Abstract: Denim fabric is made from novelty cotton yarn having irregularly spaced irregularities (e.g. slubs) about one-half inch to two inches in length. The cotton novelty yarn is made by separating cotton sliver into cotton fibers, and acting on the cotton fibers with a negative wire combing roll, and then twisting the cotton fibers into the cotton novelty yarn. The negative wire combing roll has a tooth angle of about -0.01.degree. to -15.degree.. The novelty cotton yarn is made into a warp of about 54-100 (e.g. 54-78) ends per inch, and is ring dyed so that the core of the yarn remains white. The warp is woven with a filling yarn to produce a denim fabric with a weight of about 5 oz.-17 oz. per sq. yd. having the weave and yarn size selected so that a tight construction is provided which highlights the slubs. The fabric is subjected to surface abrasion to remove the surface of dye on the slubs to show a lighter slub than body of the fabric.

Abstract: A method for spinning yarn produce the yarn having properties generally comparable to those of ring spun yarn. A rotatable hollow shaft having an entrance at one end and an exit at the other is rotatable about an axis extending in a direction A. A number of free fibers are fed in the linear direction A in a fiber mass, certain of the fibers having free trailing ends. The fiber mass is passed into the interior of the hollow rotatable shaft through the entrance. An air flow is established with respect to the shaft to effect separation of the free trailing ends of the fibers, preferably by establishing an air flow path that is initially substantially unidirectionally in direction A and then is deflected to move at an angle with respect to the direction A away from the shaft. The shaft is rotated at high speed about its axis so that the trailing ends of the fibers wrap around other portions of the fiber mass to produce a yarn, and the yarn is withdrawn through the exit of the shaft.

Abstract: Tufting apparatus includes servomotors driving front and back yarn feed rolls for feeding yarns to the needles of the front and back needle bars, respectively. Incremental servomotor control for each stitch enables a height differential between immediately adjacent stitches in excess of 3/32 inch (2.38 mm). By providing yarns of multiple colors and textures, a variety of patterns and textured surface effects are provided in the surface of the tufted pile fabric.

Abstract: Denim fabric suitable for use as apparel is made from 40-100% fibers produced from denim waste (pre-consumer and/or post-consumer). The denim waste is collected, starch and size are removed, and it is subjected to garnetting to produce denim fibers, the vast majority of fiber lengths greater than about 0.4 inches, and an average length greater than 0.5 inches. The denim fibers are then opened, and subjected to low-tension carding, as by using a Rieter C-4 card with conveyor belt. The carded denim fibers are spun into filling yarn having a yarn count between about 4.0/1 to 16.0/1, and/or a warp or knitting yarn having a yarn count between about 4.0/1 to 16.0/1. The warp or knitting yarn may be plied with like reclaimed warp yarn, or with virgin fiber warp yarn.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forestalling counterfeiting is disclosed which allows a counterfeit document to be identified relatively easily by an average person. The present invention employs a fluid jet applicator to record a unique, random pattern on each of a set of documents (e.g., paper currency, corporate or government bonds or any other document or important paper). Thus, a fluid jet applicator is controlled to produce a truly unique pattern on a set of original documents. Any counterfeiter who merely copies one (or a number) of the genuine documents would be left with a plurality of identical (i.e., non-unique) documents which may then be readily identified by a recipient as not being genuine.

Abstract: Stain-resistant, multicolored cationic dyeable carpet fibers are space dyed with an acid dye or premetalized acid dye, heatset, then tufted together with undyed cationic dyeable nylon fibers into a carpet. The carpet is then overdyed with an acid dye or premetalized acid dye to selectively dye only the previously undyed cationic dyeable nylon fibers, without staining or discoloring the adjacent previously dyed fibers, resulting in a multicolored stain resistant carpet.

Abstract: Nylon fibers of cationic-dyeable nylon are dyed with an acid or premetalized acid dye and heatset to impart stain and bleach resistance. Stain and bleach resistant nylon carpets prepared from these fibers are also described.

Abstract: Cotton denim fabrics are treated to enhance abrasion and shade reduction thereby reducing stonewashing time and expense by embrittling the fibers with an acid, heat-activated finish.

Abstract: A method for producing a dyed cotton fabric having an improved characteristic salt-and-pepper look and the product thereof. The process includes forming a plurality of individual cotton yarns having a twist multiple value of at least 4.6 and, preferably, subjecting the twisted cotton yarn to exposure to a caustic solution under tension. The yarn then is dyed under tension by exposure to a dye liquor. The treated yarn is used to produce a woven fabric, which after being abraded, has a lighter portion dispersed throughout a darker portion. In the preferred embodiment the twist multiple value of the cotton yarn threads varies within the range of between 4.6 and 10.5.

Abstract: Aramid and aramid-blend fabrics are dyed or flame-retardant treated or both dyed and flame-retardant treated using conventional heat dyeing equipment. Aliphatic amides capable of swelling the aramid fibers at least 1.5% and having 7 to 14 carbon atoms are used as diffusion-promoting agents for dyes, flame retardent agents or both. Odor-free, flame resistant, colored or colored and highly-flame resistant products result.

Abstract: Aramid fabrics treated with N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone prior to or simultaneously with aqueous print pastes promote fabric printability and produces good coloration. Saturated steam or superheated steam at a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. permeates and fixes the dye inside of the aramid fibers. Print pastes containing N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, dye and thickener are also described.

Abstract: Cellulosic fabrics are rendered flame resistant in a two-step procedure by applying first a tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salt/urea precondensate ammoniated to crosslink and form an insoluble phosphorus-containing polymer within the fiber structure followed by treatment with a tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salt. The two-step process using these chemically related phorphorus-containing flame retardants provide sufficient phosphorus in and on the cellulosic fabric to impart a predetermined minimum flame resistance. Cellulosic fabrics, primarily cotton, having flame resistant properties durable to washing yet retaining pliant, nont-stiff hand result.

Abstract: Poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) fabrics are printed and optionally flame retarded in a two-step process in which the dye diffusion promoting agent N-octyl-2-pyrrolidone optionally with a flame retardant is applied following by printing and print fixation.

Abstract: Thermoplastic fabrics are flame retardant treated and optionally heatset and/or simultaneously dyed in a heated flame retardant liquid in which a disperse or acid dye may be dissolved. Flame-resistant fabrics result.

Abstract: Durable press finishes are applied to cellulosic materials such as cotton by cross-linking a polycarboxylic acid within the cellulosic fibers using a cyanamide compound cross-linker devoid of phosphorus. Wrinkle-resistant, durable cellulosic materials free from formaldehyde odor result.

Abstract: Multicolored stain-resistant nylon carpet is prepared by tufting a space dyed cationic-dyeable carpet nylon, dyed with an acid or premetalized dye intermixed and tufted with an acid dyeable nylon and overdyed with an acid dye to selectively dye the acid dyeable fibers but not the already space dyed yarns.

Abstract: Warp and weft yarns are alternately laid one on top of the other and the weft yarns are stitched to provide a woven-like fabric appearance. At least one weft yarn is provided in each stitch course between the stitch loop and the underlap, the stitching forming no part of the interlacing and the woven-like fabric appearance.

Abstract: Aramid and aramid-blend fabrics are dyed or flame-retardant treated or both dyed and flame-retardant treated using conventional heat dyeing equipment. Octylpyrrolidones, tributyl phosphine oxide and mixtures of N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone with available dye carriers are used as diffusion-promoting agents for dyes, flame retardant agents or both. Odor-free, flame resistant, colored or colored and highly flame resistant products result.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for mounting carpet or other floating samples, which are quadrate in configuration and relatively planar and stiff. Each sample is mounted so that first and second side right angled edges intersect at the lowest point of the sample, forming a downwardly facing V. Each of the first and second side edges makes an angle of between about 30-60 degrees with respect to a vertical line, with the sample face outward, the angle preferably being 45 degrees. The diagonal of each sample slopes downwardly from left to right. The samples are preferably mounted in groups, the samples in each group having the same color and preferably also the same shade, with only the top edges and a portion of the face of the samples in each group aside from the outward sample, being visible.

Abstract: Carrier dyeable polyester yarns are space dyed by spraying with water dispersions of disperse dyes without thickeners or carriers followed by a short steaming process and autoclaving to develop the dyes or by a knit-de-knit process of knitting the yarn into socks or tubes which are roller printed with disperse dyestuff, thickener and carrier dissolved in water in various colors followed by steaming, washing, drying and deknitting. The thus produced space dyed yarns are then tufted into area rugs along with undyed yarns of "carrierless" polyester fibers and/or nylon fibers and dyed with a cationic, acid or disperse dye appropriate to the dye receptivity of the undyed yarns while avoiding overdyeing of the space dyed yarns to produce a multicolor piece-dyed area rug.