US3908230A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for filleting fish
Assignee: Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud Baader GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1974-04-01
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for filleting fish is disclosed. Cuts are made into the flesh of the fish between the root of the tail and the belly cavity by a pair of belly knives. The belly spines so revealed are used to guide the fish and the presence or absence of these bones is used to control the operation of a pair of belly knives. Specifically, this is done by a sensor which senses the presence or absence of the belly spines and which is linked, for example by electronic means, to a pair of belly flaps adjacent the rib knives.
Inventors
- 👤 Franz Hartmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:19
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C25/00; A22C25/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of filleting fish comprising the steps of transporting a fish with its tail leading along a conveyor, making a pair of incisions one on each side of the belly spines thus separating the flesh from the belly spines, said incisions extending from the tail to the belly cavity of the fish to expose the belly spines which depend from the backbone of the fish, guiding the fish along said conveyor by means of said exposed belly spines, and thereafter sensing the passage of said exposed belly spines past a pre-selected point on said conveyor in order to time the commencement and/or completion of a filleting operation and to confine said filleting operation to the belly cavity region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of filleting fish comprising the steps of transporting a fish with its tail leading along a conveyor, making a pair of incisions one on each side of the belly spines thus separating the flesh from the belly spines, said incisions extending from the tail to the belly cavity of the fish to expose the belly spines which depend from the backbone of the fish, guiding the fish along said conveyor by means of said exposed belly spines, and thereafter sensing the passage of said exposed belly spines past a pre-selected point on said conveyor in order to time the commencement and/or completion of a filleting operation and to confine said filleting operation to the belly cavity region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which a strip containing the belly spines is severed to a uniform depth below the vertebrae of said fish prior to the sensing operation, and thereafter guiding the fish along said conveyor by means of said severed strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A machine for filleting fish comprising means for transporting fish successively past a plurality of processing stations for performing an automatic filleting operation, a pair of belly knives at one of said stations for separating the belly spines from the flesh between the belly cavity and the tail of said fish, thereby exposing said belly spines, a pair of rib knives at a subsequent station, and a sensing element adapted to control at least part of the operation of the rib knives by sensing the presence and/or absence of the exposed belly spines as the fish are transported past said sensing element, to confine operation of said rib knives to the belly cavity region of the fish.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
117 words
A machine for filleting fish comprising means for transporting fish successively past a plurality of processing stations for performing an automatic filleting operation, a pair of belly knives at one of said stations for separating the belly spines from the flesh between the belly cavity and the tail of said fish, thereby exposing said belly spines, a pair of rib knives at a subsequent station, and a sensing element adapted to control at least part of the operation of the rib knives by sensing the presence and/or absence of the exposed belly spines as the fish are transported past said sensing element, to confine operation of said rib knives to the belly cavity region of the fish.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A machine as claimed in claim 3 including a pair of spaced guides for the belly spines positioned between the belly knives and the rib knives, the spaced guides having an opening through which a bone knife can pass to sever the lower parts of the belly spines, the sensing element being positioned a fixed distance below the top of the guides but above the level of the operational edge of the bone knife.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine as claimed in claim 4 in which the sensing element is mounted for pivotal movement outwardly against a spring force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A machine as claimed in claim 5 in which the sensing element is pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the spaced guides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A machine as claimed in claim 5 in which the sensing element is supported by leaf springs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2893052A
Cited
US3525120A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |