Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish, such as salmon, are provided which enable filleting of the fish in a particular efficient manner. An example method includes exposing a backbone of a fish from a belly side of the fish, positioning the backbone of the fish on a conveyor device, and conveying the fish with the backbone in contact with the conveyor device. The conveyor may be a spiked chain, and positioning the backbone of the fish on the conveyor device may include engaging the backbone of the fish with the spiked chain such that the fish straddles the spiked chain as the fish is transported. The method may further include cutting the fish from the dorsal side on each of opposing sides of a central plane of the fish to a location adjacent a connection of the pinbones of the fish with the vertebrae of the fish while the fish is conveyed with the backbone in contact with the conveyor device, and subsequently peeling the ribs and ventral spines from fillets of the fish.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish, such as salmon, are provided which enable filleting of the fish in a particular efficient manner. An example method includes exposing a backbone of a fish from a belly side of the fish, positioning the backbone of the fish on a conveyor device, and conveying the fish with the backbone in contact with the conveyor device. The conveyor may be a spiked chain, and positioning the backbone of the fish on the conveyor device may include engaging the backbone of the fish with the spiked chain such that the fish straddles the spiked chain as the fish is transported. The method may further include cutting the fish from the dorsal side on each of opposing sides of a central plane of the fish to a location adjacent a connection of the pinbones of the fish with the vertebrae of the fish while the fish is conveyed with the backbone in contact with the conveyor device, and subsequently peeling the ribs and ventral spines from fillets of the fish.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include an adjustable cutting device to cut the belly in a particularly unobtrusive manner and/or an adjustable gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera, including the gonads. Vacuum head assemblies for cleaning a cavity of the fish after the viscera is removed are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable the efficient conveyance of fish products from one fish processing subsystem or station to another in a particularly reliable and robust form factor. The systems may include a first fish processing subsystem configured to process fish with the fish orientated in a first orientation; a second fish processing subsystem configured to process the fish with the fish orientated in a second orientation different from the first orientation; and a conveyor system that couples the first fish processing subsystem to the second fish processing subsystem with the conveyor system being configured to receive the fish in the first orientation and deliver the fish in the second orientation. Related methods of conveying and processing fish are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable the efficient conveyance of fish products from one fish processing subsystem or station to another in a particularly reliable and robust form factor. The systems may include a first fish processing subsystem configured to process fish with the fish orientated in a first orientation; a second fish processing subsystem configured to process the fish with the fish orientated in a second orientation different from the first orientation; and a conveyor system that couples the first fish processing subsystem to the second fish processing subsystem with the conveyor system being configured to receive the fish in the first orientation and deliver the fish in the second orientation. Related methods of conveying and processing fish are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include a gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish with one or more underlying cutting members are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable removal of the head or other portion of a fish in a particularly reliable and efficient manner. The systems include a conveyor drive motor which provides continuous movement of a conveyor device for transporting fish along a transport path and which simultaneously provides intermittent movement of a blade across the transport path to sequentially sever a portion of each fish. An intermittent drive mechanism is coupled to the conveyor drive motor and coupled to the blade to convert continuous movement produced by the conveyor drive motor to intermittent movement of the blade between a standby position and a cutting position. Related methods for severing a portion of each fish in a series of transported fish are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include an adjustable cutting device to cut the belly in a particularly unobtrusive manner and/or an adjustable gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera, including the gonads. Vacuum head assemblies for cleaning a cavity of the fish after the viscera is removed are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include an adjustable cutting device to cut the belly in a particularly unobtrusive manner and/or an adjustable gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera, including the gonads. Vacuum head assemblies for cleaning a cavity of the fish after the viscera is removed are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include an adjustable cutting device to cut the belly in a particularly unobtrusive manner and/or an adjustable gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera, including the gonads. Vacuum head assemblies for cleaning a cavity of the fish after the viscera is removed are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable removal of the head or other portion of a fish in a particularly reliable and efficient manner. The systems include a conveyor drive motor which provides continuous movement of a conveyor device for transporting fish along a transport path and which simultaneously provides intermittent movement of a blade across the transport path to sequentially sever a portion of each fish. An intermittent drive mechanism is coupled to the conveyor drive motor and coupled to the blade to convert continuous movement produced by the conveyor drive motor to intermittent movement of the blade between a standby position and a cutting position. Related methods for severing a portion of each fish in a series of transported fish are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include an adjustable cutting device to cut the belly in a particularly unobtrusive manner and/or an adjustable gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera, including the gonads. Vacuum head assemblies for cleaning a cavity of the fish after the viscera is removed are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include an adjustable cutting device to cut the belly in a particularly unobtrusive manner and/or an adjustable gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera, including the gonads. Vacuum head assemblies for cleaning a cavity of the fish after the viscera is removed are also provided.

Abstract: A fluid monitoring apparatus and method is disclosed for use in an underground utility vault. Specifically, a system utilizing multiple sensors to determine the total amount and type of fluid present in a utility vault is disclosed. A first sensor located above the fluid detects and determines the overall depth of fluid present. A second sensor, relying on specific properties of the fluid(s) present, is located in contact with the fluids present. The information regarding specific fluid level and type is conveyed to a central location for monitoring.

Abstract: A fluid monitoring apparatus and method is disclosed for use in an underground utility vault. Specifically, a system utilizing multiple sensors to determine the total amount and type of fluid present in a utility vault is disclosed. A first sensor located above the fluid detects and determines the overall depth of fluid present. A second sensor, relying on specific properties of the fluid(s) present, is located in contact with the fluids present. The information regarding specific fluid level and type is conveyed to a central location for monitoring.

Abstract: The fish transfer mechanism in which a fish slides down a smooth inclined plate and engages an upright protruding rotation pin. The head end of a fish rides up on a head guide. The rotation pin and the effect of gravity tends to rotate the fish from its transverse orientation to a longitudinal orientation while the fish head guide twists the fish toward an upright, vertical, belly down condition with the fish facing forward and ready to be cleaned by the fish gutter.

Abstract: A fish tail splitting method and apparatus are disclosed in which a finger plate having a probe and a curved central portion is passed relative to the length of a fish. The finger probe is located into the rib tunnel along the vertebral column and the fish and finger plate move relative to one another separating the ribs and muscle tissue. The finger plate includes a sharpened portion such that the skin will also be severed. The tail splitting apparatus method separates the muscle tissue and ribs through the length of the fish exposing the kidney along the vertebral column and the vertebral column for subsequent processing.

Abstract: A wet pump for pumping fish from a first fish receptacle to a second receptacle displaced from the first receptacle.

Abstract: Horizontal conjointly moving endless belts have adjacent stretches disposed in parallel vertical planes to transport a beheaded fish clamped between them successively past a rotating circular belly slitter disc, an eviscerating gutter, a rotating kidney-slitting blooder disc, spray nozzles for scouring the eviscerated fish cavity, a rotating slimer brush which removes the kidney and a fish cavity washing assembly. A slitter guard protrudes into the fish cavity ahead of the slitter disc for holding the skin on the underside of the fish in the path of the slitter disc. Such slitter guard is rounded so that the tail end of the belly cavity rides up on the guard to prevent the slitter disc from cutting the bottom portion of the fish beyond its vent. The gutter engages the beheaded fish between its backbone and the majority of the viscera to scoop the viscera out of the cavity as the fish is moved over the gutter by the belts.