Crab pot warp line coiler

Abstract

A crab pot warp line coiler is disclosed utilizing the unique properties of 'Crab Lay' type synthetic line. Drawn by the coiler from a pot hauler, the line passes initially around an input guide sheave and thereupon downwardly across a vertical span into the nip between opposing guide rollers underlying the guide sheave. These feed the line directly down into the central part of a receiving enclosure serving to confine the coils which inherently form in a sufficiently orderly manner in the process without other guide means being required. The feed rollers, one comprising a pneumatic tire that runs in a peripheral groove about the other, are yieldably spring actuated toward each other so as to grip the line for feed purposes with a pressure that, by reason of the overlying location of the input sheave assuming horizontally directed incoming line tension load, is kept substantially independent of line load tension. Furthermore, the heavy and bulky knots securing together the successive shots of the dense Crab Lay line are enabled to pass through the feed rolls readily at the high hauling speeds employed without disrupting the continuous coiler action, nor causing excessive mechanical shock in the apparatus.