METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING PILE FABRIC TO IMMERSION DYEING

摘要

A horizontally moving belt has a waffle grid surface into the compartments of which dyes are injected in accordance with a desired color pattern to be printed. Carpeting is moved adjacent the waffle grid surface with the pile facing down toward the grid. A counter roller supports the waffle grid at the printing station, and an oppositely disposed protuberance-bearing pressure roller pushes the backing of the carpet so that the pile enters the compartments of the waffle grid and is immersed in the dye pattern. The protuberances ensure adequate immersion of the pile while permitting escape of air and avoiding squeezing of the dye from the pile, which would otherwise occur by engagement of the pressure roller with the grid walls in the absence of the protuberances. The angle of approach of the carpet to the printing station is slightly inclined from the horizontal to ensure a gradual depression of the pile and to avoid rolling the dye out away from the nip region of the printing station.