PUMPING DEVICES FOR TREATING AND TRANSFERRING ITEMS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a system and an apparatus for treating food items. Such method and device may, for instance, be used to cool down food items, bleed freshly slaughtered fish and treat live fish against parasites. The device and method of the present invention further uses temperature differences and agitation to tread food items. A method for reducing or eliminating sea lice from salmon fish, said method comprising: a) transporting the salmon fish from a reservoir and the feeding salmon fish in liquid into the tubing of a first pumping device, said liquid being at a temperature from +15 to +28° C., b) transporting the salmon fish in liquid through the tubing of the pumping device at a first set time period for treatment in said liquid, c) feeding the salmon fish out of the first pumping device, d) separating the liquid from the salmon fish, and e) transporting the salmon fish back to the reservoir, wherein the liquid media from the pumping device is redirected after separation from the salmon fish in step d) through a heat exchange element back into the pumping device for continued treatment of further salmon fish, and wherein the temperature difference between the liquid used in steps b) and the reservoir is more than 15° C.

Claims

1. A method for reducing or eliminating sea lice from salmon fish, said method comprising: a) transporting the salmon fish from a reservoir and the feeding salmon fish in liquid into the tubing of a first pumping device, said liquid being at a temperature from +15 to +28° C., b) transporting the salmon fish in liquid through the tubing of the pumping device at a first set time period for treatment in said liquid, c) feeding the salmon fish out of the first pumping device, d) separating the liquid from the salmon fish, and e) transporting the salmon fish back to the reservoir, wherein the liquid media from the pumping device is redirected after separation from the salmon fish in step d) through a heat exchange element back into the pumping device for continued treatment of further salmon fish, and wherein the temperature difference between the liquid used in steps b) and the reservoir is more than 15° C.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: i) transferring the salmon fish in liquid into a the tubing of a second pumping device, said liquid being at a temperature from +1 to +12° C., ii) transporting the salmon fish in liquid through the tubing of the second pumping device for a second set time period for treatment in said liquid, iii) feeding the salmon fish out of the second pumping device, and iv) separating the liquid from the salmon fish, between steps d) and e) of claim 1.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pumping devices are spiral pumps.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separated from the pumping devices is filtered before redirecting the liquid through the heat exchange element.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pumping devices are set up on a fishing vessel or on a structure adjacent to a pen structure for farming salmon fish.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein live fish is being treated and the reservoir and the transfer and/or treatment device is a separated area in one or more sea pen, where the pump is positioned on a mooring structure or on a vessel.

7. A method for treating slaughtered and gutted salmon fish in liquid, said method comprising: a) feeding the slaughtered and gutted salmon fish in liquid into the tubing of a pumping device, said liquid being at a first set temperature, b) transporting the slaughtered and gutted salmon fish through the tubing of the pumping device for a first set time period for treatment in said liquid, c) separating the liquid from the slaughtered and gutted salmon fish, d) transferring said slaughtered and gutted salmon fish into liquid in a transfer/treatment device, said liquid being at a second set temperature, e) transporting and/or treating said slaughtered and gutted salmon fish in the transfer/treatment device in liquid for a second set time period, and f) feeding the slaughtered and gutted salmon fish out of the transfer or treatment device, g) separating the liquid from the slaughtered and gutted salmon fish, wherein the liquid media from the pumping device or the transfer/treatment device is redirected after separation from the slaughtered and gutted salmon fish in steps c) and g) through a heat exchange element back into the pumping device or second transfer/treatment device for continued treatment of slaughtered and gutted salmon fish, and wherein the temperature difference between the liquids used in steps b) and e) is more than 20° C.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the transfer/treatment device is a treatment tub or a tank where slaughtered and gutted salmon fish are treated in liquid before they are transferred out the tank or tub for further treatment or packing.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the transfer/treatment device is an elongated cylindrical or semi-cylindrical tank and comprises a spiral shaped blade mounted on a rotation axis to convey the objects in liquid along the length of the tank.

10. A method for treating live fish, slaughtered animals or food items in liquid, said method comprising: a) feeding live fish, slaughtered animals or food items in liquid into the tubing of a first pumping device, said liquid being at a first set temperature, b) transporting said live fish, slaughtered animals or food items in liquid through the tubing of the first pumping device at a first set time period for treatment in said liquid, c) separating the liquid from the live fish, slaughtered animals or food items, d) transferring said live fish, slaughtered animals or food items into a transfer/treatment device for transporting or treating live fish, slaughtered animals or food items in liquid in liquid, said liquid being at a second set temperature, e) transporting or treating said live fish, slaughtered animals or food items in liquid in the transfer/treatment device for a second set time period, and f) feeding the live fish, slaughtered animals or food items out of the transfer or treatment device, g) separating the liquid from the live fish, slaughtered animals or food items, wherein the liquid media from the pumping device or the transfer/treatment device is redirected after separation from the live fish, slaughtered animals or food items in steps c) and g) through a heat exchange element back into the pumping device or second transfer/treatment device for continued treatment of further live fish, slaughtered animals or food items, and wherein the temperature difference between the liquid used in steps b) and e) is more than 15° C.

11. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 10, wherein the first pumping device is a spiral shaped pump and the transfer/treatment device is either a spiral shaped pump or an elongated cylindrical or semi-cylindrical tank 8 and comprises a spiral shaped blade 9 mounted on a rotation axis to convey the objects in liquid along the length of the tank.

12. A method to facilitate bleeding of slaughtered fish in liquid, said method comprising: a) feeding slaughtered fish in liquid into the tubing of a pumping device, said liquid being at a first set temperature, b) transporting said slaughtered fish in liquid through the tubing of the pumping device for a first set time period for treatment in said liquid, c) separating the liquid from the slaughtered fish, d) transferring said slaughtered fish into a transfer/treatment device for continuing bleeding and facilitate rinsing of said slaughtered fish in liquid, said liquid being at a second set temperature, e) transporting or treating said slaughtered fish in liquid in the transfer/treatment device for a second set time period, and f) feeding the slaughtered fish out of the transfer or treatment device, g) separating the liquid from the slaughtered fish, wherein the liquid media from the pumping device or the transfer/treatment device is redirected after separation from the slaughtered fish in steps c) and g) through a heat exchange element back into the pumping device or transfer/treatment device for continued treatment of further live fish, slaughtered animals or food items, and wherein the temperature difference between the liquid used in steps b) and e) is more than 15° C.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the liquid separated from the pumping device is mostly blood.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the liquid separated from the pumping device and the transfer/treatment device is filtered before redirecting the liquid through the heat exchange element.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

[0094] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0095] FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus of the present invention

[0096] FIG. 2 is perspective drawing of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0097] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of an apparatus of the present invention where the pumping device and the transfer/treatment device are both spiral pumps. The pumping device 1 has tubing 2 for transporting and treating live fish, slaughtered animals or food items in liquid in liquid. The second transfer/treatment device 4 is a spiral pump as well and both pumps are connected to a heat exchanging device 3 and 5 by connections piping 7. The pumping devices shown in FIG. 1 are spiral pumps with a helical wound tubing 2 with an in-feed end 10 and an out-feed end 11.

[0098] FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of an apparatus of the present invention where the pumping device is a spiral pump 1 and the transfer/treatment device 4 is a tank 8 with a spiral blade 9 to advance slaughtered animals or food items along the tank during treatment.

[0099] As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0100] Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to exclude other components.

[0101] The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).

[0102] The term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.

[0103] It will be appreciated that variations to the foregoing embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention can be made while still falling within scope of the invention. Features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0104] Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless so claimed. Any steps described in the specification may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0105] All of the features and/or steps disclosed in the specification can be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. In particular, preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention and may be used in any combination.