Apparatus for automatically killing stunned fish

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (10) which is designed and configured to automatically kill stunned fish (11), that are transported head-first in the transport direction T and with their backs facing upwards, by bleeding them out, said apparatus comprising: a transport device (12) for transporting the fish (11) from a feed area (54) of the fish (11) into the area of a bleeding unit (14); and the bleeding unit (14) for killing each individual stunned fish (11) transported into the active area of the bleeding unit (14), wherein the bleeding unit (14) comprises a pneumatically operable striker pin (15) and a cutting means (17) arranged at a free end (16) of the striker pin (15), characterised in that the striker pin (15) and the cutting means (17) are manufactured as a single piece and from the same material.

Description

[0001] Device for automatically killing stunned fish

[0002] The invention relates to a device designed and configured for automatically killing stunned fish transported head first in the transport direction T and back upwards by bleeding, comprising a transport device for transporting the fish from a feed area of ​​the fish into the area of ​​a bleeding unit and the bleeding unit for killing each individual stunned fish transported into the effective area of ​​the bleeding unit, wherein the bleeding unit comprises a pneumatically actuated firing pin and a cutting means arranged at a free end of the firing pin.

[0003] Such devices are used in the fish processing industry to kill already stunned fish by bleeding them. For this purpose, the fish are actively or passively transported into the area of ​​the generic device in a bleeding position. The fish can be fed stunned or stunned in the bleeding position immediately before killing. For bleeding, the firing pin with the cutting tool arranged at the free end is moved from a waiting position to a cutting position, through which the cutting tool penetrates the fish, opening central blood vessels, and is then moved back to the waiting position. The known bleeding units comprise a separate firing pin with a separate cutting tool arranged at one free end. The firing pin itself is made of aluminum and coated with a hard anodized layer to protect against corrosion and wear.The cutting means is, for example, a single- or multi-edged blade made of stainless steel, which is detachably connected to the striking pin in a form-fitting and friction-locking manner. A screw and a key connection are provided for this purpose. To prevent the cutting means from twisting relative to the striking pin and to ensure a constant orientation of the cutting means with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fish to be killed, the cutting means comprises a nose or the like, which is guided in a groove of a housing of the device to form an anti-twist device.

[0004] The known solutions have a number of disadvantages, resulting in a shortened service life of at least parts of the device and undesirable bleeding results. Firstly, there is a risk that the cutting element will detach from the striker or break due to vibrations, with the risk that at least parts of the cutting element will remain in the killed fish. Secondly, the transitions in the area of ​​the connection between the separate cutting element and the separate striker not only represent potential breakage points, but also lead to an increased accumulation of dirt, especially blood and scales, requiring more frequent cleaning.The anti-twist device also causes dirt, especially flakes, to cling to the nose and be drawn into the device when the firing pin, which carries the cutting medium, moves from the cutting position back to the standby position. This also requires more frequent cleaning of the device. However, this cleaning attacks the anodized coating of the firing pin, which accelerates corrosion. Furthermore, the production of the anodized coating is complex and expensive, and subject to significant quality variations.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a simple and inexpensive device with improved service life of individual components for the safe bleeding of stunned fish.

[0006] This problem is solved by a device mentioned above in which the firing pin and the cutting means are made of a single piece and from the same material. The one-piece design of the firing pin and cutting means to form an integral knife pin prevents the cutting means from becoming detached from the firing pin. This eliminates the risk that at least parts of the cutting means remain in the killed fish. By omitting fastening means, a weight-optimized knife pin can be created, resulting in a stable knife pin that is also optimized with regard to the moving masses. Weight optimization plays a decisive role in the extension speed of the knife pin in order to reliably kill fish in large numbers. A preferred development is characterized in that the firing pin and the cutting means are made of hardened stainless steel.Cronidur 30, for example, can be used as a material for the knife pin. Other materials, particularly through-hardened or surface-hardened steels and stainless steels, can also be used. Titanium materials can also be used. The aforementioned design of the knife pin effectively prevents corrosion, resulting in longer service life. This also prevents premature wear of the sliding layer of the firing pin. Furthermore, costly coatings of the firing pin can be dispensed with, thus reducing operating costs for users.

[0007] The firing pin is advantageously at least partially hollow-cylindrical and connected to a piston at an end opposite the cutting means. Preferably, the cutting means is made of solid material, while the firing pin is predominantly hollow to reduce the weight of the moving masses. This ensures reliable bleeding on the one hand and rapid extension of the knife pin to kill the fish on the other.

[0008] A particularly advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the piston is made at least partially from aluminum, namely at least with the surface in contact with the firing pin, wherein the piston is shrink-wrapped onto the end of the firing pin opposite the cutting means. Particularly preferably, the piston is made entirely from aluminum, in particular to reduce weight. Other material combinations between firing pin and piston are also possible, with the emphasis being on the piston being made from a material that is lighter than the material of the firing pin. As mentioned, the firing pin can be made from stainless steel, while the piston is made from a plastic or a titanium material, for example. Other suitable materials and material combinations can also be used.Instead of fastener-free shrinking to connect the knife bolt to the piston, other, preferably fastener-free, connection techniques can also be used. Of course, the knife bolt can also be detachably attached to the piston with fasteners. The aforementioned arrangement and design ensures reliable bleeding on the one hand and rapid extension of the knife bolt to kill the fish on the other. Particularly preferably, the piston is non-circular on the outside, in particular octagonal, and is designed and configured to be movable along a correspondingly designed running surface of a sleeve receiving the firing pin from a retracted waiting position into an extended cutting position and back again. The piston can also be oval, square or have another non-circular geometry on the outside.The outer geometry of the piston, together with the sleeve's running surface, forms an internal anti-twist mechanism that is reliable and protected against contamination. This anti-twist mechanism also effectively prevents the penetration or ingress of scale and other dirt residues, thereby improving service life and extending cleaning cycles.

[0009] Conveniently, both the firing pin on its outer contour at the end opposite the cutting element and the piston on its inner contour feature an alignment surface. These alignment surfaces serve as an assembly aid for easily and reliably determining the position of the knife pin relative to the piston. Joining surfaces are provided to ensure that the orientation between the knife pin and the piston is defined during shrinking. Optionally, a small recess can be provided on the piston surface on the side facing away from the knife to provide orientation when installing the knife pin in the housing. The recess should always point toward the pneumatic connections to ensure the knife pin is correctly oriented when inserted into the octagonal piston.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the cutting means comprises a blade body with at least one blade, but preferably three blades. The blade body is preferably a type of stylus. Particularly preferably, the blade body comprises three blades or three cutting edges, which are configured and aligned to converge from the shaft of the firing pin toward a blade tip. This ensures reliable bleeding. However, the arrangement and design of the blades, as well as their number, can vary.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the transport device is designed and configured as a fish guide inclined downwards toward the bleeding unit. The fish can be manually inserted into the desired orientation at the top of the fish guide inlet. With a fish guide, the fish slide automatically into the bleeding position. Instead of the slide-like fish guide, other passive (non-driven) or active (driven) conveying means can be used. Instead of manual feeding of the fish, this can also be done automatically using suitable conveying means.Using salmon as an example, the fish guide can be preceded by an initially upwardly directed transport channel in which the living fish move upwards by themselves against a generated water current and, at the transition of the upwardly directed transport channel to the feed area of ​​the fish guide, i.e. at the apex, slide into the fish guide by gravity.

[0012] A trigger element for triggering the firing pin is advantageously arranged at the end of the fish guide. The trigger element can be, for example, a sensor, a stop plate, a trigger element, or the like. A signal for actuating the firing pin can be transmitted via the trigger element. A pneumatic unit or any other suitable drive means is provided for actuating the firing pin.

[0013] In an advantageous development, the device comprises a control device that is connected to at least one pneumatic unit of the firing pin and the trigger element. The control device can automatically control the appropriate time for firing the firing pin for safe bleeding of previously stunned fish.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the sleeve is mounted in a housing of the pneumatic unit, wherein the housing is fastened in the region of or on the fish guide, and the housing is open on the side facing the fish guide for the outlet of the striking pin carrying the cutting means, wherein the fish guide has a corresponding opening aligned with the housing. The housing is preferably releasably fastened to the fish guide directly or via a flange or the like, such that the openings of the housing and the fish guide are aligned, so that the knife pin can be moved from a retracted, retracted waiting position, in which the knife pin is positioned completely within the housing, through the opening into an extended cutting position and back. Other positions and fastening options for the housing to the fish guide are also usable.The aforementioned design and arrangement ensures precise and reproducible bleeding of the fish. In an advantageous embodiment, the fish guide is at least partially movable. The fish guide can be completely fixed and stationary. However, to release the killed fish, the fish guide can also be pivotable or foldable, for example, entirely or at least in the area leading upstream in the transport direction T, thus supporting and simplifying the automatic process.

[0015] Conveniently, at least one scraper element is arranged in the housing, resting against the outer peripheral surface of the firing pin. The position of the scraper element can vary, but is preferably located directly adjacent to the sleeve in which the firing pin is guided. With this or each scraper element, contamination on the peripheral surface of the firing pin is reduced, as flakes and other residues are reliably scraped off during the extension and, in particular, the retraction of the knife pin.

[0016] Preferably, at least one sealing element, preferably an O-ring, is arranged in the housing between the stripping element and the end of the sleeve. It rests against the outer peripheral surface of the firing pin. This effectively prevents the penetration of contaminant residues, particularly liquid ones, into a retraction space formed between the sleeve and the firing pin.

[0017] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that at least one flushing valve for cleaning the cutting means and / or the firing pin is formed and arranged in the housing. Preferably, two inlets are provided for supplying cleaning media, preferably water, with one inlet having a corresponding supply line and valve located in the area of ​​the cutting means, and one inlet having a corresponding supply line and valve located in the area of ​​the firing pin. The number, position, and design of the flushing elements can vary. Instead of a switchable flushing valve, an inlet for a permanent water supply can also be provided.

[0018] Further useful and / or advantageous features and developments of the device will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description. A particularly preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a station for stunning and killing fish by bleeding using the device according to the invention.

[0019] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the bleeding unit with a knife bolt in the retracted position,

[0020] Fig. 3 the bleeding unit according to Figure 2 in perspective view,

[0021] Fig. 4 a sectional view of the bleeding unit with the knife bolt in retracted waiting position,

[0022] Fig. 5 is another sectional view of the bleeding unit with the knife bolt in the retracted waiting position,

[0023] Fig. 6 the sectional view according to Figure 4 with the knife bolt in extended cutting position,

[0024] Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a unit formed by a knife bolt and piston, and

[0025] Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a slaughter arrangement with several slaughter modules, each comprising the device according to the invention.

[0026] A device illustrated in the drawing is used for the automatic killing of stunned salmon. The device according to the invention is also designed and configured in a corresponding manner for killing other fish species.

[0027] The drawing, particularly Figures 2 to 7, shows a device 10 which is designed and configured for the automatic killing of stunned fish 11, transported head first in the transport direction T and back upwards, by bleeding. The device 10 comprises a transport device 12 for transporting the fish 11 from a feed area 54 of the fish 11 into the area of ​​a bleeding unit 14, and the bleeding unit 14 for killing each individual stunned fish 11 transported into the effective area of ​​the bleeding unit 14, wherein the bleeding unit 14 comprises a pneumatically actuated firing pin 15 and a cutting means 17 arranged at a free end 16 of the firing pin 15.

[0028] This device 10 is characterized according to the invention in that the firing pin 15 and the cutting means 17 are made in one piece and from the same material. The cutting means 17 is an integral component of the firing pin 15 and is manufactured in one piece. The cutting means 17 and the firing pin 15 together form the one-piece knife pin 18.

[0029] The features and developments described below represent preferred embodiments, considered individually or in combination with one another. It is expressly pointed out that features which are summarized in the claims and / or the description and / or the figures or described in a common embodiment can also functionally independently develop the device 10 described above.

[0030] In Figure 1, the transport device 12 is shown as a slide-like fish guide 19, into which the fish 11 slides towards the bleeding unit 14. In the bleeding position, the stunned fish 11, or fish to be stunned before bleeding, rest with the underside of their heads on the fish guide 19, while the knife bolt 18 is in a retracted, waiting position within a housing 20 of the bleeding unit 14. From the retracted, waiting position (see in particular Figures 4 and 5), the knife bolt 18 can be moved into an extended, cutting position (see in particular Figure 6) and back. For this purpose, the knife bolt 18 is guided in a (barrel) sleeve 21, which is sealingly fastened in the housing 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 20 is formed in several parts and comprises at least one main body 22, which in turn can be formed in two or more parts, and an end body 23.

[0031] The main body 22 has an opening 25 at a free end 24, from which the knife bolt 18 can be moved into the cutting position. At the end opposite the free end, the main body 22 is closed by the end body 23. The end body 23 is detachably attached to the main body 22 to allow the knife bolt 18 to be replaced if necessary. Arranged within the housing 20 is a pneumatic unit 26 for moving the knife bolt 18, which unit includes a piston 27, a spring-loaded auxiliary piston 28 and compressed air openings 29, 30 for applying a trigger pressure for retracting and extending the piston 27 with corresponding lines (not shown) and a pneumatic drive, e.g. in the form of a compressed air unit. In addition, at least one opening 31 for applying a basic pressure within the pneumatic unit 26 and an exhaust air opening 56 are provided in the housing 20.

[0032] The firing pin 15 and the cutting means 17, and thus the one-piece knife pin 18, are made of hardened stainless steel. The cutting means 17 comprises a blade body 32 with at least one blade. The preferred and illustrated embodiment shows a blade body 32 with three blades 33, 34, 35. The blade body 32 with all blades 33 to 35 is made of solid material. The firing pin 15, on the other hand, is at least partially, preferably continuously, hollow-cylindrical. At an end opposite the cutting means 17, the firing pin 15 is connected to the piston 27. The connection between the firing pin 15 and the piston 27 is preferably created by a shrinking process.To join and align the two components, both the firing pin 15 at its end opposite the cutting means 17 on its outer contour and the piston 27 on its inner contour each have at least one corresponding alignment surface 36, 37. The piston 27 itself is made at least partially, namely at least with the surface connected to the firing pin 15, but preferably entirely, of aluminum.

[0033] Between the piston 27 on the one hand and the (barrel) sleeve 21 on the other hand, there is an anti-rotation device 38. This internal anti-rotation device 38 is formed by an adapted geometry of the piston 27 and sleeve 21. For this purpose, the piston 27 is non-circular on the outside, namely octagonal in the exemplary embodiment. A running surface 39 of the (barrel) sleeve 21 is correspondingly octagonal. The firing pin 15 is designed and configured to be movable along this running surface 39 from the retracted, retracted standby position to the extended cutting position and back.

[0034] As already mentioned, the transport device 12 is designed and configured as a fish guide 19 inclined downwards toward the bleeding unit 14. At the end of the fish guide 19, in a position in which the head of the fish 11 is above the bleeding unit 14, a trigger element 40 for triggering the firing pin 15 is arranged. In the embodiment shown, a trigger plate, against which the fish 11 strikes with its leading end, forms the trigger element 40, by means of which the firing pin 15 is triggered. For this purpose, the device 10 comprises a control device 41, which is connected at least to the pneumatic unit 26 of the firing pin 15 and the trigger element 40. The connection can be made via lines 42 or wirelessly.

[0035] At least one stripping element 44 is arranged in the housing 20, which rests against the outer circumferential surface 43 of the firing pin 15. The stripping element 44 is arranged in the main body 22 of the housing 20, specifically in an area behind the sleeve 21 in which the knife pin 18 is guided, so that the stripping element 44 has direct contact with the circumferential surface 43. Optionally and preferably, at least one sealing element, preferably an O-ring 45, is arranged in the housing 20 between the stripping element 44 and the end of the sleeve 20, which rests against the outer circumferential surface 43 of the firing pin 15. Furthermore, at least one flushing valve 46 for cleaning the cutting means 17 and / or the firing pin 15 is formed and arranged in the housing 20. In the illustrated embodiment, cleaning medium can be introduced into a flushing groove 47 formed in the housing 20 via the flushing valve 46. The flushing groove 47 is arranged and formed between the scraper element 44 and the opening 25 in the housing 20.Preferably, a second flushing valve 57 is formed and arranged in the housing 20.

[0036] The housing 20 is fastened in the area of ​​or on the fish guide 19 and is open on the side facing the fish guide 19 for the outlet of the firing pin 15 carrying the cutting means 17. For this purpose, the (outlet) opening 25 is formed in the housing 20. The fish guide 19 has a corresponding opening aligned with the housing 20 or with the opening 25. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 20 is provided with a flange 48 (see in particular Figure 3), by means of which the device 10 is preferably detachably connected to the fish guide 19 via the housing 20. The fish guide 19 itself is designed to be at least partially movable. In the illustrated embodiment, the fish guide 19 is designed to be movable as a whole. For this purpose, the fish guide 19 is assigned, for example, a pneumatic cylinder 49 (see in particular Figure 1).

[0037] To change the knife bolt 18, i.e. the one consisting of the firing pin 15 and the cutting means

[0038] 17, the latter can be removed from the housing 20 or sleeve 21 to the rear, i.e., in the direction of the side opposite the cutting means 17. To prevent damage to internal components, in particular the stripping element 44, by the cutting means 17, an assembly aid is provided, which is slipped over the cutting means 17 during assembly and disassembly of the knife bolt 18.

[0039] The device 10 can be used as a standalone component. In Figure 1, the device 10 is part of a slaughter module 50 for stunning the fish 11 by means of a stunning unit 55 and killing them by bleeding the fish 11 by means of the bleeding unit 14. Several of these slaughter modules 50, preferably five such slaughter modules 50, form a slaughter arrangement 51. In this slaughter arrangement 51, the individual slaughter modules 50 are detachably arranged in a common frame 52. Starting from a water tank 53, the fish 11 reach a feed area 54, from which the fish 11 slide toward and into the working position solely by gravity.

Claims

1. Device (10) designed and configured for the automatic killing of stunned fish (11) transported head first in the transport direction T and back upwards by bleeding, comprising a transport device (12) for transporting the fish (11) from a feed area (54) of the fish (11) into the area of ​​a bleeding unit (14) and the bleeding unit (14) for killing each individual stunned fish (11) transported into the effective area of ​​the bleeding unit (14), wherein the bleeding unit (14) comprises a pneumatically actuated firing pin (15) and a cutting means (17) arranged at a free end (16) of the firing pin (15), characterized in that the firing pin (15) and the cutting means (17) are made in one piece and from the same material.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the firing pin (15) and the cutting means (17) are made of a hardened stainless steel.

3. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the firing pin (15) is at least partially hollow-cylindrical and is connected to a piston (27) at an end opposite the cutting means (17).

4. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the piston (27) is made at least partially, namely at least with the surface in contact with the firing pin (15), from an aluminum, wherein the piston (27) is shrunk onto the end of the firing pin (15) opposite the cutting means (17).

5. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the piston (27) is non-circular on the outside, in particular octagonal, and is designed and arranged to be movable along a correspondingly designed running surface (39) of a sleeve (21) receiving the firing pin (15) from a retracted waiting position into an extended cutting position and back.

6. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that both the firing pin (15) at its end opposite the cutting means (17) on its outer contour and the piston (27) on its inner contour have an alignment surface (36, 37).

7. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cutting means (17) comprises a blade body (32) with at least one blade, but preferably three blades (33, 34, 35).

8. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the transport device (12) is designed and arranged as a fish guide (19) inclined downwards in the direction of the bleeding unit (14).

9. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a trigger element (40) for triggering the firing pin (15) is arranged in the end of the fish guide (19).

10. Device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a control device (41) which is connected to at least one pneumatic unit (26) of the firing pin (15) and the trigger element (40).

11. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the sleeve (21) is mounted in a housing (20) of the pneumatic unit (26), wherein the housing (20) is fastened in the region of or on the fish guide (19) and is open on the side facing the fish guide (19) for the exit of the striking pin (15) carrying the cutting means (17), wherein the fish guide (19) has a corresponding opening aligned with the housing (20).

12. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the fish guide (19) is at least partially movable.

13. Device (10) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that at least one stripping element (44) resting on the outer circumferential surface (43) of the firing pin (15) is arranged in the housing (20).

14. Device (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one sealing element, preferably an O-ring (45), resting on the outer circumferential surface (43) of the firing pin (15) is arranged in the housing (20) between the stripping element (44) and the end of the sleeve (21).

15. Device (10) according to one or more of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that at least one flushing valve (46) for cleaning the cutting means (17) and / or the firing pin (15) is designed and arranged in the housing (20).

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