| US4848580A | 1989-07-18 | |||
| US4416374A | 1983-11-22 | |||
| US4711356A | 1987-12-08 |
| 1. | Process for freezing and handling, for example, waste from fisheries, by filling the fish waste into freezing containers, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a freezing container is used which is equipped at its bot¬ tom with protruding grooveforming means which, when the waste is frozen and emptied from the container, form grooves for introducing the forks of a forktruck. |
| 2. | Process according to the preceeding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that before freezing an additional groove is made for introducing a fork of a forktruck, by placing on top of a first container conta¬ ining fish material a corresponding freezing container with a bottom being designed complementary to the groove. |
| 3. | Process according to the preceeding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the mass of fish material is given an Hlike cross section form with an upper and a lower groove to receive a truck fork. |
| 4. | Process according to any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the container is emptied by turning it upsidedown by using a forktruck. |
| 5. | Process according to any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the frozen block is handled and transported by using a forktruck, and that the blocks are stacked onto each other for further transport. |
| 6. | Container to be used when carrying out the process according to any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises a vessel, preferably of aluminum, whereof its bottom (7) is internally equipped with raised parts which in the frozen block of fish waste form grooves for introducing a truck form. |
| 7. | Container according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the bottom of the vessel (1) is equipped with parts (4) which will form a groove in the fish waste when the container (1) is stacked onto a corresponding container (1) and lowered until the supporting bar (2) abuts the upper edge (3) of the vessel (1) . |
| 8. | Container according to any of the preceeding claims 6 and 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the parts for forming the grooves in a frozen block also form introduction channels for devices suited for lifting and turning the container (1) upsidedown. |
The present invention concerns a process for freezing and handling of frozen fish waste. When processing fish, significant quantities of fish waste are produced, repre¬ senting a valuable source of proteins which may option¬ ally be processed further to a protein-rich, nourishing animal feed.
However, both the freezing of the fish waste as well as the subsequent handling of the frozen fish waste presents certain problems.
Preferably, the freezing should be carried out as rapidly as possible, it should be easy to remove a frozen block of fish waste from the freezing container, and it is advantageous to facilitate the handling of the frozen block of fish waste, both with respect to internal trans- port of the frozen blocks and to stacking thereof.
The current method for transporting and stacking of frozen blocks and stacking of them is to place the blocks on pallets which may be further handled by using fork- trucks. When storing the frozen blocks, they are stacked, together with the pallets and kept in suitable refrigera¬ ting rooms. Transportation of the frozen blocks is also performed on pallets.
By stacking and transporting the blocks on pallets there arises a need for returning the pallets which by and by become soiled by the fish waste, something which may cause problems of a hygienic nature. The return of used pallets represents considerable extra costs.
The above indicated problems are completely or partly eliminated by using the present process, wherein the fish
waste is frozen to a block in a freezing vessel with smooth, slightly outwardly inclined walls, so that the frozen block generally obtains a frustoconical shape or configuration. Such a configuration will make emptying of the container easier, e.g. when it is turned upside down. To ease the turning of a vessel, it is in its bottom equipped with grooves, making it possible to lift the freezing vessel by using a fork-truck.
In GB patent No. 1.461.550 there is shown a stackable crate which in the bottom is designed in such a way that it may be lifted by a fork-truck. The design of the bottom, as shown in said GB patent, is such that it is possible to use the fork-truck to turn the crate upside- down, something which is also possible with the freezing vessel being used according to the present process.
However, the crate according to said GB patent is de¬ signed with a smooth inner bottom, whereas the container being used in the present invention is equipped with a groove for a fork, said groove forming a raised section in the bottom of the container, so that in the block of frozen fish waste formed, a "cast" of the bottom of the container is made, and thus the frozen block will be equipped with two "feet" on which the frozen block may be supported, and at the same time a space is formed for a fork, so that the block may be lifted and handled.
When the fish waste is filled into the freezing vessel, it is filled up to a predetermined level, and when further freezing vessels are stacked on the already filled vessel, the next vessel will be pressed into a part of the fish waste, so that in the upper part of the fish waste in the lower vessel a cast of the bottom of the vessel above is formed. Thus, in the frozen block two upwards directed supports are formed, which will be able to carry a subsequently placed frozen block and still
make room for the introduction of the fork of a fork- truck.
Below, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the enclosed figures.
Fig. 1 shows a container 1 viewed from the long side and comprising an upper bracing edge 3, two protruding, longitudinal supporting bars for abutting the edge 3 of an underlying freezing container.
In the bottom 7 there are located two channels 5 for introducing the fork of a fork-truck. At their bottom side, the channels are limited by a bottom plate 4 and a brace 6, and a side wall 8 running along the bottom part 7 of the container and being limited upwards by a length¬ wise running wall 9. When the container 1 is filled with fish waste, there will in the bottom of the frozen block be made a cast forming two "feet". When a freezing con- tainer 1 is placed on an already filled freezing contai¬ ner, the bottom part 4 of the channels will make a groove in the mass of fish waste in such a way that in the fini¬ shed frozen block there will be two "supports".
The design of the freezing container is better observed from the enclosed figure 2, showing a freezing container resting on the bottom plate 5. The introduction channel for the fork of a fork-truck can also be clearly seen.
Fig. 3 shows a frozen block as an end product after it has been taken out of the container, the container having been turned upside-down by a fork-truck. A corresponding block may then be lowered onto the first block.
Fig. 4 shows two frozen blocks of fish waste being ready to be transported.
Fig. 5 shows three freezing containers being stacked onto each other.
The novel freezing containers may be designed in any suitable material, however, the preferred material is aluminum on account of its high temperature conductance, a relatively high heat expansion coefficient, which is advantageous when the contents is to be emptied from the containers, and naturally because it is a relatively solid and easily shaped material.
As a consequence of the special shape of the containers, i.e a slightly conical form, as well as the grooves being used to receive the fork of the fork-truck, there will be achieved a good circulation at all sides of the contai¬ ner, including its bottom side, when the container is introduced into a freezing tunnell for freezing of the fish waste.
With the present process and freezing container the fol¬ lowing advantages are obtained:
a quick freezing on account of the fact that the re¬ frigerating air reaches substantially all surfaces of the freezing containers,
subsequently to the freezing the containers may be handled with a fork-truck, and
- the containers may be turned upside-down by using the fork-truck, so that their contents may easily be removed from the containers by their contents letting go of the inner walls when the containers are put down carefully or slightly heated,
the frozen waste may be handled with a truck and stacked, thus eliminating the costs associated with the
use of return pallets, as mentioned above.
By using the process and the novel freezing containers according to the invention, the treatment of fish waste becomes more economically attractive, and it will be advantageous to utilize as much as possible of the waste, so that it will not, for example, be dumped and thus represent a pollution problem.