Apparatus and methods for dyeing of fibers

Abstract

Systems and methods for preparing a dyed material are described. An apparatus includes a material charging device configured to charge a material with a first charge. The apparatus further includes an applicator configured to receive the charged material and a charged dye and apply the charged dye to the charged material such that an amount of the charged dye is deposited on the charged material. The charged dye is charged with a second charge that is opposite of the first charge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing a dyed material, the method comprising:
 providing a material;   charging the material with a first charge to prepare a charged material; and   applying a charged dye to the charged material such that an amount of the charged dye is deposited onto the charged material to prepare a dyed material, wherein the charged dye is charged with a second charge that is opposite of the first charge.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising steaming the dyed material 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the steaming step is performed for at least 5 seconds and for a maximum of 5 minutes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising drying the dyed material after the steaming step. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising pre-treating the material with an acidic solution or a basic solution before the charging step. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising pre-treating the material with a solution that includes urea and sodium hydroxide before the charging step. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising drying the material after the pre-treating step and before the charging step. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the charging step comprises charging through contact electrification under an electric field. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the charging step comprising contact electrification using direct high voltage and direct current. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the charged dye that is deposited on the charged material is based at least in part on a voltage used to charge the material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the charged dye that is deposited on the charged material is based at least in part on a current used to charge the material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising neutralizing the charged material by rinsing the dyed material in a neutralizing solution, wherein the neutralizing solution is an acidic solution if the pre-treatment step was performed with a basic solution, and the neutralizing solution is a basic solution if the pre-treatment step was performed with an acidic solution. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recycling a portion of the dye that is not deposited on the material after the applying step. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising charging a dye with the second charge before the applying step. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a material charging device configured to charge a material with a first charge; and   an applicator configured to:
 receive the charged material and a charged dye, wherein the charged dye is charged with a second charge that is opposite of the first charge; and 
 apply the charged dye to the charged material such that an amount of the charged dye is deposited on the charged material to prepare a dyed material. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a steamer configured to steam the dyed material to prepare a steamed material. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a heater configured to dry the steamed material. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the material charging device is further configured to apply a voltage to the material, and wherein the amount of the charged dye that is deposited on the charged material is based at least in part on an amount of the voltage. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the material charging device is further configured to apply a current to the material, and wherein the amount of the charged dye that is deposited on the charged material is based at least in part on an amount of the current. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a collecting unit configured to collect any dye that is not deposited onto the charged material. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an air-dye mixing device. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a dye charging device configured to charge a dye with the second charge. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the applicator is configured to apply the charged dye at an angle between about 30 and about 90 degrees to the charged material. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for charging a material with a first charge; and   means for applying a charged dye to the charged material such that an amount of the charged dye is deposited onto the charged material, wherein the charged dye is charged with a second charge that is opposite of the first charge.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising means for steaming the charged material to prepare a steamed material. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising means for drying the steamed material. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the means for charging the material applies a voltage to the material, and wherein the amount of the charged dye that is deposited on the charged material is based at least in part on an amount of the voltage. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the means for charging the material applies a current to the material under an electric field, and wherein the amount of the charged dye that is deposited on the charged material is based at least in part on an amount of the current. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising means for charging a dye with the second charge.