Abstract: Method and apparatus for ventral/dorsal alignment of fish. The apparatus includes a first fish conveying device, a guide roller configured for transversely positioning the fish in a feed-in channel, the guide roller extending across the width of the feed-in channel and having at least one section with reduced cross-sectional diameter, a channel floor in the center of the channel comprising a transfer recess, widening in the conveying direction, which is designed to transfer the fish by the effect of gravity to a guiding channel arranged below the first conveying plane by aligning in a predetermined ventral/dorsal position. The guiding channel includes lateral guide surfaces each arranged inclined with respect to the first conveying plane. A second conveying device, forming a second conveying plane and configured to convey the fish on their side, is provided. The second conveying device is arranged downstream of the guiding channel for taking over the fish at the end of said guiding channel.

Abstract: Filleting apparatus for cutting fish fillets from flank bones. The fish fillets been processed by a ventral knife assembly and a dorsal knife assembly. A conveying apparatus, transporting fish tail-first in transport direction, having an endlessly circulating transport conveyor with at least one transport saddle receiving/securing a fish, a flank knife assembly with two flank knife units, opposing each other on both sides of the transport conveyor in the region of a transport saddle guide. Each flank knife unit has a rotatably drivable circular knife and counter-surface arrangement Circular knife is arranged at a distance from the counter-surface arrangement to form a cutting gap and a control device moves flank knife units relative to the transport conveyor from standby position into working position and back. The counter-surface arrangements vary the size of the cutting gap controllably during the processing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, configured for transferring articles of the fish and meat processing industry in a predetermined end position, including a continuous conveying device with a plurality of transport sections for individually receiving the articles and movable in the conveying direction, which transport sections comprise in the conveying position a transport element pair forming two article support surfaces. Each transport element is configured to be controllably pivotable about axles, running in the edge region of the respective transport section, so that the articles (10) are transferred to the predetermined end position, under the effect of gravity, in a plane lying below the conveying plane by controlled pivoting of both transport elements while retaining the article orientation or by controlled pivoting of one of the respective transport elements of one of the respective transport element pairs while changing the article orientation.

Abstract: A method for processing food products (12) includes transporting the food products by a first conveyor (11), an X-ray unit (13) positioned between the intake end and the discharge end of the first conveyor to acquire a first set of product-specific data relating to the food product transported. At least one first optical camera (17), assigned to the first conveyor, is used to acquire a second set of product-specific data relating to the food product. A control unit (18) is used to receive and integrate the first and second data sets to analyze the composition of the food product and determine parameters for the food product. Based on the determined parameters of the food product, the food product is cut with a cutting unit, under the control of the control unit.

Abstract: Filleting apparatus cutting fish fillets from flank bones. The fish fillets been processed by a ventral knife assembly and a dorsal knife assembly. A conveying apparatus, transporting fish tail-first in transport direction, having an endlessly circulating transport conveyor with at least one transport saddle receiving/securing a fish, a flank knife assembly with two flank knife units, opposing each other on both sides of the transport conveyor in the region of a transport saddle guide. Each flank knife unit has a rotatably drivable circular knife and counter-surface arrangement Circular knife is arranged at a distance from the counter-surface arrangement to form a cutting gap and a control device moves flank knife units relative to the transport conveyor from standby position into working position and back. The counter-surface arrangements vary the size of the cutting gap controllably during the processing operation.

Abstract: A processing system (10) and corresponding method (158) are provided for processing workpieces (WP), including food items, to cut and remove undesirable components from the food items and/or portion the food items while being conveyed on a conveyor system (12). An X-ray scanning station (14) is located on an upstream conveyor section (20) to ascertain size and/or shape parameters of the food items as well as the location of any undesirable components of the food items, such as bones, fat or cartilage. Thereafter the food items are transferred to a downstream conveyor (20) at which is located an optical scanner (102) to ascertain the size and/or shape parameters of the food items. The results of the X-ray and optical scanning are transmitted to a processor (18) to confirm that the food item scanned by the optical scanner is the same as that previously scanned by the X-ray scanner.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10), designed and configured to acquire and analyse product-specific data for products (12) of the food processing industry, comprising a conveyor (11), which is gap-free in the transport plane, for transporting separated products (12) in transport direction T from an intake end to a discharge end, an X-ray unit (13) having at least one X-ray source (14) and at least one X-ray camera (15) for acquiring product-specific data, wherein X-ray source (14) and X-ray camera (15) are assigned to the conveyor (11) in such a manner that the products (12) can be guided along between the X-ray source (14) and the X-ray camera (15), as well as a control unit (16) which is connected to the X-ray unit (13) and is designed and configured to receive and analyse the product-specific data, forming a first data set, acquired by said X-ray unit (13), which is characterised in that at least one optical camera (17) is assigned to the same conveyor (11) between its intake end and discharge end,

Abstract: Method for detecting a prone/supine position of fish conveyed by a conveying device. The method includes conveying the fish with the conveying device in a longitudinal direction, optically scanning a ventral side and a dorsal side of the fish in order to determine a first brightness value profile of a first side and a second brightness value profile of a second side, determining a first ordered data series and a second ordered data series by ordering brightness values of the first brightness value profile and of the second brightness value profile according to a predefined ordering criterion, determining a first median from the first ordered data series and a second median from the second ordered data series, determining at least one differential value from the first median and the second median, and determining the prone/supine position by comparing the at least one differential value with at least one predetermined reference value.

Abstract: Fish slaughter device includes fish positioning device with fish head abutment, against which the fish head abuts temporary stop position by controllable fish slaughter tool. Fish head abutment element is a trigger releasable by a trigger sensor of a controllable trigger controllable to move the fish head abutment into different trigger positions. device includes a first control actuator with a first actuator, a coupling device, connecting the fish head abutment to the first actuator for adjusting movement into the trigger positions, and an additional second control actuator with a second actuator controllably placeable in at least two fixed trigger adjustment positions. The two actuators are coupled so an adjusting movement of the first actuator is stopped by a coupling impact against the second actuator in a fixed trigger adjustment positions, which brings about an associated trigger position of the fish head abutment.

Abstract: A processing system (10) and corresponding method (158) are provided for processing workpieces (WP), including food items, to cut and remove undesirable components from the food items and/or portion the food items while being conveyed on a conveyor system (12). An X-ray scanning station (14) is located on an upstream conveyor section (20) to ascertain size and/or shape parameters of the food items as well as the location of any undesirable components of the food items, such as bones, fat or cartilage. Thereafter the food items are transferred to a downstream conveyor (20) at which is located an optical scanner (102) to ascertain the size and/or shape parameters of the food items. The results of the X-ray and optical scanning are transmitted to a processor (18) to confirm that the food item scanned by the optical scanner is the same as that previously scanned by the X-ray scanner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transporting station (10), designed and configured for transporting fish transverse to their longitudinal extent in a transport direction T, comprising a conveying device (11) for transporting individual, separated fish in a lying position along a transport path TL from an entry region E of the conveying device (11) to an exit region A of the conveying device (11), wherein the conveying device (11) comprises a rotationally driven transport element (12) which is characterised in that the conveying device (11) is assigned a change-over device (13) which is designed and configured and is in operative connection with the conveying device (11), in such a manner that the fish can be transferred automatically from the lying position on the transport path TL of the conveying device (11) into a suspended position on a transport path TH of the change-over device (13).

Abstract: A conveying device, apparatus and method for continuously conveying poultry bodies or parts oriented into different processing positions in a conveying direction. A continuous conveyor, which is provided with receiving elements for holding the poultry bodies revolves in a conveying plane and forms a conveying path. The receiving elements each of which include a saddle element to receive one of the poultry bodies, are arranged on a base element to be pivotable about an axis of rotation lying perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveying plane is arranged inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of inclination ? greater than 0° and less than 90°, and the base elements are each arranged on the continuous conveyor by angled elements with an angle of extension ? less than 180° and greater than 90°.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ventral/dorsal alignment of fish with a first fish conveying device, a guide roller for transversely positioning the fish in a feed-in channel, the guide roller extending across the width of the feed-in channel and having at least one section with reduced cross-sectional diameter, a channel floor in the centre of the channel comprising a transfer recess, widening in the conveying direction, to transfer the fish by effect of-gravity to a guiding channel arranged below the first conveying plane by aligning in a predetermined ventral/dorsal position, the guiding channel comprising lateral guide surfaces each arranged inclined with respect to the first conveying plane, and a second conveying device, forming a second conveying plane and configured to convey the fish on their side, said second conveying device being arranged downstream of the guiding channel for taking over the fish at the end of said guiding channel.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, configured for transferring articles of the fish and meat processing industry in a predetermined end position, including a continuous conveying device with a plurality of transport sections for individually receiving the articles and movable in the conveying direction, which transport sections comprise in the conveying position a transport element pair forming two article support surfaces. Each transport element is configured to be controllably pivotable about axles, running in the edge region of the respective transport section, so that the articles (10) are transferred to the predetermined end position, under the effect of gravity, in a plane lying below the conveying plane by controlled pivoting of both transport elements while retaining the article orientation or by controlled pivoting of one of the respective transport elements of one of the respective transport element pairs while changing the article orientation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive belt connecting device for the tension-resistant connection of flat drive belt end sections (93, 94), which drive belt connecting device comprises a multi-part connecting body (41), which has connecting parts (1, 2, 3) and a connecting chamber (42), which accommodates the drive belt end sections (93, 94), which have at least one first belt flat side having a belt surface profile (911) in an overlapping arrangement for tension-resistant connection. A first outer connecting part (1) and a second outer connecting part (2) bound the connecting chamber (42), in which an inner connecting part (3) having inner connecting surfaces (301, 302) is arranged. The inner connecting surfaces and outer connecting surfaces (101, 201) of the outer connecting parts (1, 2) can be placed onto the drive belt end sections (93, 94). A fastening means (5) fastens the outer connecting parts (1, 2) to each other at a limited fixed distance.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a fish feed-in device (10) which is designed to supply fish (13) to a plurality of fish-processing devices and comprises a transverse conveyor (14) designed to convey the fish (13) transversely to their head-tail orientation in a transverse conveying direction (15), wherein the transverse conveyor (14) comprises a plurality of receptacles (17) each designed to individually hold one of the fish (13), and the transverse conveyor (14) has a controllable drive unit (19), at least one feeder device (11) designed to supply fish to the receptacles (17) of the transverse conveyor (14), a plurality of transfer devices (16) which are designed to selectively transfer the fish (13) from the transverse conveyor to longitudinal conveyors (12) arranged upstream of the respective fish-processing devices, wherein the longitudinal conveyors (12) are designed to convey the fish (13) in their head-tail orientation to the fish-processing machines, and a control device which is designed to control th

Abstract: The invention relates to a trough conveyor, which is designed and configured for transporting fish transversely to the longitudinal extent thereof in the transport direction TM, comprising a transport chain which can be rotationally driven and is formed from chain links and has a transport run, which defines the transport plane E1, and a return run, wherein the continuous transport chain is guided about at least two deflection elements, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation Du, for driving and guiding the transport chain, and the transport chain has arranged thereon troughs each intended to receive one fish, which trough conveyor is distinguished in that each trough is arranged on the transport chain so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation DM extending transversely to the transport direction TM and comprises at least one guide body, and in that at least one guide rail for receiving the guide body and for guiding the same is arranged at least in the transition region Ü from the transport run t

Abstract: Apparatus for removing pin bones from fish fillets includes at least one pin bone removal device and a conveying device configured to convey the fish fillets past the at least one pin bone removal device. The pin bone removal device utilizes a rotationally driven profiled roller and a counter-bearing element. A clamping gap is formed between the rotationally driven profiled roller and the counter-bearing element. A control is configured to control a relative movement between the rotationally driven profiled roller and the counter-bearing element. The pin bone removal device is configured to grasp and remove the pin bones via tensile force from the fish fillets in the clamping gap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for optical inspection of the opened abdominal cavity (10) of gutted fish (11), comprising a conveying device (12) configured for conveying the fish (11) along a processing line in the longitudinal direction, pivotable ventral flaps holding elements (17) configured for holding open the abdominal cavity (10) of the fish, at least one optical imaging system (21, 22, 23) arranged along the processing line, said optical imaging system being designed and configured to take at least one sequence of images of abdominal cavity regions of one of the fish (11) in each case, said sequence comprising a plurality of single images, at least one illumination device (24, 25) configured for illuminating the abdominal cavity regions in each case with light of a predetermined spectral composition, in each case at the times the single images are taken, an evaluation unit (26) configured to evaluate the image sequence according to prescribed quality parameters, said evaluation unit be