Abstract:
In one embodiment, the present invention is a beaker type dyeing machine. One embodiment of an apparatus for dyeing a material in a beaker includes a cylinder body having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured for coupling to the lid of the beaker, a check valve incorporated into the first end of the cylinder body, and a plug incorporated into the second end of the cylinder body, the plug being operable to control opening and closing of the check valve.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a beaker type dyeing machine that is especially useful for the controlled dyeing of fabrics and other materials in a laboratory setting. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Many processes for dyeing fabrics on an industrial scale require that dyes and other chemicals be added periodically (e.g., according to a predetermined pattern or sequence). Dye application to textiles depends on dosing a liquid water/dye solution with an activator (e.g., soda ash, sodium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, or other solid or liquid substances). Activation of dyes is typically most effective if performed when the liquid solution reaches a certain temperature, and just prior to the application of the liquid solution to the fabric. 
     Conventional dyeing methods either manually inject the activator into the liquid solution (e.g., using a syringe) at the appropriate time and temperature or include the activator in the original dye mixture prior to the dyeing process. The former process tends to be tedious and requires the activator to be in a fluid form. The latter process tends to lead to suboptimal dyeing of the fabric. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for a beaker type dyeing machine that allows injection of a solid or granular activator. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a beaker type dyeing machine. One embodiment of an apparatus for dyeing a material in a beaker includes a cylinder body having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured for coupling to the lid of the beaker, a check valve incorporated into the first end of the cylinder body, and a plug incorporated into the second end of cylinder the body, the plug being operable to control opening and closing of the check valve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating one embodiment of a beaker type dyeing machine, according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2-3  are side views illustrating one embodiment of a dispensing cylinder coupled to a beaker; and 
         FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating the dispensing cylinder with the removable plug removed. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a beaker type dyeing machine for dye applications that allows injection of a solid or granular activator. Embodiments of the invention incorporate a dispensing cylinder with a manual plunger into the individual beakers of a beaker type dyeing machine. A measured amount of solid or granular activator is stored in each dispensing cylinder and may be dispensed into the beaker upon depression of the plunger by a human operator. Embodiments of the invention may be incorporated within a beaker type dyeing machine, for example such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating one embodiment of a beaker type dyeing machine  100 , according to the present invention. As illustrated, the machine  100  comprises a support  1 , a substantially circular disk  3  coupled to the support  1 , and a plurality of beakers  2  arranged along the periphery of the circular disk  3 . Although the disk  3  is described as being circular in shape, the disk  3  may comprise any shape that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and that can support a plurality of beakers  2  along its periphery. A heater  6  is positioned at a point on the periphery of the circular disk  3  such that the beakers  2  and their contents are heated as the circular disk  3  is rotated and the beakers  2  pass the heater  6 . In one embodiment, the heater  6  is a planar infrared emitter. 
     The support  1  comprises a shaft  7  to which the circular disk  3  is directly coupled. Thus, the axis of rotation  16  of the circular disk  3  is disposed through the center of the shaft  7 . The shaft  7  is rotated on bearings  8  and is driven by a motor  9  that continuously rotates the shaft  7  (e.g., in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction), thereby continuously rotating the circular disk  3  (and the beakers  2 ) about the axis of rotation  16 . In one embodiment, the motor  9  rotates the shaft  7  such that the beakers  2  coupled to the circular disk  3  are rotated at a uniform or non-uniform speed. 
     In one embodiment, the motor  9  is a timing belt. In this embodiment, a first timing pulley  10  is coupled to the shaft  7 , and a second timing pulley  11  is coupled to the motor  9 . A timing belt  12  couples the first timing pulley  10  to the second timing pulley  11 . 
     As discussed above, the plurality of beakers  2  is arranged around the periphery of the circular disk  3 . In one embodiment, each beaker  2  is positioned such that its longitudinal axis  4  extends in a diagonal or slanted orientation in two planes relative to the axis of rotation  16  of the circular disk  3 . 
     The beakers  2  are designed to contain material (e.g., fabric) to be dyed and a liquid solution of dye and water. Each beaker  2  has a lid  5  to which a dispensing cylinder  13  (illustrated in further detail in  FIGS. 2-4 ) is coupled, such that the dispensing cylinder  13  extends into the interior volume of the beaker  2 . The dispensing cylinder  13  is filled with a solid or granular activator (not illustrated) that is manually dispensed into the beaker  2  at the appropriate time and temperature. 
       FIGS. 2-3  are side views illustrating one embodiment of a dispensing cylinder  13  coupled to a beaker  2 . Specifically,  FIG. 2  illustrates the dispensing cylinder  13  with a check valve  14  in the “closed” position, while  FIG. 3  illustrates the dispensing cylinder  13  with the check valve  14  in the “open” position. 
     The dispensing cylinder  13  comprises a cylinder body  25  and a removable plug  19 . A first end of the cylinder body  25  is disposed through the lid  5  of the beaker  2  and is sealed from the interior volume of the beaker  2  by the check valve  14 . An opposite second end of the cylinder body  25  is sealed by the removable plug  19 . 
     The check valve  14  comprises a piston  15  that is coupled to a first rod  18 . A biasing element  17  such as a spring biases the first rod  18  in a direction away from the beaker  2  (i.e., away from the first end of the cylinder body  25 ). A first seal member  26  such as an O-ring seals the check valve  14  from the interior volume of the beaker  2 . 
     The removable plug  19  comprises a second rod  21  coupled to a knob  23 . The second rod  21  is coupled to the knob  23  by a second seal member  22  such as an O-ring. A third seal member  20  such as an O-ring seals the removable plug  19  to the cylinder body  25 . When the removable plug  19  is inserted into the cylinder body  25 , the first rod  18  is biased by the biasing element  17  against the second rod  21 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . This closes the check valve  14 , so that any activator stored within the dispensing cylinder  13  is prevented from escaping into the beaker  2 . 
     To open the check valve  14  and dispense the activator, the knob  23  of the removable plug  19  is depressed (e.g., by a human operator). This forces the second rod  21  against the first rod  18 , pushing back on the biasing element  17  and opening the check valve  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In one embodiment, the dispensing cylinder  13  additionally comprises a locking element for reversibly locking the check valve in the open position. 
     The dispensing cylinder  13  thus allows activator and/or other additives in solid or granular form to be added to the contents of a beaker  2  while the circular disk  3  of the beaker type dyeing machine  100  rotates. Thus, the activator may be added to the liquid dye solution without interruption the movement of the beakers  2 . Subsequent agitation of the beakers  2  causes the activator to dissolve in the liquid dye solution, rendering the liquid dye solution suitable for application to the materials to be dyed. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating the dispensing cylinder  13  with the removable plug  19  removed. Removing the removable plug  19  allows the dispensing cylinder  13  to be filled with the activator or other additives. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.