Fishery float and method for removing surface deposits from fishery float

Abstract

To solve the problem in which the work efficiency for peeling and removing barnacles and the like adhering to a fishery float is poor, hindering proper operation of the fishery float.SOLUTION: In a fishery float 10 composed of a hollow spherical portion and annular ear portions, if the surface between antipodal points of the hollow spherical portion 11 (excluding the region in which the ear portions are formed) is formed as an uneven surface 14 in which a shape meandering with a predetermined amplitude and period in the meridian direction continuously circles in the latitudinal direction, then the uneven surface 14 becomes a growth-inhibiting factor for barnacles and weakens their adhesive strength. A blade 32 having comb-shaped cutting edges is attached to a vibration-driven tool 30, and by pressing and vibrating the comb-shaped cutting edges in the circumferential direction in a state in which the comb-shaped cutting edges are fitted in the recesses of the uneven surface 14 of the fishery float 10, surface deposits 40 such as barnacles adhering to the fishery float 10 can be efficiently peeled and removed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fishing float configuration and a method for removing surface deposits that enable more efficient removal of shellfish, such as barnacles, seaweed, and the like, when they become attached to the fishing float. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a large number of floats have been used as buoyancy materials in the construction of fish and shellfish farming facilities (for example, longline oyster farming facilities) and fixed nets. Fishing floats are hollow resin molded products (some are filled with foam) that are spherical, rugby ball-shaped, cylindrical, or other shapes, and some have one or more annular ears integrally formed on the outer surface, or have a through hole along the central axis for inserting a rope.

[0003] Many floats are connected by ropes, and the buoyancy of each float suspends fishing gear and fishing nets in the sea, but over the long period of aquaculture and the laying of fishing nets, barnacles, shellfish (oysters, mussels, etc.), and seaweed adhere to the surface of the floats, reducing their buoyancy and often requiring the addition of new floats. Furthermore, the sharp edges of barnacles and shellfish can damage the ropes and accelerate their deterioration.

[0004] In response to this, Patent Document 1 below proposes a method of removing barnacles that have adhered to the outer surface of an underwater installation, including a float, by applying a vinyl chloride paste resin dissolved in a naturally volatile organic solvent to the outer surface of the underwater installation to form a coating film, installing the float in the sea, and then pulling it out of the sea and peeling off the coating film. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 below proposes storing a float inside a cage-like structure made of flexible synthetic resin in a manner that allows relative rotation, making it difficult for shellfish such as barnacles and seaweed to adhere to the surface of the float.

[0005] However, in the invention of Patent Document 1 below, even if the method is actually effective, there is a possibility that it could lead to seawater pollution by chemical substances, and considering the method of use, it can be said that it is difficult to adopt these days due to environmental concerns. Furthermore, in the invention of Patent Document 2 listed below, the float is covered with a basket-like cover, which makes the structure complex and heavy, and it is easy to imagine that this would make it difficult to use in practice. There is also the question of whether the relative rotation between the float and the cover can actually occur frequently enough to prevent the adhesion of barnacles and the like.

[0006] For these reasons, in practice, barnacles and the like attached to floats must be directly mechanically removed, and methods that have been adopted include (A) manually removing the barnacles by inserting the cutting edge of a scraper into the bottom of the barnacle shell, or (B) as shown in Patent Documents 3-5 below, which combine a mechanism for pivotally supporting and rotating the float with a guide mechanism for moving a blade along the surface of the float, thereby reducing or automating the manual labor and efficiently removing the barnacles. Note that with regard to method (B), for example, when a fishing float has a spherical shape, there is a device that pivots the float at ears formed at two locations on the outer periphery that correspond to antipodal points, and is equipped with a mechanism for removing barnacles and other attachments by pressing a blade against the outer periphery of the float while rotating it.

[0007] On the other hand, Patent Document 6 below describes that, with regard to floating rings for seaweed cultivation, if cylindrical protrusions with a diameter of 3 mm or less and a length of 2 to 10 mm are arranged on the surface of the floating ring at intervals of 1 to 3 mm, it is possible to prevent the attachment of marine organisms such as barnacles to the floating ring. It also shows the observation that if the spacing between the protrusions is less than 1 mm, barnacles will attach to the protrusions, and conversely, if the spacing is 3 mm or more, they will attach between the protrusions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-244854 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-113105 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-018934 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-275160 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-107700 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-045065 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Incidentally, barnacles are a typical organism that grows by attaching themselves to the outer surface of fishing floats. They belong to the same crustacean family as crabs and shrimp, and according to the following references (1)-(4), they go through the following growth process: [Reference (1): Ryusuke Kato, "Barnacles (Part 1)", Marine Biological Research Institute News, Marine Biological Research Institute, April 2018, No. 138, pp. 7-9], [Reference (2): Ryusuke Kato, "Barnacles (Part 2)", Marine Biological Research Institute News, Marine Biological Research Institute, July 2018, No. 139, pp. 7-9], [Reference (3): Takayuki Murozaki, "Attachment and Growth of Barnacles on Hydrogels", Journal of the Adhesion Society of Japan, The Adhesion Society of Japan, 2016, Vol. 52, No. 2], [Reference (4): Ryusuke Kato and four others, "Reproduction, Larval Distribution, Attachment, and Early Growth of the Barnacle Barnacle in Mutsu Bay", Journal of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, 2009, Vol. 75, No. 3, pp. 432-442].

[0010] While the adult stage is an attached life, the larvae are free-swimming. After hatching from the living organism, they go through a period (about 5 days) known as the nauplius larvae (body length about 0.2-0.5 mm) in which they grow and molt repeatedly while feeding on plankton etc., before metamorphosing into the completely different cyprid larvae (body length about 0.5 mm). As they swim, the larvae repeatedly use their antennae to search for a suitable surface to attach to, and finally attach to the surface of the substrate they have decided to attach to by secreting adhesive proteins, after which they metamorphose into juveniles (body length about 0.5 mm) within a few hours.

[0011] During the growth process from the juvenile to adult (approximately 10 to 40 mm, depending on the species and environment), the cement protein is secreted onto the bottom surface as the pericylus grows, expanding its attachment range. The vase-shaped or Mount Fuji-shaped shell of a barnacle consists of a peripheral shell made up of six fan-shaped shell plates, a cover plate that covers the upper opening (the shell opening), and a base of the shell (calcareous or cuticular) that corresponds to the bottom plate, and the body is inside, covered by these shells. As it grows after attaching to the surface of the attachment substrate, new calcium carbonate is secreted into the arc-like parts of each shell plate and into the straight parts on the left and right, increasing the height and diameter of the entire shell.In addition, calcium carbonate or cuticle is secreted concentrically around the periphery of the base of the shell, increasing its diameter.However, as mentioned above, cement proteins are secreted onto the bottom surface of the shell, ensuring strong adhesion to the surface of the attachment substrate.

[0012] In relation to fishing floats, the first to attach to their surface are cypris larvae (approximately 0.5 mm in body length), which explore the suitability of the surface of the substrate for attachment. Patent Document 6 above suggests that barnacle attachment can be prevented by arranging cylindrical protrusions with a diameter of 3 mm or less and a length of 2 to 10 mm at intervals of 1 to 3 mm on the surface of the float. However, the invention of Patent Document 6 above relates to a floating ring for seaweed cultivation, not a fishing float, and the floating ring that produced good results in the test examples in the specification is said to be made entirely or on its surface from one or more of a variety of general-purpose rubbers, such as silicone rubber, natural rubber (NR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), and ethylene propylene diene copolymer (EPDM), which are different from ABS, polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl acetate (EVA), which are commonly used as float materials. In other words, the floating ring for seaweed cultivation in Patent Document 6 is able to prevent barnacles from attaching because the surface of the attachment substrate is made of rubber such as silicone rubber, and it is presumed that such good results would not be obtained if it were made of ABS, PE, or EVA. Furthermore, while floating rings for seaweed cultivation are used under relatively static conditions, floats for fishing are constantly subjected to harsh mechanical conditions such as collisions and abrasions, and harsh natural environments such as sunlight and temperature changes. Therefore, they must have mechanical strength such as impact resistance and durability, as well as sufficient weather resistance, and the rubber material conditions and surface shape conditions for the floating rings in Patent Document 6 cannot be applied to floats.

[0013] When mechanically removing barnacles attached to fishing floats, as mentioned above, the barnacles continuously secrete cement proteins onto the bottom of their shells during their growth process, which causes them to adhere very firmly to the surface of the fishing float. Therefore, even with the use of a scraper, the barnacles often do not come off easily, and the process must be done by hand, which requires a great deal of time and effort. This difficulty in peeling is also seen in the peeling devices described in Patent Documents 3-5 below, which combine a float support rotation mechanism with a blade guide mechanism; conversely, manual work using a scraper is not as accurate as guiding the blade into the gap between the barnacle shell and the float surface, and shells are often left behind. In addition, the device needs to be operated with a strong rotational torque and sliding force, which makes it prone to malfunction.

[0014] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a fishing float and a method for removing surface deposits from a fishing float, which creates irregularities on the outer peripheral surface of the fishing float to induce unfavorable factors in the barnacle growth process, thereby weakening the adhesion strength of the barnacles as much as possible and making it possible to remove them more reliably and efficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The first invention relates to a fishing float consisting of a hollow spherical portion (including those in which the hollow portion is filled with foam) and annular ear portions formed integrally on part of its surface, characterized in that the surface between antipodal points of the spherical portion, except for the area in which the annular ear portions are formed, is formed as an uneven surface consisting of a meandering shape with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the meridian direction, which continuously circles in the latitude direction. The surface of the spherical portion of the fishing float of this invention is an uneven surface with concave and convex portions that circle along the latitude direction between antipodal points and alternate in the meridian direction.However, after barnacle cypris larvae attach to the surface of the fishing float, they grow by secreting cement proteins onto the bottom surface as the larvae grow, and if the surface of their attachment substrate is made up of this uneven surface, regardless of whether the attachment point is a concave or convex portion, they will grow unevenly because they will be growing on a curved surface with a small radius of curvature, and their adhesion strength will be weaker than when they grow on a flat surface or a surface with a large radius of curvature. This is because, when removing barnacles attached to conventional spherical fishing floats, barnacles attached near the boundary between the spherical area and the annular ears are easier to remove than those attached to other areas, and it is speculated that the uneven surface may cause some irregularity in the secretion of cement proteins by the barnacles onto the bottom of their shells. Furthermore, in the fishing float of this invention, the recessed and protruding portions are arranged in the latitudinal direction, and therefore, as will be described later, by pressing and vibrating the comb-shaped cutting edges of the blades while they are fitted into the recessed and protruding portions, barnacles and the like can be continuously peeled off in a stable operating state without side-slippage or the like. The annular ears are used to thread a rope through and engage the floats together, and generally one or two are formed, but for the reasons mentioned above, there is no need to form an uneven surface in the formation area.

[0016] The second invention relates to a fishing float having a basic form of a roughly elongated spherical rotating body with a through hole formed along its long axis, and whose thick portion is hollow (including when filled with foam), characterized in that the rotating surface area on the outer periphery of the rotating body is formed as an uneven surface formed by continuously circling in the latitudinal direction a meandering shape with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the meridian direction. This invention relates to a fishing float having an outer shape of a roughly elongated spheroid, with through holes for threading ropes formed along the long axis; in terms of the configuration of the uneven surface relative to the outer circumferential rotating surface area, the only difference between this and the first invention is that the basic shape is either spherical or roughly elongated spheroid; like the first invention, it hinders the smooth growth of barnacles, weakening their adhesive strength, and the comb-shaped cutting edges of the blades allow barnacles and the like to be stably and continuously removed. Barnacles also attach to the through-holes through which the rope is passed, but since the radius of curvature of the attachment surface is small and the rope constantly rubs against it, they are easily removed, there is no need to make the surface uneven.

[0017] In the fishing floats according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is preferable to select the amplitude in the range of 5 mm to 10 mm and the cycle length in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm. After attaching to the surface of fishing floats as cyprid larvae, barnacles generally grow to an adult shell diameter of about 5 mm in 70 days, although this varies depending on the environment and species, and then grow to 10 to 40 mm (average 20 to 30 mm) over the next one to two years. If the amplitude and periodic length in the meridian direction of the uneven surface are selected within the above ranges, the radius of curvature of the uneven surface will always be an inhibitory factor against the growth of the periphery and the secretion of cement proteins to the bottom surface, and when peeling off barnacles with the comb-like cutting edge of the blade, the comb-like cutting edge can be configured to a size that is appropriate in terms of mechanical strength.

[0018] The third invention relates to a method for removing surface deposits from a fishing float, characterized in that a blade having a comb-shaped cutting edge formed thereon that fits into the uneven surfaces of multiple periodic lengths along the meridian direction on the fishing float of the first or second invention is attached to the swing part of a vibration-driven tool, and the blade is pressed and vibrated in the latitude direction while the comb-shaped cutting edge of the vibration-driven tool is fitted into the uneven surfaces located below the surface deposits of the fishing float. This invention relates to a method for removing barnacles and the like that have attached to the fishing float of the first or second invention, and since these fishing floats are configured with an uneven surface as described above, when a blade with a comb-shaped cutting edge is fitted into the uneven surface and pressed and vibrated, the blade is guided in the circumferential direction of the fishing float without slipping sideways, and in addition to the fact that the uneven surface acts as an obstacle to the growth of barnacles and weakens their adhesive strength, barnacles and the like can be efficiently removed.

[0019] In the third invention, it is desirable to configure the lower surface of the blade as a filing surface. Even if the comb-shaped cutting edge of the blade fits into the uneven surface of the fishing float, depending on the inclination angle of the blade, it is possible that the barnacle's shell or half of the shell base may remain stuck to the surface of the uneven surface. The fragments are sharp and dangerous, and can also abrade the rope, causing it to deteriorate. However, such remaining fragments can be easily removed by vibrating the file surface against it.

[0020] The fourth invention relates to a fishing float having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, the thick part of which is hollow (including when filled with foam), characterized in that the outer peripheral surface region is formed as an uneven surface formed by continuing a serpentine shape along the circumferential direction with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the generatrix direction, and the annular regions on both end faces are formed as uneven surfaces formed by continuing a serpentine shape along the radial direction with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length in the circumferential direction. This invention relates to a fishing float having an approximately hollow cylindrical shape, and because it is a hollow cylinder, it has a through hole formed along the central axis, as in the second invention, and uneven surfaces are formed on the surface other than the through hole, i.e., the outer peripheral surface area and the annular areas on both end faces. The uneven surfaces of each region are configured such that in the outer peripheral surface region, continuous recesses and protrusions are alternately formed in the generatrix direction, and in the annular regions on both end faces, continuous recesses and protrusions are alternately formed in the radial direction in a concentric pattern. As a result, in both regions, the adhesive strength of barnacles can be weakened, as in the first and second inventions, and barnacles and the like can be efficiently removed.

[0021] In this fishing float of the fourth invention, it is preferable to select the amplitude of the serpentine shape of each of the uneven surfaces formed in the outer peripheral surface area and the annular areas of both end surfaces in the range of 3 mm to 8 mm, and the periodic length in the range of 5 mm to 10 mm.

[0022] The fifth invention relates to a method for removing surface deposits from a fishing float as described in the seventh or eighth invention, characterized in that a blade having a comb-shaped cutting edge formed thereon that fits into the uneven surfaces of multiple periodic lengths along the generatrix direction or the radial direction of the fishing float of the fourth invention is attached to the swing part of a vibration-driven tool, and with the comb-shaped cutting edge of the vibration-driven tool fitted into the uneven surfaces located below the surface deposits in the outer peripheral surface area or the annular areas of both end faces of the fishing float, the blade is pressed and vibrated in the circumferential direction in each of the areas. Similar to the third invention in relation to the first and second inventions, this invention is a method for removing surface deposits from a fishing float of the fourth invention, in which the comb-shaped cutting edges of the blades are fitted into the uneven surfaces of the outer peripheral surface region or the annular regions of both end faces, and pressure vibration is applied in the circumferential direction of each region (the circumferential direction of the cylindrical surface in the outer peripheral surface region, and the circumferential direction of the ring in the annular regions of both end faces), i.e., in the direction in which the concave and convex portions are continuous, to peel off and remove surface deposits such as barnacles. In this fifth invention, as in the third invention, it is desirable to configure the lower surface of the blade as a filing surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the present invention, the adhesive strength of barnacles, which are typical surface deposits on fishing floats, can be weakened, and surface deposits such as barnacles can be removed extremely efficiently and reliably using a blade attached to a vibration-driven tool, thereby shortening the time required to recover and reuse fishing floats and enabling the effective operation of fish and shellfish farming facilities, fixed nets, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1A is a front view, FIG. 1B is a side view, and FIG. 1C is a plan view of a spherical fishing float according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A is a cross-sectional view of a fishing float according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of the cross-section. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general relationship between the surface irregularities of a fishing float and the growth size of a barnacle's shell. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state in which surface deposits on a fishing float are peeled off and removed by a blade attached to a vibration-driven tool. [Figure 5] This shows a plan view (A), a front view (B), and a side view (C) of the comb-shaped cutting edge portion of the blade, and a diagram (D) showing the correspondence between the comb-shaped cutting edge and the uneven surface of the fishing float. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a state in which surface deposits such as barnacles are being removed from the surface of a fishing float by a blade attached to a vibration-driven tool. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are a front view and a side view, respectively, of a fishing float having an elongated spherical shape (with through holes along the major axis) according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 10A is a front view of a fishing float having a hollow cylindrical outer shape according to a third embodiment, FIG. 10B is a side view thereof, and FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The fishing float and the method for removing material adhering to its surface according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment 1> The fishing float 10 according to this embodiment is shown in Figure 1 and is made of a resin molded product made of PE, and consists of a hollow spherical main body 11 and ears 12 and 13 integrally formed at two locations corresponding to the antipodes of the main body 11. The ears 12, 13 are annular and integrally formed upright on the main body 11, and ropes for engaging a number of fishing floats 10 are passed through the holes 12a, 13a.

[0026] The fishing float 10 is characterized in that the surface of the main body 11 is formed as an uneven surface 14. The uneven surface 14 has a shape as shown in FIG. That is, each of the ears 12, 13 of the main body 11 is erected at a position corresponding to the antipodal point, but the uneven surface 14 is formed on the entire surface of the main body 11 except for the areas near each of the ears 12, 13, and is configured by continuously winding a meandering shape in the meridian direction with a predetermined amplitude W and periodic length S as shown in Figure 2(B) in the latitude direction as shown in Figure 1. The direction of the peaks / valleys related to the amplitude is always the direction of a straight line connecting the center C of the main body 11 (hollow sphere) and the peak of the peak / bottom of the valley.

[0027] More specifically, this type of fishing float 10 has, for example, an outer diameter of the main body 11 of 390 mm, but the amplitude W and periodic length S are set regardless of the outer diameter, for example, in the range of amplitude W = 5 to 10 mm and periodic length S = 10 to 20 mm. This takes into consideration the conditions that weaken the adhesive strength of barnacles in relation to their growth, and the conditions that ensure a reasonable size in terms of mechanical strength for the comb-shaped cutting edge used to peel off and remove barnacles and other attachments from the fishing float 10.

[0028] As mentioned above, although this varies depending on the species and environment, after attaching to the surface of the substrate as a cypris larva, the adult shell grows to about 5 mm in about 70 days, and then grows to about 10 to 40 mm (average is about 20 to 30 mm) over the next one to two years. The schematic diagram in Figure 3 shows a partial cross section (right) of the uneven surface 14, which has a meandering shape made up of semicircular peaks and valleys, with the "meandering shape in the meridian direction with a predetermined amplitude W and periodic length S" being treated as a straight line rather than an arc like a meridian, and a plan view (left) showing the state of barnacles adhering to the uneven surface 14, with the bottom of the shell regarded as a circle (chain double-dashed line), showing the relationship between the unevenness 14 of the fishing float and the growth size of the barnacle shell. In the plan view (left), the dotted lines indicate the bottoms of the recesses, and the solid lines indicate the tops of the protrusions.

[0029] FIG. 3(A) shows the concave-convex surface 14 when the amplitude W=5 mm and the periodic length S=10 mm, and FIG. 3(B) shows the concave-convex surface 14 when the amplitude W=8 mm and the periodic length S=20 mm. As is clear from each figure, the semicircular peaks and valleys are composed of curved surfaces with a radius of curvature of 2.5 mm in Figure 3(A) and 5 mm in Figure 3(B). No matter where a barnacle attaches to the uneven surface 14 (the surface of the main body 11), the surface of the attachment substrate at the bottom of its shell abuts these curved surfaces. In the case of Figure 3(A), a relatively large gap appears between the bottom of the shell and the uneven surface 14 before 70 days have passed since attachment, and in the case of Figure 3(B), at the latest, before the diameter of the bottom of the shell reaches 10 mm, which hinders smooth growth while secreting cement proteins. Furthermore, barnacles attached to the surface of a concave portion cannot grow sufficiently because their shells cannot fit inside the concave portion, and barnacles attached to the surface of a convex portion cannot grow across the convex portion.

[0030] Therefore, the uneven surface 14 (surface of the main body 11) of the fishing float 10 acts as a significant growth inhibitor for the barnacles, greatly weakening the adhesive strength of the barnacles. Barnacles have the property of forming colonies by layering on top of other individuals, in which case they can grow to about 20 to 40 mm, spanning the convex parts. However, from the perspective of detaching them from the uneven surface of the fishing float 10, even if they form a layered colony, basically only the adhesion conditions of the barnacles at the bottom layer are an issue.

[0031] Next, when removing surface deposits such as barnacles from the fishing float 10, the fishing float 10 that has been pulled up from a fish farming facility or the like is placed on a work platform 20 as shown in FIG. The workbench 20 in this embodiment has a simple structure in which a float receiving portion 24, which is made up of a frame portion 21 and a bottom portion 23 with a hole 22 formed in the center, is fixed at a certain height. The fishing float 10 is placed in the float receiving portion 24 with one ear 13 retracted into the hole 22 in the bottom portion 23, and in this state the fishing float 10 can be rotated as desired.

[0032] The surface of a fishing float 10 salvaged from a fish farming facility or the like is thickly covered in various ways, including areas where relatively small barnacles, other shellfish, seaweed, etc. are attached together, and areas where barnacles, etc. are attached in layers, but in many cases the attachment layer is mainly made up of barnacles.

[0033] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, a blade 32 with a comb-shaped cutting edge is attached to a swing part 31 of a portable vibration-driven tool 30, and the comb-shaped cutting edge is fitted into the uneven surface 14 of the fishing float 10 and pressed and vibrated in the latitude direction to peel off and remove surface deposits 40 such as barnacles.

[0034] In this case, the relationship between the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 of the blade 32 and the uneven surface 14 of the fishing float 10 is shown in Figure 5, and the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 is formed by aligning six cutting edges in a horizontal row at the tip of the blade 32, which fit into the recesses of the uneven surface 14, and the blade 32 itself, including the comb-shaped cutting edge 33, is curved to correspond to an arc along the meridian of the fishing float 10. The lower surface of the blade 32 is configured as a file surface 34, and is, for example, a knurled surface.

[0035] As described above, the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 of the blade 32 attached to the vibration-driven tool 30 is fitted into the uneven surface 14 of the fishing float 10, and then the blade 32 is pressed and vibrated in the latitude direction to peel off and remove surface deposits 40 such as barnacles. However, when the fishing float 10 is placed on the work table 20, the entire uneven surface 14 of the main body 11 is covered in layers of surface deposits 40, so in the initial stage, the blade 32 is brought into contact with the surface deposits 40 at an angle that is somewhat close to perpendicular to the surface deposits 40, and penetrates into the uneven surface 14. Once a small area of ​​the uneven surface 14 is exposed, the blade 32 is fitted into the uneven surface 14 to move on to the peeling and removal process.

[0036] Figure 6 shows the process of peeling off and removing surface deposits 40 such as barnacles. The comb-shaped cutting edge 33 of the blade 32, which is vibrated by the vibration-driven tool 30, is fitted into the uneven surface 14. If barnacles are attached, the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 is inserted into the bottom of the shell and pressed, causing the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 to move along the concave parts of the uneven surface 14 in the latitude direction of the main body 11. As described above, barnacles whose adhesion has been weakened by the curved surface of the uneven surface 14, which is a growth inhibitor, are peeled off and removed relatively easily. At this time, the blade 32 does not slip sideways because the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 is securely guided by the recess, and by moving the blade 32 in the latitude direction while rotating the fishing float 10 appropriately within the work table 20, surface deposits 40 such as barnacles can be peeled off and removed extremely efficiently.

[0037] In the peeling and removal process, the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 fits into the uneven surface 14, but due to the angle, the cutting edge does not always scrape against the uneven surface 14. As shown in Figure 6, the barnacle's outer shell or a half 41 of the shell base may remain stuck to the surface, which may injure the worker's hands and may also scrape against the rope, causing deterioration. In such cases, these problems can be solved by, for example, setting the blade 32 at a shallow inclination angle, and scraping the uneven surface 14 with the filing surface 34 formed on the underside of the blade 32 to remove the chips 41.

[0038] In this embodiment, a fishing float is described in which a pair of ears 12, 13 are formed and erected at antipodal points of the spherical main body 11, but in the case of a float with a single ear or multiple ears erected at positions that are not in an antipodal relationship, the uneven surface 14 can be formed excluding the area near the erected position. In addition, in this embodiment, the uneven surface 14 is formed by a serpentine shape that "meanders in the meridian direction with a predetermined amplitude W and periodic length S" made up of semicircular peaks and valleys, but other serpentine shapes such as a sinusoidal waveform may also be adopted.

[0039] <Embodiment 2> The fishing float 50 according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 7 and has the appearance of a roughly elongated spherical body of revolution, with a through hole 51 formed along its long axis for passing a rope through. The rotation surface area on the outer periphery of the rotating body is formed as an uneven surface 52, which has a meandering shape with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the meridian direction, with the centers of both ends of the through hole 51 as poles, and is continuously wound in the latitude direction.

[0040] That is, in the case of embodiment 1, the main body 11, which is a sphere, is a rotating body and has an uneven surface 14 formed on its surface, but in this embodiment, it is not a sphere but is merely a rotating body having an approximately oblong spheroidal shape, and the uneven surface 52 is formed under the same conditions, that is, a serpentine shape in the meridian direction and a continuous circumferential shape in the latitude direction. In addition, a hollow portion 53 as shown by the dashed line is formed within the thickness of the fishing float 50 between the through hole 51 and the outer rotating surface (uneven surface 52), and this hollow portion 53 may be filled with foam.

[0041] Therefore, in the fishing float 50 of this embodiment, if the uneven surface 52 is formed by selecting an amplitude W of 5 to 10 mm and a periodic length S in the range of 10 to 20 mm for a meandering shape along the meridian direction, the conditions for barnacle adhesion and growth to the uneven surface will be almost the same as in the case of the uneven surface 14 of embodiment 1, and the barnacle adhesion force can be weakened.

[0042] As explained in Figures 4 and 5 in the first embodiment, the blade 32 with the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 is attached to the swing part 31 of the portable vibration-driven tool 30, and the comb-shaped cutting edge 33 is fitted to the uneven surface 52 of the outer rotation surface area and pressed and vibrated in the latitude direction, thereby efficiently peeling off and removing surface deposits such as barnacles. Furthermore, since the fishing float 50 of this embodiment has a through hole 51 formed along the longitudinal axis, there is also the advantage that the peeling and removal work can be performed while holding the fishing float 50 in a freely rotatable state by passing a rod with one end fixed through the through hole 51.

[0043] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that, as mentioned above, the basic shape of the fishing float 50 is not a sphere, but rather a rotating surface area on the outer periphery of an approximately oblong spheroidal body of revolution.As a result, while the blades 32 in embodiment 1 fit into all of the uneven surfaces 14 in the meridian direction, in this embodiment, if the curvature of the blades is set to correspond to the uneven surfaces 52 near the center of the fishing float 50, there is a problem that the comb-shaped cutting edges of the blades will float on the uneven surfaces 52 at both ends. However, it is possible for part of the comb-shaped cutting edge of the blade to fit into the uneven surface 52, and it is only the short sections on both ends that do not fit into the uneven surface 52, but this does not cause much of a hindrance in actual work.

[0044] Furthermore, in the peeling and removal operation in this embodiment, naturally, fragments of the barnacle shell and the bottom of the shell will remain stuck to the uneven surface 52, but as in the first embodiment, this can be dealt with by making the underside of the blade into a file surface by knurling or the like.

[0045] <Embodiment 3> A fishing float 60 according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 8 and has a basic shape of a substantially hollow cylinder. Since it is a hollow cylinder, a through hole 61 is formed along the axial direction, but a hollow portion 62 is formed within the thickness of the wall between the through hole 61 and the outer peripheral surface, and this hollow portion 62 may be filled with foam.

[0046] The outer peripheral surface area and the annular areas of both end surfaces are formed with uneven surfaces 63 and 64, respectively. The uneven surface 63 in the outer peripheral surface region is formed by a circumferentially continuous meandering shape with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the generatrix direction of the fishing float 60, which is a hollow cylinder. On the other hand, the uneven surfaces 64 in the annular regions of both end faces are formed by meandering shapes with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length that continue in the circumferential direction along the radial direction of the end faces. In addition, in FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B), the dotted lines on the uneven surfaces 63 and 64 indicate the lines corresponding to the bottoms of the recesses, and the solid lines indicate the lines corresponding to the tops of the protrusions.

[0047] Therefore, the uneven surface 63 in the outer peripheral surface region is composed of alternating concave and convex portions around the circumference, and the uneven surface 64 in the annular region on both end faces is composed of alternating concave and convex portions in a concentric pattern.

[0048] In the fishing float 60 of this embodiment, if the uneven surfaces 63, 64 are configured with the serpentine shape along the generatrix direction and the radial direction by selecting the amplitude W in the range of 5 to 10 mm and the periodic length S in the range of 10 to 20 mm, the conditions for the barnacles to adhere to and grow on the uneven surfaces will be almost the same as in the case of the uneven surface 14 in embodiment 1, and the adhesion strength of each barnacle can be weakened.

[0049] As in the first and second embodiments, in removing surface deposits such as barnacles from the fishing float 60 of this embodiment, a blade having a comb-shaped cutting edge as shown in Figure 5 is attached to the swing part 31 of the portable vibration-driven tool 30, and the comb-shaped cutting edge is fitted into the recesses of each uneven surface 63, 64, and each is pressed and vibrated in the circumferential direction. However, the blades used in this embodiment do not need to be curved like the blade 32 in Fig. 5, and a flat blade is sufficient, because the concaves and convexes associated with the meandering shape are along straight lines (generatrix direction and radial direction).

[0050] In this embodiment, too, the configuration of the uneven surfaces 63, 64 of the fishing float 60 weakens the adhesive strength of the barnacles, and the comb-shaped cutting edges of the blades attached to the vibration-driven tool 30 are fitted into the recesses of the uneven surfaces 63, 64 and pressed and vibrated to peel off and remove surface deposits, so the blades do not skid sideways and can perform work efficiently in a stable operating state. Furthermore, if the amplitude W and period length S of the serpentine shape along the generatrix direction in the outer peripheral surface area and the serpentine shape along the radial direction in the annular areas of both end faces are made equal, it is possible to perform the peeling and removal work on both uneven surfaces 63, 64 with a single blade.

[0051] In addition, even in the peeling and removal work in this embodiment, fragments of the barnacle shell or shell base may remain stuck to the uneven surfaces 63, 64, but as in embodiments 1 and 2, this can be dealt with by making the underside of the blade into a file surface by knurling or the like. [Industrial Applicability]

[0052] To improve the efficiency of operation of fishing floats by making it possible to easily and efficiently remove surface deposits from fishing floats. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10...fishing float, 11...main body, 12, 13...ears, 12a, 13a...holes, 14...uneven surface, 20...work table, 21...frame, 22...hole, 23...bottom, 24...float receiving part, 30...vibration drive tool, 31...swing part, 32...blade, 33...comb-shaped cutting edge, 34...file surface, 40...surface attachments, 41...fragments of barnacle shell or shell bottom, 50...fishing float, 51...through hole, 52...uneven surface, 53...hollow part, 60...fishing float, 61...through hole, 62...hollow part, 63, 64...uneven surface.

Claims

1. A fishing float consisting of a hollow spherical part (including those filled with foam in the hollow part) and a ring-shaped ear part integrally formed on part of its surface, A fishing float characterized in that the surface between the antipodal points of the spherical portion is formed as an uneven surface consisting of a meandering shape with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the meridian direction, continuously circling in the latitude direction, except for the area where the annular ear portion is formed.

2. 2. A fishing float according to claim 1, wherein the meandering shape of the uneven surface has an amplitude selected from the range of 5 mm to 10 mm and a periodic length selected from the range of 10 mm to 20 mm.

3. A fishing float having a substantially elongated spheroidal body of revolution, a basic form in which a through hole is formed along its long axis, and a thick wall portion thereof is hollow (including when filled with foam), A fishing float characterized in that the rotation surface area on the outer periphery of the rotating body is formed as an uneven surface formed by continuously circling a serpentine shape in the latitude direction with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the meridian direction.

4. 4. A fishing float according to claim 3, wherein the meandering shape of the uneven surface has an amplitude selected from the range of 5 mm to 10 mm and a periodic length selected from the range of 10 mm to 20 mm.

5. A method for removing surface deposits from a fishing float, characterized in that a blade having a comb-shaped cutting edge formed thereon that fits into the uneven surfaces of multiple cycle lengths along the meridian direction of the fishing float of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 is attached to the swing part of a vibration-driven tool, and with the comb-shaped cutting edge of the vibration-driven tool fitted into the uneven surfaces located below the surface deposits of the fishing float, the blade is pressed and vibrated in the latitude direction.

6. 6. A method for removing surface deposits from a fishing float according to claim 5, wherein the lower surface of the blade is configured as a filing surface.

7. A fishing float having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, the thick part of which is hollow (including when filled with foam), the outer peripheral surface region is formed as an uneven surface configured by a series of meandering shapes with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the generatrix direction, along the circumferential direction; The annular regions on both end surfaces are formed as uneven surfaces that are formed by meandering shapes with a predetermined amplitude and periodic length along the radial direction and continuing in the circumferential direction. A fishing float characterized by:

8. A fishing float as described in claim 7, wherein the meandering shape of the uneven surface has an amplitude selected from the range of 5 mm to 10 mm and a periodic length selected from the range of 10 mm to 20 mm.

9. A method for removing surface deposits from a fishing float as described in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a blade having a comb-shaped cutting edge formed thereon that fits into the uneven surfaces of multiple periodic lengths along the generatrix direction or the radial direction of the fishing float of claim 7 or 8 is attached to the swing part of a vibration-driven tool, and with the comb-shaped cutting edge of the vibration-driven tool fitted into the uneven surfaces located below the surface deposits in the outer peripheral surface region or the annular regions of both end faces of the fishing float, the blade is pressed and vibrated in the circumferential direction in each of the regions.

10. 10. The method for removing surface deposits from a fishing float according to claim 9, wherein the lower surface of the blade is configured as a filing surface.

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