The Neptune Herring Sex Sorting Machine (HD1SU)- is the latest unified package version of the Neptune HD1S machine originally developed in 1987. The HD1SU has several improvements specifically designed to sort seine caught fish. The features include the use of two separate sensors to scan each fish and then sort automatically by a computer program that compensates for fish size. This program has been extensively used in B.C. and Alaska and internationally since 1991. Improvements have been made each year to ease operator loading and improve accuracy.
Performance
Test accuracy on sample fish is 100%. Usual accuracies in plant production operation will be better than 99% on the male belt (less than 1% females lost) and about 95% on the female belt (some small males, broken or empty fish mixed with females). Typical production rates in British Columbia are between 1.8 and 2.5 tons per hour input per machine depending on fish size and operator effort. Production rates in Bristol Bay exceed 5 tons per hour. The HD1SU has operated successfully on fish processing vessels.
Special features
1.) Variable size pockets
We ease operator loading by using belts with different size pockets for different size fish. For example, 3" wide pockets for small 60-150 gm fish, 3.5" wide pockets for 100-200 gm fish, 4" pockets for fish up to 450 gm and 4.5" pockets for fish such as Togiak up to 750 gm. This allows the belt speed to be adjusted to maximize production. Obviously, operating with larger pockets than required means a much higher belt speed is required to get the same number of fish per minute, which makes loading more difficult. Belts can be changed within minutes if, for example, fish from several geographic regions must be processed.
2.) Two sensors and individual light controls
Neptune machines also have 2 sensors and light sources, which can be individually adjusted for brightness and position to deal with fish of varying size in the same process run. (Typical of B.C. Seine-caught fish). The front sensor is set to scan the roe sac area of small fish, the second sensor will go behind the tail of small fish but scan through the roe sac area of large fish. The computer programs have been developed to maximize accuracy under real field operating conditions.
3.) Extended machine lengths available
Standard Neptune machines are 134" long and allow a space of 110" for up to four operators. Extended machines are 168" long and allow an increased operator area of 144 " length. This extra loading space has been used by some processors to maximize throughput through the machine, particularly in areas where labor costs are low.
