Abstract: The head of a fish is severed from the fish body in a two-stage operation, in the first stage the root of the fish head beneath the gill covers being cut partway through and in the second stage the severance of the fish head from the fish body being completed. The first stage cutting operation is effected by cooperating disk cutters converging toward the fish head at an acute angle, means for sensing the thickness of a fish, and means for adjusting the spacing of the disk cutters in accordance with the thickness of the fish sensed. The fish are transported unidirectionally, and the spacing of the cutting disks is adjusted while the cutters are being reciprocated in the same direction of the travel as the fish is transported, and the disk cutters are then reciprocated in the direction opposite the direction of transport of the fish to effect the first stage cutting operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a food packing machine which includes the following components: a piston mounted for reciprocation during an operating cycle between a pair of limit positions toward and away from a cake forming cavity, for compressing food material in the cavity; bias apparatus for exerting pressure on the piston to provide compression pressure on the material, the bias apparatus including a resilient material mounted to the piston, and a seat to which the resilient material is also mounted to effect a resilient mounting between the piston and the seat; and pressure relief apparatus for selectively urging the set away from the piston to reduce the bias thereon upon reception of a predetermined signal. The machine normally also includes a sensor for sensing when the machine is deactivated, and a signal device for providing the signal to the pressure relief apparatus when the sensor determines that the machine is deactivated.