Machine to cook dry open cans of fish - has compact can handling making machine suitable for small fishing vessels

摘要

The machine comprises a processing chamber through which cans are carried by a chain conveyor with successive pockets. The chains pass around sprockets at a loading/discharging aperture and around larger chain wheels at the far end of the chamber. The chamber is partitioned so that the inward run of the conveyor is in a steam cooking compartment and the return run of the conveyor is in a hot air drying compartment, also equipped with an exhaust outlet for air and vapour. Each conveyor pocket holds one can. Each pocket comprises a pair of plates extending outwards from the chain. Each of the plates in a pair is bracketed. to two successive link pins of the conveyor chains, the two plates pivoting independently on a shared, intermediate link pin. The loading/discharge end sprockets have a tooth pitch equal to one pitch of the chain link pins while the chain wheels teeth have a pitch equal to three times that of the chain. The pocket plates open as they pass around the small sprockets, automatically discharging a processed can and facilitating automatic reloading. Each pocket remains closed as it passes around the larger chain wheels. This simple arrangement provides a very compact machine which can be carried by very small fishing vessels.