Thread dyeing apparatus and method

The present invention comprises a thread dyeing apparatus and method for dyeing a thread. The apparatus comprises a marker having a transorb material and a nib with dyeing liquid being disposed in the marker housing as passing through the transorb material to the nib. A slit is formed in the nib. The slit is sized so the thread extends through the slit in the nib wherein the dyeing liquid is applied to the thread. In one embodiment, the apparatus is used to dye thread during operation of a sewing machine and, in this embodiment, the marker is positioned between the thread source and the needle of the machine. In other embodiment, the apparatus is utilized for applying a thread lubricant to the thread.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to a thread dyeing apparatus and 
method, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an 
apparatus and method for dyeing thread using a marker comprising transorb 
material and a nib wherein the thread passes through the nib and dyeing 
liquid is applied to the thread through the nib.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In the textile and garment industries, and in home and commerical sewing 
applications, there often is a need for changing the color of thread. This 
need arises, for example, in the weaving of multi-colored fabrics and in 
sewing garments which include different colors of fabrics and in applying 
contrasting top stitching. For efficient production of such fabrics and 
garments, large inventories of different colored threads must be 
maintained. Also, the time required to frequently rethread machines leads 
to high labor cost, and thus increased production and product costs. The 
present invention provides a way for applying a dyeing liquid to thread 
which reduces the time and labor in changing thread colors. In so doing, 
the present invention improves the efficiency and decreases the expense of 
commercial textile and garment manufacturing. The private individual who 
sews also will appreciate the convenience invention. 
The present invention comprises a dye applying apparatus for dyeing a 
thread. As used herein, the term "thread" includes any filamentous 
material such as commonly referred to as ribbon, tape, cord, twine or 
yarn. Also, the term "thread source" as used herein refers to any item by 
which thread is stored or dispensed, or both, such as spools, skeins, 
reels and the like. 
Shown in FIG. 1 is a dye applying apparatus 10 which is constructed in 
accordance with the present invention and operatively associated with a 
conventional sewing machine 12. A thread source 14 in the form of a spool 
adapted for storing and dispensing a thread 16 is supported on a stand 18 
generally above the sewing machine 12. The thread 16 is extended from the 
thread source 14 and operatively connected through the sewing machine to a 
needle 20. The sewing machine 12, the thread source 14 and the stand 18 
all are intended to represent commercially available sewing machines and 
sewing machine accessories adapted for applying or sewing thread to a 
cloth in a conventional manner. 
The dye applying apparatus 10 is disposed generally between the thread 
source 14 and the needle 20 of the sewing machine 12 and the thread 16 is 
operatively passed through the dye applying apparatus 10 during the 
operation of the sewing machine 12. In accordance with the present 
invention, the thread source 14 is adapted to supply a single color, 
white, thread 16. The dye applying apparatus 10 is adapted to receive the 
thread 16 and apply a dyeing liquid to the thread 16 for dyeing the thread 
16 a predetermined color. The dyed thread 16 is passed from the dye 
applying apparatus 10 to the needle 20 where the dyed thread is applied or 
sewed to the cloth in a conventional manner. The dye applying apparatus 10 
of the present invention particularly is constructed so that the color of 
the dyeing liquid can be changed in a fast and convenient manner thereby 
permitting an individual to change the color of the dyed thread 16 at any 
time in a fast and convenient manner. 
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the sewing machine 12 
also includes a second thread source 14a supported on the stand 18 with a 
second thread 16a being dispensed from the second thread source 14a. The 
sewing machine 12 includes a bobbin winder 22 which is adapted to wind 
thread into a bobbin for use with the sewing machine 12 in a manner well 
known in the art. In this embodiment, the thread 16a extends from the 
thread source 14a to the bobbin winder 22 and the thread 16a is wound onto 
the bobbin by the bobbin winder 22 during the operation of the sewing 
machine 12. 
A second dye applying apparatus 10a is disposed between the thread source 
14a and the bobbin winder 22. The second thread 16a is passed from the 
thread source 14a through the dye applying apparatus 10a to the bobbin 
winder 22 during the operation of the sewing machine. The second dye 
applying apparatus 10a applies a dyeing liquid to the thread 16a for 
dyeing the thread a predetermined color. Thus, the thread 16a wound onto 
the bobbin by the bobbin winder 22 is dyed a predetermined color by the 
dye applying apparatus 10a in an automatic manner during the operation of 
the sewing machine 12. In manner like the thread source 14 described 
before, the thread source 14a stores and dispenses a source of white 
thread with the dye applying apparatus 10a dyeing the white thread a 
predetermined color during the operation of the sewing machine 12. 
The dye applying apparatus 10a is constructed and operates exactly like the 
dye applying apparatus 10, except the dye applying apparatus 10a is 
utilized in this application to dye thread for a bobbin. The below 
description of the dye applying apparatus 10 and thread 16 applies equally 
to the dye applying apparatus 10a and the thread 16a, with the single 
exception that the dye applying apparatus 10a is operatively associated 
with the bobbin winder 22. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the dye applying apparatus 10 includes a support 
housing 24 with a marker 26 operatively supported within the support 
housing 24. In this particular embodiment, the support housing 24 is 
supported generally on a support stand 28. 
The support stand 28 includes a stand base 30 which is adapted to be 
operatively disposed on a support surface and a pliable neck 32. The 
pliable neck 32 has a first end 34 which is connected to the stand base 30 
and an opposite second end 36 which is removably connected to the support 
housing 24. The pliable neck 32 is adapted to be positioned in various 
positions by twisting and angularly moving the pliable neck 32 for 
selectively positioning the support housing 24 in preselected positions. 
The pliable neck 32 may be constructed of any bendable metal and preferably 
is of the type commonly referred to in the art as a "goose neck" type of 
construction. 
The above-described support stand 28 is a one means for positioning the 
support housing 24 at preselected positions generally above the support 
stand 28. It is to be understood, however, that other suitable means may 
be employed to support and position the support housing 24. For example, 
in some commercially available sewing machines (not shown) where the 
thread spools are mounted on top of the machine, it may be desirable to 
attach the support housing directly to the top of the machine utilizing a 
commercially available self-gripping fastener of the type commonly 
referred to as "Velcro". 
As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support housing 24 is generally 
rectangularly shaped and includes a first end 38, a second end 40, a first 
side 42 and a second side 44. A thread opening 46 is formed through the 
support housing 24 and the thread opening 46 extends through the support 
housing 24 intersecting the first and the second sides 42 and 44 thereof. 
The thread opening 46 is sized for receiving the thread 16 to be dyed so 
that the thread 16 may be moved rapidly through the thread opening 46 
during the operation of the sewing machine 12. The thread opening 46 
preferably has a diameter larger than the diameter of the thread 16 to 
provide clearance therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, the thread 
opening 46 only is slightly larger than the thread 16 to reduce 
evaporation of the dyeing liquid through the thread opening 46. Also, the 
surface of the thread opening 46 preferably is smoothed throughout its 
length to faciliate the movement of the thread 16 therethrough. 
The support housing 24 includes a housing opening 36 formed through and 
intersecting the first end 38 thereof. The housing opening 48 extends a 
distance through the support housing 24 and intersects the thread opening 
46. The housing opening 48 is adapted to receive a portion of the marker 
26 for cooperating to support the marker 26 in a connected position to the 
support housing 24. 
As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, the marker 26 comprises a marker container 
50 having an upper end 52 and a lower end 54. A marker opening 56 extends 
a distance through the marker container 50 and intersects the lower end 54 
of the marker container 50. A transorb material 58 is disposed in the 
marker opening 56. One end of a nib 60 extends a distance through a 
portion of the transorb material 58, generally near the lower end 54 of 
the marker container 50. The nib 60 extends a distance out from the lower 
end 54 of the marker container 50 terminating with a tip end 62 of the nib 
60. 
A dyeing liquid is disposed in the marker opening 56 generally about and 
within the transorb material 58. The transorb material 58 functions to 
store the dyeing liquid and the transorb material 58 cooperates with the 
nib 60 to control the flow of the dyeing liquid from the transorb material 
58 through the nib 60 so dyeing liquid is available throughout the nib and 
particularly at the tip end 62 of the nib 60. 
Markers of the type generally described before with respect to the marker 
26 which include transorb material and a nib, like the transorb material 
58 and the nib 60, are commercially available from such sources as 
Eberhard-Faber of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. and sold under their mark "MARKETTE". 
One feature of the present invention is the use of existing markers of the 
type just described for dyeing thread. 
As presently available, such commercial markers of the type described 
before generally contain a dyeing liquid for marking on paper or similar 
material. This particular dyeing liquid generally has a drying time 
sufficiently long so that some of the dyeing liquid on the thread bleeds 
onto the cloth when used in a sewing machine application of the type 
described herein in conjunction with the dye applying apparatus 10. In 
other words, the drying time of the dyeing liquid in commercially 
available markers has been found in general to be to long for the 
applications contemplated herein to achieve the most desired results. 
It is desirable to substitute the dyeing liquid generally in such 
commercially available markers for a dyeing liquid having a shorter drying 
time so the dyeing liquid will fix to the thread before the thread is 
applied to the cloth to substantially prevent the bleeding of the dyeing 
liquid onto the cloth. The following dyeing liquids, commonly referred to 
in the art as solvent dyes, have been found to have a sufficiently short 
drying time so that the dyeing liquid is fix to the thread before the 
thread engages the cloth and such compounds have been found useful in 
conjunction with the present invention as the dyeing liquid in the marker 
26. 
______________________________________ 
Dyeing Liquid No. 1 
Neopen Blue 808 0.18% 
CK2432 Resin 8.00% 
N--Propanol 91.82% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 2 
Iosol Red 6.0% 
CK2432 Resin 12.0% 
N--Propanol 82.0% 
100.0% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 3 
Neopen Blue 808 3.90% 
Iosol Orange 0.05% 
CK2432 10.00% 
N--Propanol 86.05% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 4 
Neopen Blue 808 6.40% 
Ceres Blue ZV 1.60% 
Interplast or Orosol 2 GLN 
0.06% 
CK2432 Resin 10.00% 
N--Propanol 81.94% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 5 
Neopen Red 336 2.0% 
Interplast or Orosol Yellow 2 GLN 
4.0% 
Neopen Blue 808 0.4% 
CK2432 Resin 10.0% 
N--Propanol 83.6% 
100.0% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 6 
Neopen Red 336 0.07% 
Interplast or Orosol Yellow 2 GLN 
0.18% 
Neopen Blue 808 0.04% 
CK2432 Resin 10.00% 
N--Propanol 89.71% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 7 
Neopen Blue 808 6.0% 
Interplast or Orosol Yellow 2GLN 
1.1% 
CK2432 Resin 10.0% 
N--Propanol 82.9% 
100.0% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 8 
Interplast or Orosol Black RL 
0.20% 
CK2432 Resin 10.00% 
N--Propanol 89.80% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 9 
Neopen Red 336 2.60% 
Interplast or Orosol Yellow 2GLN 
2.70% 
Interplast Black RL 0.25% 
CK2432 Resin 10.00% 
N--Propanol 84.45% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 10 
Interplast or Orosol Black RL 
1.55% 
CK2432 Resin 10.00% 
N--Propanol 88.45% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 11 
Interplast or Orosol Yellow 2GLN 
0.33% 
Neopen Blue 808 0.13% 
Interplast or Orosol RL 0.03% 
CK2432 Resin 10.00% 
N--Propanol 89.46% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 12 
Neopen Blue 808 3.90% 
Isol Orange 0.05% 
CK2432 15.00% 
N--Propanol 81.05% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 13 
Neopen Blue 808 0.18% 
CK2432 15.00% 
N--Propanol 84.82% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 14 
Neopen Blue 808 6.40% 
Ceres Blue 2N 1.60% 
Orosol Yellow 2GLN 0.06% 
CK2432 15.00% 
N--Propanol 76.94% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 15 
Neopen Red 336 2.0% 
Interplast or Orosol Yellow 2GLN 
4.0% 
Neopen Blue 808 0.4% 
CK2432 15.0% 
N--Propanol 78.6% 
100.0% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 16 
Neopen Red 336 2.60% 
Interplast or Orsol 2.70% 
Orosol Black RL 0.25% 
CK2432 15.00% 
N--Propanol 79.45% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 17 
Neopen Red 336 0.07% 
Interplast or Orosol Yellow 2GLN 
0.18% 
Neopen Blue 808 0.04% 
CK2432 15.00% 
N--Propanol 84.71% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 18 
Iosol Red 6.0% 
CK2432 15.0% 
N--Propanol 79.0% 
100.0% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 19 
Neopen Blue 808 6.0% 
Orosol or Interplast Yellow 2GLN 
1.1% 
CK2432 15.0% 
N--Propanol 77.9% 
100.0% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 20 
Interplast or Orosol Yellow 2GLN 
0.33% 
Neopen Blue 808 0.18% 
Interplast or Orosol Black RL 
0.03% 
CK2432 Resin 15.00% 
N--Propanol 84.46% 
100.00% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 21 
Interplast or Orosol Black RL 
1.5% 
CK2432 15.0% 
N--Propanol 83.5% 
100.0% 
Dyeing Liquid No. 22 
Interplast or Orosol Black RL 
0.20% 
CK2432 15.00% 
N--Propanol 84.80% 
100.00% 
______________________________________ 
In general, the solvent dyeing liquids found to be useful in the present 
invention comprise: a phenolic resin in the range of from about 10% to 
about 15% by weight, a carrier, n-propanol alcohol, in a range from about 
75% to about 89.5% by weight and a solvent dye in a range from about 0.5% 
to about 10%. 
The phenolic resin is made of phenolpuliminized formaldehyde such as 
commercially available fron Union Carbide sold as their phenol resin 
CK2432. Other resins such as a ketone resin or a nylon resin also may be 
useful. 
The carrier in the above liquid solvent dyes is n-propanol alcohol. Also 
the carrier could be xylene or other types of alcohols, glycols or water. 
The dyes in the solvent liquid dyes are soluble in alcohols or xylene. 
In markers of the type described herein as the marker 26, the dyeing liquid 
flows from the transorb material 58 through the nib 60 by capillary action 
in a controlled manner. The resin is selected so as to not block this flow 
through the marker 26. In general, the more resin in the dyeing liquid the 
faster the drying time. However, increasing the amount of resin also 
increases the viscosity of the dyeing liquid. For example, a dyeing liquid 
with 40% resin will not flow through the marker 26. The resin functions as 
a binding agent which allows the dyeing liquid to bind to the surface of 
the thread. 
The above dyeing liquid formulas are not suitable for dry cleaning 
applications where the thread will be subjected to commercial dry cleaning 
procedures. Solvent dyes of this type tend to washout during such drying 
cleaning procedures. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing opening 48 is adapted for supporting 
the marker container 50 so that, when the marker container 50 is 
positioned in the housing opening 48, the nib 60 is disposed in the 
housing opening 48 intersecting a portion of the thread opening 46 and is 
positioned for engaging the thread 16 as the thread 16 is moved through 
the thread opening 46. In this manner, as the thread 16 is moved through 
the thread opening 46, the thread 16 is engaged by the nib 60 for applying 
dyeing liquid to the thread 16 as the thread 16 moves through the support 
housing 24. 
As shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the nib 60 of the marker 26 has a 
first side 64 and a second side 66. A slit 68 is formed in the tip end 62 
of the nib 60. The slit 68 intersects the tip end 62 and the first and the 
second sides 64 and 66, and the slit 68 extends a distance from the tip 
end 62 of the nib 60 into the nib 60. 
The slit 68 divides the tip end 62 portion of the nib 60 into a first nib 
portion 70 having a face 72 formed by the slit 68 and a second nib portion 
74 having a face 76 formed by the slit 68. The face 72 of the first nib 
portion 70 faces the face 76 of the second nib portion 74, and the faces 
72 and 76 are disposed generally adjacent each other. In other words, the 
slit 68 preferably has an extremely small width. The slit 68 has a width 
less than the diameter of the thread and is sized and positioned so that, 
when the thread is disposed in the slit 65, portions of the nib 60 extend 
generally above and below the thread for substantially assuring that the 
dyeing liquid is applied to the thread generally about the entire 
circumference of the thread. In one model, the slit 68 was formed by 
taking a razor blade and cutting the tip end 62 of the nib 60 thereby 
forming the slit 68 with the removal of only a negilible amount of nib 60 
material. 
When the marker 26 is disposed in the support housing 24, the marker 26 is 
oriented so that the slit 68 generally is aligned with the thread opening 
46. In this manner, the thread 16 will move through the thread opening 46 
and pass through the slit 68. 
To reduce the rate of evaporation and increase the life of the marker 26, a 
seal preferably is formed between the marker container 50 and the support 
housing 24. More particularly, the marker container 50 and the support 
housing 24 are formed so that a seal is created when the marker 26 is 
removeably inserted into the housing opening 48 and the support housing 
24. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the marker container 50 includes an outer peripheral 
surface 78 and the housing opening 48 is formed in the complimentary 
shape. In this manner, the portions of the support housing 24 formed by 
the housing opening 48 will sealingly engage the outer peripheral surface 
78 of the marker container 50 when the marker container 50 is inserted 
into the housing opening 48. 
A protrusion 80 is formed on one end of the marker container 50 from which 
the nib 60 extends, so that the nib 60 extends from the protrusion 80. The 
housing opening 48 includes a portion adapted to sealing engage the outer 
peripheral surface 78 of the protrusion 80 upon insertion of the marker 
container 50 protrusion 80 into the housing opening 48. 
In operation, the dye applying apparatus 10 is positioned generally between 
the thread source 14 and the point of application of the thread 16, or, in 
other words, the needle 20. The thread 16 is extended from the thread 
source 14 and is inserted through the thread opening 46 in the support 
housing 24. The thread is threaded through the thread opening 46 and 
passed from the thread opening 46 to the sewing machine 12. 
The nib 60 end portion of the marker 26 is then inserted into the housing 
opening 48 in the support housing 24. The marker is oriented so that the 
slit 68 of the marker 26 generally is aligned with the thread opening 46. 
As the marker 26 is moved into the housing opening 48, the nib 60 is moved 
generally about the thread 16 with the thread 16 being disposed within the 
slit 68 in the nib 60. 
As the thread is moved through the thread opening 46 during the operation 
of the sewing machine 12, dyeing liquid is applied from the nib 60 to the 
thread 16 thereby dyeing the thread 16. 
As shown in FIG. 5, a tapered portion 82 is formed in the face 72 of the 
first nib portion 70, generally adjacent the tip end 62. A tapered portion 
84 is formed in the face 76 of the second nib portion 74 generally near 
the tip end 62. The tapered portion 82 generally faces the tapered portion 
84 and the tapered portions 82 and 84 cooperate to form a thread guide 
channel 86. The thread guide channel 86 is positioned generally near the 
tip end 62 of the nib 60 and the thread guide channel 86 is positioned 
generally adjacent the slit 68 so that the thread guide channel 86 forms a 
guide for guiding the threads 16 into the slit 68. The thread guide 
channel 86 has a width at the tip end 62 of the nib 60 which is greater 
than the width of the slit 68 and greater then the diameter of the thread 
for assisting in guiding the thread into the slit 68. 
The support housing 24 preferably is oriented to support the marker 26 in a 
position so that the nib 60 generally faces in a downward direction. The 
purpose of facing the marker 26 so that the nib 60 is disposed generally 
in a downwardly facing direction is to faciliate the flow of dyeing liquid 
through the transorb material 58 and into the nib 60 during the operation 
of the dye applying apparatus 10. 
In some instances, the passing of the thread 16 through the slit 68 tends 
to wear the adjacent portions of the faces of 72 and 76 thereby forming 
what may be referred to as a wear opening in the faces 72 and 76. In this 
instances, the marker container 50 may be rotated slightly so that the 
slit 68 is not quite aligned with the thread opening 46 thereby bringing 
the thread 16 into a more engaging position with the faces 72 and 76 of 
the nib 60 to facilitate the applying of the dyeing liquid to the thread 
16 as the thread 16 moves through the dye applying apparatus 10. 
The present invention, in one aspect, provides a new use for markers of the 
type generally described before with the respect to the marker 26. In this 
aspect, the dye applying apparatus 10 utilizes expendable or throw-away 
markers 26 wherein, once the dyeing liquid has been expended, the marker 
26 is simply discarded and a new marker 26 is inserted into the support 
housing 24. The use of expendable markers of this type eliminates any need 
for re-filling dye containers or the like and eliminates any mess which 
might be associated with the re-filling of such dye containers. 
In addition, the dye applying apparatus 10 is completely portable. The dye 
applying apparatus is not permanently or removably affixed to the sewing 
machine 12. Rather, the dye applying apparatus 10 is merely mounted near 
the sewing machine 12. Thus, the user can move the dye applying apparatus 
10 to any location or the user can move the dye applying apparatus 10 to 
be used in conjunction with any sewing machine without disassembling the 
dye applying apparatus 10 from the previous sewing machine. In this 
manner, the user can use the dye applying apparatus 10 in connection with 
one sewing machine such as a "Serger" for example or on a multi-head 
machine, darner machine or monograming machine and the dye applying 
apparatus 10 may be used from machine to machine utilizing a single white 
thread source. The dye applying apparatus 10 thus particularly is useful 
in the completion of a project requiring several different machines to 
complete a single task such as hemming, blind stitching and button-holing, 
for example. 
Although the dye applying apparatus 10 has been described before as being 
useful in connection with the sewing machine 12, the dye applying 
apparatus 10 could be used for dyeing thread in a weaving operation 
thereby allowing the user to establish a color pattern in the weaving 
process without changing thread from the thread source. Obviously, the dye 
applying apparatus 10 could be incorporated into a commercial weaving 
operation within the textile industry in a manner similar to that 
described before with respect to a whole new type of weaving operation. 
Also, it should be noted that the dye applying apparatus 10 could be used 
in a commercial thread dyeing application for making different colored 
threads. 
With respect to high speed sewing machines, it is common for a silicone 
lubricant to be applied to the thread as the thread is being passed to or 
through the sewing machine. In one aspect, the present invention 
contemplates substituting the dye applying liquid in the marker 26 with a 
silicone thread lubricating liquid and applying the thread lubricating 
liquid to the thread as the thread is moved through the dye applying 
apparatus 10 in a manner exactly like the dyeing liquid was applied to the 
thread in the manner described in detail before. The thread lubricating 
compound preferably is a cleaning type of lubricant so that the use of the 
dye applying apparatus 10 in connection with the cleaning lubricant would 
reduce or eliminate the need of dismantling tensioning devices to perform 
the cleaning of spindles for example thereby saving labor and time. 
It also should be noted, that in lieu of utilizing the two dye applying 
apparatus 10 and 10a, a single dye applying apparatus 10 could be 
utilized. In this example, when one desired to dye the bobbin thread 16a, 
one would merely swivel the dye applying apparatus 10 into position so 
that the thread 16a could be passed into position so that the thread 16a 
could be passed through the dye applying apparatus 10. 
Shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a modified marker 26b. The modified marker 26b is 
constructed exactly like the marker 26 described in detail before, except 
the marker container 50b is conically shaped. In this embodiment, the 
support housing 24b is cylindrically shaped with a conically shaped 
housing opening 48b shaped for mateingly receiving the conically shaped 
marker container 50b. 
To reduce evaporation of the dyeing liquid from the surface of the nib 60b, 
the marker container 50b and the housing opening 48b are formed to create 
a seal. In this regard, the outer peripheral surface 78b of the marker 
container 50b is shaped to mateingly and sealingly engage the portions of 
the support housing 24b formed by the housing opening 48b. 
Shown in FIG. 8, is a modified support housing 24b which includes a 
plurality of housing openings, three housing openings being shown in FIG. 
8 and designated therein by the reference numerals 48c, 48d and 48e. The 
housing openings 48c, 48d and 48e are formed exactly like the housing 
opening 48b shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and described in detail before. 
The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 8, includes a plurality of 
markers, three markers being shown in FIG. 8 and designated therein by the 
reference numerals 26c, 26d and 26e. The markers 26c, 26d and 263 are 
constructed exactly like the markers 26b shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and 
described in detail before. The marker 26c is sized and positioned to be 
disposed in the housing opening 48c, the marker 26d is sized and 
positioned to be disposed in the housing opening 48d and the marker 26e is 
sized and positioned to be disposed in the housing opening 48e. 
A hydraulic cylinder 88 is connected to the marker 26c, a hydraulic 
cylinder 90 is connected to the marker 26d and a hydraulic cylinder 92 is 
connected to the marker 26e. The hydraulic cylinders 88, 90 and 92 each 
are connected to a hydraulic control 94 which is adapted to control the 
positions of the hydraulic cylinders 88, 90 and 92. 
In one position of the hydraulic control 94, the hydraulic cylinder 88 is 
actuated to dispose the marker 26c in the housing opening 48c and, in one 
other position, the hydraulic control 88 is positioned to actuate the 
hydraulic cylinder 88 to remove the marker 26c from the housing opening 
48c. 
In one position of the hydraulic control 94, the hydraulic cylinder 90 is 
actuated to dispose the marker 26d in the housing opening 48d and, in one 
other position, the hydraulic control 94 is positioned to actuate the 
hydraulic cylinder 90 to remove the marker 26d from the housing opening 
48d. 
In one position of the hydraulic control 94, the hydraulic cylinder 92 is 
actuated to dispose the marker 26e in the housing opening 48e and, in one 
other position, the hydraulic control 94 is positioned to actuate the 
hydraulic cylinder 92 to remove the marker 26e from the housing opening 
48e. 
Thus, in this embodiment, any one or more of the markers 26c, 26d or 26e 
may be positioned within the support housing 24c for engagement with the 
thread 16 as the thread 16 is moved through the housing opening 46c. It 
should be noted that hydraulic cylinders 88, 90 and 92 could be replaced 
with solenoid type control device for selectively positioning the markers 
26c, 26d and 26e. 
It also should be noted that the number of thread colors provided is not 
limited to the number of markers 26 so provided since more than one marker 
26 can engage the thread at the same time to produce a color combination. 
For example, when a red marker and a yellow marker are both engage with 
the thread, the thread would be dyed an orange color. 
Shown in FIG. 9 is one other application utilizing the marker 26. In this 
application, pressurized air from an air source 102 is passed through a 
nozzle 100 and through the nib 60 of the marker 26. The pressurized air 
forces dyeing liquid to be sprayed from the nib 60 for applying the 
sprayed dyeing liquid onto a material such as a cloth or paper or other 
such material. 
The housing 24 could be incorporated as an integral part of a sewing 
machine or other such apparatus. 
Changes may be made in the construction, operation and arrangement of the 
various parts, elements and assemblies described herein and changes may be 
made in the steps or sequence of steps of the methods described herein 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in 
the following claims.