The method of dyeing a continuously moving carpet pile fabric with a heated base color dye and either thereafter applying other color dyes onto the base color or applying the other color dyes prior to the base color, all of the dyes being fixed by the heat of the base color dye and without the use of steam. The dyeing process employs a dye applicator to which is heated dye solution is supplied and this dye is sprayed onto the carpet while at a temperature of approximately 185.degree. F. to 205.degree. F. to provide the base color. The base color dye is applied with a wet pick-up of approximately 200 percent to 300 percent. The other color dyes, which are pattern colors, at substantially ambient temperatures are independently sprayed onto the carpet at spaced locations either before the heated dye is applied or subsequent to the hot dye while the carpet is still in the temperature range of approximately 165.degree. F. to 175.degree. F. The total amount of pattern color dye applied to the carpet provides a wet pick-up of approximately 120 percent. The base color dye is fixed substantially instantly, and each of the other dyes are fixed substantially on contact with the heated dye.

The method of dyeing a continuously moving carpet pile fabric with a base color and thereafter applying other color dyes onto the base color and fixing all of the dyes without the use of steam. The dyeing process employs a dye applicator to which a heated dye solution is supplied and this dye is sprayed onto the carpet while at a temperature of approximately 185.degree. F. to 205.degree. F. to provide the base color. The base color dye is applied with a wet pick-up of approximately 200 percent to 300 percent. Thereafter while the carpet is still hot from the wetting by the hot dye, other color dyes at substantially ambient temperatures are independently sprayed onto the carpet at spaced locations while the carpet is still in the temperature range of approximately 165.degree. F. to 175.degree. F. The total amount of additional dye applied subsequent to the base color dye provides a wet pick-up of approximately 120 percent. The base color dye is fixed substantially instantly, and each of the other dyes are fixed substantially on contact with the carpet.

A method and apparatus for pattern dyeing of textile substrates in which the dyeing is done in two stages. In the first stage, a dye is uniformly applied in a manner that allows the dye to fix on contact. The uniformly dyed substrate is then moved under a series of spaced arrays, each array being associated with a separate color and being comprised of a plurality of individually controlled liquid dye applicators. Liquid dye of a given color is selectively applied through one or more dye applicators as the substrate passes under the array associated with that color. The applied dye remains unfixed until the substrate passes under all the arrays and the patterning is complete, whereupon all dye applied by the dye applicators is fixed by steaming or other appropriate application of energy to the substrate.

A chemical, such as a dye, is applied to a textile substrate, such as carpet, by continuously moving the substrate past an application position. At the application position a liquid formulation containing the chemical, heated to a temperature below the boiling point thereof, is sprayed toward the substrate, thereby driving the chemical into the substrate. The temperature of the spray is controlled such that the dye contacts the substrate at a temperature sufficient to achieve substantially instantaneous fixation.

The present invention provides an apparatus for the dyeing of shaped articles. The apparatus transports the shaped article in a treating chamber within the apparatus during the dyeing process; surrounds the shaped article with a non-reactive environment in the treating chamber; preheats the shaped article; flows a thin continuous film of a dye composition over the surfaces of the shaped article in a non-reactive environment at an elevated temperature; and cools the dyed shaped article. The apparatus can also rinse and dry the dyed shaped article. The apparatus further includes an applicator head for applying the thin continuous film of the dye composition over the shaped article and a carrier for positioning the shaped article in vertical alignment with the applicator head.