The present invention relates to an improved method and a device for mechanically filleting and removing pin-bones from gutted fish using conventional filleting devices, where the fish rests on a saddle on a conveyor using pairs of circular knives to separate the fillet from the backbone. The apparatus and method are designed to facilitate mechanical filleting and pin-bone removal of gutted fish with the head intact. The present invention provides a more accurate method of positioning the pin-bones in the gutted fish.

This disclosure concerns methods for processing and grading food articles including x-raying the food articles a first time and taking a 3D image of the food articles.

A gripping tool includes first and second arms connected to each other at proximal ends, a first gripping portion having a first gripping surface, and a second gripping portion having a second gripping surface. The first and second gripping surfaces are in planar contact with each other when the first and second arms are pressed toward each other in closing directions. At least one of the first and second gripping portions is an elastic part extending toward the proximal end. When the first and second arms are further pressed in the closing directions from a state in which the first and second gripping surfaces are in planar contact with each other, the elastic part is elastically deformed while maintaining the planar contact between the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface.

Methods and systems for processing fish, such as salmon, are provided which enable filleting of the fish in a particular efficient manner. An example method includes exposing a backbone of a fish from a belly side of the fish, positioning the backbone of the fish on a conveyor device, and conveying the fish with the backbone in contact with the conveyor device. The conveyor may be a spiked chain, and positioning the backbone of the fish on the conveyor device may include engaging the backbone of the fish with the spiked chain such that the fish straddles the spiked chain as the fish is transported. The method may further include cutting the fish from the dorsal side on each of opposing sides of a central plane of the fish to a location adjacent a connection of the pinbones of the fish with the vertebrae of the fish while the fish is conveyed with the backbone in contact with the conveyor device, and subsequently peeling the ribs and ventral spines from fillets of the fish.

An apparatus for weakening an attachment of a pin bone to muscle or adipose tissue in a fillet of fish. An electrode coupled to a power supply and in electrical contact with a first end of the pin bone conducts electrical current to the pin bone. The pin bone conducts the electrical current from the first end of the pin bone to a second end of the pin bone. The pin bone has an electrical current resistivity which causes Joule heating that produces sufficient heat in the connective tissue that attaches the pin bone to the muscle or adipose tissue in the fillet of fish to degrade or denature the connective tissue and thereby weaken the attachment of the pin bone to the muscle or adipose tissue.

An apparatus for weakening an attachment of a pin bone to muscle or adipose tissue in a fillet of fish, comprising an energy source to supply sufficient heat to substantially only the pin bone and connective tissue that attaches the pin bone to the muscle or adipose tissue in the fillet of fish to degrade or denature the connective tissue without degrading or denaturing the muscle or adipose tissue and thereby weaken the attachment of the pin bone to the muscle or adipose tissue in the fillet of fish.

A gripping tool includes first and second arms connected to each other at proximal ends, a first gripping portion having a first gripping surface, and a second gripping portion having a second gripping surface. The first and second gripping surfaces are in planar contact with each other when the first and second arms are pressed toward each other in closing directions. At least one of the first and second gripping portions is an elastic part extending toward the proximal end. When the first and second arms are further pressed in the closing directions from a state in which the first and second gripping surfaces are in planar contact with each other, the elastic part is elastically deformed while maintaining the planar contact between the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface.

This invention relates to a cutting system for cutting food products while the food products are conveyed by a conveyor. An arc-shaped system and a cutting means are provided, where the cutting means is adapted to be connected to the arc-shaped system. The arc-shaped system is adapted to be positioned above a surface area of the conveyor on which said food products are resting during the cutting such that the center of the arc-shaped system is around the surface area. A control unit operates the position of the cutting means within the arc-shaped system based on image data.

A pin bone removal apparatus is provided for removing pin bones in fish fillets while a conveyor conveys the fish fillets at a first conveying speed. A plurality of pin bone removal units is provided, each having a pin bone roller for pulling the pin bones from the fish fillets. The apparatus includes a closed-loop rail structure on which the pin bone removal units are slideable attached, where the closed-loop rail structure comprises a processing section and a returning section. The processing section is where at least one of the plurality of pin bone removal units is moved parallel to the fish fillets at a second conveying speed and engages with the surface of the fish fillets. After the pin bone removal the at least one pin bone removal unit is recirculated along the returning section.

A pin bone removal apparatus is provided for removing pin bones in fish fillets while a conveyor conveys the fish fillets at a first conveying speed. A plurality of pin bone removal units is provided, each having a pin bone roller for pulling the pin bones from the fish fillets. The apparatus includes a closed-loop rail structure on which the pin bone removal units are slideable attached, where the closed-loop rail structure comprises a processing section and a returning section. The processing section is where at least one of the plurality of pin bone removal units is moved parallel to the fish fillets at a second conveying speed and engages with the surface of the fish fillets. After the pin bone removal the at least one pin bone removal unit is recirculated along the returning section.