GB2245469A - Baiting apparatus for use in long line fishing - Google Patents

Abstract

A baiting apparatus for use in longline fishing comprises a reservoir (11) into which the bait is placed, a magazine assembly (29) within which the hooks are pre-loaded, a guillotine blade (50) for slicing off chunks of bait, and a guidance system for positioning the hooks in a predetermined orientation as they pass through the apparatus so as to transmit drive to the guillotine blade (50) so that, as a chunk or piece of bait is sliced from the supply in the reservoir (11) it is so positioned that it is impaled by the hook. <IMAGE>

Description

Baiting Apparatus for use in Longline Fishing Field of the Invention This invention relates to a baiting apparatus for use in longline fishing.

Background to the Invention In longline fishing, a long main line is used which has a number of short lines or snoods extending from it at regularly spaced intervals. Eac snood terminates in a hook.

When using such an arrangement in sea fishing from a fishing boat, the main line is paid out and the hooks are withdrawn from a hook magazine, the line and hooks passing through a baiting apparatus in which the hooks are baited.

There have been a number of prior proposals for the provision of such baiting apparatus, one form of such apparatus being shown in Patent Specification No. 2,124,865 to which reference should be made.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of such apparatus the advantages of which will be apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention there is provided a baiting apparatus for use in longline fishing comprising a reservoir into which the bait to be used is placed, a guillotine device having a blade for slicing chunks or pieces of bait from the contents of the reservoir and drive means for effecting movement of the blade in response to movement of a hook through a guidance system in such manner that a sliced chunk or piece of bait is positioned so that it will be impaled by the hook.

The drive means for operation of the guillotine device preferably includes a shuttle block movable within a chamber by means of a hook drawn from a magazine, and a cord system interconnecting the shuttle block and the guillotine blade such that, as the shuttle block moves within the chamber, corresponding movement of the guillotine blade is effected.

A hook alignment fixture is preferably provided to ensure that, as a hook enters the chamber for engagement with the shuttle block, the hook is correctly positioned relative to the shuttle block.

The shuttle block is preferably provided with engagement means for engagement with the hook, disengagement means being provided such that, at a predetermined position in the travel of the shuttle block within the chamber, the engagement means on the shuttle block is disengaged from the hook and the shuttle block is free to move, under the action of restoring means, to its initial position within the chamber. The restoring means preferably also returns the guillotine blade to its original position in preparation for a further cutting stroke.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a hook alignment and bait slicing device, Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an end view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a plan view of a fish-hook magazine, Figure 5 is a front view of the magazine shown in Figure 4, Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views of the magazine along the lines 7 - 7 and 8 - 8 of Figures 4 and 5, Figure 8 is an exploded view of the components of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 9 is a perspective view of the slicing mechanism within the device shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views of components of the mechanism shown in Figure 9, Figure 10 showing a shuttle block inverted relative to the position which it occupies in Figure 9, Figures 12 and 13 are perspective views, at right angles to each other, of a hook alignment fixture, Figures 14, 15 and 16 are side, plan and front views of a brush assembly, Figure 17 is a plan view of a tool which is used in positioning the components of the brush assembly shown in Figures 14 to 16, Figure 18 is a plan view of a main frame member of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 19 is a perspective view of part of the main frame member shown in Figure 18, and Figure 20 is a side view showing the magazine of Figures 4 to 7 fitted to the device of Figures 1 to 3.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The hook alignment and bait slicing device 10 includes a generally tubular fish bait reservoir 11 extending vertically upwards above an angled support bracket 12. At either end of the device 10 there is provided a hollow square section carrier bracket 13, 13a which extends above a bridge frame 14, 14a. An elongate shuttle-block chamber defined by channel-section members 15 and 16 extends between the fish bait reservoir 11 and bridge frame 14a. The two shuttle-block chamber-defining members 15 and 16 are in the form of inverted channel-section elements which are releasably secured together and are attached as a unit to a main frame assembly 17 by means of a pair of wing nut assemblies 18 and 19. Locating guides are provided on the base of the main frame assembly 17 to ensure accurate location of the members 15 and 16.The two members 15 and 16 are located one above the other and are of less width than the main frame assembly 17.

Fish hook magazine carrier brackets 20 and 21 are located beneath the bridge frame 14a and, as described below, are arranged to support a fish hook magazine assembly 29. The two brackets 20 and 21 are releasably secured to the main frame assembly 17 by through bolts 22. As shown in Figure 2, the part of the main frame assembly 17 located beneath the brackets 20 and 21 is formed with curvate guide surfaces 28. These guide surfaces 28 serve to facilitate the entry of a snood and hook into the device 10 from a long-line assembly without restraint or hindrance.

The device 10 as a whole is mounted in position on the structure of a fishing boat by means of set screws 23 attached to the carrier brackets 13, 13a, the four set screws 23 being attached to square-section bracket mountings (not shown) on the boat.

The cross-section of the reservoir 11 may be selected in dependence on the bait which is to be used but is typically of somewhat oval form as shown in Figure 2. The reservoir 11 is supported by a horizontal plate 24 which bridges the two angular support brackets 12.

The brackets 20 and 21 are formed with slots which receive tangs 30 of the magazine assembly 30 when the magazine assembly 29 is attached to the device 10 in the manner shown in Figure 20. The magazine assembly 29 is handed to ensure alignment with a hook alignment fixture 53 (see below) which is located beneath the bridge frame 14a. The arrangement may be such that, initially, a pair of loaded magazine assemblies are provided and then, when one magazine assembly has been emptied, the hooks are withdrawn from the second magazine assembly, during which time the first magazine assembly is reloaded, or replaced.

The magazine assembly 29 is in the form of a rectangular elongate box with a guide rod 31 within the box and running for the full length thereof. The magazine assembly 29 is pre-loaded with fish hooks (not shown) which are assembled in sequence within the chamber area 32. The magazine mounting tang 30 extends alongside the box-like chamber and, in attaching the magazine assembly 29 to the main frame assembly 17, the tang 30 is slidably inserted in the slot in the appropriate bracket 20, 21 depending on whether the magazine is right- or left-handed.

At the end of the magazine assembly 29 adjacent the device 10, the guide rod 31 terminates in an angular tongue 33.

The provision of this tongue 33 facilitates release of the assembled fish hooks in sequence as they move into engagement with the hook alignment fixture 53 (as described below). The snood and swivel connections to the hook move forward under the influence of the longline cord or rope and extend through an elongate slot 34 running the length of the magazine assembly 29. At the end of its guided movement, the snood can move away from the guided confinement of the elongate slot 34 and is able to angle away from the main frame assembly 17 under the guidance of a restraint arm 27.

There are no moving parts in the magazine assembly 29 which may be made from stainless steel but might alternatively be produced from a glass fibre reinforced plastics material or some other composite material able to withstand the marine environment.

The magazine assembly 29 is located adjacent what might be regarded as the entry end of the baiting device 10, at which entry end there is a channel-section clamp bracket 35 which is held in position by the wing nut 19 which has threaded engagement with a threaded pillar screw 37a. The clamp bracket 35 holds the assembly 11, 15, 16 within the main frame assembly 17 and has an up-turned end portion 36 which is formed with a notch. The up-turned end portion 36 of bracket 35 engages a notch block (not shown) located beneath the bridge frame 14a.

The channel-section member 15 serves as a cover for the shuttle-block chamber and is located by the wing nuts 18 and 19, wing nut 18 being tightened on to a threaded pillar screw 37 positioned close to the bait reservoir 11. The pillar screw 37 also acts as a fixing point for an anchorage tab 38 contained within the chamber. The tab 38 provides a hook attachment facility for two elasticated cords 39, 39a which extend longitudinally within the shuttle-block chamber. Each of the elasticated cords 39, 39a is provided at each end with a crimped metal grip 40 so that the cords may be joined at one end by hooks to the anchorage tab 38 and at the other end to flexible wire leads 41, 41a.

The two flexible wire leads 41, 41a extend to and pass over ganged pulley wheels 42, 42a mounted on a stainless steel bracket (not shown) fixed within channel-section member 16. The leads 41, 41a terminate in eye rings 43, 43a carried at the end of a first shuttle block 44. This first shuttle block 44 carries a freely rotatable pulley wheel 45 about which is wound a further flexible wire 46 the other end of which is attached to a second shuttle block 47 located beneath the first shuttle block 44. The combination of pulley wheels and wires provides for differential movement of the two shuttle blocks 44 and 47 and is such that the forward travel of the second or lower shuttle block 47 is twice that of the first or upper shuttle block 44.

The lower shuttle block 47 has an elongate slot 48 running along its base. A fish hook can engage, via this slot 48, with a swivel toggle 49. The swivel toggle 49 is mounted within the shuttle block 47 by means of a pivot pin 51 and is normally in a position such that it is in the path of movement of a fish hook. As, therefore, the fish hook moves through the device 10, corresponding movement of the shuttle block 47 will be effected. This movement of the shuttle block 47 will continue until, at the end of its travel, the swivel toggle 49 abuts against an inclined stop which serves to pivot the toggle 49 out of engagement with the hook whereupon the shuttle block 47 will be returned to its original position in readiness for engagement with the next hook on the line.

A guillotine blade 50 is attached to the first shuttle block 44 and is arranged to move forwardly with the shuttle block 44 so that it will slice off a chunk or piece of the bait in the reservoir 11. The chunk or piece of bait which is sliced off at each operation of the guillotine blade 50 may be, for example, from 1 to 3 cms. in thickness. The guillotine blade 50 moves in advance of the shuttle block 47 and is arranged to complete its cutting stroke as the lower shuttle block 47 comes to the end of its forward travel. The hook is then, as explained below, so positioned that, as the hook disengages from the swivel toggle 49 it will engage with the sliced chunk or piece of bait.

The cutting edge of the guillotine blade 50 may extend, as shown, at right angles to the path of travel of the blade but is preferably disposed at an inclination to said path so that a more efficient cutting action is obtained. Although the blade 50 is preferably fixed for movement with the upper shuttle block 44, it could alternatively be arranged for movement with the lower shuttle block 47.

Upon completion of the advancing movements of the shuttle blocks 44 and 47 and the blade 50, they are returned to their original positions by the action of the elasticated cords 39, 39a. In order to prevent bouncing or recoil of the shuttle blocks 44 and 47 and the blade 50, a dash-pot arrangement may be provided. The dash-pot may be replaced by a secondary spring system which has a buffering action and comes into operation towards the end of the return stroke of the assembly comprising the two shuttle blocks 44 and 47 and the blade 50.

To facilitate assembly of the various components within the shuttle-block chamber and to ensure correct alignment of the lower shuttle block 47 when it is in its initial position, in which the elasticated cords are relatively unstressed, the lower shuttle block 47 is formed with a pair of blind bores 52 formed in the end face thereof, these blind bores being arranged to receive pins (not shown) which extend from the end wall of the chamber.

The blind bores 52 are shown in Figure 10 which also shows an extension tang 52a which assists in guiding a hook into the slot 48 into engagement with the toggle 49. Movement of the hook into the correct position is also guided by a hook alignment fixture 53 mounted on the base of the frame assembly 17. The details of the design of this fixture 53 are shown in Figures 12 and 13 to which reference should now be made.

The fixture 53 includes a base plate 57 which is formed in two parts separated by a slot 59. The two parts of the base plate 57 carry a pair of part-tubular elements 54 and 56 which are held in assembled, spaced relationship by means of a cover plate 61. The end faces of the tubular elements 54 and 56 are inclined as shown to provide an entry face 58 which is inclined at an angle of about 300 to the horizontal, and the width of the slot 60 between the upper edges of the elements 54 and 56 is less than the width of the slot 59 between the lower edges of said elements 54 and 56.

As a fish hook attached to a snood is drawn from the magazine assembly, the eye of the fish hook will lead the point of the hook and the alignment fixture 53 will serve to turn the fish hook into a vertical plane, regardless of whether the hook part lies to the left or the right of the path of travel of the fish hook. The split tube afforded by the elements 54 and 56 will admit and guide any fish hook in such manner that its point will be vertical and always to the rear of the eye of the fish hook. As the hook is drawn along by the snood, the point of the hook could lie fractionally to the right or to the left of the centre line of the slot 60. Any possible slight misalignment is then corrected by engagement of the point of the hook with one or other of a pair of guide flanges provided on the cover 61.

A brush assembly (indicated in block form at 55 in Figure 18) is located between the alignment fixture 53 and the magazine assembly, the brush assembly 55 being carried by the main frame assembly 17 immediately below the bridge frame 14a.

The brush assembly 55 comprises three brushes 62a, 62b and 62c which are located beneath a clamp plate 63. The clamp plate 63 serves to enable the three brushes 62a, 62b and 62c to be secured releasably in guide slots in a carrier plate 69. The size and positions of the brushes are so chosen as to correspond to the shape and dimensions of the fish hooks.

An assembly tool 64 is required to facilitate accurate positioning of the bristles of the central brush 62c, which bristles are of a different profile as compared to those of the other two brushes. The assembly tool 64 is placed over the bristles of the central brush 62c and held in the required position until a through bolt 65 is inserted through side mounting holes 66 in side brackets 67a and 67b. A further pair of brackets (not shown) are provided to assist in correct positioning of the brush assembly 55 at the correct height above the base of the main frame assembly 17. The further brackets are formed with grooves to receive the edges 68 of the carrier plate 69, said further brackets being located below the bridge frame 14a.The edges 68 of the carrier plate 69 can only move slidably in the guide brackets to the position in which the through-bolt 65 is aligned with and passes through holes 70 in the upright sides of the angles forming the main frame assembly 17.

An inclined upward extension 69a is provided at the end of the carrier plate 69 adjacent the magazine assembly and serves as an initial guide for the fish hook, snood and long line as the hook is drawn from the magazine. As will be appreciated, the location of the brush assembly 55 relative to the alignment fixture is such as to permit smooth forward movement of each fish hook such that it is turned upright as it passes through the guide tube afforded by elements 54 and 56.

The fish hook is thus correctly positioned, during continued travel thereof, not only to engage in the slot 48 in the shuttle block 47 but also, in due course, to engage a chunk or piece of bait sliced off by the guillotine blade 50.

As shown, the fish hook is positioned generally vertically when it engages with the chunk or piece of bait and a pair of angled fingers (not shown) are positiond one on each side of the path of travel of the fish hook at the position at which it engages the bait. The two fingers are of angled or curvate form and depend downwardly so as to push the bait past the barb on the hook and thereby ensure that the bait remains firmly engaged with the hook.

For some purposes, it may be desired to use mackerel as a bait and to position the fish hook so that it extends horizontally when it engages with the bait so that the point of the hook engages behind the backbone of the piece of mackerel which has been sliced off by the guillotine blade 50. The hook guidance system will then be arranged to produce the required orientation of the hook.

Turning next to Figures 18 and 19, these show the provision of a guide fixture 71 which is mounted on the main frame assembly 17 in alignment with the fish bait reservoir 11, the guillotine blade 50 and the shuttle block assembly 44/47.

The guide fixture 71 provides a base for the shuttle block assembly as well as limiting lateral movement between the side angles of the main frame assembly 17. The guide fixture 71 comprises two flat metal strips 72a and 72b each of which is formed with three countersunk holes 73 which are drilled through at predetermined positions for releasable attachment of the guide fixture 71 to the base members of the two angles forming the main frame assembly 17.

At one end of the guide fixture 71 are two side brackets or platforms 74a, 74b located at a specific height above the flat strips 72a and 72b. These platforms form bases for adjustment of the thickness of the fish bait slices and will accept and releasably secure the lower shuttle box so as to restrict any lateral movement. If desired, the shuttle box assembly can be secured even more positively by pressing the side brackets or platforms 74a and 74b fractionally inwardly by means of jack screws 76 inserted between the upright sides of the main frame assembly 17 and the brackets or platforms.

Figure 20 shows the relative positions of the principal components of the device, accurate location of the fish bait reservoir Ii relative to the bridge frame 14 being assisted by means of two gaffs 77 (see Figure 8) cut into the bridge frame 14 and which receive the leading edge 78 of a plate beneath the reservoir 11.

Although, in the particular arrangement described above, the magazine assembly 29 is disposed horizontally and the fish hooks are disposed in a horizontal array within the magazine, the magazine assembly could be inclined to the horizontal with the fish hooks being drawn from the upper end of the magazine and then guided into the appropriate positions for engagement with the shuttle block system.

In use, the end of the line, together with any weights and/or floats, is cast over the side of the boat and then, as the boat progresses through the water, there is a continuous tension applied to the line which draws the hooks from the magazine assembly. Movement of the hooks through the shuttle box assembly causes movement of the guillotine blade resulting in the cutting of chunks or pieces of bait which are then so positioned that they become impaled upon the hook as it passes beneath the lower end of the bait reservoir, these movements being effected without the requirement for any external power source or motor. The baiting apparatus of the present invention is thus applicable for use in relatively small boats and is more economic than previous apparatus which has involved the use of electric motors or other prime movers.

Claims (10)

Claims:

1. A baiting apparatus for use in longline fishing comprising a reservoir into which the bait to be used is placed, a guillotine device having a blade for slicing chunks or pieces of bait from the contents of the reservoir and drive means for effecting movement of the blade in response to movement of a hook through a guidance system in such manner that a sliced chunk or piece of bait is positioned so that it will be impaled by the hook.

2. A baiting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, which includes a magazine within which a plurality of hooks can be placed and in which the drive means for operation of the guillotine device includes a shuttle block movable within a chamber by means of a hook drawn from the magazine.

3. A baiting apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the drive means includes a cord system interconnecting the shuttle block and the guillotine blade such that, as the shuttle block moves within the chamber, corresponding movement of the guillotine blade is effected.

4. A baiting apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, which includes a hook alignment fixture to ensure that, as a hook enters the chamber for engagement with the shuttle block, the hook is correctly positioned relative to the shuttle block.

5. A baiting apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, in which the hook alignment fixture includes a brush assembly.

6. A baiting apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the shuttle block is provided with engagement means for engagement with the hook, and in which disengagement means are provided such that, at a predetermined position in the travel of the shuttle block within the chamber, the engagement means on the shuttle block is disengaged from the hook and the shuttle block is free to move, under the action of restoring means, to its initial position within the chamber.

7. A baiting apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, in which damping means are provided which act on the shuttle block to damp movement thereof back to its initial position.

8. A baiting apparatus as claimed in Claim 7,-in which the restoring means also returns the guillotine blade to its original position, and in which the damping means also damps return movement of the guillotine blade.

9. A baiting apparatus for use in longline fishing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of longline fishing which comprises the use of baiting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.