A system for finishing fish frames

Abstract

A system for finishing fish frames (100), which system comprises a machine having: an electronic control unit, an upper side (2) and a lower side (1) between which the fish frame (100) is held during finishing. The upper side (2) and the lower side (1) is adapted to form a wedge-shaped insertion portion (11). Scrapers controlled by the electronic control unit are configured to scrape both the ventral side (8) and dorsal side (7) of a fish frame (100) as it is passes through the machine; a chain mechanism having holding means is adapted to draw a fish frame (100) through the machine. The machine is provided with a starting mechanism that starts the finishing process when a fish frame (100) is introduced headfirst into the machine and a longitudinal recess adapted to a backbone (110) in a fish frame (100) such that a fish frame (100) is held in its transverse direction while it is passed through the machine. The machine's insertion portion (11) may be made with replaceable infeed part (s). The system may comprise at least two replaceable infeed parts, each adapted to fish frames of different sizes and / or shapes such that the machine's insertion portion is thereby adaptable to at least two different fish frames.

Description

[0001] A system for finishing fish frames.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of fish processing machinery, and more specifically, to a system adapted for the efficient post-processing of fish carcasses, hereinafter referred to as "fish frames," which remain after the head and fillets have been removed.

[0003] The system is for finishing fish frames with ventral side, dorsal side and backbone, from which the head and fillets have been removed, which system comprises a machine having : an electronic control unit for controlling the machines; an essentially horizontal lower side and an upper side between which a fish frame is held during finishing, the upper side being adapted with a sloping portion such that the upper part and the lower part form a wedge-shaped insertion portion through which a fish frame is compressed as it is inserted into the machine, the upper side and the lower side are both provided with a longitudinal recess adapted to the backbone of a fish frame so that the fish frame is held in its transverse direction while being finished by the machine, said machine are adapted such that on one side of the longitudinal track it comprises means for finishing the dorsal side of the fish frame while on the other side of the longitudinal track the machine comprises means for finishing the ventral side of the fish frame; a starting mechanism connected to the control unit starts the finishing process when a fish frame is introduced with the head-end first into the machines insertion portion; a chain mechanism having holding means adapted to pull a fish frame through the machine; four scrapers controlled by the electronic control unit and configured to finish a fish frame by scraping its ventral and dorsal sides as it is pulled through the machine.

[0004] Fish processing is a crucial industry component, aimed at maximizing the yield from harvested fish while minimizing waste. Despite the removal of the primary fillets, significant quantities of meat often remain attached to the fish frames, particularly around the backbone and tail regions. The invention disclosed herein addresses the recovery of these meat residues through a novel machine that efficiently scrapes residual meat from fish frames, thereby increasing overall yield and reducing wastage.

[0005] In the fish processing industry, once the head and fillets are removed, fish frames typically consist of the backbone, rib bones, tail section, and remnants of the ventral (belly) and dorsal (back) meat. These residual portions often contain substantial amounts of usable meat, which, if left unprocessed, contribute to suboptimal resource utilization and economic inefficiencies. Current methods for meat recovery from fish frames tend to be either manual, which is labor-intensive and inconsistent, or mechanical, which may lead to inefficiencies due to the uneven distribution of meat on the frame. Mechanical systems that are currently available often encounter challenges in removing meat from fish frames with asymmetrical meat distribution, leading to incomplete recovery, breakage of the fish frame, or machine jamming.

[0006] A key challenge in the existing technology is that fish frames have an asymmetrical distribution of meat, with the ventral side containing meat primarily in the tail region and the dorsal side having meat spread along almost the entire length of the frame. This asymmetry results in lateral forces during the scraping process, which can cause instability in the frame's positioning and, in some cases, lead to the frame being pulled apart, thus disrupting the scraping process and reducing the effectiveness of meat recovery.

[0007] The present invention addresses the aforementioned drawbacks of existing technologies by introducing a machine specifically designed to optimize the postprocessing of fish frames, allowing for the efficient removal of residual meat in a controlled and consistent manner. The machine includes a system of four scrapers, configured to scrape both the ventral and dorsal sides of the fish frame as it is drawn through the machine. The design of the scrapers is such that two are positioned to target the meat on the belly side, particularly focusing on the lower portion near the tail, while the other two scrapers are arranged to address the meat along the entire dorsal side of the fish frame.

[0008] To ensure optimal alignment and stability during the scraping process, the fish frame is positioned in the machine with its head section leading, and it is then drawn through the machine by a continuous chain mechanism.

[0009] The backbone of the fish frame is secured in a longitudinal recess, which ensures that the frame remains horizontally oriented throughout the process. This secure positioning minimizes lateral movement and prevents the frame from being dislodged during scraping.

[0010] Objectives of the Invention

[0011] The primary objective of the present invention is to overcome the limitations associated with existing fish processing machinery by providing a new solution. Another object is to provide a solution that addresses the asymmetric meat distribution on fish frames by eliminating or minimizing lateral forces.

[0012] This is achieved in that the sloping surface of the upper part is provided with an infeed portion having two protruding edges adapted to the backbone of a fish frame, so that the backbone of an inserted fish frame will be held by the two protruding edges and the longitudinal recess in the lower part while the fish frame passes through the insertion portion.

[0013] The machine is thereby adapted such that it can counteracts the side forces that arise in prior art machines due to the asymmetrical meat distribution between the ventral and dorsal sides of different fish frames.

[0014] In an embodiment of the invention the starting mechanism comprises a tiltable pin being configured and positioned so that it rotates about an axis when the tiltable pin is tilted by a fish frame inserted into the insertion portion, the axis being connected to the electronic control unit such that the control unit starts the post-processing process when the axis is rotated. Preferably the pin is tilted by the fish frame's backbone.

[0015] In an embodiment, the infeed part(s) is provided with a longitudinal guide adapted to the tiltable pin, so that the tiltable pin passes through the infeed part(s) in such a way that the tiltable pin will tilt and thereby starts the finishing process when a fish frame is inserted into the machine.

[0016] In the known technology, the post-processing of fish frames is started by a mechanical sensor that is pressed down or up in a socket and thereby activates a contact inserted in the socket. This solution has disadvantages in that the sensor and especially the contact in the socket is easily contaminated by pieces of meat from the fish frames. This not only has a hygienic aspect, but the contamination also often results in the contact being rendered unusable, after which it must be manually cleaned, which is time-consuming. These problems are reduced or eliminated with this embodiment that involves a tiltable pin mounted on a rotatable shaft.

[0017] A key feature of the invention is thus the activation mechanism that initiates the scraping process. As a fish frame engages with the tiltable pin it triggers the start of the finishing process and the engagement with this tiltable pin triggers the scraping operation, allowing the scrapers to commence their function only when the frame is properly positioned within the machine. This automatic activation further ensures precise timing and reduces the likelihood of mechanical errors.

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention the upper part comprises a longitudinal recess comprising continuous edges adapted such that they runs uninterrupted on both the dorsal and ventral sides of a fish frames backbone from the infeed area to the area where the processing of fish frame is finished. This ensures that the frame is held securely within a longitudinal recess thereby reducing the risk of frame breakage due to misalignment during processing. The controlled movement of the frame through the machine ensures that meat is effectively removed without damaging the frame.

[0019] Other embodiments are recited in the dependent claims.

[0020] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures where:

[0021] Fig 1 shows the machine in perspective.

[0022] Fig 2 shows the chain mechanism and a scraber.

[0023] Fig. 3 shows different embodiment of infeed parts.

[0024] Fig. 4 shows a replaceable part.

[0025] In the figures is shown a system for finishing fish frames 100 with ventral side 8, dorsal side 7 and backbone 110, from which the head and fillets have been removed. The system comprises a machine having an electronic control unit (not shown). The machine comprises a process area having an upper side 2 and a lower side 1 between which a fish frame 100 is held during finishing. The upper side 2 and the lower side 1 are adapted to form a wedge-shaped insertion portion 11 through which a fish frame is compressed as it is introduced into the machine. The machine is provided with four scrapers (only one is shown in figure 1) controlled by the electronic control unit and configured to scrape both the ventral and dorsal sides of a fish frame as it passes through the machine. The four scrapers are strategically positioned along the path of the fish frame. Two scrapers are dedicated to scraping the ventral side, particularly focusing on the lower section near the tail, where meat residues are typically concentrated. The other two scrapers are configured to address the dorsal side, where meat is distributed more evenly along the length of the frame. The unique arrangement of these scrapers allows for thorough removal of residual meat, irrespective of the frame's asymmetrical distribution.

[0026] The machine is designed with a robust framework that supports the efficient postprocessing of fish frames. The machine may be provided with a feed mechanism comprising a continuous chain mechanism with holding means that securely engage with the fish, drawing it through the machine at a controlled speed.

[0027] The machine's feed mechanism 112 is normally provided with holding means adapted to draw or push a fish frame through the machine. As the fish frame is pulled into or inserted into the machine's infeed area 11, it comes into contact with a tiltable pin 113 mounted within the frame. The tiltable pin is preferably positioned such that it tilts when it meets (contacts) a fish frame's backbone.

[0028] This contact causes the tiltable pin to pivot, thereby triggering the control unit to activate and control the scrapers during the finishing of the fish frame. This automated process not only ensures that the scrapers engage at the correct moment but also minimizes the risk of mechanical failure due to improper timing during the process.

[0029] The machine's lower part 1 is provided with a longitudinal recess 4 adapted to a backbone 110 in a fish frame 100. This ensures that a fish frame is held in its transverse direction while it is passed through the machine.

[0030] The sloping surface of the upper part is provided with an infeed portion having two protruding edges 43, 44 adapted to the backbone of a fish frame, so that the backbone of an inserted fish frame will be held by the two protruding 43, 44 edges and the longitudinal recess in the lower part while the fish frame passes through the insertion portion.

[0031] The upper part 2 of the machine's insertion portion 11 may be made with a replaceable infeed parts 14. The system may comprising at least two different and replaceable infeed parts 14, 14 ', 14 ' ', each adapted to fish frames of different sizes and / or shapes, thereby making the machine's insertion portion 11 adaptable to at least two different fish frames.

[0032] The invention thus offers an innovative alternative to both manual scraping and traditional mechanical systems, which are often plagued by inefficiencies due to asymmetrical and different meat distribution in different types or sizes of fish. The novel configuration options provided by the different and replaceable infeed parts entails a more secure handling of fish frame during the processing and thus provides yield due to a more reliable and efficient solution for post-processing fish frames.

[0033] The machine's activation mechanism is another aspect of the invention. The fish frame may be pulled into the machine by chain 112. When the fish frame comes into contact with a tiltable pin 113 mounted within the frame this contact causes the tiltable pin 113 to tilt about an axle 114. The axle is connected to the control unit such that it - when tilted- triggers the control unit to initiate the scrapers to begin and to finish their scraping operation while the fish frame is pulled through the machine by chain 113. This automated process not only ensures that the scrapers engage at the correct moment but also minimizes the risk of mechanical failure due to improper timing.

[0034] The infeed portion 11 or the replaceable infeed parts may be provided with a longitudinal guide 31 adapted to the tiltable pin, so that the tiltable pin passes through the infeed portion or the replaceable infeed prats in such a way that the tiltable pin will tilt and thereby starts the finishing process when a fish frame is inserted into the machine. Preferably, the machine and guide 31 are adapted such that the fish frames backbone hits the pin and thereby initiates the finishing process.

[0035] The infeed portion 11 / replaceable infeed parts(s) 14, 14 ', 14 ' ' may be provided with two flanges 15, 15 ' ; 16,16 ' ; 17, 17 ' ' and these may be similar, however normally each is individually adapted to different types or sizes of fish frames. Preferably the flanges are also individually adapted to fit the dorsal or the ventral side of a fish frame. A flange may be adapted so that this flange - from the beginning 200 of the insertion portion / replaceable infeed parts - will provide pressure on a fish frames dorsal and / or ventral side. Preferably, the flange situated on the machines "dorsal side" 15, 16, 17 will provide a greater pressure on a fish frames dorsal side than the flange 15 ', 16 ', 17 'situated on the machines "ventral side".

[0036] In the illustrated embodiments of different replaceable infeed parts, these are provided with holes 21 that are mutually adapted to corresponding holes (not shown) in the upper part 2. The replaceable infeed parts can also be provided with snapfitting means that are mutually adapted to snap-fitting means on the upper part 2. This entails an easy switch between different replaceable infeed parts. A flange may be provided with a blocking block 32 that prevents a fish's backbone from being inserted on the wrong side of an edge. Preferably, the flange 15, 16, 17 provided on the dorsal side is provided with a blocking block 32 that prevents a fish's backbone from being inserted on the wrong side of the edge 43

[0037] The flange 15, 16, 17 provided on the dorsal side may be provided with a blocking block 32 that prevents a fish's backbone from being inserted on the wrong side of the edge 43 adjacent to the dorsal side of the fish.

[0038] The machine may be provided with replaceable pressure parts 120 (see figures 2 and 4) placed in connection with the individual scrapers. The replaceable pressure parts are placed together with the individual scrapers, but opposite these and the replaceable pressure parts are mutually adapted to the oppositely placed scrapers such that the fish frame is pressed between the scrapers and the replaceable pressure parts when the scrapers are pressed into scraping engagement with the fish frame.

[0039] The replaceable pressure parts 120 may be provided with a convex part adapted to the scraper opposite the replaceable pressure part such that the fish body during its movement through the machine is moved towards the scraper opposite the replaceable pressure part while the fish body passes the replaceable part. The system according to the invention may comprise several types of replaceable pressure parts which are individually adapted to different scrapers and / or fish frames. To facilitate a change between different replaceable pressure parts, the machine and the replaceable pressure parts may be adapted with mutually adapted snap coupling means.

[0040] By addressing the challenges associated with fish frames originating from different types or different sizes of fish, the invention improves overall yield, reduces waste, and enhances the sustainability of fish processing operations.

Claims

Claims1. A system for finishing fish frames with ventral side, dorsal side and backbone, from which the head and fillets have been removed, which system comprises a machine having :• an electronic control unit for controlling the machines;• an essentially horizontal lower side and an upper side between which a fish frame is held during finishing, the upper side being adapted with a sloping portion such that the upper part and the lower part form a wedge-shaped insertion portion through which a fish frame is compressed as it is inserted into the machine, the upper side and the lower side are both provided with a longitudinal recess adapted to the backbone of a fish frame so that the fish frame is held in its transverse direction while being finished by the machine, said machine are adapted such that on one side of the longitudinal track it comprises means for finishing the dorsal side of the fish frame while on the other side of the longitudinal track the machine comprises means for finishing the ventral side of the fish frame;• a starting mechanism which, via a signal to the control mechanism, starts the finishing process when a fish frame is inserted head-end first into the insertion portion of the machine;• a feed mechanism having holding means adapted to pull or push a fish frame through the machine;• four scrapers controlled by the electronic control unit and configured to finish a fish frame by scraping its ventral and dorsal sides as it is pulled through the machine; said system being characterized in that, the sloping surface of the upper part is provided with an insertion portion having two protruding edges adapted to the backbone of a fish frame, so that the backbone of an inserted fish frame will be held by the two protruding edges and the longitudinal recess in the lower part while the fish frame passes through the insertion portion.

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the upper part of the machine's insertion portion is made with a replaceable infeed part, and that the system comprises at least two different and replaceable infeed parts, each being adapted to fish frames of different sizes and / or shapes such thatthe machine's insertion portion thereby is adaptable to at least two different fish frames of different sizes and / or shapes.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the starting mechanism comprises a tiltable pin, which tiltable pin is configured and positioned to be tilted by a fish frames backbone when the fish frame is inserted into the insertion portion / replaceable infeed parts , which tiltable pin is connected to the electronic control unit to start the finishing process when the tiltable pin is tilted a fish frames backbone4. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the scrapers are formed with a spoon-like shape with a concave and a convex side, where the concave side faces opposite the direction a fish frame is pulled through the machine.

5. A system according to any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that together with the scrapers, but opposite these, a replaceable pressure part is arranged such that the fish frame is pressed between the scrapers and the replaceable pressure parts when the scrapers are pressed into engagement with the fish frame.

6. A system according to any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that, at least one of the replaceable pressure parts is provided with a convex part adapted to the scraper opposite the replaceable pressure part such that the fish body during its movement through the machine is moved towards the scraper opposite the replaceable pressure part while the fish body passes the replaceable part.

7. A system according to any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that at least one of the scrapers is adjustable attached to the machine so that the angle of the scraper relative to the horizontal plane may be adjusted.

8. A system according to any of the claims 1-7, characterized in that at least one of the scrapers is adjustable attached to the machine so that the angle of the scraper relative to the vertical plane can be adjusted.

9. A system according to any of the claims 1-7, characterized in that at least one of the scrapers is interchangeable with at least one other scraper having a different shape or size.

10. A system according to any of the claims 1-9, characterized in that the infeed portion or at least one replaceable infeed part is adapted such that on each side of the two protruding edges there is provided a flange adapted so that these flanges will provide pressure on a fish frames dorsal and ventral side.

11. A system according to claim 10, characterized in that, the flange adapted for providing pressure on a fish frames dorsal side will provide a greater pressure than the flange adapted for providing pressure on a fish frames ventral side.

12. A system according to any of the claims 1-10, characterized in that, the infeed parts is provided with a longitudinal guide adapted to the tiltable pin, so that the tiltable pin passes through the infeed part in such a way that the tiltable pin will tilt and thereby starts the finishing process when a fish frame is inserted into the machine.

13. A system according to any of the claims 1-12, characterized in that, the feed mechanism comprises a chain mechanism having holding means adapted to draw a fish frame through the machine.

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