Fish Filleting Machine Backbone Alignment and Evisceration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fish filleting machines face challenges in minimizing meat loss when processing short-bodied fish, as the backbone positioning is often at an angle, making it difficult to align with the three-blade backbone removal system, and require pre-gutting, which is not efficient for all fish species.
Innovation Solution
A fish filleting machine with a unique system that uses a guide probe to locate the fish and repositions the backbone to be parallel to the plane of travel, allowing for efficient backbone removal using the three-blade system, and incorporates belly opening and eviscerating components to process headed but not gutted fish, with precise control of rib removal using individually controlled fingers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the backbone is used as the locating datum for short-bodied fish, then the fish can be positioned in the machine, but the backbone angle becomes unsuitable for the three-blade removal system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a belly cavity locating system as an intermediary between the fish and the three-blade backbone removal system. Instead of directly using the backbone as the locating datum, the system first positions the fish using the belly cavity (which has suitable geometry for location), then uses transfer mechanisms to align the backbone correctly for blade engagement, thus mediating the positioning process to achieve both ease of operation and precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary positioning actions to the fish body before backbone removal. The belly cavity locating system performs initial positioning of the fish, and transfer mechanisms pre-align the backbone to the correct angle and position before the three-blade system engages, ensuring proper alignment is established in advance rather than attempting to achieve it during the removal process
2Manufacturing precision
If pre-gutting is required before filleting, then the three-blade backbone removal system can be used, but the process complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gut removal function from the preliminary processing steps and integrates it into the main filleting line. The belly cavity locating system simultaneously serves for positioning and for gut removal, eliminating the need for a separate pre-gutting operation while maintaining the precision required for the three-blade backbone removal system
3Productivity
If the backbone is positioned at an angle for short-bodied fish, then the fish can be processed, but meat loss increases due to improper blade engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through transfer mechanisms that monitor and adjust the backbone position and angle. The system detects the actual backbone orientation and uses feedback signals to adjust the positioning mechanisms, ensuring the backbone is correctly aligned with the three-blade removal system, thereby preventing meat loss while maintaining processing throughput
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for filleting fish to produce high yielding fillets from relatively short bodied fish in the size range of about 600 grams to about 3.5 kilograms dependent on species. The method and apparatus are designed to be capable of handling salmon, tilapia, trout, arctic char, barramundi, snappers, walleye pike, striped bass and similar species where the rib follows the contour of the belly cavity. Further, the method and apparatus incorporate belly opening and eviscerating components prior to subjecting the fish to a backbone removal system so that the fish need only be headed, but not gutted, before introduction into the machine.