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.

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.

A transfer apparatus (104) for transferring a workpiece (116) has a support surface (124) for supporting a workpiece (116). The transfer apparatus (104) has a carriage (128) movable with respect to the support surface (124) between a loading location and an unloading location. The transfer apparatus (104) further has a drive mechanism (146, 150) operatively connected to the carriage (128) for moving the carriage (128). The carriage (128) has a lift member (230) moveable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the support surface (124). The carriage (128) further has a push member (292) operatively connected with the lift member (230) to enable engagement of a workpiece (116) with the push member (292) and the lift member (230) to lift at least a portion of the workpiece (116) from the support surface (124) to decrease the factional engagement between the workpiece (116) and the support surface (124).

A conveying device includes a workpiece pressing member and a switching member. The workpiece pressing member is able to move along a conveyance path when a mobile body moves, and also moves a workpiece downstream of the conveyance path by moving downstream of the conveyance path while pressing the workpiece. The switching member is able to move along the conveyance path as the mobile body moves, and switches between an engaged state and a non-engaged state with the workpiece pressing member depending on whether the movement is in downstream and upstream directions. When the switching member moves downstream, the workpiece pressing member is able to press the workpiece, and, when the switching member moves upstream, the workpiece pressing member is able to avoid coming into contact with the workpiece.

A conveying device includes a workpiece pressing member and a switching member. The workpiece pressing member is able to move along a conveyance path when a mobile body moves, and also moves a workpiece downstream of the conveyance path by moving downstream of the conveyance path while pressing the workpiece. The switching member is able to move along the conveyance path as the mobile body moves, and switches between an engaged state and a non-engaged state with the workpiece pressing member depending on whether the movement is in downstream and upstream directions. When the switching member moves downstream, the workpiece pressing member is able to press the workpiece, and, when the switching member moves upstream, the workpiece pressing member is able to avoid coming into contact with the workpiece.

The method includes a preprocessing transfer step which places an unprocessed rod-like body in a receiving position; a post-processing transfer step which pushes a processed rod-like body with the unprocessed rod-like body, and thus transfers the processed rod-like body to a rail portion; a rail portion transfer step which pushes the processed rod-like body with the unprocessed rod-like body, and thus transfers the processed rod-like body while being guided by the rail portion; a withdrawing step which withdraws the processed rod-like body from the rail portion using a withdrawing unit; a detection step which detects that the processed rod-like body is transferred from the rail portion to the withdrawing unit; and a discharge step which discharges the processed rod-like body from the withdrawing unit in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the processed rod-like body.

In some aspects, an unloading device for a pipe processing system includes a depositing carriage having a depositing surface for depositing a pipe during and/or after a pipe processing operation, the depositing carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, and a supporting carriage having a supporting member for the pipe, the supporting member having a wall for radially supporting the pipe, and the supporting carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, where the depositing surface of the depositing carriage and/or the supporting member of the supporting carriage is configured to move in at least one other direction in addition to the longitudinal direction of the pipe so that the depositing carriage and the supporting carriage can be at least partially moved past each other along the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

In some aspects, an unloading device for a pipe processing system includes a depositing carriage having a depositing surface for depositing a pipe during and/or after a pipe processing operation, the depositing carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, and a supporting carriage having a supporting member for the pipe, the supporting member having a wall for radially supporting the pipe, and the supporting carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, where the depositing surface of the depositing carriage and/or the supporting member of the supporting carriage is configured to move in at least one other direction in addition to the longitudinal direction of the pipe so that the depositing carriage and the supporting carriage can be at least partially moved past each other along the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

The method includes a preprocessing transfer step which places an unprocessed rod-like body in a receiving position; a post-processing transfer step which pushes a processed rod-like body with the unprocessed rod-like body, and thus transfers the processed rod-like body to a rail portion; a rail portion transfer step which pushes the processed rod-like body with the unprocessed rod-like body, and thus transfers the processed rod-like body while being guided by the rail portion; a withdrawing step which withdraws the processed rod-like body from the rail portion using a withdrawing unit; a detection step which detects that the processed rod-like body is transferred from the rail portion to the withdrawing unit; and a discharge step which discharges the processed rod-like body from the withdrawing unit in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the processed rod-like body.

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.