Apparatus and process for treating an article to impart color and/or enhance the properties of that article

An apparatus for treating an article to impart color to that article and/or to enhance the physical properties of that article comprising:

• a) a heated enclosure or vessel sufficiently large to enclose the article to be treated,
• b) means for applying components of a treatment system comprising
• (i) a coloring solution and/or a solution comprising a performance enhancing additive,
• (ii) an organic solvent, and
• (iii) water
• directly onto the article's surface in sequence in a manner such that the article's surface to be treated is completely covered,
• c) means for securely holding the article to be treated,
• d) means for transporting the article to be treated into the heated enclosure and removing the article from the enclosure after treatment,
• e) a closed, heated vessel capable of delivering enough hot saturated coloring solution and/or performance enhancing solution with sufficient pressure to form small droplets when applied onto the article's surface,
• f) a closed, heated vessel capable of delivering enough hot dye-free rinse solution with sufficient pressure to form small droplets when applied onto the article's surface, and
• g) a closed, heated vessel capable of delivering enough hot deionized water with sufficient pressure to form small droplets when applied onto the article's surface,
• wherein the article is made from a plastic selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyester, (polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic), nylon, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) blend, a polycarbonate/polyester blend or an ABS.