Method for dyeing a traveling textile strand

Abstract

An apparatus defining a travel path for dyeing a traveling textile strand in a continuous in-line process includes: an applicator for metering and applying a predetermined amount of a liquid to a traveling textile strand along a travel path defined by the apparatus whereby the traveling strand is saturated with the liquid; means for heating the traveling strand to a first predetermined temperature and then to a second predetermined temperature for drying and finishing the traveling strand, the heating means including at least one heated roll disposed along the travel path adjacent to and downstream of said applicator; and a winding arrangement disposed at the end of the travel path adjacent to and downstream of the heating means for winding the dried and finished traveling strand on a bobbin to form a finished package following the heating of the traveling strand. The heating means includes a first pair of heated rolls for heating the traveling strand to the first predetermined temperature ad a second pair of heated rolls for heating the traveling strand to the second predetermined temperature. Alternatively, the heating means includes a single roll having a first heating zone which heats the traveling strand to the first predetermined temperature and a second heating zone which heats the traveling strand to the second predetermined temperature. Preferably, the travel path extends from the applicator directly to the heating means, and from the heating means directly to the winding arrangement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.