Abstract: Randomly dyed skeins of yarn are produced in an apparatus which comprises an open vat adapted to be filled with a liquid dye bath and having rack means for supporting a plurality of skeins of yarn which are to be randomly dyed. The rack means includes valved conduits to control the flow of dye therethrough. Further valve means are provided for selectively adjusting the level of the liquid dye bath relative to the skeins supported in the dye bath while maintaining the liquor ratio, i.e., the ratio of liquid dye bath to yarn dyed, constant and as low as practical.

Abstract: A method for producing randomly dyed skeins of yarn in an apparatus which comprises an open vat adapted to be filled with a liquid dye bath and having rack means for supporting a plurality of skeins of yarn which are to be randomly dyed. The rack means includes valved conduits to control the flow of dye therethrough. Further valve means are provided for selectively adjusting the level of the liquid dye bath relative to the skeins supported in the dye bath while maintaining the liquor ratio, i.e., the ratio of liquid dye bath to yarn dyed, constant and as low as practical.

Abstract: Multiple strands of undyed yarn are fed continuously from supply spools or bobbins supported on a creel to a skein winding apparatus. The strands each pass along a substantially horizontal path through one or more spaced dyeing stations where they are engaged by an oscillating frame and caused to oscillate laterally back and forth from said paths while streams of dye individual to the yarns are continuously directed onto the yarns from a series of overhead tubes at the dyeing stations. The strands thus periodically interrupt the dye stream of the associated tubes and receive dye at a multiplicity of spaced portions along their lengths with intervening portions of the yarns remaining uncolored. The space dyeing can be varied by changing the speed of movement of the yarns, by varying the amplitude and speed of movement of yarn guide means which produces the lateral oscillation of the yarns and by selectively operating varying numbers of dye stream feeders at one or both dyeing stations.