Continuous yarn dyeing machine

Claim 2

A continuous dyeing machine for dyeing yarns including means for feeding a plurality of high bulk yarns through said machine, dyeing means for applying a base color to said yarns, means for applying tension to said yarns, predryer means for removing at least a portion of the moisture content from said yarns while said yarns are under tension, dryer and fixer means for fixing the dyes in said yarns in the presence of superheated steam and including means for reducing the tension in said yarns such that there is substantially no effective tension in said yarns during drying and fixing, washing means for washing the excess dye from said yarns, and final drying means for removing substantially all of the remaining moisture content from said yarns and also including means for reducing the tension in said yarns such that there is substantially no effective tension in said yarns during final drying whereby said yarns can be dyed in a continuous process without the loss of their bulk characteristics.

Claim 3

A continuous dyeing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said predryer means is effective for removing 20 to 50 percent of the moisture content from said yarns.

Claim 4

A continuous yarn dyeing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for reducing the tension in said yarns includes a plurality of feed roll means disposed within said dryer and fixer means with the speed of at least the first and second of said feed roll means relative to the direction of yarn travel having their speed of rotation consecutively reduced for progressively slowing the speed of travel of said yarns in said dryer and fixer means.

Claim 5

A continuous yarn dyeing machine as recited in claim 3 wherein the temperature of said superheateD steam is in the range of 300* to 500* F.

Claim 6

A continuous yarn dyeing machine as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for reducing the tension in said yarns includes a plurality of feed roll means with at least the first and second of said feed roll means relative to the direction of yarn travel having their speeds of rotation consecutively reduced for progressively slowing the speed of travel of said yarns in said final dryer means.

Claim 7

A continous dyeing machine for dyeing yarns including means for feeding said yarns through said machine, means for applying a base color to said yarns, first predrying means for removing at least a portion of the moisture from said yarns while under tension, dye station means including a plurality of individually operable dyeing mechanisms for applying dye to discrete portions of said yarns, random pattern means for generating random pattern control signals, said random pattern means being operably connected to each of said dyeing mechanisms for initiating individual selective actuation of said dyeing mechanisms such that a random pattern is applied to said yarns, second predrying means for removing at least a portion of the moisture from said yarns, means for fixing the dyes in said yarns while in the presence of superheated steam and including means for reducing the tension in yarns to a minimum during the fixing of said dyes, and dryer means for finally drying said yarns while under minimum tension whereby said yarns are completely dyed with a random pattern in a single continuous apparatus.

Claim 8

A continous dyeing machine for dyeing yarns including means for feeding said yarns through said machine, means for applying a base color to said yarns, first predrying means for removing at least a portion of the moisture from said yarns while under tension, dye station means including a plurality of individually operable dyeing mechanisms for applying dye to discrete portions of said yarns, random pattern means for generating random pattern control signals, said random pattern means being operably connected to each of said dyeing mechanisms for initiating individual selective actuation of said dyeing mechanisms such that a random pattern is applied to said yarns, second predrying means for removing at least a portion of the moisture from said yarns, means for fixing the dyes in said yarns while in the presence of superheated steam and including means for reducing the tension in yarns to a minimum during the fixing of said dyes, and dryer means for finally drying said yarns while under minimum tension whereby said yarns are completely dyed with a random pattern in a single continuous apparatus.

Claim 9

A continuous dyeing machine as recited in claim 6 wherein said dye station means includes a plurality of hammer printing means with each being disposed for printing a plurality of yarns, roll means disposed for cooperative relationship with said hammer printing means and including means for applying a coating of dye to said roll means, and actuating means for selectively actuating each said hammer printing means to press said yarns against said roll means for applying dye to said yarns under pressure from said hammer printing means.

Claim 10

A continuous dyeing machine as recited in claim 7 wherein said actuating means is responsive to control signals from said random pattern means.