1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for gutting non-decapitated fish, in particular breeding fish such as trout, by opening the belly cavity through slitting the belly walls surrounding the belly cavity, beginning in the anal region, along the belly seam, as well as an apparatus for carrying out the method, comprising a conveyor, including at least one fish receptacle for the fish to be processed, which supports said fish at least by its back and pushes it with the tail thereof leading, as well as processing means, which can be moved in a controlled manner with regard to the path of the fish for the purpose of processing the fish according to said method, said processing means comprising a cutting tool, which is driven to rotate, for opening the belly cavity in the area between the anus and the gill cavity, a spreader for the spreading of the belly cavity walls, and means for removing the entrails by a suction effect.
In the gutting of fish, particularly of this species, it is important that through this process the belly cavity is freed from all entrail parts, which also includes the removal of the bloodstream (kidney). In such a process, it is of decisive importance that the inner walls of the belly remain intact. Moreover, during this process it is required to provide, in a simple manner, whether or not the gills remain in the fish. Based on the anatomical structure a favourable prerequisite therefor lies in performing a processing from the anus towards the head.
2. Related Art
Apparatuses are known which function according to such a principle.
For example, an apparatus is known from DE-PS 28 32 259 by which the fish is conveyed in a troughed chain, whilst lying on its back and by means of pushing on its head end with its tail end leading, through the area in which the processing tools are active. The processing takes place through controlled movement of the processing tools into the transport path of the fish. Therein, the aim is pursued, following the slitting of the belly wall, to bloat the entrails through supplying water to the belly cavity, and to remove them by means of suction pumping. Due to the structure of the suction pump tool, removal of the gills is not possible and a complete removal of the gullet is not ensured.
The apparatus constituting the subject matter of DE-OS 22 32 633 also leads to the same result. Therein, transport of the fish takes place under a pulling effect produced by means of a conveyor which seizes the tail of said fish.
Another prior art constuction of such type can be taken from DE-PS 33 43 789, which shows an apparatus by which the fish are gripped behind the gill cover and conveyed with the head leading. Following the opening of the belly cavity, a suction nozzle moving with the fish is inserted into said cavity in the region of the gill cavity and during their joint movement and by means of knife elements located on the suction nozzle and movable under control, the gullet is severed.
An apparatus for removing of the gills and entrails can be taken from DE-OS 15 79 427. With this apparatus, the fish are conveyed with the head leading and via clamping thereon, the fish first being provided with two incisions performed transversely with regard to the conveying direction in the regions of the lower jaw and of the gill cavity. Thereafter, the belly cavity is opened between the gill cavity incision and the anus, the bridge of meat located between the gill cavity incision and the lower jaw incision is seized by a pincer tool and the gills and entrails are torn out.
DE-OS 25 30 013 shows a similar device.
It is disadvantageous in these devices that correct processing is dependent upon very exact positioning of the fish; this positioning, however, cannot be guaranteed due to the natural proportional deviation of the fish. In addition, due to their function, the tools are, in part, costly and delicate.
3. Objects of the Invention
It is the main object of the present invention to improve mechanical gutting such that a highly efficient, faultless work result can be accomplished with fish of varying sizes.
A further main object of the present invention is to enable the removal of the entrails, selectively, with or without the gills, by simple adjustment whilst considering the aforementioned conditions.