V-Shaped Conveyor for Continuous Fish In-Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for feeding fish into a processing line are inefficient, leading to gaps in the processing line and difficulties in maintaining the quality of fish due to prolonged handling and transport times, especially when handling large quantities of fresh fish.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a V-shaped conveyor with two continuous belts and slide-resistant surfaces, combined with sensing and computing means to manage individual fish handling and horizontal transfer from an object receiver to the conveyor, ensuring fast and continuous feeding without slippage, utilizing a computer to allocate object spaces and control the release mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional in-feeding mechanisms are used to handle large quantities of fish, then processing capacity is increased, but gaps in the processing line occur and fish quality deteriorates due to prolonged handling time
Solution Approach 1:
The V-shaped conveyor is divided into two separate continuous belts that operate independently, allowing fish to be transported on one belt while the other belt remains clear or handles different tasks. This segmentation enables continuous operation without bottlenecks, maintaining high processing capacity while reducing waiting time for fish between processing stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide-resistant means are pre-installed on the conveyor belts to prevent fish from sliding during transfer. This preliminary preparation ensures that when fish are placed on the moving conveyor, they are immediately secured, eliminating delays caused by fish slipping or requiring repositioning, thus reducing overall handling time while maintaining continuous high-speed processing.
2Productivity
If fish are transferred horizontally onto the next apparatus, then processing line continuity is improved, but complex transfer mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The V-shaped conveyor is designed to maintain a substantially horizontal transfer path at the same elevation as the next processing apparatus. By keeping the conveyor belts horizontal and at equipotential level with the receiving equipment, fish can be transferred smoothly without complex lifting, lowering, or angling mechanisms, simplifying the overall transfer system while ensuring continuous processing line operation.
3Reliability
If conventional conveyor surfaces are used, then fish may slide during transport, but simpler conveyor design is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The slide-resistant means are applied specifically to the critical areas of the conveyor belts where fish contact occurs during transfer. Rather than making the entire conveyor system complex, the invention locally enhances the surface properties at key interaction points to prevent sliding, maintaining fish position stability without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire conveyor system.
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
Facilitates high-speed, continuous, and efficient individual fish handling and processing, maintaining fish quality by minimizing handling time and ensuring a horizontal drop onto the next processing mechanism, thus enhancing the operational ease and speed of the fish processing line.
Implementation Method 1
slide resisting means on the surface of the two individual continuous conveyor belts
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and a device for individual feeding of fish into a processing line. Such method and device may, for instance, be used for receiving, gilling and gutting freshly caught fish in a processing line on board a fishing vessel. For instance, the in-feeding apparatus and method may be used to increase the value of the fish by speeding up the time until the fish is chilled for storing.