Dyeing apparatus and method therefor

A continuous method of dyeing a fabric article with dye, the method comprising the steps of

• (a) providing a dyeing apparatus including:
• (i) a dyeing vessel having a volume including at least a first generally U-shaped region and a second generally U-shaped region, said regions connected by a third generally U-shaped region, inverted with respect to said first and second regions, to allow fluid communication therebetween;
• (ii) a heating mechanism, surrounding and adjacent to the U-shaped regions of said dyeing vessel, said heating mechanism adapted to heat a zone within said vessel;
• (iii) a continuous transport mechanism adapted to continuously transport the fabric article, through a dye impregnation chamber, and through said zone of said dyeing vessel, and
• (iv) a dye-dispensing mechanism adapted to deliver a dye liquor within said dye impregnation chamber, to impregnate with the dye, the fabric article passing though said chamber,
• wherein said dyeing vessel is equipped with a pressure release valve, associated with said inverted U-shaped region, to control a vapor pressure within said inverted U-shaped region;
• (b) impregnating the fabric article with the dye in said dye impregnation chamber, and
• (c) passing the fabric article through a liquid disposed within said zone of said dyeing vessel, so as to fixate the dye on the fabric article.