Artificial seaweed cut from continuous band

Claim 2

A process for producing artificial seaweed at the site where the seaweed is to be dropped into a body of water, comprising; a. forming a continuous band made up of a plurality of strands, b. securing elongated anchoring bodies transversely to the length of the band at intervals along the length of the band, said bodies or anchoring socks for said bodies being the only connections between said plurality of strands, c. cutting the band between the successive anchoring bodies as the continuous band is unwound from a storage reel at the site where the seaweed is to be dropped into the body of water to form individual seaweed units, each composed of an anchoring body and a plurality of strands extending therefrom.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1, wherein the anchoring bodies are sand-filled bags.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the anchoring bodies are inserted in tubular socks attached to or integral with the band.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the band is cut close to an anchoring body.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1, wherein the continuous band is unwound from a storage reel placed aboard a seaweed laying vessel, the anchoring bodies are secured to a part of the band unwound from the reel, and the band is cut to form the individual seaweed units which are immediately dropped overboard.

Claim 7

The process of claim 5, wherein the leading end of the unwound band including the foremost anchoring body is hung overboard the vessel, and the band is then cut between this anchoring body and the succeeding anchoring body.

Claim 8

Apparatus for producing artificial seaweed on a sea-going vessel, the apparatus comprising a reel support for holding a storage reel, a storage reel carrying a band of flexible, buoyant synthetic polymer strands, a belt conveyor positioned to support said band of strands as it is unwound and to move said band from the storage reel, a means to drive said conveyor, a means for transversely securing anchoring bodies to the band at intervals along the unwound section thereof while the band is on said conveyor belt, and a cutting device positioned on the boat at a point where the leading end of the unwound length of the band, having passed the belt conveyor, is hung overboard in a vertical position, said cutting device positioned relative to this leading end so that it cuts between the foremost anchoring body which is hung overboard and the next anchoring body so that upon cutting the individual seaweed unit is formed and falls into the body of water in which the vessel is navigating.

Claim 9

Apparatus for producing artificial seaweed on a sea-going vessel, the apparatus comprising a reel support for holding a storage reel, a storage reel carrying a band of flexible, buoyant synthetic polymer strands, a belt conveyor positioned to support said band of strands as it is unwound and to move said band from the storage reel, a means to drive said conveyor, a means for transversely securing anchoring bodies to the band at intervals along the unwound section thereof while the band is on said conveyor belt, and a cutting device positioned on the boat at a point where the leading end of the unwound length of the band, having passed the belt conveyor, is hung overboard in a vertical position, said cutting device positioned relative to this leading end so that it cuts between the foremost anchoring body which is hung overboard and the next anchoring body so that upon cutting the individual seaweed unit is formed and falls into the body of water in which the vessel is navigating.