EP-4734761-A1 - AUTOMATED FISHING KNOT TYING ARRANGEMENT

EP4734761A1EP 4734761 A1EP4734761 A1EP 4734761A1EP-4734761-A1

Abstract

Provided is an automated fishing knot tying arrangement (10) comprising a fishing line feeder (14) configured to feed fishing line (8), a line tensioner (16) configured to tension said line, and a line manipulation assembly (18) operatively supplied with line (8) from the feeder (14) and configured to manipulate the line in order to tie a fishing knot (12), such as a dropper loop, therein. Arrangement (10) also includes at least one knot sensor (20) configured to sense a knot tied into the line, a line collector (22) configured to collect fishing line with a fishing knot tied therein, and a controller (24) arranged in signal communication with, and configured to monitor and control, the line feeder (14), line tensioner (16), line manipulation assembly (18), knot sensor (20) and line collector (22), in order automatically and continuously to tie interspaced fishing knots along the fishing line for use as a paternoster fishing rig.

Inventors

RAPLEY, James

Assignees

DHF Technology Pty Ltd

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240507

Claims (20)

1 . An automated fishing knot tying arrangement comprising : a fishing line feeder configured to feed fishing line ; a line tensioner configured to tension said line ; a line manipulation assembly operatively supplied with line from the feeder and configured to manipulate the line in order to tie a fishing knot , such as a dropper loop, therein; at least one knot sensor configured to sense a knot tied into the line ; a line collector configured to col lect fishing line with a fishing knot tied therein; and a controller arranged in signal communication with, and configured to monitor and control , the line feeder, line tensioner, line manipulation assembly, knot sensor and line collector, in order automatical ly and continuously to tie interspaced fishing knots along the fishing line for use as a paternoster fishing rig .
2 . The automated fishing knot tying arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the line feeder, line tensioner, line manipulation assembly, knot sensor and line collector are arranged on a platform .
3 . The automated fishing knot tying arrangement of either of claims 1 or 2 , wherein the line feeder comprises an electrical motor arranged in register with a spindle by means of a magnetic particle clutch, a spool of fishing line supported on the spindle for feeding to the line manipulation assembly, as required .
4 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the line tensioner is arranged between the line feeder and line manipulation assembly, and configured to tension the line to facil itate the line manipulation assembly manipulating said line .
5 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the line feeder and line tensioner are monitored and controlled by the controller to selectively tension the line supplied to the line manipulation assembly .
6 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the line tensioner comprises a pulley assembly and biasing element , such as a spring, arranged to tension the line .
7 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the line tensioner comprises a load cell via which the controller is arranged to monitor a tension in the line .
8 . The automated fishing knot tying arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the pulley assembly compri ses three pulleys , with two pulleys arranged substantially co-planar and a third arranged above with the fishing line operatively threaded via all three pulleys , an upper pulley of which comprises the load cell .
9 . The automated fishing knot tying arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the biasing element is arranged after the pulley assembly to bias the line in a transverse direction of travel .
10 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the line tensioner comprises an aligner configured to facilitate feeding of line to the line manipulation assembly .
11 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the controller is configured to control the electrical motor and clutch of the line feeder in accordance with a monitored tension in the line .
12 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the line manipulation assembly comprises a plurality of staging actuators configured to receive and position said line for tying, and a plurality of tying actuators configured to interact with said staged line in order to tie fishing knots therein .
13 . The automated fishing knot tying arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the staging actuators comprise a plurality of linear actuators controllably extensible or retractable to receive and position the line for tying .
14 . The automated fishing knot tying arrangement of either of claims 12 or 13 , wherein the tying actuators comprise a plurality of linear actuators controllably extensible or retractable to manipulate the line for tying .
15 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 12 to 14 , wherein the controller is configured to sequence extension and retraction of the staging and tying actuators to create a loop in the line , wrap the loop around a crossover point in the line a number of times , and pass the loop through a hole proximate the crossover point , the controller further configured to control the fishing line feeder and/or line collector in order to pull line tight to form a resulting dropper loop knot .
16 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 12 to 15 , wherein the staging actuators comprise three linear actuators extensible from, and retractable into , the platform, said three linear actuators arranged about a loop li fting actuator to facilitate wrapping the loop around a crossover point in the line a number of times .
17 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 12 to 16 , wherein the tying actuators comprise four linear actuators arranged about the staging actuators , two actuators arranged to stage the line onto the staging actuators , one actuator extensibly and oscilatably arranged to facilitate wrapping the loop around a crossover point in the line a number of times , and one actuator arranged to pass the loop through a hole proximate the crossover point .
18 . The automated fishing knot tying arrangement of claim 17 , wherein the one actuator extensibly and oscilatably arranged complementarily interacts with the loop li fting actuator to facilitate wrapping the loop around a crossover point in the line a number of times .
19 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 12 to 18 , wherein the tying actuators extend or retract in a direction substantially transverse to a direction in which the staging actuators extend or retract .
20 . The automated fi shing knot tying arrangement of any of claims 12 to 19 , wherein the tying actuators extend or retract in a plane substantially coplanar within a plane in which the line travels through the line manipulation assembly .

Description

AUTOMATED FISHING KNOT TYING ARRANGEMENT TECHNICAL FIELD [ 0001 ] This invention relates broadly to the art of fishing and fishing knots , and more speci fically to an automated fishing knot tying arrangement , a controller for such an automated fishing knot tying arrangement , and an automated method for tying fishing knots in a fishing line . BACKGROUND ART [ 0002 ] The following discussion of the background art i s intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only . The discussion i s not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application . [ 0003 ] Fishing has been an important part of human culture since hunter-gatherer times , and is one of the few food production activities that have persisted from prehistory into the modern age , surviving both the Neolithic Revolution and successive Industrial Revolutions . In addition to being caught to be eaten for food, fish are also caught as a recreational pastime . [ 0004 ] Such recreational fishing, also called sport fishing or game fishing, is fishing for leisure , exercise or competition . The most common form of recreational fishing is angling, which is done with a rig of rod, reel , line , hooks and any one of a wide range of baits , as well as other complementary devices such as weights , floats , swivels and method feeders, collectively referred to as terminal tackles. A popular substyle of angling includes handline fishing, or handlining, where a single fishing line is held in the hands, typically on a reel, rather than with a fishing rod. Both angling and handlining generally make use of a fishing rig, which is an arrangement of items used for fishing and assembled from one or more lines, hooks, sinkers, bobbers, swivels, lures, beads, and other fishing tackle. A rig might be held by a rod, by hand, or attached to a boat or pier. One of the most versatile fishing rigs is the so-called paternoster rig. [0005] The Paternoster rig is very popular amongst anglers, as it can be used to fish over rough terrain in deep water, or fishing off the beach and rocks. A Paternoster rig is typically fitted with one or multiple hooks and is fairly snag resistant. A Paternoster rig can be set up by either using knots or swivels where dropper loops are connected to the main line, and variety of sinkers can be used, typically looped on or attached to the bottom of the rig. Such a Paternoster rig generally keeps fishing hooks away from the main leader line and gives bait a more natural movement in the water. [0006] Fishing rigs, such as the Paternoster rig, generally require a number of fishing knots, typically being special knots used to secure a fishing line to a hook, lure, or swivel. When fishing, it is important to ensure that any knots used are tightened properly so it does not come undone while fishing, which may lead to loss of fish, bait and/or the rig itself. A dropper loop knot generally refers to a method of tying knots that involves attaching additional baits, jigs, and flies to one fishing line. The dropper loop is a type of loop knot often used on multi-hook fishing lines, specifically a Paternoster rig. It can be created in the middle of a long line and forms a loop which is off to the side of the line. The dropper loop is typically tied by creating a large loop in the middle of a line, holding the centre of the loop, wrapping the loop around a crossover point a number of times, opening a hole in the centre proximate the crossover and passing the loop through the hole and pulling the knot tight. Such a dropper loop generally angles away from the line which helps to avoid tangles and is one of the simplest ways to add multihooks to a fishing rig. [0007] As with any fishing knot, tying a dropper loop requires practice and expertise for a desired result, which can be difficult and time-consuming to master, especially when tying fishing line. Spending an inordinate amount of time and effort to master a dropper loop when fishing can detract from an overall fishing experience. The current invention was conceived with the goal in mind of ameliorating the practice of manually tying fishing knots, such as dropper loop fishing knots, in a line when assembling a fishing rig. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The skilled addressee is to appreciate that reference herein to 'fishing line' and 'line' generally comprises broad reference to any flexible, high-tensile cord useable in angling to tether and pull in fish, typically in conjunction with at least one hook. Such fishing line may be pulled by and stored in a reel, but may also be retrieved by hand, with a fixed attachment to the end of a rod, or via a suitable motor. Such fishing line is typically made from synthetic polymers such as nylon, polyethylene or polyvinylidene fluoride ("fluorocarbon") and may come in monofilament or braided (multifilament) forms. [ 0009 ] According to a f