METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GRIPPING A FISH FOR MECHANICAL DRESSING

摘要

The fish is gripped and moved in vertical position suspended from its pectoral fins with its head pointing upwardly and its belly forwardly between parallel guide means forming parts of a reciprocating slide and being spreadable outwardly against the action of springs. The fish is moved between the guide means towards centering means arranged in the vertical midplane of the guide path piercing the gap formed between the collar bones of the fish and indenting its belly from the outside. Spring loaded back supporting means cooperating with the guide means snap in behind the thus centered fish engaging either side of it at its neck zone thereby firmly holding the same in a surprisingly simple yet reliable manner. The fish held in this position is moved with the slide towards and past cutter discs journalled in a machine frame and rotating in planes including approximately angles of 45 DEG with and at either side of the vertical mid-plane of the guide path. The rotating cutter discs severe the head of the fish from its body during which operation the head is progressively bent backwardly, thereby gaining the lobes of meat disposed in the neck of the fish.