an anus, comprising:
- a conveyor having at least one fish receptacle configured to hold the fish to be processed while positioned on a backside while conveying said fish along a transport path with the tail pointing forward;
- processing means configured to open the abdominal cavity along an abdominal seam and to remove the guts by suction, the processing means comprising:
- a device having a cutting edge positioned to cut an opening in the abdomen;
- a puncturing tool configured to be positioned between a retracted position and a functional position and provided with a guide tip positionable adjacent the cutting edge, the puncturing tool further configured to support at least an end region of the rectum via the anus;
- and
- a device for separating the rectum within the region of the anus, the device being arranged directly behind the device for opening the abdomen, and having a separating tool configured to be displaced into the abdominal cavity within the region of the anus, wherein a penetration depth of the separating tool extends into the region of the blood stream.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.