Fish processing system and method
OwnerRobert M. Ryaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include a gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish with one or more underlying cutting members are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera.
Claims17
A fish processing system, comprising:
- a blade to incise a belly of a fish when the fish is transported from an upstream location across the blade;
- and
- a gutting device positioned downstream of the blade to receive the fish with the belly cut open, the gutting device including an extractor positioned to enter a head end of the fish below a backbone and above a gullet of the fish to assist in severing the gullet from a collar of the fish, the extractor including a leading tip, sharp edges located at opposing sides of the extractor near the leading tip and being positioned to assist in severing the gullet from the fish, and at least one cutting member projecting downwardly aft of the leading tip in a central region between the sharp edges to cut select membranes of the fish when the fish moves past the extractor during a gutting operation.
An extractor to separate a gullet from a collar of a fish, the extractor comprising:
- an elongated base including a leading tip that tapers toward a point and includes a convex upper surface;
- sharp edges located at opposing sides of the extractor near the leading tip to assist in separating the gullet from the fish;
- and
- at least one cutting member positioned aft of the leading tip and projecting downwardly from the elongated base in a central region between the sharp edges to cut select membranes of the fish when the extractor is passed through the fish to separate the gullet from the collar.
A method of processing a fish, the method comprising:
- transporting a fish across a blade to cut a belly of the fish;
- transporting the fish across a gutting device positioned downstream of the blade such that a leading tip of an extractor of the gutting device enters a head end of the fish below a backbone and above a gullet thereof and exits a tail end of the fish substantially aligned with or below an anal vent thereof;
- and
- cutting membranes of the fish with one or more cutting members that project downwardly from a body of the extractor aft of the leading tip as the fish is transported across the gutting device, the one or more cutting members being located in a central region of the body of the extractor between sharp edges that are located at opposing sides of the body of the extractor near the leading tip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.