Indigo dyeing process and apparatus and indigo dyed yarns and fabrics made thereby
AssigneeIndigo Mill Designs, Inc.
InventorsHoward Malpass, Ralph Tharpe, M. Dean Ethridge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Processes and apparatus are disclosed which substantially eliminate the formation of oxidized indigo dye before and during dye application onto a natural fiber yarn or fabric while allowing the leuco-indigo dye molecule to diffuse fully into the natural fibers of the yarn where it can fix to the fibers prior to oxidation (i.e., exposure of the leuco-dyed yarns to oxygen). Indigo dyed textile products (e.g., dyed cotton yarns that may be twill woven to form a denim fabric) exhibit exceptionally high colorfastness as determined by the AATCC Crock Test.
Claims17
An apparatus for indigo dyeing of textile products comprising:
- a dye application chamber having an inert and anaerobic atmosphere for receiving an undyed deoxygenated textile product, the dye application chamber having an anaerobic atmosphere and a leuco-indigo dye applicator which applies a leuco-indigo dye solution onto the undyed deoxygenated textile product to form a leuco-indigo dyed textile product;
- a purification system to control oxygen content of the inert and anaerobic atmosphere of the dye application chamber;
- and
- roller seal assemblies positioned at least at inlets and outlets of the dye application chamber so as to maintain the inert and anaerobic atmospheres therewithin so that the leuco-indigo dyed textile product is discharged from dye application chamber into an oxygen-containing atmosphere whereby the leuco-indigo dye applied to the textile product is oxidized to thereby form an indigo dyed textile product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.