Producedby:FisheriesandAquaculture

Department
Title:Planningandengineeringdata.2.FishCanning...

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5.PROCESSINGEQUIPMENT
5.1GeneralCanningEquipment
5.2EquipmentforCanningTuna
5.3EquipmentforCanningSardines
5.4EquipmentforCanningFishPasteProducts
Someofthemostimportantequipmentusedforcanningandpretreatmentoffishisdescribedinthischapter.Theitems
selectedarechosen,moretogiveanimpressionoftheprocessingprinciples,ratherthantorecommendparticular
equipment.

5.1GeneralCanningEquipment
5.1.1Retorts
Asbrieflydescribedpreviouslyretortsareusedtosterilizethecontentsofthecans.
Horizontalretorts,whicharecommunwithinthefishcanningindustry,havethefollowinggeneralfeatures:
Themajorcomponentsofsuchretortsaretheretortshell(body),cratesandvariouscontrollers.
Thecapacityoftheretortis.optionalanddependsontheoutputofthecannery,howeverasaguidearetortwhichholds1
400cans(850ml)perbatchwouldsuitmostmediumsizedbatchoperations.Inthiscasetheretortwouldbeapproximately
4000mmlongandhaveadiameterof1200mm.Thesizeofeachcratewouldbe800mmx700mmx700mm.
Approximatesteamconsumptionwouldbe400kgperbatchwhilewaterconsumptionduringcoolingwouldbeapproximately
10000lperbatch.Consumptionofelectricitywouldbeapproximately5kWhperhourforcirculationpumpetc.
Stainlesssteellsmainlyusedintheconstructionofretorts.
Normallytheretortcanbeoperatedbyoneperson,whoinmanycasesisinchargeofabatchofretorts.

5.1.2Seamingmachines
Thereareseveralautomaticseamingmachinesspeciallydesignedforclosingfilledsquare,ovalandroundaluminiumortin
platecans.CharacteristicsofacommonmachineareshowninFigure22.
Automaticmachinesarefittedwithcanendandcanbodyfeedingdevicesandalsowithequipmentforautomaticcode
markingofcanends.
Inadditiontheymayalsobelinkedwiththefollowingdevices:
Automaticfillingdevice
Thedeviceisdesignedforfillingofoil,tomatosauceandotherliquidsaucesintocans.Itispneumaticallyoperatedandfills
preciselymeasuredquantitiesintoeachcan.
Lidplungerandcontrolclosingdevice
Thedeviceismountedontheclosingmachineandisparticularlyusefulforoverpackedcans.Itpressestheliddownonthe
can,andifthelidisnotlyingonthecan,theseamingoperationisautomaticallystopped.
Automaticseamingmachinescanoperateatspeedsof35004000cansperhour.Diatetersofcansthatmaybeseamed
rangefromapproximately50to195mm.Theheightofthecansmayrangefrom15to120mm.Multiplecodemarkingsare
available.
Approximatelengthoftheseamingmachinewillbe2000mmwhilewidthwillbe2000mm.

Figure22Automaticseamingmachine
Approximateconsumptionofelectricityis3035kWhper8hours.
Themachinecanbeoperatedbytwoworkers.

5.1.3Canwashinganddryingmachine
Canwashinganddryingmachinesareusedtocleancansaftersterilizationinordertoremoveresidualoilsthatmayhave
adheredtothecansurfacesduringfillingandretorting.
Thesemachinesarefrequentlyfittedwithavariablespeeddrivetoregulatethespeedoftheconveyorbelt.
Approximatedimensionsofthesemachinesare3600mm(length),1500mm(height)and1600mm(width).
Thedrivemotorswillconsumeapproximately6070kWhper8hourswhenfullyused.Ifsteambatteryisusedforheatingit
willconsumeapproximately200kgsteamperhour.Ifthemachineisheatedbyelectricityitwillconsumeapproximately100
kWhper8hours.
Allpartsaremadefromstainlesssteel.
Themachineisautomatic,butmaybefedbyoneortwoworkers.SeeFigure23.

5.1.4Cartoningmachine
Cartoningmachinesareusedforpackingcansintoindividualcartons.Themaincharacteristicsofanairoperatedcartoning
machinesaregivenbelow.

Figure23Canwashinganddryingmachine
Theymaybeequippedwitharotatinginfeedtable.Thecartonsareseparatedandopenedbyuseofvacuumandthe
machineisequippedwithapumpforthispurpose.Themachinehastwoelectricmotorseachof0.25hp.
ThecapacityofthemachineshowninFigure24isupto65cansperminute
Table14Dimensionsofcansthatmaybeoperatedbythecartoningmachine,showninFigure24
Length: 85180mm
Width:

50100mm

Height: 1240mm

Lengthofthemachineis2400mmandwidthis800mm
Themotorswillconsumeapproximately35kWhper8hours.Consumptionofcompressedairis160200litresperminute.

Themachinemaybefullyautomaticoritmaybefedbyoneortwoworkers.
Thereareonthemarketothertypesofcartoningmachineswithcapacity120ormorecansperminute.

5.2EquipmentforCanningTuna
5.2.1Racks
Racksareusedintheprecookingprocess.Basketswithtunaareplacedontheracksbeforetheyareloadedintothe
cooker.
Themaincharacteristicsofracksusedfortunaaregiveninthefollowing:
Theracksareequippedwithtwofixedandtwoswivelwheels.
Theholdingcapacityofeachrackisdeterminedbytherequirementsofproduction.

CARTONINGMACHINE:
A:Feedingconveyorforproduct
B:Cardboardboxesstackandextraction
C:Infeedattachmentforproduct
D:Closingstationforboxes
E:Dischargeoffinishedcardboardboxes
Figure24Automaticcartoningmachine
Approximatedimensionsofarackare760mm,width838mmandheight1400mmwheel.
Thematerialusedinconstructioniseithergalvanizedorblackiron
Twoworkersareusedtofillthebasketsandloadthecooker.

5.2.2Basketsforcookingtuna
Basketsfilledwithtunaareplacedinracksandloadedintothecooker.
Themaincharacteristicsofbasketsoftenusedforprecookingtunaaregivenbelow:
Theholdingcapacityofeachbasketisapproximately1516kgfish.
Dimensionsofthebasketsusedfortheracksdescribedaboveare810mmx380mmx100mmandthenetweightof
eachbasketis4kg.
Galvanizedwireisoftenused.toconstructthesebaskets.
Twoworkmencanfillthebasketsandloadthecooker.

5.2.3Highspeedtunafiller
Ahighspeedtunafillerisafullyautomaticmachinedesignedtocutandfillprecookedtunameatintoroundand/oroval
cans.
Themaincomponentsarethefeedingunit,thecuttingunitandthefillingunit.
Themachinefillstunatabletsrangingfrom100gto1kg.MassspeedsareshowninTable15.
Lengthofthemachineis3600mm,widthis1700mmandheightis1250mm.
Table15Summaryofoperatingparametersforautomaticfillingofroundandovaltunacans
Candescription

Candimensions

Fishtabletdiameter

Fillingspeed

Minimum Maximum
(mm)
(mm)

(c.p.m.)

Diameter
(mm)

Height
(mm)

Standardround

60to90

24to45

54

82

upto150

Largeround

80to110 48to106

75

93

upto70

Oval

65x105

56

92

upto100

20to40

Allcontactpartsaremadefromstainlesssteel.
Onlyonepersonisrequiredtofeedtunaloinsintothemachine.

5.2.4Exhaustbox
Exhaustboxesareusedforheatingcanstoensurethatwhensealedandcooledavacuumisproducedinthecontainer.
Themaincharacteristicsforatypicalexhaustboxesusedfortunaaregiveninthefollowing:
Theyareequippedwithcanfeedinganddischargebeltsandelectricmotor.

Thecapacityoftheexhaustboxshouldbeapproximately10tonsper8hourswithanexhaustingtimevaryingbetween
110minutesinsteamopentotheatmosphere.
Lengthoftheboxis3600mmandwidthis600mm.
Themotorwillconsumeapproximately25kWhper8hours.Consumptionofsteamis7080kgperhour.
Materialusedinconstructionismainlystainlesssteel.
Themachinecanbeoperatedbyoneormoreworker,dependingonthedegreeofautomationusedattheinfeedand
existstations.

5.3EquipmentforCanningSardines
5.3.1Gradingmachines
Themachineisdesignedtoautomaticallygradesardinesintovarioussizes.
Themaincharacteristicsofatypicalgradingmachineforsardinesaregivenbelow:
ThemachineshownnFigure25ispoweredbya1.0hpmotor.Ifgreatersegregationisdemandedthanisachievable
inasinglegradingoperation,themachinecanbeequippedwithadoublesetofgradingrollers,thesecondmounted
underneaththefirst.Inthismanneradoublegradingofthefishwillbeachieved.Thecapacityofthemachineis1500
2000kgperhour,whengradingsardinesofasizerangingfrom20to100fishesperkg.
Theapproximatedimensionsofthemachinearelength2700mm,width1100mm,andheight700mm.

Figure25Gradingmachineforsardines
Themotorwillrequireapproximately56kWhper8hours.
Aluminiumalloyismainlyusedintheconstructionofthemachine.

5.3.2Briningunit
Themaincharacteristicsofanautomaticbriningunit.usedforsardinesaredescribedbelowandshowninFigure26.
Themaincomponentsareadrummadeofperforatedplate,whichisconnectedtoavariablespeeddriveanda1.0hp
motor.
Thecapacityofabriningunitvariesfrom1000to5000kgperhouranthespeedofthedrivecontrolsthebriningtime
frombetween1and15minutes.
Theapproximatedimensionsarelength4000mm,width1550mmandheight1700mm.
Themotorwillrequireapproximately56kWhper8hours.
Themachineismanufacturedfromstainlesssteel.

5.3.3Nobbingmachine
AnobbingmachineasdescribedpreviouslyandillustratedinFigure27isusedforheadcutting,nobbing(whichmeans
pullingthevisceraoutofthebelly),cleaningandtailcuttingand/orfixedbodycutting.
Thecharacteristicsofanobbingmachineusedforsardinesandherringaregivenbelow.
Themaincomponentsofthemachinearethefeedingunit,fishmagazine,headcuttingunit,nobbingunit,cleaningunit
andcuttingunitforthetails.
Thecapacityofthemachinedescribedis400550fishesperminutedependingonfishlength,whichmayvaryfrom
110to260mm.
Approximatedimensionsarelength2700mm,width2200mmandheight1600mm.
Powerconsumptionisapproximately20kWhper8hoursandwaterconsumptionisapproximately12litresper
minute.

Figure26Briningunit

Figure27Cuttingandnobbingmachine
Materialsusedinconstructionarestainlesssteelandaluminiumalloy
Themachineshownmaybeoperatedbyonesupervisor.

5.3.4Continuousflashcooker
Theflashcookerisusedforprecookinganddryingofsardinesbeforeexhaustingandclosingthecans.
ThemaincomponentsofthecookershowninFigure28aretheautomaticchargeanddischargesection,thesteam
chamber,thedrainingsectionandthedryingsection.Twochainscarryapproximately800cratesinwhichthecansare
placed.
Chainspeedandtherebycookingtimeisvariable.Differenttypesofcanscanbecookedwithoutadjustmentstothecooker.
Upto12500clubcansperhourcanbeprocessed.
Approximatedimensionsarelength15500mm,width1600mmandheight3900mm.
Thecookerwillrequireapproximately5060kWhper8hoursifitisusedfullywhiledependingonloadsteamconsumptionis
approximately500kgperhour.
Thecookerismainlyconstructedfromstainlesssteel.
Beingfullyautomaticoneoperatorisrequiredtosupervisethemachine.

5.3.5Smokingkiln
Thesmokingkilnisalsousedfordrying,precookingandsmokingsardines.Themaincomponentsofakilnarethedrying
unit,thesmokingchamber,thefans,theheatexchangerandtwomotors,a4hpmotorforthefansanda1.5hpmotorfor
thechains.
ThecapacityoftheautomatickilnshowninFigure29is60008000kgper8hours.
Approximatedimensionsarelength11650mm,width2200mmandheight2170mm.
Thekilnrequiresapproximately3040kWhper8hoursandconsumptionofoilisapproximately5litresperhour.
Materialusedinconstructionismainlyblackiron.Beingfullyautomaticthekilnisoperatedbyoneworker.

5.4EquipmentforCanningFishPasteProducts
5.4.1Meatseparator
Fishmeatseparatorsareusedtorecovermeatfromsplitandwashedfish.
Themaincomponentsofaseparatorarenormallyarotatingperforateddrum/cylinder,mountedhorizontally,andarubber
belt.Theperforateddrumandtherubberbeltrotatesinthesamedirection,andthefishissqueezedinbetweentherubber
beltandthedrum.Theseparatorisequippedwitha5hpmotor.
Thecapacityis10tonswashedandsplitfishper8hours,withanapproximateyieldof7tonsmincedfishand3tonsoffal.
Approximatedimensionsofatypicalseparatorare1060mmx1127mmx1050mm.
Thediameteroftheholesindrumare21/23mm.
Themotorwillrequireapproximately30kWhper8hours.

Allcontactpartsaremadefromstainlesssteel.
Themachineisoperatedbyoneworker.

Figure28Flashcooker

Figure29Smokingkiln

5.4.2Bowlchopper/mincer
Theingredients(fish,salt,milkstarch,etc.)mustbemixedandfinelyminced.Themincerbowlrotates,andtheingredients
havetopassunderverticalhighspeedcuttingknives.
Themaincomponentsofthemachinearethebowl,theminceranda50100hpmotor.
Mincer/cuttercapacitiesvaryfromapproximately25litrestoseveralhundredlitres.Thebowlcapacityisapproximately325
litres.
Approximatedimensionsofthechopper/mincerare(2200mmx1800mmx1350mm)
Themotorwillconsumefromapproximately300to600kWhper8hours.
Allcontactpartsaremadefromstainlesssteel.
Themachineisoperatedbyoneworker.

5.4.3Pumpsformincedmaterials
Themixtureoffishandingredientsisemptiedfromthebowlmincerintoacontainerwithabuiltinscrewandpumpatits
base.Fromthiscontainerthemasscanbepumped,eithertotheballformer,orthefishcakeformer.Thefishballsand
cakesareextendedthroughstainlesssteelpipes.
Themaincomponentsarethecontainer,thepumpwitha2hpmotorandthepipes.
Approximatecapacityis4050litresperminute,withvariablespeed.
Thedimensionsare1550mmx1100mm.
Themotorwillrequireapproximately12kWhper8hours.
Allcontactpartsaremadefromstainlesssteel.
Oneoperatorisrequired.

5.4.4Cookingequipmentforfishballs
Thecookerforfishballsmayvaryinsizehoweveranexampleofacookerwitha2000kg/hcapacityisgivenbelow.
Themaincomponentsofthemachinearenormallyaballformerandcookingchamber.
Approximatedimensionsarelength6000mm,width1250mmandheight400mm.
Forthesizequotedsteamconsumptionisapproximately500700litresperhour.
Thecookerismadefromstainlesssteelanditisusuallyoperatedautomatically.

5.4.5Fryerforfishcakes
Asthecakeshavetobefriedonbothsides,theyhaveeithertobeturnedmanuallyotherwisethemachinecandothis

automatically.
AdescriptionofanelectricalfryerforfishcakesisgivenbelowandshowninFigure30.
Themaincomponentsofthemachinearenormallythecakeformer,abeltandaheatingelement.
Capacityis650kgfriedcakesperhour(13000cakesx50gpercake).
Approximatedimensionsarelength6000mm,width1500mmandheight1500mm.
Thefryerdescribedrequires900to1000kWhper8hourswhenitisusedtofullcapacity.
Themachinemaybeoperatedbyoneworker.

Figure30Fryingmachinewithfishcakeformer