Laitram, LLC

Pellerin Milnor Corporation

Somsak S Rodboon

Ronald H Burch

Warren E Cancienne, Jr

Eric W Morales

Norvin L Pellerin

Mark E Sutton

Soumitra Sengupta

Bernard Bretagnolle

Kirk T Selenberg

William C Files

Thomas J DeRoche

Thomas M Pearce

A method and apparatus for processing fish prior to canning to increase yield. The method includes the steps of first preparing the fish body for further processing by: removing (,) the tail, pectoral, and thoracic fins from a frozen fish body, removing the scales (,) from the frozen fish body, dipping the fish body in a hot bath (,) to thaw the skin and subdermal layer of the fish, dipping the fish body in a cooling bath (,) to stop fixer thawing, skinning (,) the fish body, and finally removing the dorsal and ventral fins (,). The method also includes the steps of preparing separated loin portions of the fish body for canning by: immersing frozen loin pieces in a heated broth bath (,) to coat the pieces with broth and then cooking the pieces in a hot water bath (,) until the internal temperature of the pieces reaches a preferred temperature. A preferred scaling apparatus includes a scaler assembly (,), a holder (,) for the fish body, and means for moving the scaler assembly close to the holder. Circumferentially spaced fingers (,) pivotally attached to the rotating scaler assembly contact the outer surface of the fish body and chip scales away.

Method and apparatus for processing fish

Apparatus and method for automatically subdividing carcasses, especially fish bodies, into individual slab sections. A preferred embodiment of the cutting apparatus includes a feed mechanism and a cutting mechanism coordinated by computer. The feed mechanism comprises a motor-driven carriage that rides upon rails. Between the rails is a feed track formed by parallel guides having angled facing surfaces defining a channel to accommodate a fish body aligned along the channel. A retainer on the carriage secures the head end of the fish body so that it can be advanced along the channel by the carriage without a change in orientation. The cutting mechanism includes a reciprocating blade that is advanced in a direction to define a cutting plane intersecting the path the fish body takes as it is transported by the carriage beyond the end of the feed track. Holding blocks at the end of the feed track clamp the fish body securely in position for cutting. The blade slices through the stationary fish body to sever a slab section from one end with minimal kerf loss and shredding. A slab holder is inserted in the peripheral girth of the severed slab section before both are conveyed off. The process is repeated until the fish body is subdivided into a predetermined number of slab sections with each of the severed slab sections held by its own holder in the same relative location so that the general orientation of the severed slab can be determined in downstream processing by reference to the holder.

Slabbing apparatus and method

An imaging system includes a method and apparatus for use in processing fish body sections that have been transversely cut. The system uses a frame with a pair of shrouds, each having an interior space that contains an illumination system for illuminating the fish section. A pair of video cameras housed respectively within the shrouds scan opposed flat sides of the fish section to produce images of the respective sides. Screens move behind the fish section in sequential fashion as each camera scans the fish section.

Imaging system for use in processing transversely cut fish body sections

There is disclosed a tumble dryer wherein the space between a housing and a drum mounted within the housing for rotation about a generally horizontal axis is separated intermediate the ends of the drum into one portion on one side and another portion on the other side of the portion, and heated air is circulated from an inlet to the one space portion into the drum and out the drum into an outlet from the other space portion. There are also disclosed alternate embodiments of means for separating the space including a plastic ring having an inner diameter closely surrounding the drum and an outer portion carried by a wall of the housing and received within an annular recess of the wall.

Apparatus for treating cloth goods

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Kenner, LA, United States of America

Somsak S Rodboon