Abstract: Apparatus and method for dyeing carpets and the like in random patterns and multiple colors. Dye is applied in liquid streams from troughs having rollers and doctor blade scrapers. The troughs are arranged in pairs along the path of carpet movement, one trough in each pair being above the other trough of the pair. Dye streams from the pairs of troughs are broken up into droplets before contacting the carpet in such a way as to prevent substantial mixing of the streams prior to contact with the carpet. The particular arrangement of the trough pairs and dye streams results in a dyed carpet of high quality at a substantial savings in equipment cost and quantity of dye used.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading and guiding a tube of fabric which includes four free turning spheres, two of which are associated with and magnetically attracted to a respective drive sheave and the other two of which are associated with and magnetically attracted to a respective pair of drive sheaves. Upon rotation of their respective drive sheaves, each free turning sphere, by reason of its magnetic attraction thereto, rotates with the drive sheave or sheaves and, since the spheres are positioned inside and the sheaves outside of the tube of fabric, it is thereby conveyed. One pair of guide rods are connected to a pair of the spheres on one side of the apparatus and another pair of guide rods are connected to a pair of the spheres on the other side of the apparatus. Each guide rod extends through guide rings projecting from the surface of the spheres for connection therewith.