Abstract: A method and device for positioning a fish is presented. In an exemplary method, a fish is positioned in relation to a cutting plane. Pressure is applied to a rising area of the fish's head via a pressure part such that the fish is displaced in the direction of the fish's body, thereby positioning the fish for heading. Thereafter, the fish is headed. In another embodiment, an exemplary device for positioning a fish in a heading machine comprises a pressure part having a pressure surface configured to be lowered onto to a surface area of the fish that is rising relative to the substrate on which the fish is placed. The pressure surface is configured to slide against the rising area of the fish. Under a force of the pressure surface of the pressure part being lowered onto the rising area of the fish, the fish is displaced and positioned for heading.

Abstract: A method and device for positioning a fish is presented. In an exemplary method, a fish is positioned in relation to a cutting plane. Pressure is applied to a rising area of the fish's head via a pressure part such that the fish is displaced in the direction of the fish's body, thereby positioning the fish for heading. Thereafter, the fish is headed. In another embodiment, an exemplary device for positioning a fish in a heading machine comprises a pressure part having a pressure surface configured to be lowered onto to a surface area of the fish that is rising relative to the substrate on which the fish is placed. The pressure surface is configured to slide against the rising area of the fish. Under a force of the pressure surface of the pressure part being lowered onto the rising area of the fish, the fish is displaced and positioned for heading.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering neck meat from a fish head that has been separated from the trunk of a fish comprises a pivoting device that receives and pivots the fish head into a chin-up position, followed by a synclinal chamber that holds the fish head, and a cutting blade operating near the bottom of the fish head for separating the neck meat from the fish head. The synclinal chamber holds the fish head in a chin-up position so that the neck meat protrudes downwardly in the direction of the cutting blade. The pivoting device may be a rotating drum having one or more chambers. The synclinal chamber includes an underside and a synclinal catch between which is a passage through which the neck meat protrudes and is cut off. The amount of protruding neck meat is adjustable by adjusting the width of the passage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering neck meat from a fish head that has been separated from the trunk of a fish comprises a pivoting device that receives and pivots the fish head into a chin-up position, followed by a synclinal chamber that holds the fish head, and a cutting blade operating near the bottom of the fish head for separating the neck meat from the fish head. The synclinal chamber holds the fish head in a chin-up position so that the neck meat protrudes downwardly in the direction of the cutting blade. The pivoting device may be a rotating drum having one or more chambers. The synclinal chamber includes an underside and a synclinal catch between which is a passage through which the neck meat protrudes and is cut off. The amount of protruding neck meat is adjustable by adjusting the width of the passage.

Abstract: In order to sever heads of fish or, in the case of pre-decapitated fish collar bones remaining on the torso from the torso at a preset location (38) with a blade (11) whose cutting edge runs transversely to the orientation of the fish, the fish must be aligned relative to the blade's cutting plane (39). Since in known methods and apparatus and particularly regarding differing fish size difficulties occur in precisely engaging the fish for the purpose of displacing them as well as due to their deformation in obtaining the correct positioning, it is proposed that the fish be gripped in form-locking relationship at a dimensionally stable location such as the head by a movable positioning device (4) and displaced in a direction towards the cutting plane (39) until the preset location (38) lies in the cutting plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically positioning fish with respect to their plane of symmetry and for the periodic transfer of the fish to a fish processing machine is proposed. The apparatus comprises a supply conveyor in the form of a trough conveyor and a feed conveyor arranged below and essentially perpendicular to the supply conveyor for feeding the fish into the processing machine. The feed conveyor includes a support conveyor equipped with support elements onto which each fish is placed with the support elements protruding into the belly cavity. This is achieved by a holding element which is arranged between the supply conveyor and the feed conveyor and is controlled by a signal to open and release the temporarily held fish. The generation of the signal is varied according to a measurement value representing the size of the fish being positioned so that each fish is released to land exactly positioned with its belly cavity on a support element irrespective of its size.

Abstract: Single organs, such as the hard-roe sacks or soft-roe are removed from fish by placing decapitated fish in a coneyor having troughs that are advanced transversely to the longitudinal axis of the fish. The fish are conveyed with their belly leading and lying on their side. The fish are fixed by engagement in the region of their tail end portion. The gaining of the organs occurs by controlled movement of one pressing element, each, into the trough, so that the pressing element compresses the belly cavity progressively from the belly side starting at the tail-side end of the belly cavity and progressing toward the decapitation end of the fish.