System and method for spray dyeing fabrics
AssigneeHBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC
InventorsMichael D. Abbott, Robert A. Miller, III, Ruth E. May
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are provided for dyeing fabric, the system including a dye spray station, a dye fixation station downstream of the dye spray station, and at least one rinse station downstream of the dye fixation station. The process includes opening the fabric with a spreader to maintain the fabric flat and taut, spraying the outer surfaces of the fabric with a dye, and exposing the fabric to atmospheric steam to chemically react and affix the dye to the fabric.
Claims19
A system for dyeing fabric, the fabric being tubular, comprising:
- (a) a fabric positioning station comprising:
- (i) a spreader bar or former that opens and substantially flattens the fabric with a first outer surface of the fabric above the spreader and a second outer surface of the fabric below the spreader, the fabric having a width;
- (ii) a roller downstream of the spreader for drawing the flattened fabric from the spreader, the roller having a plurality of raised ribs for maintaining tension in the fabric;
- (b) a dye spray station downstream of the fabric positioning station for receiving the fabric comprising:
- (i) a first dye supply manifold and a second dye supply manifold;
- at least one spray nozzle in liquid communication with each dye supply manifold for spray dyeing the flattened fabric evenly across the width of the first and second outer surfaces of the fabric, respectively;
- (c) a dye fixation station downstream of the dye spray station for receiving the dyed fabric, wherein the dye is chemically affixed to the fabric;
- and
- (d) at least a first rinse station downstream of the dye fixation station for receiving the dyed fabric, wherein residual materials are removed from the dyed fabric.
A process for dyeing tubular knitted fabric, comprising:
- (a) continuously moving the fabric in a machine direction;
- (b) opening the fabric with a spreader bar or former to flatten the fabric, wherein the fabric has a first outer surface above the spreader and a second outer surface below the spreader, and a width;
- (c) drawing the fabric over a roller having a plurality of raised ribs for maintaining tension in the fabric;
- (d) advancing the fabric through a dye station and spraying the first and second outer surfaces of the flattened fabric with a dye evenly across the width of the fabric;
- and
- (e) advancing the fabric through a fixation station and exposing the fabric to atmospheric steam to chemically react and affix the dye to the fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.