Fish Fixing Device with Additional Clamping Brackets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for picking up and fixing fish in the fish processing industry often fail to maintain a secure and aligned position, especially due to deformations caused by rigor mortis or external factors like heavy seas, making subsequent handling and processing difficult.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of additional clamping brackets on both sides of the fish, connected to the side jaws, ensures uniform fixation along the longitudinal extension, providing secure support from behind the pectoral fins and between the torso and head, ensuring optimal alignment regardless of fish consistency or shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If only a torso clamp and pectoral fin holder are used to fix the fish, then the device structure remains simple, but the fish cannot be securely aligned in the longitudinal direction due to deformations from rigor mortis or external factors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefish alignment securityVSAvoidnumber of clamping components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fish fixation system is divided into multiple independent clamping segments: a head clamp for the head region, a torso clamp for the trunk area, and at least one additional clamp for the posterior body region. Each segment independently secures a specific portion of the fish, allowing the system to maintain reliable longitudinal alignment while managing complexity through functional decomposition of the clamping task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the fish body is left unsupported between the torso clamp and head rest, then the device structure remains simple, but the fish cannot maintain optimal alignment when deformed by rigor mortis or heavy seas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous fish body supportVSAvoidclamping bracket configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The solution extracts and addresses the specific problem of unsupported fish body regions by introducing dedicated clamping brackets positioned at the posterior body location. These brackets are specifically designed to bridge the gap between the torso clamp and head rest, providing continuous support for deformed fish bodies without requiring complete redesign of the entire fixation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Additional clamping brackets are strategically positioned at specific locations along the fish body, particularly in the posterior region behind the pectoral fins. This local enhancement provides targeted support exactly where needed to maintain alignment in deformed fish, rather than requiring uniform support along the entire body length, thus managing device complexity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If clamping brackets are rigidly connected to side jaws, then the fish body is clamped evenly and simultaneously, but the device control mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform clamping positionVSAvoidcontrol linkage system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping brackets are rigidly connected to the side jaws through fixed linkages, merging the movement of the side jaws with the clamping brackets. This ensures that when the side jaws move to clamp the fish, the clamping brackets move simultaneously and uniformly, achieving precise and even clamping positions without requiring independent control mechanisms for each bracket.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The side jaws serve multiple functions: they directly clamp the fish at the clamping position and simultaneously control the clamping brackets through rigid connection. This multi-functionality allows a single actuation mechanism to control both the primary clamping action and the positioning of additional support brackets, reducing overall control complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2217078B1Device for receiving and fixing fish within a device for processing fish
Publication Date: 2011.04.13 NORDISCHER MASCHINENBAU RUD BAADER GMBH CO KG
  • EP2217078B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2217078B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (10) for receiving and fixing fish within a device for processing fish, comprising a trunk clamping (11) and a pectoral fin receptacle (14) made out of two stop (12, 13), the trunk clamping (11) being movable from a receiving position into a clamping position and vice versa, characterized in that additional means (19) are provided for fixating the fish trunk.