Abstract: The invention provides a roll over which a sheet of dyed and dried yarns passes from a drying chamber. During operation of the apparatus, the roll is maintained in a position diverting the yarns out of a straight path, creating a surplus in the path. When the machine stops, the roll is moved slowly under controlled conditions to a position nearer a straight path, during which the surplus is given up to compensate for the shrinkage of the yarn residing in the drying chamber whereby yarn in the dyeing stage remains motionless. The invention is particularly (but not solely) useful in the manufacture of tufted carpeting from yarns dyed individually in segments along their length with different colors for production of predetermined complex designs in the carpet.

Abstract: The apparatus and the method of the invention dyes the yarn ends of a sheet thereof individually at predetermined positions along their lengths and manufactures tufted carpets therefrom in a tufting machine to provide a predetermined multi-colored complex pattern in the carpet. The invention includes pretreatment of the yarn in a wetting and cleansing bath, removing excess bath liquid in preparation for dyeing, synchronizing the yarn feed at the start with the feed to the tufting machine, simultaneous dyeing of pairs of adjacent yarn ends and separating them for delivery to the tufting machine in an arrangement to produce identical patterns side-by-side in the carpet.

Abstract: A series of dye troughs or pans are located in a transverse parallel arrangement along the length of apparatus for dyeing parallel yarn ends. Each pan is pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to and eccentric with respect to the horizontal gravitational axis of the pan so that the pan will rotate downwardly when released, for cleaning or repair. Dye rolls are mounted within the pans and driven by gears which automatically engage and disengage with driving means as the pan is let down and restored to normal operational position.