Ralph A Miller

US Patent:

20020022446, Feb 21, 2002

Filed:

Apr 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/837616

Inventors:

Richard Scherch - Fort Myers FL, US
Ralph Miller - Naples FL, US

International Classification:

A22C018/00
A22C021/00
A22C025/06

US Classification:

452/194000

Abstract:

A fish loading device for loading fish onto a fish processing machine is disclosed. The fish loading device comprises a pair of substantially parallel plates located on either side of a transport track that is used to carry the fish through the various processing stations in the processing machine. The fish is carried along the transport track on a transport saddle. The plates are spaced apart sufficiently to allow the transport saddle to pass between them. The fish is placed onto the plates, which are configured so as to hold the fish in a fixed position relative to the transport saddle. When the saddle passes through the region, it engages the body of the fish and carries it through the various processing stations. The fish loading device allows for consistent loading of the fish onto the saddle, resulting in increased efficiency, productivity and yield.