Abstract:
A device for dyeing columnar objects rotates the columnar object as they brush past an endless, absorbent, dye-carrying belt. The colored dye from the belt rubs off onto the columnar object, providing an even and consistent coating of dye.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to application of dye to objects of particular shape. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Electronic incense stick is a light guide body having an opaque outer coating on its outer surface and a semi-spherical portion on its top end. Light emitted from a light source is guided to the semi-spherical portion to simulate a burning traditional incense stick. 
     In manufacturing, the outer surface of the light guide body is manually colored to form the opaque outer coating. The manual coloring wastes time and manpower, and the outer color-coating of multiple light guide bodies may have different thicknesses. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a dyeing device which can overcome the limitations described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       The FIGURE is a schematic view of an embodiment of a dyeing device for applying dye to the surface of a columnar object. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The FIGURE shows a dyeing device  10 , in accordance with an embodiment. The dyeing device  10  is used for applying dye to outer surfaces of a plurality of columnar objects  20 . The columnar objects  20  can be electronic incense sticks. 
     The dyeing device  10  includes an operating unit  11 , a dyeing unit  12 , and a dye container  13 . The operating unit  11  takes the columnar objects  20  to move in a first direction labeled A. The dye container  13  holds dye  30  therein. The dyeing unit  12  moves in a second direction labeled B in order to coat the dye  30  onto the outer surface of each columnar object  20 . The second direction is the reverse of the first direction. 
     The operating unit  11  includes a first top chain  111 , a first bottom chain  112 , a second top chain  115 , a second bottom chain  116 , a plurality of first holders  113 , a plurality of second holders  117 , and a motor  114 . All of the first top chain  111 , the first top chain  111 , the second top chain  115 , and the second bottom chain  116  are endless. The first top chain  111  is parallel with the first bottom chains  112 , the second top chain  115 , and the second bottom chain  116 . The first top chain  111  is located above the first bottom chain  112  and the first holders  113  are located between the first top chain  111  and the first bottom chain  112 . Each of the first holders  113  is used for supporting one end of each of the columnar objects  20 . The second top chain  115  is located above the second bottom chain  116  and the second holders  117  are located between the second top chain  115  and the second bottom chain  116 . Each of the second holders  117  is for supporting the other end of each of the columnar objects  20 . In other words, one end of each columnar object  20  is sandwiched between the first top chains  111  and the first bottom chain  112  and the other end of each columnar object  20  is sandwiched between the second top chain  115  and the second bottom chain  116 . 
     The motor  114  is used for driving the first top chain  111 , the first bottom chain  112 , the second top chain  115 , and the second bottom chain  116  at a same speed to move in the first direction. In other words, the columnar objects  20  can move along with the operating unit  11  in the first direction. No relative motion exists between the first top chain  111  and the first bottom chain  112  during the first top chain  111  and the first bottom chain  112  are driven to move in the first direction. No relative motion exists between the second top  115  and the second bottom chain  116  during the second top chain  115  and the second bottom chain  116  are driven to move in the first direction. In one embodiment, the motor  114  can also drive the first holders  113  and the second holders  117  to rotate the columnar objects  20  at a same speed. 
     In another embodiment, the first holders  113  and second holders  117  can be omitted. The columnar objects  20  are fixed between the first top chain  111  and the first bottom chains  112 , and are fixed between the second top chain  115  and the second bottom chain  116 . The columnar objects  20  rotate by virtue of friction, for example, between the columnar objects  20  and the dyeing unit  12 . 
     The dyeing unit  12  includes two rollers  121  and an endless belt  122 . The belt  122  winds around the two rollers  121 . The two rollers  121  take the belt  122  to move along the second direction. The material of the belt  122  is, for example, cotton, sponge, or fiber. The width of the belt  122  is not less than the dyeing length of the columnar objects  20  or other object being dyed. 
     The dye container  13  is for holding dye  30  therein. The two rollers  121  rotate and the belt  122  is immersed into the dye  30 . The dye  30  is absorbed by the belt  122 . When the columnar objects  20  contact the belt  122 , the dye  30  of the belt  122  rubs off onto the surface of each columnar object  20 . 
     In the processing, the motor  114  drives the operating unit  11  holding and rotating the columnar objects  20 , to move in the first direction. The belt  20  moves in the second direction. The columnar objects  20  rotate relative to the belt  122  and make physical contact as they brush past it, so the dye  30  of the belt  122  is evenly coated on the surface of each columnar object  20 . 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.