Fish Skinning Device Roller Blade Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of skinning fish is time-consuming and difficult, especially for fresh water fish like Walleye, perch, crappie, blue gill, bass, and Northern Pike, due to the nature of their skin and bones, which requires skill and can lead to waste and injuries when using a filleting knife.
Innovation Solution
A fish skinning device with a powered roller and blade assembly that separates the skin and bones from the meat, where the roller contacts the skin and bones to direct them towards a blade, allowing for efficient removal while minimizing damage to the meat, and a blade actuation assembly that adjusts to different positions and toughness levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a filleting knife is used to skin fish, then the skin can be removed from the meat, but the process is time-consuming and requires skill and experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual knife-based mechanical system with an automated mechanical system consisting of a roller, blade, and drive mechanism. The roller contacts the skin and pulls it through the blade, automating the skinning process and eliminating the need for manual knife skills while significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows the skin to serve itself by using the skin's own toughness and structure to its advantage. The roller contacts the skin and pulls it through the blade, using the skin's natural properties to facilitate its own removal from the meat without requiring external manual manipulation.
2Manufacturing precision
If a filleting knife is used to skin fish, then the skin can be removed, but skill and experience are necessary to maximize meat recovery and obtain a pleasing fillet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the skill-dependent manual knife operation with an automated mechanical system that consistently produces high-quality results. The controlled interaction between the roller and blade ensures precise separation of skin from meat, maximizing meat recovery and producing uniform, visually pleasing fillets without requiring operator skill.
Solution Approach 2:
The device controls critical parameters such as roller speed, blade position, and contact pressure to optimize the skinning process. By maintaining consistent parameters, the system achieves high manufacturing precision in fillet quality while eliminating the need for operator skill and experience.
3Loss of substance
If a filleting knife is used to skin fish, then the skin can be removed, but waste increases and injury risk occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inefficient and dangerous manual knife process with an automated system that minimizes meat waste. The roller-blade mechanism cleanly separates skin from meat with consistent precision, maximizing meat recovery while eliminating the variability and errors inherent in manual knife work.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses the skin's own toughness and structure to facilitate its removal. By having the roller contact and pull the skin through the blade, the system leverages the skin's natural properties to achieve clean separation with minimal meat loss, while the automated nature eliminates injury risk.
4Productivity
If a powered roller and blade assembly is used to automate skinning, then productivity and efficiency improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the skinning device into distinct functional segments: a drive mechanism, a roller component, and a blade assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while simplifying the overall design and maintenance of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller serves multiple functions: it contacts the skin, pulls it through the blade, and guides it for clean separation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the device structure while maintaining high productivity and automation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device automates the skinning process, reducing waste and injury risk, allowing for faster and more efficient preparation of fish fillets while maximizing meat recovery and producing visually pleasing results.
Implementation Method 1
The roller is configured to contact the skin of a fillet so that rotation of the roller causes the fillet to be directed toward the blade
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and devices are described for preparing a fish fillet. The techniques and devices facilitate the removal of the skin and/or rib bones of the fish from the meat that forms the fillet. In embodiments, the techniques employ a fish skinning device that includes a roller and a blade. The roller is configured to contact the skin included on a fillet so that rotation of the roller causes the fillet to be directed toward the blade. The roller and blade are configured so the skin passes between the roller and blade and is generally separated and directed away from the meat. A blade float assembly permits the blade to float with respect to the blade during use to receive the skin or rib bones of the fish fillet between the roller and the blade.