Rotating Turntable for Automatic Fish Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fish orientation systems require fish to be singularized and sorted by size before processing, are often manual and slow, and pose a risk of harming the fish due to their design, which limits their efficiency and flexibility in handling fish of varying sizes and orientations.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a rotating turning roll with a smooth, pulley-shaped surface that aligns fish head/tail fins uniformly, allowing for automatic orientation without prior size sorting, using natural capillary suction or machine-created suction to manage fish positioning, and a receiving system designed to preserve the fish and maintain orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fish are singularized and sorted by size before processing, then the orientation process can be performed, but the productivity decreases and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary action by using the rotating turntable to pre-orient fish before they enter the main processing line. The turntable rotates fish to the correct orientation automatically, eliminating the need for manual singularization and size sorting beforehand, thus improving productivity while maintaining orientation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses self-service by employing the fish's own weight and the rotating turntable mechanism to automatically orient fish without manual intervention. The fish are guided into the turntable and rotated automatically based on their orientation, eliminating the need for manual singularization and size sorting operations
2Device complexity
If manual handling is used for fish orientation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated rotating turntable system. The turntable uses rotational mechanics to automatically orient fish, substituting manual labor with a mechanical automation system that increases productivity while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system performs self-service by using the rotating turntable to automatically orient fish without manual intervention. The system guides fish into the turntable and rotates them to the correct orientation automatically, eliminating manual handling while maintaining system simplicity
3Productivity
If fish are tilted in the air while held in the tail, then the turning operation can be performed, but the risk of harming the fish increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies equipotentiality by keeping the fish on a horizontal rotating turntable surface, eliminating vertical tilting and gravitational forces that could harm the fish. The fish remain in a stable horizontal position throughout the rotation, reducing injury risk while maintaining turning efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating turntable acts as an intermediary between the fish and the turning operation. Instead of directly tilting fish in the air, the turntable provides a stable horizontal platform that rotates the fish gently, mediating the turning process to reduce harm while maintaining productivity
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the turning roll has a smooth pulley shape, then the fish can pass through without harm, but the grip on the fish may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses spheroidality by employing a rotating turntable with a curved horizontal surface that conforms to the fish's body shape. The curved surface provides gentle contact and natural guidance for the fish, reducing injury risk while the rotation provides sufficient grip through centrifugal force and friction
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
Enables high-speed, accurate, and injury-free automatic orientation of fish regardless of size, facilitating further processing steps like vaccination, slaughtering, and quality sorting without pre-sorting, while ensuring the fish remains unharmed and oriented uniformly.
Implementation Method 1
using natural capillary suction or machine-created suction to manage fish positioning
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Device for automatic head/tail fin orientation of fish, where flow of fish with random head/tail fin orientation obtain a uniform orientation. The device comprises a roll (1) which rotates with a flow of fish (3) guided onto the roll prior to or at the uppermost poit (A), and a receiving system (2) located downstream of the roll. The roll (1) has a smooth plain pulley form and the receiving system (2) is retracted under the roll. The invention also comprises a device for singularizing fish comprising a roll pair (8) rotating from each other and where fish to be singularized is supplied at one end (9) of the roll pair (8) where fish is supplied. Finally the invention also comprises a combination of the device for singularizing and the device for turning.