DEVICE FOR DECAPITATION OF FISH

A device for decapitating fish which are transported in a transport plane and in a transport direction, as they lie on one side on a conveyor belt (12) with their nose facing in the transport direction. At the end of the conveyor belt and above it there is located an endless cutting band (30) which is moved in a circuit around rollers (22, 24, 26) which are supported by a frame (6), the lower edge of the band (30) being sharp and extending in a cutting plane which is parallel to the transport plane. A third actuator device (80) is arranged to stop the fish in turn in a defined position in relation to the cutting band, a second actuator device (66, 68, 70, 72) is arranged to form the band sections which during the band's (30) rotation are located near this position, according to the contour of the gills of the stopped fish concerned,and a first actuator device (16) is arranged to raise and lower the cutting band (30) for cutting off the fish head immediately behind the gills. A computer (110) which stores information concerning the shape of the gills and their position on the fish, depending on the fish type and size, is arranged to continuously receive information about the size and type of the transported fish and to transmit signals to the actuator devices for movement thereof.