AU2015385155B2

AU2015385155B2 - Tool and device for eviscerating fish by means of suction and scraping elements

Info

Publication number: AU2015385155B2
Application number: AU2015385155A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Carsten Paulsohn
Original assignee: Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud Baader GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud Baader GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2015-03-03
Filing date: 2015-03-03
Publication date: 2019-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-03
Also published as: DK179774B9; DK179774B1; DK201770597A1; WO2016138941A1; CN107257628B; AU2015385155A1; EP3264904A1; CN107257628A; EP3264904B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tool (10) for eviscerating fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising a suction element (11) having a suction head (12) for suctioning the internal organs and at least one scraping element (14) assigned to the suction element (11). The invention is characterised in that the scraping element (14) is arranged on the suction element (11) such that it can rotate about at least one shaft (15) in such a way that the scraping element (14) is designed and configured such that it can move relative to the suction head (12). The invention also relates to a device for eviscerating fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising the tool (10) according to the invention.

Description

TOOL AND APPARATUS FOR GUTTING FISH BY MEANS OF SUCTION AND SCRAPING ELEMENTS

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a tool for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising a suction element having a suction head for suctioning off the internal organs and at least one scraping element assigned to the suction element.

The disclosure further relates to an apparatus for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising at least one tool for suctioning off the internal organs.

DEFINITION

In the specification the term “comprising” shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar 15 to the term “including” and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term “comprising” such as “comprise” and “comprises”.

BACKGROUND

The tool or the apparatus referred to above is used in particular in the automated slaughtering offish. Such toolsand apparatuses are disclosed, for example, in document WO 2007/128386 filed by the applicant company. After opening the abdominal cavity of the fish, at least one tool for suctioning off the internal organs and for cleaning is introduced into the opened abdominal 25 cavity. The internal organs are grasped by means of a combination tool consisting of a suction element and an element for clamping/squeezing and are removed from the abdominal cavity by suction. During the gutting process, the combination tool is inserted vertically up to the base of the abdominal cavity and is moved horizontally initially towards the anus. After reaching the anus, the tool is moved towards the head end of the abdominal cavity.

An additional scraping element is provided on the suction element disclosed in document WO 2007/128386. The scraping element is dimensioned such that it forms a projection with respect to the suction element and thus comes into contact with remnants of the internal organs still present on the inner flanks of the fish in order to detach them.

2015385155 07 May 2019

The reference to prior art in the background above is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Applicant is aware of the disadvantages of using the tools referred to above for gutting and cleaning the abdominal cavity, namely that remnants of internal organs remain in said abdominal cavity. Applicant has recognized it would be beneficial to propose a tool which provides a more complete removal of remnants of blood and/or internal organs and an apparatus for automated gutting using such a tool.

According to one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a tool for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising:

a suction element having a suction head for suctioning off the internal organs and at least one scraping element assigned to the suction element, wherein the scraping element is arranged pivotably on the suction element by means of a pivot arm about at least one axis such that the scraping element is designed and configured to be movable relative to the suction head, and an adjusting means arranged on the pivot arm configured for changing the position of the scraping element relative to the suction head, the adjusting means being designed as a spring element.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure there is provided a tool for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising:

a suction element having a suction head for suctioning off the internal organs and at least one scraping element assigned to the suction element, wherein the scraping element is arranged pivotably on the suction element about at least one axis such that the scraping element is designed and configured to be movable relative to the suction head.

In this way, the cleaning effect of the tool is substantially improved compared to known tools. The mobility of the scraping element relative to the suction element may result in the scraping element being able to follow the geometry of each fish body exactly, thus detaching the internal organs and remnants of the internal organs with improved precision compared to known tools. This may be achieved by mechanically decoupling the scraping element from the suction element. Although the suction element and the scraping element together form one tool unit

2015385155 07 May 2019 which is introduced jointly into the opened abdominal cavity, the tool is nevertheless designed and configured in such a way that the scraping element can be moved largely independently of the suction element during the gutting process inside the abdominal cavity. With this feature remnants of the intestines adhering to the inner abdominal wall can be reliably removed.

In an embodiment of the disclosure the scraping element may be arranged pivotably on the suction element by means of a pivot arm. Thus, the scraping element may be configured so as to be freely movable at least in the central plane of the fish which extends through the centre bone and the centre of the fish. As a result, the scraping element may be configured 10 positionably with regard to the depth of immersion in the abdominal cavity. At the same time, on changing the pivoting position, the scraping element may perform a movement in the direction of the head to tail orientation of the fish which additionally assists the scraping process and thus increases the overall level of completeness when removing the internal organs or remnants of the internal organs.

In a preferred development of the disclosure an adjusting means for changing the position of the scraping element relative to the suction head may be arranged on the pivot arm. Using the adjusting means, the pivot arm can additionally be loaded with a force or relieved of a force in order, for example, to press the scraping element with increased force against the parts to be 20 cleaned in the abdominal cavity.

According to a further embodiment of the disclosure, the pivot arm may be of two-armed design with respect to the axis, the scraping element being arranged on a first arm or arm portion and the adjusting means being arranged on a second arm or arm portion of the pivot arm. In other 25 words, the pivot arm may be designed as a two-armed lever. This may provide the advantage that sufficient space is available for arrangement of the adjusting means on the second arm or arm portion of the pivot arm as they are not arranged in the region of the suction element.

According to a further embodiment, the adjusting means may be designed as a spring element. 30 This may result in the scraping element being spring-loaded and consequently it is pressed against the base of the abdominal cavity in the region of the centre bone, automatically following the geometry of the abdominal cavity. In this way, the scraping element rests under pressure of force on the inner sides of the portions of the abdominal cavity to be cleaned, particularly in the region of the centre bone, but can yield resiliently at the same time.

2015385155 07 May 2019

In a further embodiment of the disclosure the spring element may be designed and configured for presetting the spring force. This may provide the advantage that presetting the spring force predetermines the pressing force by means of which the scraping element is pressed against the inner walls in the abdominal cavity. On the one hand, it may be ensured that this pressing 5 force is high enough to encourage removal of the adhering internal organs and/or remnants of the internal organs. On the other hand, any damage or injury to the fish body may be avoided by pressing forces that are not too high.

According to another preferred development of the disclosure, the adjusting means may 10 comprise a controllable actuator. Thus, the scraping element can be actively brought into an optimum position in each case. The adjusting means may comprise one or a plurality of actuators. Alternatively, the adjusting means may comprise both an actuator and also one of the spring elements such that the adjusting means is designed as a combined element composed of one of the spring elements and an actuator. For example, the actuator may also 15 be configured to move the suction element into a predetermined position while the spring element may ensure a corresponding contact force on the region around the centre bone of the fish, thus resiliently bringing the suction element into contact.

In a further embodiment of the disclosure the actuator may be designed and configured to 20 perform an oscillating movement. The oscillating movement may additionally assist the process of detaching the internal organs and remnants of the internal organs. In particular, in this way detached portions can slide through under the scraping element during a lifting phase thereof and can be suctioned off by means of the suction element. As soon as the scraping element is lowered again onto the centre bone, the scraping element again may take over its 25 actual scraping or scratching function. The process may be repeated continuously due to the oscillating movement of the scraping element. In particular the actuator may be a pneumatic cylinder. To implement the oscillating movement, the pneumatic cylinder may be oscillatingly deflected around each rest position. The present disclosure may comprise a plurality of the scraping elements which are designed and configured to be movable independently of each 30 other. Two of the scraping elements may be provided which may each be configured to be movable using at least one of the actuators. Each of the actuators may be designed to perform an oscillating movement, the two actuators in particular may perform opposing movements such that the scraping elements are moved up and down in a push-pull manner. This may have the advantage that one of the scraping elements in each case may be in contact with the fish 35 to be gutted in the region of the centre bone, while the other scraping element in each case may be in a state of movement that has no direct contact with this region.

2015385155 07 May 2019

The present disclosure, however, is not limited to two of the scraping elements. For example it may be advantageous to arrange more than two of the scraping elements so as to be movable independently of one another.

An embodiment of the disclosure provides that the scraping element may be configured as a scraping plate, the sides of the scraping plate directed towards the fish flanks each having a texture, e.g. at least in a partial region thereof. The texture may additionally assist the scraping effect of the scraping plate and thus may improve the cleaning result.

According to a further embodiment of the disclosure, the suction head may comprise a clamping element for clamping and/or squeezing the internal organs to be removed. The clamping element may be designed and configured to grasp the internal organs by clamping and/or squeezing such that the internal organs to be removed can first be grasped with the 15 clamping element and subsequently suctioned off.

According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising:

at least one tool as defined in a preceding aspect of the disclosure for suctioning off the 20 internal organs, a measuring means for detecting the fish geometry, at least one control means configured to control the tool dependent on the fish geometry detected by the measuring means, and at least one positioning device configured to move the tool relative to the fish.

The tool may include any one or more of the optional features of the tool defined in a preceding aspect of the disclosure, e.g. the tool may be configured according to that in the preceding aspect of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further preferred and/or expedient features and embodiments of the disclosure emerge from the dependent claims and the description. Especially preferred embodiments are explained in greater detail with reference to the attached drawing. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1 a perspective view of the tool according to the disclosure and

Fig. 2 a lateral view of the tool shown in Fig. 1.

2015385155 07 May 2019

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows the tool 10 according to the disclosure in a perspective view. Fig. 2 shows the tool 10 according to the disclosure in a lateral view. The tool 10 is preferably part of a slaughter machine, not shown in the drawing, or of a whole slaughter machine. Especially preferably, 5 the tool 10 is used together with other tools for removing the internal organs.

The tool 10 comprises a suction element 11 with a suction head 12. The suction element 11 and the suction head 12 are designed and configured for suctioning off the internal organs. For this, the suction element 11 is connected to a vacuum unit, not shown. Optionally, the 10 suction element 11 comprises a clamping element, not shown in the drawing, for clamping and/or squeezing the internal organs to be removed. The clamping element comprises a clamping mechanism, by means of which the clamping element is designed to be brought into a clamping position for clamping and/or squeezing the internal organs to be removed.

A scraping element 14 is assigned to the suction element 11. The scraping element 14 is preferably arranged in the region of the suction head 12 at a distance therefrom. The scraping element 14 is thereby arranged pivotably on the suction element 11 about at least one axis 15. In this way, the scraping element 14 is designed and configured in such a way that it is movable relative to the suction head 12. Especially preferably, the suction element 11 and the scraping 20 element 14 are arranged centrally on a notional plane which likewise extends through the centre bone of the fish to be gutted. Especially preferably, the tool 10 according to the disclosure is used when gutting fish conveyed on a transport device which are oriented with the opened abdominal cavity upwards. In this case, the tool 10 according to the disclosure operates in the abdominal cavity of the fish from above.

Further preferably, the scraping element 14 is arranged pivotably on the suction element 11 by means of a pivot arm 16. For example, the suction element 11 comprises a suction pipe 18 held by means of a holding element 17. The holding element 17 preferably comprises a bearing element 19 for receiving the axis/axle 15, by means of which the pivot arm 16 is pivotably 30 arranged on the holding element 17. Advantageously, the pivot arm 16 is designed at least substantially corresponding to the suction pipe 18 such that the pivot arm 16 and the suction pipe 18 are aligned approximately parallel over broad regions in the pivot position of the pivot arm 16 shown in Fig. 1.

According to an advantageous development of the disclosure, an adjusting means (not shown in the drawing) configured for changing the position of the scraping element 14 relative to the

2015385155 07 May 2019 suction head 12 is arranged on the pivot arm 16. The adjusting means is arranged in this case to move the scraping element 14 relative to the suction head 12 by pivoting the pivot arm 16 and thus to change the position of said scraping element. Advantageously, the pivot arm 16 is of two-armed design with respect to the axis 15. The pivot arm 16 therefore comprises a first 5 arm or arm portion 20 and a second arm or arm portion 21. The scraping element 14 is arranged on the first arm or arm portion 20 while the adjusting means is preferably arranged on the second arm or arm portion 21. Possible pivot points 22 for the adjusting means are illustrated by way of example in the drawing.

Especially preferably, the adjusting means is designed as a spring element. If the adjusting means is arranged between one of the pivot points 22 of the second arm 21 and one of the pivot points 22 of the holding element 17, then the adjusting means is preferably designed as a tension spring. However, it is also possible for the adjusting means to be arranged between the first arm 20 and the holding element 17. In this case, the adjusting means is preferably 15 designed as a pressure spring.

Advantageously, the spring element is designed and configured for presetting the spring force. In other words, the spring element is configured in such a way that the force acting on the pivot arm 16 or the torque arising therefrom is configured to be preselectable.

According to an advantageous alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the adjusting means is a controllable actuator. The controllable actuator is preferably configured to be adjustable in its longitudinal extension. In this way, the angle by which the pivot arm 16 is pivoted about the axis 15 can be actively controlled such that the position of the scraping 25 element 14 can be predetermined by specifying the pivot angle. Any element whose longitudinal extension is designed to be variable by means of corresponding control signals is suitable as a controllable actuator.

Especially preferably, the actuator is designed and configured to perform an oscillating 30 movement. In other words, a control device is provided which activates the actuator in such a manner that it performs oscillating movements. These oscillating movements result in lifting and lowering of the scraping element 14 such that the pressing force of the scraping element 14 on the centre bone or on the blood vessels present there is repeatedly and continuously increased and decreased. The actuator is preferably a compressed air driven pneumatic 35 cylinder.

2015385155 07 May 2019

The scraping element 14 is preferably designed as a scraping plate 24. The sides 23 of the scraping plate 24 directed towards the fish flanks of the fish each have a texture at least in a partial region. An additional cleaning effect is achieved by means of the texture. Especially preferably, the texture is designed in the form of grooves and has a series of recesses 25. The 5 scraping plate 24 preferably comprises a protrusion 26, arranged at its lower end, which is directed towards the centre bone of the fish. The protrusion 26 brings about improved detachment of blood kidneys.

The tool 10 according to the disclosure having the features referred to above is part of a further 10 apparatus according to the disclosure for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities. In addition to the at least one tool 10 for suctioning off the internal organs, the apparatus comprises the further features referred to below which are not shown, however, in the drawing.

The apparatus comprises a measuring means configured to detect the fish geometry, at least one control means designed to control the tool 10 dependent on the fish geometry detected by 15 the measuring means and at least one positioning device configured to move the tool relative to the fish.

The measuring means is preferably a touch sensor with associated evaluation electronics which permits detection of the fish geometry. Alternatively, the measuring means is designed 20 as an opto-electronic sensor. The control means is further configured in such a manner that it both enables the tool 10 to be inserted by means of the positioning device into the opened abdominal cavity of the fish based on the determined fish geometry and it also moves the tool 10 to the desired positions inside the abdominal cavity during the gutting and cleaning process of said abdominal cavity.

The apparatus advantageously comprises a conveying device by means of which the fish are conveyed through the apparatus lying on their back. In this case, the control means and the positioning device are adapted in such a manner that the previously described control of the tool 10 for gutting the fish takes place during conveying of the fish.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Tool for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, comprising:

a suction element having a suction head for suctioning off the internal organs and at least one scraping element assigned to the suction element, wherein the scraping element is arranged pivotably on the suction element by means of a pivot arm about at least one axis such that the scraping element is designed and configured to be movable relative to the suction head, and an adjusting means arranged on the pivot arm configured for changing the position of the scraping element relative to the suction head, the adjusting means being designed as a spring element.
2. Tool according to claim 1, wherein the pivot arm is of two-armed design with respect to the axis, wherein the scraping element is arranged on a first arm portion and the adjusting means is arranged on a second arm portion of the pivot arm.
3. Tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the spring element is designed and configured for pre-setting the spring force.
4. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjusting means comprises a controllable actuator.
5. Tool according to claim 4, wherein the actuator is designed and configured to perform an oscillating movement.
6. Tool according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.
7. Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scraping element is configured as a scraping plate, and wherein the sides of the scraping plate directed towards the fish flanks each have a texture at least in a partial region.
8. Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction head comprises a clamping element for clamping and/or squeezing the internal organs to be removed.
9. Apparatus for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities, the apparatus comprising:

ίο

2015385155 07 May 2019 at least one tool in accordance with claim 1, for suctioning off the internal organs, a measuring means for detecting the fish geometry, at least one control means configured to control the tool dependent on the fish geometry detected by the measuring means, and at least one positioning device configured to move the tool relative to the fish.
10. Apparatus for gutting fish with opened abdominal cavities according to claim 9, wherein the tool is configured according to any one of claims 2 to 8.
11. Tool for gutting fish that have opened abdominal cavities, the tool comprising:

a suction element having a suction head for suctioning off internal organs of the fish, and at least one scraping element assigned to the suction element, wherein the scraping element is arranged pivotably on the suction element by means of a pivot arm such that the scraping element is designed and configured to be movable relative to the suction head about an axis, and an adjusting means arranged on the pivot arm for changing the position of the scraping element relative to the suction head, the adjusting means being designed as a spring element.
12. Tool according to claim 11, wherein the pivot arm comprises first and second arm portions, and the scraping element is arranged on the first arm portion and the adjusting means is arranged on the second arm portion.
13. Tool according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the spring element is configured for its spring force to be pre-set.
14. Tool according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the adjusting means comprises a controllable actuator.
15. Tool according to claim 14, wherein the controllable actuator is configured to perform an oscillating movement.
16. Tool according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the controllable actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.

2015385155 07 May 2019
17. Tool according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the scraping element is configured as a scraping plate having sides directed towards flanks of the fish, and each side has a texture.
18. Tool according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the suction head includes a clamping element for clamping and/or squeezing the internal organs to be removed.
19. Apparatus for gutting fish that have opened abdominal cavities, the apparatus comprising:

at least one tool in accordance with any one of claims 10 to 18, for suctioning off the internal organs, a measuring means for detecting the fish geometry, at least one control means configured to control the tool dependent on the fish geometry detected by the measuring means, and at least one positioning device configured to move the tool relative to the fish.