SUCTION TOOL AND DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GUTTING FISH OPENED AT THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. 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), characterised 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).

2. Suction tool (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that one end of the pipe element (23) lies in the operating area of the suction opening (16) of the main channel (12) of the suction pipe (13) and the other end of the pipe element (23) lies outside the operating area of the suction opening (16) of the main channel (12) of the suction pipe (13).

3. Suction tool (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that a closing mechanism (20) for closing the main channel is assigned to the suction pipe (13).

4. Suction tool (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the closing mechanism (20) comprises at least one slide element for closing the suction opening (16) and a pneumatic cylinder for actuating said slide element.

5. Suction tool (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe element (23) is designed as a passive auxiliary air channel (24) which connects the aperture area (26) of the suction opening (16) to the atmospheric environment of the suction pipe (13) in the operating state.

6. Suction tool (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that the pipe element (23) comprises a curved pipe segment (28) whose one free end with an opening (29) is directed vertically downwards parallel to the central axis M of the suction pipe (13) and in the aperture area (26) of the suction opening (16) protrudes into the main channel (12), and whose other free end with an opening (30) protrudes from the main channel (12), wherein the opening (30) located outside the suction pipe (13) points in the opposite direction in relation to the suction opening (16).

7. Suction tool (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe element (23) is designed as an active auxiliary air channel (31) which connects the aperture area (26) of the suction opening (16) to a vacuum unit (15) in the operating state.

8. Suction tool (10) according to claim 7, characterised in that the pipe element (23) comprises a pipe segment (33) whose one free end with an opening (34) in the aperture area (26) is oriented radially in relation to the central axis M of the suction pipe (13) corresponding to and in alignment with the suction opening (16) of the suction pipe (13), and whose other free end with an opening (35) can be connected by means of a suction tube (32) to a vacuum unit (15).

9. Suction tool (10) according to claim 8, characterised in that the pipe element (23) in the aperture area (26) protrudes from the suction pipe (13) with the free end.

10. Suction tool (10) according to claim 8, characterised in that the opening (34) of the pipe element (23) located in the aperture area (26) of the suction pipe (13) is arranged on the lower edge of the suction opening (16) of the suction pipe (13) in the operating state.

11. Apparatus (17), configured and adapted for gutting fish (11) opened at the abdominal cavity, comprising a transport conveyor (18) with at least one receptacle (19) for receiving fish (11) lying on their backs and for transporting said fish tail-first in transport direction T, at least one suction tool (10) for sucking out the internal organs which is movable out of a standby position outside the abdominal cavity into a working position inside the abdominal cavity and back, at least one vacuum unit (15) to which the suction tool (10) is connected, at least one measuring means (21) which is configured in such as way as to detect specific fish data, and at least one control unit (22) for controlling the or each suction tool (10) dependent on the specific fish data detected by the measuring means (21), characterised in that the suction tool (10) is configured according to claim 1.

12. Apparatus (17) according to claim 11, characterised in that at least two separate vacuum units (15) are provided, in such a way that the suction pipe (13) is connected to a first vacuum unit (15) and the pipe element (23) to a second vacuum unit.

13. Method for gutting fish (11) opened at the abdominal cavity, comprising the steps: transporting fish (11) lying on their backs tail-first in transport direction T by means of a transport conveyor (18), detecting specific fish data by means of a measuring means (21), dipping a suction tool (10) for sucking out the internal organs into the opened abdominal cavity, controlling the suction tool (10) to a defined position inside the abdominal cavity by means of a control unit (22) which is in operative connection with the measuring means (21) and the suction tool (10), generating a relative movement between the fish (11) and the suction tool (10), and sucking out the internal organs through a main channel (12) of the suction tool (10) connected to a vacuum unit (15), characterised in that auxiliary air is provided to the main channel (12) by way of an auxiliary air channel (24, 31) when sucking out the internal organs, such that a continuous suction air volume flow is maintained.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that the auxiliary air is provided to the main channel (12) passively as ambient air at atmospheric pressure via a pipe element (23) and the auxiliary air is sucked in through the main channel (12) in the aperture area (26) of the suction pipe (13).

15. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that the auxiliary air is provided to the main channel (12) actively as suction air at negative pressure via a pipe element (23) so that a suction air volume flow is generated via the auxiliary air channel (31) in addition to the suction air volume flow via the main channel (12).

Description

[0027] Further expedient and/or advantageous features and developments as well as process steps emerge from the dependent claims and the description. Especially preferred embodiments of the suction tool as well as the apparatus and the method are explained in greater detail with reference to the attached drawing. The drawing shows:

[0028] FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of an apparatus for gutting fish opened at the abdominal cavity with a processing station comprising three gutting tools,

[0029] FIG. 2 a first embodiment of a suction tool according to the invention as a gutting tool with main and auxiliary air channel in a perspective view,

[0030] FIG. 3 the suction tool according to FIG. 2 in a lateral view,

[0031] FIG. 4 an enlarged illustration of the aperture area of the suction opening with auxiliary air channel,

[0032] FIG. 5 a second embodiment of a suction tool according to the invention as a gutting tool with main and auxiliary air channel in a perspective view,

[0033] FIG. 6 an enlarged illustration of the aperture area of the suction opening in a front view in transport direction T of the fish,

[0034] FIG. 7 the aperture area according to FIG. 6 in a lateral view,

[0035] FIG. 8 a variant of the arrangement of auxiliary air channel to main channel in the aperture area of the suction opening in a front view in direction T of the fish, and

[0036] FIG. 9 a further variant of the arrangement of auxiliary air channel to main channel in the aperture area of the suction opening in a front view in direction T of the fish.

[0037] The suction tool illustrated in the drawing is used for removing and sucking the blood vessels out of a fish opened at the abdominal cavity. However, in the same manner the suction tool is also suitable for removing and sucking out other viscera of a fish opened at the abdominal cavity, e.g. for removing and sucking out intestinal remnants, skin, blood, etc. The suction tool can be used as a single module or as part of a processing station within an apparatus for gutting.

[0038] The drawing shows a suction tool 10 which is configured and adapted for gutting fish 11 opened at the abdominal cavity. The suction tool 10 comprises 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. 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.

[0039] For better understanding of the invention and of the arrangement and orientation of the suction tool 10 in the operating state, FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 17 which is configured and adapted for gutting fish 11 opened at the abdominal cavity. The apparatus 17 comprises a transport conveyor 18 with at least one receptacle 19 for receiving fish 11 lying on their backs and for transporting said fish tail-first in transport direction T. The apparatus 17 further comprises at least one suction tool 10 for sucking out the internal organs which is movable out of a standby position outside the abdominal cavity into a working position inside the abdominal cavity and back, at least one vacuum unit 15 to which the suction tool 10 is connected, at least one measuring means 21 which is configured in such as way as to detect specific fish data, and at least one control unit 22 for controlling the or each suction tool 10 dependent on the specific fish data detected by the measuring means 21.

[0040] The suction tool 10 illustrated in the drawing (in particular in FIGS. 2 and 5) is characterised according to the invention in that an additional pipe element 23 for forming an auxiliary air channel 24 is arranged in the region of the suction opening 16 of the suction pipe 13, the pipe element 23 being arranged and configured in such a way that a continuous suction air volume flow is maintained in the operating state of the suction tool 10.

[0041] When taken on their own or in combination with each other, the features and developments described below illustrate preferred embodiments. It is expressly pointed out that features and process steps which are summarized in the claims and/or the description and/or the drawing or are described in a common embodiment can also further develop the suction tool 10 described above as well as the apparatus 17 described below and the method for gutting in a functionally independent manner.

[0042] The suction pipe 13 of the suction tool 10 preferably has a cylindrical hollow shaft 25, curved towards the free end, which dips into the abdominal cavity of the fish 11 to be processed. In other words, the hollow shaft 25 is bent at approximately 90 at the free end such that the suction opening 16 points contrary to the transport direction T of the fish 11. The angle of curvature a can also be greater than 90 (see FIG. 3 for example) or less than 90, Thus in lateral view, e.g. according to FIG. 3, the suction tool 10 is almost L-shaped. The cross-section of the suction pipe 13 in the region of the curvature and in particular in the region of the suction opening 16 can be circular or of other shape. Especially preferred is a cross-sectional shape of the suction pipe 13 in the region of the suction opening 16 which is adapted to the inner shape of the fish 11 to be slaughtered. In the embodiments shown, an approximately triangular design of the cross-sectional shape of the suction opening 16 is preferred, the suction opening 16 pointing downwards with a tip S towards transport plane E.sub.T (see FIG. 2 for example) of the fish such that the suction opening 16 can be moved as form-fittingly as possible along the blood vessels along the base of the abdominal cavity. The aperture area 26 of the suction opening 16 or the plane E.sub.S defined/spanned by the suction opening 16 (as a notional plane) extends substantially perpendicular to the transport plane E.sub.T but can also be arranged inclined to the transport plane E.sub.T. The outer edge K of the suction pipe 13 in the aperture area 26 of the suction opening 16 extends (as can be seen in particular in the lateral view according to FIG. 3) asymmetrically and curved to prevent flush contact of viscera and in particular of the head membrane on the suction opening 16.

[0043] One end of the pipe element 23 preferably lies in the operating area of the suction opening 16 of the main channel 12 of the suction pipe 13 and the other end of the pipe element 23 lies outside the operating area of the suction opening 16 of the main channel 12 of the suction pipe 13. Accordingly, the pipe element 23 is used to create a connection between the aperture area 26, in which a suction air volume flow is applied and through which the internal organs, viscera, blood, etc. flow, and a surrounding area 27 outside the suction pipe 13 which is kept free at least from the internal organs, viscera, blood, etc. In other words, the pipe element 23 creates an external access to the aperture area 26.

[0044] A closing mechanism 20 for closing the main channel 12 can be assigned to the suction pipe 13. The closing mechanism 20 preferably comprises at least one slide element for closing the suction opening 16 and a pneumatic cylinder for actuating said slide element. However, the closing mechanism 20 can also be implemented otherwise, for example by means of stepping motor-driven shutoff flaps, or the like.

[0045] In the embodiment of the suction tool 10 according to FIGS. 2 to 4, the pipe element 23 is designed as a passive auxiliary air channel 24. The auxiliary air channel 24 connects the aperture area 26 of the suction opening 16 to the atmospheric environment (surrounding area 27) of the suction pipe 13 in the operating state. The pipe element 23 preferably comprises a curved pipe segment 28, whose one free end with an opening 29 is directed preferably vertically downwards, parallel (or in other embody-ments substantially parallel or slightly inclined) to the central axis M of the suction pipe 13 and in the aperture area 26 of the suction opening 16 protrudes into the main channel 12, and whose other free end with an opening 30 protrudes from the main channel 12, said opening 30 being located outside the suction pipe 13 pointing in the opposite direction in relation to the suction opening 16. However, the shape and arrangement of the pipe segment 28 can also vary. This also relates to the shape of the openings 29, 30 themselves. The cross-section of the pipe segment 28 can also be circular, oval or otherwise. The cross-section of the pipe segment 28 can also vary along its length. However, it is preferably provided in all embodiments that the opening 29 located outside the suction pipe 13 in the surrounding area 27 is oriented in transport direction T of the fish in order to prevent the entry of internal organs, viscera, blood and the like. In the embodiment shown, the pipe segment 28 dips into the aperture area 26 of the suction opening from above in the operating state of the suction tool 10. The pipe segment 28 can also be guided into the aperture area 26 laterally or from below. The extent to which the pipe segment 28 dips into the aperture area 26 can also vary.

[0046] In the embodiment of the suction tool 10 according to FIGS. 5 to 9, the pipe element 23 is designed as an active auxiliary air channel 31. The active auxiliary air channel 31 connects the aperture area 26 of the suction opening 16 to a vacuum unit 15 in the operating state. This means that the pipe element 23 is connected via a suction tube 32 to the vacuum unit 15, which is in communication with the main channel 12, or to a dedicated, separate vacuum unit. In the event that two separate vacuum units are provided, the suction pipe 13 and the pipe element 23 can be operated together or separately from each other. In simple terms, the suction pipe 13 alone or the pipe element 23 alone or the suction pipe 13 in conjunction with the pipe element 23 can suck. The suction tube 32, starting from the pipe element 23, can also be guided directly into the main channel 12. The pipe element 23 comprises a pipe segment 33 whose one free end with an opening 34 in the aperture area 26 is oriented radially in relation to the central axis M of the suction pipe 13 corresponding to and in alignment with the suction opening 16 of the suction pipe 13, and whose other free end with an opening 35 can be connected by means of the suction tube 32 to a vacuum unit 15. The opening 34 of the pipe segment 33 located in the aperture area 26 points, like the suction opening 16, contrary to the transport direction T in the operating state. The suction opening 16 or the suction cross-section of the suction opening 16 is preferably several times larger compared to the opening 34 or the suction cross-section of the opening 34. The suction opening 16 thus forms a main cross-section while the opening 34 forms an auxiliary cross-section. The auxiliary cross-section can be located within the main cross-section (see FIG. 8 for example). In other embodiments, the auxiliary cross-section can also be located outside the main cross-section to enlarge the suction cross-section (see FIG. 9 for example). However, the shape and arrangement of the pipe segment 33 can also vary. This also relates in particular to the shape of the opening 34 itself. The cross-section of the pipe segment 33 can also be circular, oval or otherwise. The cross-section of the pipe segment 33 can also vary along its length.

[0047] Especially preferably, the pipe element 23 in the aperture area 26 protrudes from the suction pipe 13 with the free end. More precisely, the pipe element 23 is configured and adapted in such a way that the pipe segment 33 protrudes with the opening 34 beyond the suction opening 16 of the main channel 12 contrary to the transport direction T of the fish 11 to form the auxiliary air channel 31 (see FIG. 7 for example). The pipe segment 33 is arranged in transport direction T of the fish 11, that is in front of the suction pipe 13 (viewed in transport direction T, the plane E.sub. defined by the opening 34 is located in front of the plane E.sub.S defined by the suction opening 16). The position in which the opening 34 of the pipe segment 33 is located in relation to the suction opening 16 of the suction pipe 13 depends substantially on the anatomy of the fish 11 to be processed. The opening 34 of the pipe element 23 located in the aperture area 26 of the suction pipe 13 is preferably arranged on the lower edge of the suction opening 16 of the suction pipe 13 in the operating state.

[0048] As mentioned, the suction tool 10 can be used as an individual module, particularly in conjunction with a vacuum unit 15. However, the suction tool 10 is preferably part of an apparatus 17 as has already been described above. The or each suction tool 10 of such an apparatus 17 is configured and adapted according to the invention in a manner described above. For this purpose, the apparatus 17 comprises at least one vacuum unit 15. Optionally, at least one further vacuum unit can be provided, in such a way that the suction pipe 13 is connected to a first vacuum unit 15 and the pipe element 23 to a second vacuum unit. In the embodiment illustrated according to FIG. 1, the processing station comprises three gutting tools 10, 40 and 50, wherein all said gutting tools 10, 40, 50 can be configured and adapted appropriately to the suction tool 10. Optionally, at least one further gutting tool 60 can also be provided. All gutting tools 10, 40, 50, 60 have drive devices, not shown, with the associated control/signalling ports 10, 40, 50, 60.

[0049] The principle of the method according to the invention is explained in greater detail below based on the drawing:

[0050] The method according to the invention is used for gutting fish 11 opened at the abdominal cavity. For this purpose, the fish 11 are transported lying on their backs tail-first in transport direction T by means of a transport conveyor 18. Opening of the abdominal cavity can take place manually or automatically before the actual process and is preferably carried out by means of suitable cutting tools during transport of the fish 11 on the transport conveyor 18. Specific fish data are detected by means of a measuring means 21 during transport of the fish 11. At least one suction tool 10 dips into the opened abdominal cavity for sucking out the internal organs. The or each suction tool 10 is controlled to a defined position inside the abdominal cavity by means of a control unit 22 which is in operative connection with the measuring means 21 and the suction tool 10. A relative movement is then generated between the fish 11 and the suction tool 10. For this purpose, the suction tool 10 can be stationary and the fish 11 can be moved. Optionally, the fish 11 can also be stationary while the suction tool 10 is moved. Preferably, an overlapping movement of fish 11 and suction tool 10 takes place. The movement of the suction tool 10 can be guided linearly and/or can be pivoted in and opposite to the transport direction T. During the relative movement, the internal organs are sucked out and discharged through a main channel 12 of the suction tool 10 connected to a vacuum unit 15,

[0051] According to the invention, auxiliary air is provided to the main channel 12 by way of an auxiliary air channel 24, 31 when sucking out the internal organs, such that a continuous suction air volume flow is maintained. Accordingly, the suction air volume flow is not sucked in through the main channel 12 via the suction opening 16 alone but supportively also via the auxiliary air channel 24, 31. In other words, the auxiliary air channel 24, 31 provides a second source for supplying and therefore maintaining the suction air volume flow.

[0052] In one variant, the auxiliary air is provided to the main channel 12 passively as ambient air at atmospheric pressure via a pipe element 23 and the auxiliary air is sucked in through the main channel 12 in the aperture area 26 of the suction pipe 13. This means that, in addition to the suction opening 16, the aperture area 26 has another access (auxiliary air channel 24) to fresh air (ambient air at atmospheric pressure) through the pipe element 23, air being drawn via said access into the main channel 12 through the vacuum unit 15, the vacuum unit generating the suction air volume flow in the main channel 12, in order to further maintain the suction air volume flow particularly in the case of a suction opening 16 closed/blocked by internal organs, the head membrane or the like.

[0053] In a further variant, the auxiliary air is provided to the main channel 12 actively as suction air at negative pressure via a pipe element 23 so that a suction air volume flow is generated via the auxiliary air channel 31 in addition to the suction air volume flow via the main channel 12. Accordingly, there are two suction air volume flows which are generated by a single, common vacuum unit 15 or by separate vacuum units. The additional suction air volume flow allows the abdominal cavity to be cleaned more effectively. Even if the suction air volume flow through the main channel 12 is interrupted, cleaning of the abdominal cavity continues due to the suction air volume flow through the auxiliary air channel 31. Depending on the application, the abdominal cavity or parts thereof can be cleaned with the suction pipe 13 alone or with the pipe element 23 alone or with both the suction pipe 13 and the pipe element 23 together. Particularly for cleaning the area underneath the collar bone, it can be helpful to suction off blood, blood residues or the like using only the pipe element 23.