FISH FEEDING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THIS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fish feeding device, configured and designed for feeding fish to a plurality of fish processing devices, wherein said device comprises a cross conveyor configured to convey the fish transversely to their head-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction, wherein the cross conveyor has a plurality of receiving elements each configured to individually receive one of the fish, the cross conveyor additionally comprises a controllably configured drive unit, and the fish feeding device further comprises at least one feeding device configured to feed the receiving elements of the cross conveyor with the fish and comprises a plurality of transfer devices configured to selectively transfer the fish from the cross conveyor to longitudinal conveyors arranged upstream of the fish processing devices, wherein the longitudinal conveyors are configuredto convey the fish along their head-tail orientation to the fish processing machines, and a control device which is designed to control the at least one feeding device, the transfer devices and the conveying speed of the cross conveyor on the basis of at least one predetermined distribution rule.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for feeding fish to a plurality of fish processing machines, comprising the steps of: conveying the fish transversely to their head-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction by means of a plurality of receiving elements of a transverse conveyor, each designed to individually receive one of the fish, feeding the receiving elements of the transverse conveyor by means of a feeding device, selectively transferring the fish from the transverse conveyor to longitudinal conveyors arranged upstream of the fish processing machines by means of transfer devices, conveying the transferred fish along their head-tail orientation to the fish processing machines by means of the longitudinal conveyors, controlling the feeding of the receiving elements and the selective transfer of the fish on the basis of at least one predetermined distribution rule.

[0003] Such arrangements and methods are used in the fish processing industry. Especially in the automated processing of fish, it is necessary to automatically feed the fish to the respective fish processing equipment.

[0004] For example, WO 03 / 013262 discloses a method for the automated processing of fish and a system for preparing and processing fish. The fish are automatically fed to the processing machines, for example, machines for automated gutting, via appropriate feed devices. A feed belt is used as the feed device, on which the fish are conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the fish. The fish are fed to the respective processing machines by means of controllable deflectors, in which the deflectors push the fish from the conveyor belt onto a chute that leads to the respective processing machines.

[0005] Document WO 2016 / 020105 A1 discloses a conveying and distribution device for slaughtered fish. The fish are conveyed from switching machines by means of downstream longitudinal conveyors to a weighing device for detecting the weight of the slaughtered fish. At least one first transfer device is arranged on each of the longitudinal conveyors, which is designed and configured to transfer the slaughtered fish to at least one cross conveyor. At the end of the cross conveyor, a feed device is arranged, which is designed and configured to remove the slaughtered fish from the cross conveyor and feed them to a distribution device. Position tracking means track the position of the slaughtered fish, and allocation means assign the detected weights to the respective positions of the fish.Based on the recorded weights, the distribution device is controlled according to a predetermined distribution rule when the slaughtered fish arrive.

[0006] The known devices and methods for feeding fish have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, with the prior art method of conveying fish in a longitudinal direction, i.e. head or tail first, there is an upper limit on the maximum number of fish that can be conveyed per unit of time. The fish are usually conveyed in a longitudinal direction using conveyor belts on which the fish are transported lying down. To prevent uncontrolled slipping of the fish when feeding such conveyor belts, there is an upper limit on the maximum conveying speed. A further disadvantage is that each fish occupies a section of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction that is at least equal to its body length, so this also limits the maximum conveying speed.

[0007] A further disadvantage is that, given the high throughput of fish per unit of time required today, it is no longer feasible for assistants to manually place the fish on such a conveyor belt in order to achieve the desired conveying speeds.

[0008] Furthermore, there is a need to feed the fish for further processing at a central location in the plant, if possible, and then to distribute them automatically to several of the fish processing facilities with a high throughput rate.

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a fish feeding device that ensures optimal feeding of the fish to multiple processing devices while simultaneously achieving the highest possible conveying speeds. Furthermore, the object is to propose a corresponding method.

[0010] The object is achieved by the fish feeding device mentioned at the outset in that the at least one feeding device comprises at least one controllable infeed flap element which is designed to control the feeding of one of the receiving elements with fish at a preselected delivery time by means of an infeed control signal generated by the control device, wherein the feeding device comprises a controllable storage flap element, and wherein the storage flap element is arranged upstream of the infeed flap element to form a flap cascade.

[0011] This makes it possible to optimally distribute the fish to several fish processing units at high conveying speeds. On the one hand, the cross conveyor offers the advantage of tightly packing the fish, allowing a large number of fish to be conveyed per length. On the other hand, cross conveying allows for correspondingly high conveying speeds, as the individual fish are held securely centered by the receiving elements, while at the same time, the space required in the conveying direction is essentially limited to the width of the fish.

[0012] A further advantage is that the loading of the receiving elements with fish is essentially automated using the loading devices. The loading devices are therefore designed and constructed for precise, automatic loading of the receiving elements, ensuring precise loading of the receiving elements at all times, even at high cross conveyor speeds.

[0013] By controlling the at least one loading device, the transfer device, and the conveying speed of the cross conveyor by means of the dedicated control device, the supply of fish to the other fish processing devices is optimized in every respect. Using the predetermined distribution rule, the total conveying capacity of the cross conveyor is specified based on the available acceptance capacities of the respective fish processing devices. In the event of a failure of one of the fish processing devices or a reduced capacity of the same, the control device, based on the predetermined distribution rule, instructs the respective transfer device to transfer correspondingly fewer fish to the respective longitudinal conveyor.The fish not delivered to the fish processing machine that has failed are transferred to the other longitudinal conveyors by means of the transfer devices, provided that there is still capacity available on the part of the other fish processing facilities, and / or the conveying speed of the cross conveyor is reduced accordingly.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous that, by means of the fish feeding device according to the invention and the method according to the invention, the entire system consisting of the fish feeding device and the fish processing devices offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of its spatial arrangement. Thus, the distances between the individual fish processing devices can also be arranged in a non-equidistant manner, since the transfer of the fish is adapted to these specifications using the predetermined distribution rule.

[0015] According to the invention, the at least one loading device comprises at least one controllable infeed flap element configured to control the loading of one of the receiving elements with fish at a preselected delivery time by means of an infeed control signal generated by the control device. In this way, the fish are transferred at precisely the right time into the receiving element passing through the infeed flap element. Due to the control device designed and configured to control the infeed flap element, it is possible to load the receiving elements precisely and at correspondingly high conveying speeds of the cross conveyor.

[0016] A further advantage is that if one of the fish processing devices fails during dynamic operation, the loading of the receiving element from which the fish would have been transferred to it via the corresponding transfer device during normal operation can be omitted. This allows operations to be maintained without interruption even if individual fish processing machines fail, and downtime of the entire system can be largely avoided.

[0017] According to the invention, the feeding device comprises a controllably movable storage flap element, wherein the storage flap element is arranged upstream of the infeed flap element, forming a flap cascade. In other words, the feeding devices are each designed as a stepped cascade. This ensures, on the one hand, that none of the fish slides down the guide level uncontrollably, i.e., without stopping to rest, when both the infeed flap element and the storage flap element are in the open position. On the other hand, this offers increased operating comfort for the assistant who feeds the fish to the feeding device.Since the aforementioned flap cascade ensures that the fish are briefly held in place and then transferred from this resting position, i.e., from defined initial conditions, into the holding elements, the assistant's sole focus is on placing one of the fish in a timely manner in front of the storage flap element. Further loading of the holding elements is carried out automatically by the control system, as described above, and requires no further intervention from the assistant.

[0018] A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the loading device comprises a guide plane arranged at an incline such that, due to the effect of gravity, the fish automatically come to rest in front of the infeed flap element in a closed position in a first holding area, and when the infeed flap element is open, they automatically move into the respective receiving elements in the direction of the cross conveyor. This ensures that the fish are transferred to the receiving elements in a controlled and cyclical manner. The fish thus initially come to rest in the holding area. From this rest position, the fish are then transferred to the respective receiving elements by means of the infeed flap element.

[0019] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control device is configured to control the flap cascade such that, if the inlet flap element is moved from an open position to a closed position, the storage flap element is moved from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. In this way, the feeding capacity, i.e. the number of fish that can be fed to the feeding device per unit of time using the respective one of the feeding devices, is further increased. Thus, the times required for moving the inlet flap element and the storage flap element, as well as the inertia of the fish during acceleration on the guide plane due to gravity, are taken into account by the control device, so that, for example, the storage flap element already releases a fish while the inlet flap element has not yet reached the closed position.

[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment, a sensor for fish detection is arranged in the region of the storage flap element, which sensor is designed and configured to detect the presence of a fish in a waiting area in front of the storage flap element and to report this to the control device. The sensor automatically detects that a fish is present in front of the storage flap. The control device is designed, in particular, to guide the fish as directly as possible into the holding area in front of the infeed flap element as soon as the holding area in front of the infeed flap element is free of fish.

[0021] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that several of the feeding devices are arranged offset next to one another in the transverse conveying direction by at least one width of the receiving elements. This offers the advantage of increasing the number of fish that can be transferred to the receiving elements per unit of time and thus the overall throughput of the feeding device according to the invention. A further advantage is that, due to the offset arrangement of the feeding devices, the receiving elements can be fed seamlessly, i.e., the receiving elements can be fed without some of the receiving elements remaining empty. In this way, the existing conveying capacity of the cross conveyor is optimally utilized. The cross conveyor is designed and configured, in particular, as a circulating conveyor.

[0022] A practical embodiment of the invention is characterized in that each of the receiving elements is pivotable about a transverse axis. The receiving elements of the transverse conveyor are designed and configured to be pivotable in such a way that they can be tilted to transfer the fish to the respective transfer device, thereby transferring the fish to the respective longitudinal conveyor.

[0023] A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the transfer devices each comprise a discharge switch which is designed and configured to pivot the respective receiving element from a fish transport position into a fish discharge position by means of a transfer control signal generated by the control device. In the fish transport position, the receiving elements are therefore preferably arranged horizontally and form a corresponding transport plane in order to convey the fish lying individually in one of the receiving elements in the conveying direction. In the fish discharge position, the receiving elements are inclined so that the fish slide under the influence of gravity below the transport plane formed by the receiving elements and are transferred to the respective longitudinal conveyor. Particularly preferably, the discharge switch comprises a pivoting guide which is controllably configured by means of the transfer control signal.

[0024] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the transfer devices each comprise guide means in the area of ​​the discharge gate, which are configured to transfer the fish from the receiving elements in the fish discharge position to the respective longitudinal conveyor under the influence of gravity. The guide means ensure a controlled transfer of the fish to the respective longitudinal conveyor, so that the fish are transferred in a targeted and damage-free manner.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment, the transfer devices each comprise fish occupancy sensors which are configured to report to the control device whether the respective longitudinal conveyor in the region of the transfer device is occupied by one of the fish or free. The fish occupancy sensors are configured to report to the control device whether further fish can be transferred to the respective longitudinal conveyor at the respective transfer device. If, for example, one of the fish processing devices fails, the respective longitudinal conveyor cannot temporarily receive any further fish. This is reliably detected by the fish occupancy sensors and taken into account by the control device when transferring the fish via the transfer devices on the basis of the predetermined distribution rule.

[0026] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control device is designed to assign the receiving elements, upon loading them with fish, to one of the fish processing machines based on the predetermined distribution rule and to determine an allocation rule. The predetermined distribution rule comprises a predefined distribution key according to which the fish are to be allocated to the respective fish processing devices. Based on this predetermined distribution rule, the control device determines the allocation rule that assigns each of the loaded receiving elements to one of the longitudinal conveyors or one of the respective fish processing devices. In other words, each of the receiving elements is initially assigned to one of the fish processing devices.If the throughput of the individual fish processing devices changes during dynamic operation, for example due to malfunctions or other events relevant to the respective throughput, the control device is designed to adapt the distribution rule and / or the allocation rule accordingly in order to continue to ensure optimal supply of fish to the respective fish processing machines.

[0027] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device is configured to determine the positions of the receiving elements and to determine the respective release times based on the assignment rule and the determined positions of the receiving elements. In other words, the control device is configured to track the position of the receiving elements at any time.

[0028] A practical embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control device is configured to determine the respective consumption rates of the fish processing machines and / or the occupancy levels of the transfer devices and, from this, to determine an actual consumption rate for each of the fish processing devices. This offers the advantage that the distribution and / or allocation rule is optimally adapted at any time depending on the respective actual consumption rates.

[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device comprises a comparator unit adapted to compare the actual take-off rate of each of the fish processing devices with a predetermined target take-off rate assigned to the respective fish processing device. If at least one of the actual take-off rates falls below the respectively assigned target take-off rate, the predetermined distribution rule is adjusted such that the respective target take-off rate is at least temporarily reduced. In this way, shortfalls in take-off rates from individual fish processing devices are detected by the control device, and the supply of fish to the longitudinal conveyors is adjusted accordingly.

[0030] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control unit is further configured to determine a total actual removal rate as the sum of the actual removal rates of the fish processing machines and to control the conveying speed of the cross conveyor such that the receiving elements are fed without gaps. The continuous filling of the receiving elements has a particularly advantageous effect in that after the cross conveyor stops or after the cross conveyor accelerates again to its original conveying speed, the receiving elements are fed without gaps, so that the maximum feed rate is immediately available.

[0031] The object is also achieved by the method mentioned at the outset and is characterized by generating a single-cycle control signal by means of the control device and controlling at least one controllably movable single-cycle flap element of the feeding device and feeding the receiving elements with fish at a preselected delivery time, wherein the fish, when feeding the receiving elements, pass through a flap cascade formed from the single-cycle flap element and a controllably movable storage flap element arranged upstream of it in a control-controlled manner.

[0032] The advantages associated with the method according to the invention have already been explained previously in connection with the fish feeding device according to the invention. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the advantages mentioned there, which apply analogously to the method according to the invention.

[0033] A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the fish, due to the effect of gravity, automatically come to rest in front of the infeed flap element in a closed position in a first holding area and, in an open position of the infeed flap element, automatically move into the respective receiving element in the direction of the cross conveyor by the fish sliding down an inclined guide plane.

[0034] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control of the flap cascade by means of the control device is carried out in such a way that, if the single-cycle flap element is in the open position, the storage flap element is in a closed position, or, if the storage flap element is in an open position, the single-cycle flap element is in the closed position.

[0035] According to a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises detecting by means of a sensor means whether a waiting area in front of the storage flap element is occupied by one of the fish or is free, and reporting the detected state to the control device.

[0036] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by feeding the receiving elements by means of several feeding devices arranged offset next to one another in the transverse conveying direction by at least one width of the receiving elements.

[0037] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized by generating a transfer control signal by means of the control device and effecting a pivoting movement of the receiving elements from a fish transport position into a fish release position by means of a respective release switch for transferring one of the fish from a receiving element to the respective longitudinal conveyor.

[0038] An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by transferring the fish to the respective longitudinal conveyor under the influence of gravity in the area of ​​the discharge switch by means of guiding means.

[0039] A preferred development of the invention is characterized by detecting the occupancy states of the transfer devices by means of fish occupancy sensors and reporting whether the respective longitudinal conveyor in the area of ​​the transfer device is occupied by one of the fish or is free by transmitting the detected occupancy states to the control device.

[0040] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cross conveyor is driven by means of a controllable drive unit and the conveying speed is adjusted by means of the control device.

[0041] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by assigning the receiving elements when loading them with fish to one of the fish processing machines on the basis of the predetermined distribution rule and creating an assignment rule.

[0042] An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by determining the positions of the receiving elements and determining the respective release times based on the assignment rule and the determined positions of the receiving elements.

[0043] According to a further preferred embodiment, the acceptance performance of the fish processing machines and / or the occupancy status of the transfer devices are monitored and the actual acceptance performance for each of the fish processing devices is determined therefrom.

[0044] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by comparing the actual consumption performance of each of the fish processing devices with a predetermined target consumption performance assigned to the respective fish processing device and, if at least one of the actual consumption performances falls below the respectively assigned target consumption performance, adapting the predetermined distribution rule such that the respective target consumption performance is at least temporarily reduced.

[0045] A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized by determining a total actual removal rate as the sum of the actual removal rates of the fish processing machines and controlling the conveying speed of the cross conveyor in such a way that the feeding of the receiving elements takes place without gaps.

[0046] Further preferred and / or expedient features and embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. To avoid repetition, the method according to the invention, together with the fish feeding device according to the invention, are explained in more detail below. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an exemplary fish feeding device according to the invention with three feeding devices and eight longitudinal conveyors, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the cross conveyor according to the invention with a transfer device, Fig. 3 a partial excerpt of the Figure 1 shown fish feeding device, Fig. 4 an exemplary design of one of the feeding devices in perspective view, Fig. 5a perspective detailed view of the cross conveyor and a transfer device, Fig. 6 which in Figure 5 shown detailed view from the rear perspective, and Fig.7 which in the Figures 5 and 6 Detailed view shown, looking from below.

[0047] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fish feeding device 10 according to the invention. By way of example, the fish feeding device 10 is designed with three feeding devices 11 and eight longitudinal conveyors 12. By means of the longitudinal conveyors 12, Figure 1 not shown - fish 13 are fed to several fish processing devices. The fish processing devices, such as slaughtering and / or gutting machines, are not shown in the drawing for reasons of clarity. The number of fish feeding devices 10 and the number of longitudinal conveyors 12 shown is, of course, not limited to the number shown in Figure 1The number shown is not limited, but purely exemplary. As explained above, a significant advantage of the present invention is that the number of feeding devices 11 as well as the number of longitudinal conveyors 12 and the fish processing machines connected to them can be configured as required, depending on the application.

[0048] The fish feeding device 10 according to the invention comprises a cross conveyor 14, which is designed to convey the fish 13 transversely to their head-to-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction 15. The head-to-tail orientation is oriented along an imaginary axis that runs from the head to the tail of each fish 13. The fish 13 are conveyed by means of the cross conveyor 14 transversely to this axis in the transverse conveying direction 15. The transverse conveying direction 15 and the aforementioned axis form a right angle or an approximately right angle. The orientation of the fish 13, i.e. the direction in which the head of the fish 13 points, is fundamentally arbitrary. However, the fish are preferably oriented on the cross conveyor 14 such that they are subsequently conveyed tail-first by means of the longitudinal conveyor 12.

[0049] Out of Fig. 2, which shows a perspective view of the cross conveyor 14 according to the invention with only one transfer device 16, it can be seen that the cross conveyor 14 comprises a plurality of receiving elements 17, each designed to individually receive one of the fish 13. The length of the receiving elements 17 is in each case selected to be greater than the greatest length of the fish 13. Preferably, the receiving elements 17 have edge elements 18 that protrude upwards relative to the base of the receiving elements 17, so that the fish 13 are reliably conveyed in the transverse conveying direction 15 by the receiving elements 17. More preferably, the base is inclined towards the center of the receiving elements 17, so that the fish 13 are automatically centered in the receiving element 17 under the action of gravity. The cross conveyor 14 has a controllably configured drive unit 19, which for example comprises one or more controllable servomotor drives.

[0050] As in Figure 1As shown by way of example, the fish feeding device 10 according to the invention comprises at least one loading device 11 configured to load the receiving elements 17 of the cross conveyor 14 with the fish 13. The fish 13 are preferably transferred manually by operating personnel to the loading devices 11, which then fully automatically load the receiving elements 17 of the cross conveyor 14 with the fish 13. The loading devices 11 and the receiving elements 17 are configured such that each of the receiving elements 17 can be loaded with one of the fish 13.

[0051] Furthermore, the fish feeding device 10 according to the invention comprises a plurality of transfer devices 16, which are designed for the selective transfer of the fish from the transverse conveyor 14 to the longitudinal conveyors 12 arranged upstream of the fish processing devices.

[0052] By means of a control device (not shown in the drawing), the at least one loading device 11, the transfer devices 16, and the conveying speed of the cross conveyor 14 are controlled based on at least one predetermined distribution specification. In other words, the control device is configured and designed to control or regulate the aforementioned components.

[0053] According to the invention, the Fig. 4The loading device 11 illustrated by way of example has at least one controllable infeed flap element. This is configured, by means of an infeed control signal generated by the control device, to control the loading of one of the receiving elements 17 with fish 13 at a preselected delivery time. In other words, the control device is designed and configured such that, by means of the infeed flap element 20—provided that loading with fish 13 is provided according to the predetermined distribution specification—one of the fish 13 is transferred into the receiving element 17 passing through the infeed flap element 20, so that the receiving element 17 is loaded with an individual one of the fish 13.

[0054] Advantageously, the feeding device 11 comprises a guide plane 21 arranged at an incline such that the fish 13 automatically come to rest in a first holding area 22 in front of the infeed flap element 20 in a closed position due to the effect of gravity and automatically move into the respective receiving element 17 in the direction of the cross conveyor 14 in an open position of the infeed flap element 20. Fig. 4 the single-stroke flap element 20 is shown in the closed position.

[0055] According to the invention, the feeding device 11 comprises a controllably movable storage flap element 23. The storage flap element 23 forms a flap cascade 24 with the infeed flap element 20. The fish 13 are introduced via the guide plane 21 into a waiting area 25 in front of the storage flap element 23. In an open position of the storage flap element 23, the respective fish 13 reaches the first holding area 22 under the influence of gravity and comes to lie in front of the infeed flap element 20, which is in the closed position, until the latter is moved into the open position and the fish 13 thus reaches the respective receiving element 17, as described above.

[0056] Advantageously, the control device is configured to control the flap cascade 24 such that, if the single-acting flap element 20 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the storage flap element 23 is moved from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. The control device is therefore configured, with knowledge of the inertial behavior of the fish 13, to take into account the delays that occur such that the opening process of the storage flap element 23 already begins, for example, when the single-acting flap element 20 is still in the open position. However, it is ensured that the single-acting flap element 20 is already in the closed position or has already closed sufficiently that the respective one of the fish 13 comes to rest in the first holding area 22. In this way, it is ensured that the fish 13 remains at rest at least temporarily in the first holding area 22.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a sensor means 26 for fish detection is arranged in the region of the storage flap element 23. The sensor means is designed and configured to detect the presence of one of the fish 13 in the waiting area 25 in front of the storage flap element 23 and to report this to the control device.

[0058] Advantageously, several of the loading devices 11 are arranged offset next to one another in the transverse conveying direction 15 by at least one width of the receiving elements 17. The number of offset loading devices 11 can be freely selected as required. As shown in the Figure 4As shown by way of example, the fish feeding device 10 according to the invention can comprise four of the loading devices 11. The loading devices 11 are preferably arranged offset by the width of one of the receiving elements 17, so that successive receiving elements 17 can be fed without gaps.

[0059] The receiving elements 17 of the cross conveyor 14 preferably form a circulating conveyor. The receiving elements 17 forming the cross conveyor 14 are each guided by at least two drive wheels 27, each driven by the drive unit 19. Particularly preferably, each of the receiving elements 17 is pivotable about a transverse axis 33. In other words, the receiving elements 17 and the cross conveyor 14 are designed such that the receiving elements 17 can be tilted by means of the control device. The fish 13 located in the receiving element 17 will thus slide out of the respective receiving element 17 under the influence of gravity by tilting the respective receiving element 17 and will be guided onto the respective longitudinal conveyor 12 in the area of ​​the transfer devices 16.

[0060] In Fig. 5The cross conveyor 14 and one of the transfer devices 16 are shown in detail in perspective. The transfer devices 16 each comprise a discharge switch 28, which is designed and configured to pivot the respective receiving element 17 from a fish transport position into a fish discharge position by means of a transfer control signal generated by the control device. The fish discharge position corresponds to the previously described inclined position of the respective receiving element 17, whereby only the fish transport position is shown in the drawing.

[0061] A preferred development is characterized in that the discharge switch 28 comprises a pivoting guide 29 which is controllable by means of the transfer control signal. The pivoting guide 29 comprises pivoting elements 30. In the fish transport position, the pivoting elements 30 are, as shown in the Figures 4 and 5shown, aligned so that the receiving elements 17 are guided in the transverse conveying direction 15. If the pivoting element 30 is pivoted into a lower position - not shown in the drawing - by means of the transfer control signal, the rear part of the receiving elements 17 with respect to the transverse conveying direction 15 is tilted about the transverse axis 33 by guiding the rear part of the receiving elements 17 over the pivoting element 30 and the deflection guide 31, so that the respective one of the receiving elements 17 is brought into the fish-releasing position.

[0062] Preferably, the transfer devices each comprise, in the region of the discharge switch 28, guide means 32 which are designed to transfer the fish 13 from the receiving elements 17 in the fish discharge position to the respective longitudinal conveyor 12 under the influence of gravity.

[0063] In the Figures 6 and 7 is the Figure 5The detailed view shown is shown from the rear perspective or from below.

[0064] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the transfer devices 16 each comprise fish occupancy sensors (not shown in the drawing). The fish occupancy sensors are configured to report to the control device whether the respective longitudinal conveyor 12 in the area of ​​the transfer device 16 is occupied by one of the fish 13 or is free.

[0065] The control device is preferably designed to assign the receiving elements 17 to one of the fish processing machines based on the predetermined distribution rule when they are loaded with fish 13 and to determine an assignment rule. Furthermore, the control device is particularly designed to determine the positions of the receiving elements 17 and to determine the respective discharge times based on the assignment rule and the determined positions of the receiving elements 17. The position can be determined, for example, by a reference sensor that detects the passing of one of the receiving elements 17 at a reference position. Since the control device is designed to simultaneously specify and adjust the conveying speed of the cross conveyor 14, it is further preferably designed to determine the positions of the receiving elements 17 based on the position signals supplied by the reference sensor and the conveying speed.

[0066] Advantageously, the control device is designed to determine the respective acceptance performances of the fish processing machines and / or the occupancy states of the transfer devices 16 and to determine therefrom an actual acceptance performance for each of the fish processing devices.

[0067] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the control device comprises a comparator unit which is adapted to compare the actual power consumption of each of the fish processing devices with a predetermined target power consumption assigned to the respective fish processing device and, if at least one of the actual power consumption falls below the respectively assigned target power consumption, to adapt the predetermined distribution rule in such a way that the respective target power consumption is set at least temporarily reduced.

[0068] Preferably, the control unit is further configured to determine a total actual removal rate as the sum of the actual removal rates of the fish processing machines and to control the conveying speed of the cross conveyor 14 such that the feeding of the receiving elements 17 takes place without gaps.

Claims

1. Fish feed-in device (10) which is configured and designed to supply fish (13) to a plurality of fish-processing devices and comprises: a transverse conveyor (14) designed to convey the fish (13) transversely to their head-tail orientation in a transverse conveying direction (15), wherein the transverse conveyor (14) comprises a plurality of receptacles (17) each designed to individually hold one of the fish (13), and the transverse conveyor (14) has a controllable drive unit (19), at least one feeder device (11) which is designed to supply fish to the receptacles (17) of the transverse conveyor (14), a plurality of transfer devices (16) which are designed to selectively transfer the fish (13) from the transverse conveyor to the longitudinal conveyors (12) arranged upstream of the respective fish-processing devices, wherein the longitudinal conveyors (12) are designed to convey the fish (13) in their head-tail orientation to the fish-processing machines, and a control device, which is designed to control the at least one feeder device (11), the transfer devices (16) and the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor (14) on the basis of at least one predefined distribution specification, characterised in that the at least one feeder device (11) comprises at least one clocking flap element (20) which is movable under control and configured, by means of a clocking control signal generated by the control device, to control the infeed of fish (13) to one of the receptacles (17) at a preselected output time.

2. Fish feed-in device according to claim 1, characterised in that the feeder device (11) comprises a guide plane (21) which is arranged inclined such that under the effect of gravity, the fish (13) automatically come to lie in a first retaining area (22) in front of the clocking flap element (20) when the latter is in a closed position, and automatically move in the direction of the transverse conveyor (14) into the respective receptacle (17) when said clocking flap element (20) is in an open position.

3. Fish feed-in device according to claim 2, characterised in that the control device is configured to control the flap cascade (24) such that when the clocking flap element (20) is moved from an open position to a closed position, the storage flap element (23) is moved from a closed position to an open position, and vice versa.

4. Fish feed-in device according to claim 3, characterised in that a sensor means (26) for fish detection is arranged in the region of the storage flap element (23), and is designed and configured to detect the presence of a fish (13) in a waiting area (25) in front of the storage flap element (23) and report this to the control device.

5. Fish feed-in device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that several of the feeder devices (11) are arranged next to and offset to each other in the transverse conveying direction (15) by at least a width of the receptacle (17).

6. Fish feed-in device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the receptacles (17) of the transverse conveyor (14) form a circulating conveyor.

7. Fish feed-in device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that each of the receptacles (17) is configured so as to be pivotable about a transverse axis (33).

8. Fish feed-in device according to claim 7, characterised in that the transfer devices (16) each comprise an ejecting diverter (28) which is configured and designed to pivot the respective receptacle (17) from a fish transport position into a fish ejection position by means of a transfer control signal generated by the control device.

9. Fish feed-in device according to claim 8, characterised in that the ejecting diverter (28) comprises a pivot guide (29) which is configured so as to be controllable by means of the transfer control signal.

10. Fish feed-in device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the transfer devices (16) each comprise guiding means (32) in the region of the ejecting diverter (28), which means are configured to transfer the fish from the receptacles (17) in the fish ejection position to the respective longitudinal conveyor (12) under the effect of gravity.

11. Fish feed-in device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the transfer devices (16) each comprise fish occupation sensors which are configured to report to the control device whether the respective longitudinal conveyor (12) is occupied by a fish (13) or is free in the region of the transfer device (16).

12. Fish feed-in device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the control device is configured to assign the receptacles (17), when supplied with fish (13), to a respective fish-processing machine on the basis of the predefined distribution specification and to determine an allocation specification.

13. Fish feed-in device according to claim 12, characterised in that the control device is configured to determine the positions of the receptacles (17) and determine the respective output times on the basis of the allocation specification and the determined positions of the receptacles (17).

14. Fish feed-in device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the control device is configured to determine the respective take-up performance of the fish-processing machines and / or the occupation states of the transfer devices (16) and from this determine the actual take-up performance for each of the fish-processing devices.

15. Fish feed-in device according to claim 14, characterised in that the control device comprises a comparison unit which is adapted to compare the actual take-up performance of each of the fish-processing devices with a predetermined nominal take-up performance assigned to the respective fish-processing device, and if at least one of the actual take-up performances falls below the respective assigned nominal take-up performance, to adapt the predefined distribution specification such that the respective nominal take-up performance is at least temporarily reduced.

16. Fish feed-in device according to claim 15, characterised in that the control device is furthermore configured to determine a total actual take-up performance as a sum of the actual take-up performances of the fish-processing machines, and control the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor (14) such that the infeed to the receptacles (17) is uninterrupted.

17. Method for supplying fish to a plurality of fish-processing machines, comprising the steps: - conveying the fish (13) transversely to their head-tail orientation in the transverse conveying direction (15) by means of a plurality of receptacles (17) of a transverse conveyor (14) which are each designed to individually hold one of the fish, - infeed to the receptacles (17) of the transverse conveyor (14) by means of a feeder device (11), - selective transfer of the fish (13) by means of transfer devices (16) from the transverse conveyor (14) to respective longitudinal conveyors (12) arranged upstream of the fish-processing machines, - conveying of the transferred fish (13) in their head-tail orientation to the fish-processing machines by means of the longitudinal conveyors (12), - controlling the infeed to the receptacles (17) and the selective transfer of the fish (13) on the basis of at least one predefined distribution specification, characterised by generation of a clocking control signal by means of the control device, and activation of at least one clocking flap element (20) of the feeder device (11) which is movable under control, and infeed of fish to the receptacles (17) at a preselected output time, wherein on infeed to the receptacles (17), the fish (13 pass under cyclic control through a flap cascade (24) formed by the clocking flap element (20) and a storage flap element (23) which is arranged upstream thereof and is movable under control.

18. Method according to claim 17, characterised in that under the effect of gravity, the fish (13) automatically come to lie in a first retaining area in front of the clocking flap element (20) when the latter is in a closed position, and automatically move in the direction of the transverse conveyor (14) into the respective receptacle (17) when said clocking flap element (20) is in an open position, in that the fish (13) slide down an inclined guide plane (21).

19. Method according to claim 18, characterised by the control of the flap cascade (24) by means of the control device such that when the clocking flap element (20) is in the open position, the storage flap element (23) is in a closed position, or when the storage flap element (23) is in an open position, the clocking flap element (20) is in the closed position.

20. Method according to claim 17 to 19, characterised by detection, by means of a sensor means (26), of whether a waiting area (25) in front of the storage flap element (23) is occupied by a fish (13) or is free, and reporting of the detected state to the control device.

21. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterised by infeed to the receptacles (17) by means of several feeder devices (11) arranged next to and offset to each other in the transverse conveying direction (15) by at least a width of the receptacles (17).

22. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, characterised by generation of a transfer control signal by means of the control device, and actuation of a pivot movement of the receptacles (17) from a fish transport position into a fish ejection position by means of one ejecting diverter (28), each, for transfer of one of the fish (13), each, from the receptacle (17) to the respective longitudinal conveyor (12).

23. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 22, characterised by guidance of the fish (13) to the respective longitudinal conveyor (12) under the effect of gravity in the region of the ejecting diverter by means of guiding means (32).

24. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 23, characterised by detection of the occupation state of the transfer devices (16) by means of fish occupation sensors, and reporting of whether the respective longitudinal conveyor (12) is occupied by a fish (13) or is free in the region of the transfer device (16), by transmission of the detected occupation state to the control device.

25. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 24, characterised by driving of the transverse conveyor (14) by means of a controllable drive unit (19) and setting of the conveying speed by means of the control device.

26. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 25, characterised by allocation of the receptacles (17), on infeed of fish (13) thereto, to a respective fish-processing machine on the basis of a predefined distribution specification, and production of an allocation specification.

27. Method according to claim 26, characterised by determination of the position of the receptacles (17) and determination of the respective output times on the basis of the allocation specification and the determined positions of the receptacles (17).

28. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 27, characterised by monitoring of take-up performances of the fish-processing machines and / or the occupation states of the transfer devices (16) and from this determining the actual take-up performances for each of the fish-processing devices.

29. Method according to claim 28, characterised by comparison of the actual take-up performance of each of the fish-processing devices with a predetermined nominal take-up performance assigned to the respective fish-processing device, and if at least one of the actual take-up performances falls below the respective assigned nominal take-up performance, adaptation of the predetermined distribution specification such that the respective nominal take-up performance is at least temporarily reduced.

30. Method according to one of claims 28 or 29, characterised by determination of a total actual take-up performance as a sum of the actual take-up performances of the fish-processing machines, and control of the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor (14) such that the infeed to the receptacles (17) is uninterrupted.