The invention provides a fish processing device for cleaning blood and blood vessels from the spine of a fish, e.g. a salmon, after the visceral has been removed. A jet nozzle for spraying pressurized liquid and a movable suction device with a vacuum nozzle for entering the abdominal cavity of the fish serve in combination to clean the spine of the fish for blood and blood vessels. A controller controls an actuator for moving the vacuum nozzle to enter the abdominal cavity of the fish, and it is then moved in a first direction relative to the transport direction, until the first vacuum nozzle reaches an end of the abdominal cavity of said fish while sucking blood and blood vessels from the abdominal cavity along the spine of said fish. This is repeated by moving the vacuum nozzle in the opposite direction until reaching an opposite end of the abdominal cavity of said fish, where the vacuum nozzle exits the abdominal cavity. Preferably, the fish is continuously transported along with this cleaning process. Some embodiments comprise a second set of jet nozzle and suction device mounted downstream of the fish transport direction to allow even further cleaning of blood and blood vessels along the spine of the fish.

The invention relates to a suction tool (10), configured and adapted for gutting fish (11) opened at the abdominal cavity, comprising a suction pipe (13) forming a main channel (12), wherein the suction pipe (13) has a connection (14) for a vacuum unit (15) at a free end and a suction opening (16) at the opposing end facing the abdominal cavity in the operating state, wherein the suction opening (16) laterally passes out of the suction pipe (13) and is thereby oriented radially in relation to the central axis M of the suction pipe (13), characterized in that an additional pipe element (23) for forming an auxiliary air channel (24, 31) is arranged in the region of the suction opening (16) of the suction pipe (13), wherein the pipe element (23) is arranged and adapted in such a way that a continuous suction air volume flow is maintained in the operating state of the suction tool (10). The invention also relates to an apparatus (17) and a method for gutting fish (11) opened at the abdominal cavity.

The invention provides a fish processing device for cleaning blood and blood vessels from the spine of a fish, e.g. a salmon, after the visceral has been removed. A jet nozzle for spraying pressurized liquid and a movable suction device with a vacuum nozzle for entering the abdominal cavity of the fish serve in combination to clean the spine of the fish for blood and blood vessels. A controller controls an actuator for moving the vacuum nozzle to enter the abdominal cavity of the fish, and it is then moved in a first direction relative to the transport direction, until the first vacuum nozzle reaches an end of the abdominal cavity of said fish while sucking blood and blood vessels from the abdominal cavity along the spine of said fish. This is repeated by moving the vacuum nozzle in the opposite direction until reaching an opposite end of the abdominal cavity of said fish, where the vacuum nozzle exits the abdominal cavity. Preferably, the fish is continuously transported along with this cleaning process. Some embodiments comprise a second set of jet nozzle and suction device mounted downstream of the fish transport direction to allow even further cleaning of blood and blood vessels along the spine of the fish.

The invention relates to a suction tool (10), configured and adapted for gutting fish (11) opened at the abdominal cavity, comprising a suction pipe (13) forming a main channel (12), wherein the suction pipe (13) has a connection (14) for a vacuum unit (15) at a free end and a suction opening (16) at the opposing end facing the abdominal cavity in the operating state, wherein the suction opening (16) laterally passes out of the suction pipe (13) and is thereby oriented radially in relation to the central axis M of the suction pipe (13), characterized in that an additional pipe element (23) for forming an auxiliary air channel (24, 31) is arranged in the region of the suction opening (16) of the suction pipe (13), wherein the pipe element (23) is arranged and adapted in such a way that a continuous suction air volume flow is maintained in the operating state of the suction tool (10). The invention also relates to an apparatus (17) and a method for gutting fish (11) opened at the abdominal cavity.

Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include an adjustable cutting device to cut the belly in a particularly unobtrusive manner and/or an adjustable gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera, including the gonads. Vacuum head assemblies for cleaning a cavity of the fish after the viscera is removed are also provided.

Disclosed is a fish processing machine (1) including a mouth access providing instrument (2) enabling that a fish (3) can be processed through the mouth (4) of the fish (3). The mouth access providing instrument (2) includes a mouth penetrating instrument (5) for penetrating the mouth (4) of the fish (3) and a displacement instrument (6) for displacing the mouth penetrating instrument (5) or the fish (3) in relation to each other to place the mouth penetrating instrument (5) in the mouth (4) of the fish (3). The mouth access providing instrument (2) also includes a sensor (7) for detecting the location of the mouth (4) of the fish (3) and an adjustment instrument (8) for adjusting the position of the mouth penetrating instrument (5) or the fish (3) in relation to output from the sensor (7). A method for enabling that fish (3) can be processed through the mouth (4) is also disclosed.

An improved apparatus for processing sea cucumbers having stages for orienting/aligning, cutting, splitting, flattening, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and for collecting the eviscerated innards. A method for the automated splitting and evisceration of sea cucumbers using the apparatus of the present disclosure. A flattening plate and trough during the orienting/aligning step relax the sea cucumber and discourage its defence mechanisms. A wedge shaped flattening plate splits and flattens the sea cucumber immediately after the incision. Pronged discs maintain positioning of the sea cucumber during an aggressive wash and brush cleaning cycle, which may be repeated. Optionally, a vacuum may suction off a portion of the innards prior to cleaning.

An improved apparatus for processing sea cucumbers having stages for orienting/aligning, cutting, splitting, flattening, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and for collecting the eviscerated innards. A method for the automated splitting and evisceration of sea cucumbers using the apparatus of the present disclosure. A flattening plate and trough during the orienting/aligning step relax the sea cucumber and discourage its defence mechanisms. A wedge shaped flattening plate splits and flattens the sea cucumber immediately after the incision. Pronged discs maintain positioning of the sea cucumber during an aggressive wash and brush cleaning cycle, which may be repeated. Optionally, a vacuum may suction off a portion of the innards prior to cleaning.