Apparatus and method for stunning fish

Abstract

The invention relates to a fish feeding device adapted for transporting fish head-first, a fish receiving space (10) configured for loading the fish head-first by the fish feeding device, positioning means (11) having positioning means (12) adapted for holding the fish in a stop position in the fish receiving space (10) and for releasing the fish after stunning, stunning means (13) acting on a head region of the fish to stunning the fish in the stop position, a triggering device (16) adapted for determining the stop position and for triggering the effect of the stunning means (13) on the head region of the fish, and a device for feeding the fish head-first, the device comprising: The present invention relates to a fish stunning apparatus comprising a control unit adapted for controlling the moth device (16) and the stunning means (13), a fish size sensing device adapted for determining the fish size, and a controllably movable position actuator adapted for locally adjusting the fish positioning means (12) such that the position of each of the fish heads relative to the stunning means (13) in the rest position is adapted to be adjusted in a self-actuated manner depending on the fish size, characterized in that the fish size sensing device comprises a fish length sensing device adapted for determining the fish length, the fish size sensing device being configured for determining the fish size based on the fish length. The present invention further relates to a method for automatically stunning fish.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fish stunning device, which device comprises a fish supply device adapted to convey fish head-first, a fish receiving space configured to receive fish head-first by the fish supply device, a positioning device having positioning means for holding the fish at a stop position within the fish receiving space and for biting the fish's head and adapted to release the fish after stunning, stunning means acting on the head-side region of the fish to stun the fish at the stop position, a trigger device adapted to determine the stop position and to trigger the effect of the stunning means on the head-side region of the fish, a control unit adapted to control the fish positioning device, the trigger device, and the stunning means, a fish size sensing device adapted to determine the fish size, and a controllably movable position actuator adapted to locally adjust the fish positioning means such that the respective positions of the fish's head relative to the stunning means at the stop position are adjusted in a self-acting manner depending on the fish size.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a method for automatically stunning fish, which method comprises conveying the fish head-first by a fish supply device, placing the fish head-first into a fish receiving space by the fish supply device, determining by a trigger device the stop position and the time for triggering the effect of the stunning means on the head-side region of the fish, holding the fish at the stop position within the fish receiving space by a positioning device having positioning means for biting the fish's head, controlling the positioning device, the trigger device, and the stunning means by a control unit, determining the fish size by a fish size sensing device, adjusting the fish positioning means by a controllably movable position actuator adapted to locally adjust the positioning means such that the respective positions of the fish's head relative to the stunning means at the stop position are independently adjustable depending on the fish size, stunning the fish at the stop position by stunning means acting on the head-side region of the fish, and releasing the fish after stunning by the positioning means. [Background technology]

[0003] A fish stunning device with the above mentioned features is known from document WO2016 / 026540A1. The fish are fed individually one after the other to the fish stunning device. The fish arrive individually in a prone position, head first, with or in the water flow, in the fish receiving space. A triggering device is arranged in the fish receiving space. The heads of the fish impact the triggering device due to their own weight and reach a provisional stopping position. The triggering device has an abutment element mounted in a slidably or pivotably movable manner. Sensor means, which react to the abutment of the fish head against the abutment element of the triggering device, trigger the operation of the stunning means. The stunning means comprises a stunning tool as well as an optional bleeding tool.

[0004] In order to stun the fish optimally and in an animal welfare-compliant manner, the fish's head is fixed in a stop position by a positioning means, the optimal position for this being set by a controllably movable position actuator depending on the fish size. Such an apparatus, which is technically improved compared to that of document WO2016 / 026540A1, and a corresponding method are already known from patent application EP16736876 (publication number 3484299) from the Applicant's company. We therefore refer to patent application EP16736876 in its entirety, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in the present application.

[0005] The drawback is that the cooperation of additional devices and sensors is required to determine fish size, which makes the device as well as the method complex and generally prone to breakdowns and expensive maintenance during harsh industrial use.

[0006] The problem of the present invention is therefore to propose a corresponding apparatus, which allows a reliable fish size determination for optimal adjustment of said positioning device with the lowest possible equipment effort. This problem further consists in proposing a corresponding method.

[0007] This problem is solved by an apparatus having the above-mentioned characteristics, in that the fish size sensing device comprises a fish length sensing device adapted for determining the fish length, the fish size sensing device being configured to determine the fish size based on the fish length. It has been found that the fish length is a reliable starting parameter from which a conclusion regarding the actual fish size can be drawn. The cooperation of the apparatus for determining the fish size can thus be minimized, since complex devices for determining the fish size, such as for example weighing devices, are hardly required. Instead, one can rely on a number of components already provided in such a fish stunning apparatus for determining the fish length as a starting criterion for determining the fish size. Thus, a reliable and accurate determination of the fish size is possible with the minimum possible cooperation of the apparatus for performing an accurate adjustment of the positioning device according to the fish size.

[0008] Fish size is understood as a parameter that allows the allocation of fish to a corresponding fish size range and / or fish size class. Fish size is characterized, for example, by the volume, mass, maximum width between sides of the fish body, and by anatomical size relationships, for example the relationship between the head and the total fish length. Fish size is thus a value or range of values ​​that also allows the allocation of fish to different defined fish size classes.

[0009] A controllably movable position actuator is configured to act on the fish positioning means to adjust in a self-actuating manner the position of the fish's head relative to the stunning means in the stop position depending on the fish size. The position actuator is further preferably configured to adjust the position of the trigger device together with the fish positioning means. In this way the position of the trigger device can also be adjusted depending on the fish size. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] WO2016 / 026540A1 publication [Patent Document 2] EP16736876 publication Summary of the Invention

[0011] A fish stunning device in accordance with the present invention is understood to stun the fish, leading to its death. Stunning is performed in two stages: the fish is first stunned by the stunning tool, whereby it loses consciousness. Then, a fatal bleeding is induced. The fish stunning device in accordance with the present invention therefore in other words also forms a fish slaughtering device. The fish stunning device is preferably configured such that the operation of the bleeding tool is variably controlled by switching it on and off. In this way, it can be verified whether the stunning tool functions correctly and stuns the fish, preferably irreversibly.

[0012] An advantageous design embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the fish size sensing device is adapted to determine whether a certain size of the fish falls into one of at least two defined fish size ranges based on the fish length and to determine the respective fish size range as a fish size. In this way, it is possible to determine which fish size each fish is and which of the defined fish size ranges it falls into. This has the advantage that on the one hand the positioning device is optimally positioned according to the fish size and on the other hand the position of the positioning device can be maintained even if successive fish arrive whose fish size falls into the same fish size range.

[0013] In this way the number of repositioning of the positioning device can be minimized. However, the invention is not limited to the classification into said two defined fish size ranges. Any number of fish size ranges can be defined depending on the desired accuracy of the position adjustment of the positioning device. If desired, the positioning device can even be adjusted and adapted individually for each fish size to ensure optimal positioning of the fish in the stop position.

[0014] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized in that the fish size sensing device comprises a sensor device adapted for determining the fish length of the fish. Such a sensor device for determining the fish length offers the advantage that the cooperation of the apparatus is as low as possible. The fish length can be determined with such a sensor device with sufficient accuracy, providing a reliable starting criterion for determining the fish size.

[0015] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the sensor device comprises at least two sensors arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space, the sensors being adapted to detect the presence of a fish in their respective sensing areas and providing a detection signal. The sensors are therefore arranged in an area of ​​the fish receiving space, for example on a side wall. Alternatively, the sensors are arranged in front of the fish receiving space, for example upstream thereof, such that the fish pass the sensors before reaching the fish receiving space. The positions of the sensors are preferably selected in any case such that sufficient time remains to determine the fish size based on the detection signal and to position the positioning means based on said fish size before the fish reaches the stop position.

[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor device comprises an evaluation unit adapted for determining the fish length based on the detection signal, in other words the evaluation unit is configured to determine the actual fish length based on the detection signal of the sensor device and to use it as starting criterion for the determination.

[0017] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the evaluation unit is further adapted to ascertain, in case of detection of the presence of a fish in its sensing area by a first one of the sensors arranged on the stunning means side, whether detection of the presence of a fish in its sensing area of ​​a second one of the sensors arranged on the fish supplying device side has also been detected based on the detection signal.

[0018] Furthermore, the evaluation unit is adapted to determine the larger of the defined fish size ranges as the fish size if the presence of a fish is detected in the sensing areas of both the first and second sensors, and otherwise determine the smaller of the defined fish size ranges as the fish size. In other words, the evaluation unit recognizes that the first sensor detects the presence of a fish in the sensing area, and then checks whether the second sensor also detects the presence of a fish in its sensing area. In this case, the fish has a fish size within the defined large fish size range, and otherwise, the fish has a size within the defined small fish size range. Advantageously, such measurements can be performed not only when the fish is stationary, i.e. statically, but also when it is moving, i.e. dynamically.

[0019] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that further sensors spaced apart from one another are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space, which sensors are adapted to detect the presence of a fish in their respective sensing areas and provide a detection signal, and the evaluation device is further adapted to determine based on the detection signal whether the fish size falls into a corresponding fish size range depending on the distance between the first sensor and one of the further sensors and to determine the respective fish size range as the fish size. In this way it can be advantageously determined which size category the respective fish falls into. An adjustment of the position of the positioning means is then preferably performed based on the determined fish size range.

[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment, the fish receiving space has a floor element which forms an inclined surface inclined in the direction of gravity towards the stunning means, so that after depositing the fish in the fish receiving space, the fish is guided sliding on the floor element under the effect of gravity. This has the advantage that the fish automatically slides or slides down in the direction of the stunning means. By defining the inclination angle of the inclined surface, the path of movement of the fish and thus its speed or acceleration can be influenced. Preferably, the inclination angle of the floor element is arranged to be adjustable.

[0021] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the fish size sensing device comprises a time difference sensing unit adapted to determine, based on the detection signals of at least two of the sensors, at least one time interval required for the fish to move from one sensing area of ​​one of the sensors to at least one other sensing area of ​​another sensor, and the fish size sensing device has a processing unit adapted to determine the fish length of the fish based on the determined at least one time interval based on a cine model representing the fish movement in the fish receiving space. In other words, the time difference sensing unit is adapted to determine the "fall time" of the fish on the inclined plane, i.e. the time required for the fish to pass both sensors. By modeling the path of the fish movement on this inclined plane, it is possible to determine the fish length using said cine model, which then serves as a starting criterion for the fish size determination.

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cine model comprises at least one path / time equation, which at least approximately describes the movement of the fish as a function of the inclination angle of the inclined plane. The cine model is for example of linear construction. As a simplification, in this case a uniform or uniformly accelerated movement of the fish is assumed.

[0023] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized in that the movie model comprises empirically determined motion data. A movie model based on empirically determined motion data has the advantage that the motion data is determined for a number of different fishes and reflects real relationships in the movie. Thus, for a number of fish species and fish sizes, the fish length and therefore the fish size can be accurately determined.

[0024] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the movie model is established on the basis of a self-learning neuronal network. The use of such a neuronal network has the advantage that it determines the actual fish size very accurately, based on previously learned empirical values.

[0025] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, after loading one of the fish in the fish receiving space, the control unit is arranged to cause the fish size sensing device to first determine the fish size of the fish and then to set in a self-actuating manner the position of the fish's head relative to the stunning means in the stop position according to the fish size by means of the controllably movable position actuator. In this way, a permanent optimal fixation of the respective fish in the stop position is achieved and a reliable stunning and subsequent bleeding is guaranteed. The determination of the stop position is preferably performed before the fish is temporarily placed in the stop position.

[0026] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the fish length sensing device is further configured to determine a head-to-total length relationship based on the fish size, and the control unit is adapted to set a position of the fish's head in the stop position depending on the head-to-total length relationship. The relationship between the length of the fish's head and the fish's total length constitutes a reliable starting criterion for determining the position of the fish's head in the stop position. The fish length sensing device is for example equipped with a database in which the head-to-total length relationships of different fish species are stored. The fish length sensing device is thus configured to determine the head-to-total length relationship based on the fish size. The fish length sensing device is further adapted to determine the position of the fish's head in the stop position based on the determined head-to-total length relationship. For example, a database in which positions associated with the head-to-total length relationship for each optimal positioning of the fish's head can also be used for this purpose.

[0027] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control unit comprises a prone / supine position sensing unit configured to recognize whether the fish are aligned with their ventral side up or not and to separate the fish from the fish receiving space if they are aligned with their ventral side up. In this way, the correct position of the fish in the fish receiving space is always ensured, i.e. the fish are aligned with their ventral side down. Fish that reach the fish receiving space in a back-down position can be separated and fed back to the fish receiving space or post-processed after changing to a prone / supine position. For example, the fish reach the catchment pond via a different route and are fed back from there. In this way, animal welfare-compliant stunning and bleeding is always reliably guaranteed.

[0028] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention is one in which the control unit further comprises a kype recognition device adapted to detect sexual dimorphism-related changes in the fish and to adjust the determined head length to total length relationship according to the kype state of the fish determined on the basis of an anatomical model of the fish. To this end, the kype recognition device comprises corresponding sensors configured to sense and evaluate both anatomical changes and / or color changes caused by the kype state of the fish. For example, fish with kype have a long head compared to the total fish length.

[0029] A further advantageous design of the invention is characterized in that the kip recognition device comprises at least one optical sensor adapted to optically scan the ventral side of the fish and detect the kip state through a comparison with defined brightness values ​​or brightness profiles. The ventral side of fish with kip is usually darker than the ventral side of fish without kip. By defining corresponding brightness values, brightness profiles, brightness regions and / or brightness thresholds, said comparison can allow recognition of whether the fish is in a kip state or not, which can be taken into account when determining the head length to total length relationship.

[0030] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the fish length sensing device is further adapted to determine fish size ranges based on a predefined fish size distribution and / or determined fish size ranges, and if the determined respective fish size is within one of these fish size ranges, set the position of the fish head in the stop position according to the position definition defined for the respective fish size range, thereby increasing the robustness of classifying the fish into said fish size ranges against measurement errors and / or measurement inaccuracies in determining the fish size. Advantageously, the position of the fish head is adapted to be set in a self-activated manner each time depending on the fish size relative to the stunning means in the stop position and thus depending on the respective detected fish size range.

[0031] The problem is further solved by a corresponding method with the above mentioned features, by determining the fish length by means of a fish length sensing device and determining the fish size based on the fish length by means of a fish size sensing device, the advantages associated therewith have already been fully explained above in relation to the apparatus according to the invention. As this likewise applies to the features of the method below, we refer to the advantages of the respective features of the apparatus according to the invention in relation to the method.

[0032] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention is characterized by determining whether a particular size of the fish falls within one of at least two defined fish size ranges based on the fish length, and determining the fish size as the respective fish size range.

[0033] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized by detecting the presence of a fish in the respective sensitive area of ​​the sensor and providing a detection signal.

[0034] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized by detecting the presence of fish in the respective sensing areas of the sensors and providing a detection signal by at least two sensors of the sensor device arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space.

[0035] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the fish length is determined on the basis of the detection signal by an evaluation device of the sensor device.

[0036] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized in that, when detecting the presence of a fish in the sensing area of ​​a first sensor among the sensors arranged on the stunning means side based on the detection signal by the evaluation unit, it is characterized by checking whether the presence of a fish is also detected in the sensing area of ​​a second sensor among the sensors arranged on the fish supplying device side, and, if the presence of a fish is detected in the sensing areas of both the first and the second sensors, determining the fish size to be the respectively larger of the defined fish size ranges, and, if not, determining the fish size to be the respectively smaller of the defined fish size ranges.

[0037] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention is characterized by detecting the presence of a fish in the respective sensing areas of the sensors and providing a detection signal by further sensors arranged at intervals from each other in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space, and determining by the evaluation device, based on the detection signal, the respective fish size range as the fish size if the fish size falls within a fish size range corresponding to the distance between the first sensor and one of the further sensors.

[0038] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that after loading the fish into the fish receiving space, the fish are guided by sliding under the effect of gravity on a floor element of the receiving element, which floor element forms a suitable inclined surface in the direction of gravity relative to the stunning means.

[0039] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized by determining, by a time difference sensing unit of the fish size sensing device based on detection signals of at least two of the sensors, at least one time interval required for the fish to move from one sensing area of ​​one of the sensors to at least one other sensing area of ​​the at least one other of the sensors, and determining, by a processing unit of the fish size sensing device, a fish length of the fish based on a cine model representing the movement of the fish in the fish receiving space.

[0040] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized in that the cinematographic model comprises at least one path / time equation which at least approximately describes the movement of the fish as a function of the inclination angle of the inclined plane.

[0041] According to a further preferred embodiment, the movie model is provided with empirically determined motion data.

[0042] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the movie model is generated on the basis of a self-learning neuronal network.

[0043] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized by activating a fish size sensing device to preliminarily determine the fish size after loading the fish into the fish receiving space and then setting in a self-actuating manner the position of the fish's head relative to the stunning means in the stop position depending on the fish size by means of a controllably movable position actuator.

[0044] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention is characterized by determining, by the fish length sensing device, a head-to-total length relationship based on the fish size, and by setting, by the control unit, a position of the fish's head at the stop position depending on the head-to-total length relationship.

[0045] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the prone / supine position sensing unit of the control unit recognizing whether the fish are lying aligned with their ventral side down or not, and isolating the fish from the fish receiving space if the fish are lying with their ventral side up.

[0046] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized by detecting sexual dimorphism-related changes in the fish by means of a kyphotic recognition device of the control unit and adjusting the determined head-to-total length relationship based on an anatomical model of the fish depending on the determined kyphotic status of the fish.

[0047] A preferred further development of the invention is characterized in that in addition to optically scanning the ventral side of the fish by an optical sensor of the kip recognition device to determine a brightness value or brightness profile, the brightness value or brightness profile is compared with a defined brightness value or brightness profile to detect the kip state.

[0048] Further preferred and / or advantageous features and design embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the detailed description. Particularly preferred embodiments are explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0049] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a fish stunner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] In Fig. 1 a fish stunning apparatus is illustrated diagrammatically. For the sake of further clarity, Fig. 1 does not show either the fish to be stunned or a fish feeding device adapted for feeding each fish head first into a fish receiving space 10 configured for individual reception of each fish. In other words, the fish receiving space 10 is configured such that the fish can be loaded head first. Thus, the fish are fed head first into the fish receiving space 10.

[0051] The method according to the invention as well as the apparatus according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The fish stunning apparatus of the invention further comprises a positioning device 11 having positioning means 12 for biting the head of the fish. The positioning means 12 are adapted for holding the fish in a stop position in the fish-receiving space 10 in order to fix the fish in order to stun it. The positioning means 12 are further adapted for loosening and releasing the fish from this fixation after it has been stunned.

[0052] The invention by the fish stunning device further comprises stunning means 13 for stunning the fish in the resting position. The stunning means 13 preferably comprises a stunning tool 14 which acts mechanically on the head region of the fish to stun the fish, as well as a bleeding tool 15 which acts on the underside of the fish in the area between the head and the gills. The stunning means 13 is preferably adapted to irreversibly stun the fish.

[0053] The invention further comprises a triggering device 16 adapted for determining the stop position and for triggering the action of the stunning means 13 in the head region of the fish. The triggering device 16 comprises at least one movable, preferably pivotally movable, attachment abutment element 17 against which the fish abuts head-wise when it reaches the stop position, which subsequently triggers the action of the stunning means 13.

[0054] For controlling the positioning device 11, the triggering device 16 and the stunning means 13 a control unit, not shown, e.g. a computer controller, is provided, the function of which is further explained below. The triggering device 16 preferably comprises at least one sensor element, by means of which a change in position of the abutment element 17 can be sensed when the fish's head abuts against it, which change in position can be evaluated by the control unit.

[0055] The fish stunning device according to the invention further comprises, not shown, a fish size sensing device arranged for determining the fish size as well as a controllably movable position actuator. The position actuator is adapted for adjusting the position of the positioning means 12 such that the position of the fish head relative to the stunning means 13 is adapted to be adjustable in a self-actuated manner in a stop position each time according to the fish size. The operating mode of such a position actuator is well known, for example from document EP 3 484 299 A1 from the Applicant's company. We refer in this respect to application EP 16 736 876, the contents of which are included herein.

[0056] The fish size sensing device is adapted and configured for determining the fish size based on the fish length, thus making it possible in a particularly simple manner to determine the fish size as accurately as possible and to assign each fish to a fish size class and optimally adjust the positioning means 12 to the respective fish size.

[0057] The fish size sensing device is preferably adapted to determine whether the determined fish size falls into one of at least two defined fish size ranges based on the fish length and to determine the respective fish size range as a fish size. The classification into two fish size ranges has the advantage that on the one hand a sufficiently accurate adjustment of the positioning means 12 is possible to ensure an optimal effect of the stunning means 13 and on the other hand the number of position adjustments of the positioning means 12 is minimized. For example, if two fish that can be assigned to the same fish size range follow each other, the positioning means 12 can stay in the previously set position. Depending on the desired positioning accuracy, it is possible to define more than two fish size ranges and to displace the positioning means 12 to different positions depending on the number of fish size ranges.

[0058] The fish sensing device preferably comprises a sensor device 18 adapted for determining the fish length of the fish. In principle, any device capable of assigning the determined fish length to a length category related to the aforementioned defined fish size ranges is suitable as sensor device 18.

[0059] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the sensor device 18 comprises at least two first and second sensors 19 and 20 arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space. The sensors 19, 20 are adapted to detect the presence of a fish in their respective sensing areas and to provide a corresponding detection signal. The sensors 19, 20 can be configured, for example, as non-contact sensors or as electromechanical sensors. The sensors 19, 20 are particularly preferably each configured as a light barrier, in particular a reflective light barrier or a fork-type light barrier, which detects the presence of a fish when the fish appears in the detection area. However, in principle, other sensor types capable of detecting the presence of a fish are also suitable, for example proximity sensors or radar-based sensors.

[0060] The sensor device preferably comprises an evaluation unit adapted for determining the fish length based on the detection signal, the evaluation unit therefore being configured in particular for estimating the fish length based on the provided detection signal as well as the distance between the first and second sensor.

[0061] The evaluation unit is advantageously further adapted to check whether, based on the detection signal, while detecting the presence of a fish in the detection area determined by the first one of the sensors arranged on the fish supplying device side, the presence of a fish in the detection area of ​​the second sensor 20 arranged on the stunning means side is also determined. If the presence of a fish is detected in the detection areas of both the first and second sensors 19, 20, the larger of the defined fish size ranges is determined as the fish size, otherwise the smaller of the defined fish size ranges is determined. In other words, the measurement principle is based on classifying the actual fish size into at least two fish size ranges and safely determining into which of the two fish size ranges each fish falls.

[0062] The number of sensors 19, 20 is further preferably not limited to two. Although not shown, a further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that further sensors are arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the fish-receiving space 10. These sensors are adapted to detect the presence of fish in the respective detection areas and provide a corresponding detection signal, similar to the sensors 19, 20. The evaluation device is accordingly further adapted to determine whether the fish size falls into a fish size range corresponding to the distance between the first sensor 19 and one of the further sensors based on the detection signal, and to determine the respective fish size range as the fish size. In this way, the actual fish size can be further classified, i.e. into a number of ranges n-1, where n is equal to the number of sensors arranged along the fish-receiving space 10.

[0063] The fish receiving space 10 further preferably comprises a floor element 21. The floor element 21 forms an inclined surface inclined in the direction of gravity towards the stunning means 13. As a result, the fish being processed, after being deposited in the fish receiving space 10, are guided in a sliding manner on the floor element 21 under the influence of gravity. In other words, under the influence of gravity, the fish "slide" in a self-actuating manner within the fish receiving space 10 along the inclined surface in the direction of the stunning means 13, passing the aforementioned sensor device 18.

[0064] The floor element 21 is followed by a ramp 22 on which the fish lie head-first. The ramp 22 is preferably arranged to be rotatably movable so as to pivot in the direction of gravity to release the fish from the fish receiving space 10. The ramp 22 is preferably arranged to slope upwards of the floor element 21 against the direction of gravity and is adapted to slow down the movement of the fish until it comes to a standstill.

[0065] The fish size sensing device preferably comprises a time difference sensing unit (not shown), which is adapted to determine, based on the detection signals from at least two of the sensors 19, 20, at least one time interval that a fish needs to move from a sensing area of ​​one of the sensors 19, 20 to at least one other sensing area of ​​at least one other of the sensors 20, 19. In other words, the time difference sensing unit is adapted to sense the time that a fish needs to move the distance between the second sensor 20 and the first sensor 19.

[0066] The fish size sensing device further comprises a processing unit adapted for determining a fish length of the fish based on at least one time interval determined based on a movie model representing the fish movement in the fish receiving space. In the simplest case, such a movie model describes the fish movement under the influence of gravity as a uniform movement with a constant speed. The movie model can also reflect the fish movement as a uniformly accelerated movement. Taking into account at least the determined time interval, the fish length is then estimated and determined by the movie model. In other words, the movie model is adapted for estimating the expected fish movement dynamics. For example, if a time-dependent fish speed is reflected by the movie model, the actual fish size can be estimated by determining said time interval.

[0067] The cine model further preferably comprises at least one path / time equation that at least approximately describes the movement of the fish as a function of the inclination angle of the inclined plane. In addition to the factors already mentioned, the inclination angle is also taken into account when modeling the movement of the fish and determining the fish length.

[0068] Alternatively, the movie model may comprise empirically determined motion data, e.g., determined during prior testing. The correlation between the determined time intervals and the fish lengths may be stored, e.g., in a database, and subsequently accessed to determine the fish lengths.

[0069] The movie model is further preferably based on a self-learning neuronal network. Thus, such a neuronal network is first trained to determine the fish length based on other parameters. The neuronal network is preferably adapted to be configured to maintain self-learning during further operation.

[0070] The control unit is preferably configured to cause the fish size sensing device to first determine the fish size of the fish after one fish is loaded into the fish receiving space 10. By means of the controllably movable position actuator, the position of the fish's head relative to the stunning means in the stop position is then set by the control unit in a self-actuated manner according to the fish size.

[0071] The fish length sensing device is preferably further configured for determining a head to total length relationship based on fish size. It has been found that the relationship between the length of the fish's head and the total length forms a reliable starting criterion by which an optimal position of the fish's head in the stopping position can be determined in order to optimally stun the fish. The control unit is particularly adapted for setting the position of the fish's head in the stopping position depending on the head to total length relationship.

[0072] The control unit is optionally equipped with a prone / supine position sensing unit (not shown), which is arranged to detect whether the fish is aligned ventral side up or not, and, if so, to separate the fish from the fish-receiving space 10 before stunning. In this way it is ensured that the fish is always guided to the stunning means 13 in the correct position.

[0073] The present invention further preferably comprises a kinematic recognition device adapted to detect changes associated with sexual dimorphism in the fish and to adjust a determined head length to total length relationship based on an anatomical model of the fish depending on the detected kinematic state of the fish.

[0074] The kip recognition device comprises at least one optical sensor adapted for optically scanning the ventral side of the fish and for recognizing a kip state by comparison with defined brightness values, brightness profiles or brightness ranges.

[0075] The embodiments described above relating to the device according to the invention also apply analogously to the method according to the invention, so that in the following only selected aspects of the method need to be discussed again, apart from which we refer to the above description relating to the method according to the invention.

[0076] The fish are transported head first by a fish feeding device (not shown) and placed one by one into the fish receiving space 10. Then, the trigger device 16 determines the stop position and time for triggering the operation of the stunning means 13 in the head region of the fish.

[0077] The fish is held in this rest position in the fish receiving space 10 by the positioning device 11. The positioning means 12 bites the head of the fish for this purpose. The positioning means 11, the trigger device 16 and the stunning means 13 are controlled by a control unit for this purpose.

[0078] A determination of the fish size is made by the fish size sensing device for adjusting the positioning means 12 based on the fish size. The positioning means 12 is then adjusted by a controllably movable position actuator adapted for locally adjusting the positioning means 12 such that the position of each fish's head relative to the stunning means 13 is adapted to be self-actuatingly adjustable in a rest position depending on the fish size.

[0079] In the resting position, the fish is stunned by stunning means 13 acting on the cranial region of the fish. As mentioned above, the skull of the fish is preferably first struck by stunning tool 14 in order to render the fish unconscious, before bleeding of the fish is started using bleeding tool 15.

[0080] After the fish is stunned, it is released, i.e., released from fixation, by the positioning device 11. The fish length is detected by the fish length sensing device to determine the fish size, and the fish size is determined by the fish size sensing device based on the fish length.

[0081] The fish size ranges are preferably also determined by the fish length sensing device based on the defined fish size distributions and / or the determined fish size distributions, and if the determined respective fish size is within one of the fish size ranges, the position of the fish head in the stop position is set according to the defined position for the respective fish size range.

Claims

1. 1. A fish stun device comprising: a fish feeding device for transporting the fish head first; a fish receiving space (10) for loading fish head first; a positioning device (11) adapted to hold the fish in a stop position in the fish receiving space (10) and to release the fish after stunning, the positioning device having positioning means (12) for biting the head of the fish; stunning means (13) acting on the head region of the fish to stun the fish in the resting position; a triggering device (16) adapted to determine the stopping position and to trigger the effect of the stunning means (13) on the cephalad region of the fish; a control unit adapted to control said positioning device (11), said triggering device (16) and said stunning means (13); a fish size sensing device adapted to determine a fish size; a controllably movable position actuator adapted to locally adjust the fish positioning means (12) such that the position of each of the fish heads relative to the stunning means (13) in the stop position is adapted to be independently adjusted depending on the fish size; 13. A fish stunning apparatus comprising: a fish length sensing device for determining the fish length, the fish size sensing device configured for determining the fish size based on the fish length.

2. 2. The fish stunner of claim 1, wherein the fish size sensing device is adapted to determine whether a particular size of the fish falls within one of at least two defined fish size ranges based on the fish length, and to determine each of the fish size ranges as the fish size.

3. 3. A fish stunning device according to claim 2, characterized in that the fish size sensing device comprises a sensor device (18) adapted for determining the fish length of the fish.

4. 4. A fish stunning device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the sensor device (18) comprises at least two sensors (19, 20) spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space (10), the sensors being adapted to detect the presence of the fish in their respective sensing areas and to provide a detection signal.

5. Fish stunning device according to claim 4, characterized in that the sensor device (18) comprises an evaluation unit adapted for determining the fish length based on the detection signal.

6. 6. The fish stunner device according to claim 5, wherein the evaluation unit is further adapted to ascertain whether a presence of the fish in the detection area determined by a first one of the sensors arranged on the fish supplying device side has been determined while detecting the presence of the fish in the detection area of ​​a second sensor arranged on the stunning means device side based on the detection signal, characterized in that if the presence of the fish is detected in the detection areas of both the first and the second sensors (19, 20), a larger one of the defined fish size ranges is determined as the fish size, and if not, a smaller one of the defined fish size ranges is determined as the fish size.

7. 7. A fish stunning device according to claim 6, characterized in that further sensors are arranged at intervals from one another in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space (10), the sensors being adapted for detecting the presence of the fish in the detection areas of each of the sensors and for providing a detection signal, and the evaluation device being adapted for determining, based on the detection signal, whether the fish size falls within a corresponding fish size range determined by a distance between the first sensor (19) and one of the further sensors and for determining the respective fish size range as the fish size.

8. 8. A fish stunning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fish receiving space (10) has a floor element (21) which forms an inclined surface inclined in the direction of gravity towards the stunning means (13), and the fish, after being placed in the fish receiving space (10), are guided by sliding on the floor element (21) under the effect of gravity.

9. 9. The fish stunning device according to claim 8, characterized in that the fish size sensing device comprises a time difference sensing unit adapted for determining at least one time interval required for the fish to move from one sensing area of ​​one of the sensors to at least one other sensing area of ​​another of the sensors based on the detection signals of at least two of the sensors, and the fish size sensing device has a processing unit adapted for determining the fish length of the fish based on the determined at least one time interval based on a movie model representing the movement of the fish in the fish receiving space (10).

10. 10. The fish stunner of claim 9, wherein the cinemodel comprises at least one path / time equation, said equation at least approximately describing the movement of the fish as a function of the inclination angle of the inclined surface.

11. 11. A fish stunning device as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the cinematic model comprises empirically determined motion data.

12. A fish stunning device according to claim 9 or 11, characterized in that the movie model is generated based on a self-learning neuronal network.

13. The fish stunning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the control unit is configured to cause the fish size sensing device to first determine the fish size of one of the fish after loading one of the fish into the fish receiving space (10), and then to set the position of the fish's head relative to the stunning means (13) at the stop position in a self-actuated manner according to the fish size.

14. 14. A fish stunning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the fish length sensing device is further adapted for determining a head to total length relationship based on the fish size, and the control unit is adapted for setting a position of the head of the fish in the stop position depending on the head to total length relationship.

15. 15. A fish stunning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the control unit comprises a prone / supine position sensing unit configured to recognise whether the fish are aligned ventral side up or not and to separate the fish from the fish receiving space if the fish are aligned ventral side up.

16. 16. A fish stunning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the fish length sensing device is further configured to determine a fish size range based on the defined and / or determined fish size distribution and, if the determined respective fish size is within one of these fish size ranges, to cause the position of the head of the fish to be located at the stop position according to a position definition defined for the respective fish size range.

17. 17. The fish stunning apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control unit further comprises a kype recognition device adapted to detect sexual dimorphism related changes in the fish and to adjust the determined head length to total length relationship according to a determined kype status of the fish based on an anatomical model of the fish.

18. 18. The fish stunning device of claim 17, characterized in that the kip recognition device comprises at least one optical sensor adapted to optically scan the ventral side of the fish and detect the kip state through comparison with defined brightness values ​​or brightness profiles.

19. 1. A method for automatically stunning a fish, comprising: conveying the fish head first with a fish feeding device; loading the fish head-first into a fish receiving space (10) by the fish feeding device; determining by a trigger device (16) a stop position and a time for triggering the effect of a stunning means (13) on the head region of said fish; holding the fish in said rest position in the fish receiving space (10) by a positioning device (11) having positioning means (12) for biting the head of the fish; controlling said positioning device (11), said triggering device (16) and said stunning means (13) by a control unit; determining a fish size with a fish size sensing device; adjusting the fish positioning means (12) by means of a controllably movable position actuator adapted for locally adjusting the positioning means (12) such that the position of each of the fish heads relative to the stunning means (13) in the stop position is adapted to be independently adjustable depending on the fish size; stunning the fish in said stop position by stunning means (13) acting on the head region of the fish; and releasing the fish after stunning by the positioning means (11), determining the fish length with a fish length sensing device; determining, by the fish size sensing device, the fish size based on the fish length.

20. 20. The method of claim 19, characterized by determining whether a particular size of the fish falls within one of at least two defined fish size ranges based on the fish length, and determining the fish size as the respective fish size range.

21. 21. The method of claim 20, characterized by detecting the presence of the fish in a sensing area of ​​each of the sensors and providing a detection signal.

22. 22. The method according to claim 21, characterized by detecting the presence of the fish in the sensing area of ​​each of the sensors and providing a detection signal by at least two sensors (19, 20) of the sensor device (18) arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space.

23. 23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the fish length is determined by an evaluation device of the sensor device (18) on the basis of the detection signal.

24. 24. The method according to claim 23, characterized by: when detecting the presence of the fish in the sensing area of ​​the first sensor (19) arranged on the stunning means side based on the detection signal by the evaluation unit, ascertaining whether the presence of the fish in the sensing area of ​​the second sensor (20) arranged on the fish supplying device side is also detected; and if the presence of the fish in the sensing areas of both the first sensor and the second sensor (19, 20) is detected, determining the larger of the respective defined fish size ranges as the fish size, and otherwise determining the smaller of the respective defined fish size ranges.

25. 24. The method according to claim 23, characterized by detecting the presence of the fish in the sensing areas of the respective sensors, providing detection signals by further sensors spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the fish receiving space (10), and determining by the evaluation device, based on the detection signals, a respective fish size range as the fish size if the fish size falls within a fish size range corresponding to a distance between the first sensor and one of the further sensors.

26. 26. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 25, characterized in that after loading the fish into the fish receiving space (10), the fish is guided by sliding under the effect of gravity onto a floor element (21) of the fish receiving space (10), said floor element (21) forming an inclined surface inclined in the direction of gravity towards the stunning means (13).

27. 27. The method according to claim 26, characterized by: determining, by a time difference sensing unit of the fish size sensing device based on the detection signals of at least two of the sensors, at least one time interval required for the fish to move from one sensing area of ​​one of the sensors to at least one other sensing area of ​​at least one of the other sensors; and determining, by a fish processing unit of the fish size sensing device, the fish length based on a movie model representing the movement of the fish in the fish receiving space (10).

28. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the cine model comprises at least one path / time equation that at least approximately describes the movement of the fish as a function of the inclination angle of the inclined surface.

29. 29. A method according to claim 27 or claim 28, characterised in that the cinematic model comprises empirically determined motion data.

30. 30. The method according to claim 27 or 29, characterized in that the movie model is generated on the basis of a self-learning neuronal network.

31. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 30, characterized by activating the fish size sensing device after loading the fish into the fish receiving space (10) to first determine the fish size of the fish and then setting in a self-actuated manner by the controllably movable position actuator a position of the fish's head relative to the stunning means at the stop position depending on the fish size.

32. 32. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 31, characterized by: determining, by the fish length sensing device, a head-to-total length relationship based on the fish size; and setting, by the control unit, a position of the head of the fish at the stop position in response to the head-to-total length relationship.

33. 33. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 32, characterized by determining by a prone / supine position sensing unit of the control unit whether the fish is aligned ventral side up or not, and separating the fish from the fish receiving space (10) if the fish is aligned ventral side up.

34. 34. The method of claim 33, characterized by detecting sexually dimorphic associated changes in the fish by a kype recognition device of the control unit, and adjusting the determined head-to-total length relationship based on an anatomical model of the fish according to the determined kype status of the fish.

35. 35. The method of claim 34, characterized by optically scanning the ventral side of the fish with an optical sensor of the kip recognition device and determining a brightness value or brightness profile, as well as comparing the brightness value or brightness profile to a defined brightness value or brightness profile to detect the kip state.

36. 36. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 35, characterized by determining a fish size range by the fish size sensing device based on a defined distribution of fish sizes and / or the determined fish size distribution, and by setting the position of the fish head at the stop position according to a position definition defined for the respective fish size range if the determined respective fish size is within one of these fish size ranges.

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