Device for transferring fishing line

A rotatable shaft supports supply spools having new fishing line thereon and a take-up spool for receiving worn-out line. An electric motor is provided to rotate the shaft in a take-off direction. The motor by being energized applies tension to line as it is taken from a supply spool to a fishing reel on a fishing rod. Ballast resistors in the power line leading to the motor act as an overload current absorber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring fishing line 
from a supply spool to a fishing reel spool and spent line from such reel 
to a spent line spool. 
Fishing is a very popular sport in this country. Most fishermen own a 
fishing reel upon which is wound a fishing line. This fishing line may 
take on various colors, weights, and material. After extended use, the 
fishing line usually becomes worn or frayed and must be replaced. 
Sometimes it is desired to replace the line on the fishing reel with a 
different type line to meet the particular needs of the fisherman. The 
spent line should be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. 
Fishermen normally like to dispose of the spent fishing line in an 
acceptable manner and not just toss it away into the water where they are 
fishing or into some other part of the environment. 
There is a need for an efficient and portable device for transferring 
fishing line from a supply spool to a fishing reel spool and spent line 
from such reel to a spent line spool. That is what this invention 
accomplishes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This device is used basically for two main functions. A first function is 
for removing old line from reels and storing it on a take-up spool. A 
second function is to dispense new fishing line from a line supply spool 
onto a fishing reel. The device includes a U-shaped frame which has two 
spaced apart upright members supported from a base. A rotatable shaft is 
rotatably and releasably supported between these two upright members. One 
end of the shaft is driven by a motor, preferably an electric one. The 
shaft or rod is of a length to hold a selected number of spools having 
different or selected type of fishing line, such as weight, color, etc., 
plus a waste line take-up spool. 
There is a control panel for controlling the electric motor. There are 
essentially two modes of operation. One mode may be called the "RESPOOL" 
Mode which is used for providing line from a spool on a shaft to the 
fishing reel. The other mode is the "TAKEUP" or "STRIP" Mode for stripping 
line from a fishing reel. When in the STRIP Mode, one has a takeup spool 
on the shaft which is used to store the used line taken from the fishing 
reel. 
When one wishes to add new line to a fishing reel, one selects the spool 
having the desired line thereon. The fishing reel will normally be empty 
or free of any fishing line thereon, as will be seen, which may be 
conveniently done using the device of this invention. The end of the line 
from the supply spool is then tied or otherwise secured to the fishing 
reel. The control circuit is then selected to be in the fishing reel 
"RESPOOL"mode. On actuating, the electric motor applies torque in a 
"take-up" rotational direction for adding line to the spool which is 
opposite the "take-off" direction for removing line from the supply spool. 
In the RESPOOL Mode, the operator turns the fishing reel in the direction 
to remove line from the line supply spool on the shaft and to wind it onto 
the fishing reel. As the operator turns the reel handle, tension is 
maintained on the line between the new line supply spool and the fishing 
reel by the motor trying to turn in the take-up direction which is 
opposite the unwound rotation which is the rotation applied by turning the 
fishing feel. This tension prevents entanglement of the line as it is 
wound onto the fishing reel. The tension is controlled through a circuit 
such as a potentiometer with variable electric potential so that 
adjustment can be made to cause the torque from the motor to increase or 
decrease. Special electric control means are provided so that no damage 
caused by current overload will occur to electric motor or electronic 
circuit system. When the desired amount of line has been released on the 
reel, one stops turning the fishing reel and the motor is stopped. The 
fishing line is cut, and a holddown sticker is placed on the free end of 
the new line supply spool. 
We will now discuss the TAKEUP Mode. It is frequently desired or necessary 
to remove old line from a fishing reel. The free end of the line from the 
fishing reel is tied to the takeup spool on the shaft. There is preferably 
a motorized line guide supported on the base in front of the takeup spool 
on which the used line is to be wound. The TAKEUP mode of the circuit is 
selected. The spool release trigger on the fishing reel is pressed. The 
motor is started and rotates until all of the old line has been removed 
from the fishing reel. During operation, the old line will feed off of the 
fishing reel through the motorized line guide which will lay the line down 
evenly across the takeup or waste spool. When the takeup spool is filled, 
the waste line thereof can be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable 
manner. 
In another and preferred embodiment, the rotatable shaft supporting the 
various spools is composed of a first abbreviated shaft driven by the 
motor and extending through a first upright member. A second abbreviated 
shaft is rotatably supported by the other upright member and has spring 
biased movement perpendicular to said second upright member. A spool 
support cylinder is removably insertable between the two abbreviated 
shafts. Each abbreviated shaft has an extension with non-circular 
cross-section which extends into like configured holes in each end of said 
cylinder. The support cylinder is thus rotatable by rotation of said first 
abbreviated shaft and can be removed by pushing this second abbreviated 
member out of the hole in the second end of the cylinder. 
It is thus seen as one object of this invention to provide a device for use 
in placing new line from a supply spool to a fishing reel without 
entanglement of the line. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide a device in which 
the spent line can be unwound from a fishing reel and placed upon a takeup 
or waste line spool,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which shows the basic overall concept 
of our invention. Shown thereon is a power source 200 which preferably is 
a 12-volt DC power source which is connected to master switch 202 having 
an "On" position and "Off" position. The master switch 202 is shown 
connected to the input toggle switch 204 which has a Position 1 and 
Position 2. When in Position 1, it is connected to place the apparatus in 
the "STRIP" Mode. When toggle switch 204 is in the Number 2 position, it 
is in the RESPOOL Mode. The STRIP Mode is the Mode in which the apparatus 
is in when it is desired to remove spent or worn line from a fishing reel. 
The RESPOOL Mode is the position in which the apparatus will be placed 
when it is desired to add new fishing line to a reel from a supply spool. 
The Number 1 position of toggle switch 204 (the STRIP Mode) is connected to 
an electrical conduit or line 206 which connects to junction 230 which 
provides for an output electrical line 210 connected to a motorized line 
guide 218. The other portion of the Y circuit from junction 230 is 
electrical conduit 212 which connects through junction 226 to electrical 
motor 216 which is the rewind motor. Also in line 212 is a diode 214 which 
permits electrical current to flow through line 212 only in the direction 
from junction 230 to junction 226 and motor 216. Motor 216 has an output 
power gear 228 which is used to turn a shaft upon which the waste spool 
and the supply line spool are mounted as will be fully discussed in 
relation to the rest of the drawings, especially FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 8. 
When it is desired to strip or remove worn line or to change line by 
removing a line from the fishing reel, the line is attached to a waste 
line spool driven by motor 216. Then the power is supplied through toggle 
switch 204 to motors 216 and 218. The motor rotates the supply take-up or 
waste spool while at the same time the motorized guideline 218 drags the 
line along the spool to make smooth winding upon the take-up spool. If 
desired, a hand-held switch 52 (see FIG. 2) can be put into line segment 
206 for remote operation. If the remote operation is used in operation of 
the motors, the master switch 202 is turned to the "On" position, and the 
toggle switch is in the 1 position for "strip". However, until the 
hand-held switch is activated, the motors 1 and 2 receive no power. By 
activating the hand-held switch, the two motors are activated as described 
above. 
When it is desired to operate the system in the RESPOOL Mode, toggle switch 
204 is placed in the No. 2 position which connects power to the electric 
conduit 208 which is connected to potentiometer 220. Potentiometer 220 is 
used to control the voltage and current to motor 216. The output of 
potentiometer 220 is connected to a device 222 for absorbing overload 
current. As indicated, a suitable heat absorption means is a plurality of 
ballast resistors such as Radio Shack.RTM. Power Resistors Cat. No. 
271-133. Other overload flow compensators can be other power absorption 
means such as a pulse width modulator or a transistor control modulator. 
These overload current compensators, i.e. ballast resistors, pulse width 
modulator, and transistor control power modulators are well known to those 
skilled in the art. 
In the RESPOOL Mode when master power switch 202 is in the "On" position 
and toggle switch 204 is in the No. 2 position, current flow is through 
the potentiometer 220, overload power compensator 222, and line 224 to 
motor 216 to cause it to drive gear 228. It will be noted that diode 214 
in line 212 prevents current from flowing through conduits 212 and 210 
back to motor 218. When in this RESPOOL Mode, motor 218 is inoperative. In 
the RESPOOL Mode when one wishes to add new line to a fishing reel, the 
line from such supply spool is secured to the fishing reel. The supply 
spool is on the shaft driven by motor 216 whose rotation will take-up or 
add line to the spool. The power is turned "On" and the motor 216 begins 
to rotate in its normal direction for adding line to the spool. The 
fishing reel when it is turned to remove line from the supply spool tends 
to force the motor 216 to turn in a reverse direction from which it 
normally turns. This is necessary to keep tension on the line being placed 
on the fishing reel to be evenly spaced on the fishing reel and will not 
become tangled, etc. By forcing the motor 216 to go in its reverse 
direction, considerable power overload can be generated and must be 
compensated for. That is what overload current flow compensator 222 does. 
This absorbs the overflow current and thus prevents motor 216 from 
overheating and "burning" out. When the fishing reel has been wound to 
obtain the desired amount of fishing line thereon, the power is turned 
off; the fishing line is cut from the supply spool and then can be used to 
connect to the fishing hook or whatever. 
Attention is next directed to FIG. 2 which shows partly in section a side 
view of the device of this invention with takeup spool and new line supply 
spool mounted on a shaft. Shown thereon is a U frame having a base 18 and 
a first upright compartment or support 10 on one end thereof, and a second 
upright compartment or support 12 on the other end. Compartment 10 is 
provided with an inner upright shaft bearing support wall or member 14. 
The other end of the shaft is supported by bearing support wall or member 
16 which is a part of the upright compartment 12. Shaft 24 is supported by 
bearing 34 from bearing support wall 16 and by support shaft bearing 36 
from bearing support wall 14. 
Mounted upon shaft 24 are new line supply spools 26, 28, and 30 and takeup 
or waste line spool 32. These may all be conventional spools having a 
central core and end members or plates 38. A spool locking nut 40 is 
provided on one threaded end portion of shaft 24, and a second spool 
locking nut 42 is provided on the threaded portion at the other end of the 
shaft. After the spools have been placed on the shaft, the nuts 40 and 42 
are screwed onto the shaft 24 and tightened until they form a compressed 
unit of the spools. Thus in this condition the spools will rotate with the 
rotation of shaft 24. The shaft support bearing 34 is positioned about one 
end of shaft 24 in a bearing receiving notch in bearing support wall 16, 
and the second similar bearing 36 is positioned on the other end of shaft 
24 and positioned in a bearing receiving notch in bearing support wall 14. 
Compartment 10 has a top 22, and compartment 12 has a top 20. These tops 
can be hinged or screwed or otherwise removably attached thereto. 
Compartment 12 can be used to store wrenches, scissors, or what else a 
fisherman may desire. 
Power control is in compartment 10 which includes an electric motor 44 
which is typically a 2 to 18 volt DC motor with power supply conduit 47. 
The shaft of motor 44 is provided with a bevel gear 46 which mates with 
bevel gear 48 which is attached to the shaft 24. Thus rotation of motor 44 
causes rotation of shaft 24 through gears 46 and 48. Electronics control 
panel 50 is provided for motor 44. A remote control switch 52 is provided. 
As will be seen, it is useful in stripping or removing used or worn-out 
line from a fishing reel. 
A motorized line guide 54 is supported from plate 63 on base 18. Plate 63 
should be metal and have an iron component so that the motorized line 
guide 54 having magnetic feet 61 will allow the guide to be held in any 
selected position when the motorized line guide is placed thereon. The 
motorized line guide 54 has a motor 56 with a power supply line 58 and a 
worm gear 60. A moving hairpin loop 62 is provided and moves along the 
worm gear 60 as it is rotated by motor 56. The spent line or worn-out line 
from the fishing reel is threaded through the loop 62 and is secured to 
the pickup spool 32. Then as the spool 32 is rotated, the worn-out line 
will be deposited neatly and orderly on the spool 32. 
Attention is now especially directed to FIG. 3 which is a view taken along 
the line 3--3 of FIG. 2. Sometimes when placing the spools on the shaft, 
the shaft will rotate slightly and will not stay in a steady position 
because the bearings 34 and 36 will remove most of the friction that might 
prevent rotation. If unenergized, motor 44 would cause little resistance. 
Thus, it is preferred to have a system for stabilizing the position of the 
shaft 24 when in its non-operating position as shown in FIG. 3. This is 
conveniently accomplished by providing a screw 64 through threaded housing 
66 supported from support wall 16. The screw 64 is made of suitable 
plastic material. The screw 64 is tightened against the end portion 68 of 
shaft 24 to supply sufficient friction to prevent rotation of shaft 68 
when it is not driven by the motor. The friction is sufficiently small so 
as to permit the drive motor 44 to easily overcome it when energized. 
Also shown in FIG. 3 is reel 70, shown in phantom, having a spent line or 
waste line 72 thereon which extends through loop 62 to waste or disposal 
spool 32. Also shown on FIG. 3 are electronic panel 50, supply power 
socket 74, plug in 76 for remote stop and start of motor for stripping or 
removing spent line from a reel, and a plug 78 into which a line can be 
inserted for providing power such as 12 volt DC thereto. 
FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and shows the worn-out 
spent line 72 being removed from reel 70 and through loop 62 to be wound 
on spent spool 32. 
FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4 and shows eyelet 62 in 
the center position with the phantom position on either side thereof to 
indicate the movement as the worm gear 60 is rotated. 
FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a view 
taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 5. These figures clearly show motor gear 
90 which is meshed with drive worm tooth gear 92 which in turn rotates 
worm gear 60. 
Another embodiment, and the preferred one, of this invention will now be 
discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 8-15. This embodiment is similar in 
overall concept to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. However, the support 
shaft which supports the spools is different. The support shaft includes a 
center spool support shaft which is removable in a different manner, 
Attention is first directed to FIG. 8 which shows a spool support cylinder 
100 supporting spools 108A, 108B, and 108n shown in phantom and removably 
supported between upright support frames 120 and 122 which serves similar 
function of upright members 14 and 16 of FIG. 2. This FIG. 8 is shown in 
partially exploded view. Octagonal abbreviated shaft 112 is driven by 
motor 44 through gears 46 and 48. Abbreviated shaft section 112 is 
supported by bearings 144 and 146 supported by housings 140 and frame 120. 
Shaft 112 removably fits into octagonal hole 110 of spool support 100. 
Octagonal abbreviated shaft 116 fits into octagonal hole 114 in the other 
end of support cylinder 100. As will be seen in operation, the shaft 112 
is in hole 110 so as to impart rotation to spool support 100 and give it 
support, and shaft 116 is in hole 114 to give it support. 
Attention is now directed to the power side of the device of FIG. 8. Shown 
thereon is motor 44, gears 46 and 48 (similar to that of FIG. 3) which 
rotates shaft 142. As shown, is an enlarged portion 154 of shaft 142 which 
rotates freely on bearings 144 and 146 which are recessed in housing 140 
and in frame 120, respectively. Housing 140 has internal surface 152 and a 
shoulder member 150. An enlarged section 155 on shaft 142 serves as a 
spacer. Housing 140 is supported from frame 120. A spool retaining washer 
102 is secured to spool support cylinder 100 by screws 104 which, when 
tightened, prevent movement of washer 102 with respect to the spool 
support cylinder 100. The other end of the support cylinder 100 includes a 
free floating washer 106 which when secured to the support cylinder 100 in 
cooperation with spool retaining washer 102 holds the spools in fixed 
position on the support cylinder 100. Octagonal shaft section 116 is 
provided with enlarged cylindrical section 127 which is supported from 
frame 122 and support cover 126 by bearings 128 and 130, respectively. 
Enlarged barrel-like spacer 123 is provided in housing 126. Cover 126 is 
supported from frame 122. 
Attention is next directed to FIGS. 9 and 11 which illustrate how the 
octagonal shaft 116 can be pushed to the right to clear hole 114 in end 
115 of shaft support cylinder 100 a sufficient distance to permit removal 
of cylinder 100. This includes a shaft extension 132 which extends into 
bore 125 of barrel 123 and through a hole 133 in shoulder 136 which is a 
shoulder in barrel 123. There is a shoulder 138 between octagonal shaft 
116 and shaft extension 132. A spring 134 is positioned around the shaft 
extension 132 and extends between shoulder 138 and shoulder 136. A nut 135 
is threadedly connected onto the outer end of shaft extension 132 and 
holds the shaft in position as spring 134 will force nut 135 against 
shoulder 137. Thus shaft 116 is biased toward support cylinder 100. By 
pushing on push washer 124 toward spring 134, the spring will be 
compressed, and shaft 116 will be pushed out of octagonal hole 114. The 
travel is sufficient so that spool support cylinder 100 can be moved to 
the right so that octagonal shaft 112 clears hole 110 in the other end of 
support cylinder 100. Then the spool support cylinder 100 can be removed. 
Attention is next directed to FIGS. 13 and 14 which illustrate the means 
for holding free floating washer 106 snugly against the spools which are 
supported between washer 106 and spool retaining washer 102. This includes 
a removable inner barrel 162 which slides over cylinder 100 and is 
threaded on the outer periphery. The end of barrel 162 toward the frame 
122 is split as shown in FIG. 14 to have a slit 168 which extends 
preferably to near the threaded portion 163 of inner barrel 162. An outer 
barrel 180 has internal threads which mate with the external threads of 
inner barrel 162. 
We shall now discuss means for holding the inner barrel 162 in the selected 
position. As shown in FIG. 14, this includes slit 168 between split 
segments 176 and 178. Screw 170 extends through a hole in portion 172 and 
extends into a threaded hole 174 of the other slit side 176. By tightening 
the screws 170, the split halves 176 and 178 will engage spool support 
cylinder 100 with sufficient force as to prevent longitudinal and 
rotational movement with respect to cylinder 100. In order to get 
additional axial force against the free floating washer 106 after spools 
are added on cylinder 100, outer barrel 180 will be rotated by pushing on 
lug 164 until the desired snugness is obtained between the free floating 
washer 106 and the spools. It is to be noted that the outer barrel 180 is 
held with respect to the free floating washer 106 by a snap-on pressure 
lock plate 160 which cooperates with lug 161 of the outer barrel 180. When 
the desired snugness is obtained, jam nut 166 is rotated by applying 
pressure on lug 167 until it "locks" with lug 164 of the outer barrel 180. 
In operation, after the desired number of spools have been placed on spool 
support cylinder 100 and moved against the spool retaining washer 102, 
outer barrel 180 is connected or snapped to free floating washer 106 and 
screwed partly onto inner barrel 162 to form a unit which fits over 
support cylinder 100 and slid to the position where free floating washer 
106 contacts the end of fishing line spool 108n. Outer barrel 180 has 
enough longitudinal movement by screwing to hold the free floating washer 
106 snugly against the spool 108n. Screws 170 are tightened to hold inner 
barrel 162 in a fixed position with respect to support cylinder 100. Outer 
barrel 180 is then rotated to force washer 106 into compression contact 
with the end plate of spool 108n. The cylinder 100 may now be placed into 
position to engage abbreviated shafts 112 and 114. In such process, shaft 
116, will be shoved to compress spring 134, cylinder 100 inserted to 
receive shaft 112; and upon release of force on 116 to receive shaft 116 
in the hole on the other end. Removal of cylinder 100 is accomplished by a 
reverse operation. 
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details 
of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of this 
disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the 
embodiment set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be 
limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the 
full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.