Holliday's Yarn-dyeing Machine.—In Fig. 11 is given an illustration of a machine for dyeing yarn in the hank form made by Messrs. Read Holliday & Sons, of Huddersfield. The illustration gives a very good idea of the
machine. It consists of a wooden dye-vat which can be heated by steam pipes in the usual way. Extending over the vat are a number of reels or bobbins; these are best made of wood or enamelled iron; these reels are in connection with suitable gearing so that they can be revolved. There is also an arrangement by means of which the reels can be lifted bodily in and out of the dye-vat for the purpose of taking on and off, "doffing," the hanks of yarn for the reels. A reel will hold about two pounds of yarn. The working of the machine is simple. The vat is filled with the requisite dye-liquor. The reels, which are lifted out of the vat, are then charged with the yarn, which has been previously wetted out. They are then set in revolution and dropped into the dye-vat and kept there until it is seen that the yarn has acquired the desired shade. The reels are lifted out and the hanks removed, when the machine is ready for another lot of yarn.
There are several makes of hank-dyeing machines of this type, and as a rule they work very well. The only source of trouble is a slight tendency for the yarn on one reel if hung loosely of becoming entangled with the yarn on one of the other reels. This is to some extent obviated by hanging in the bottom of the hank a roller which acts as a weight and keeps the yarn stretched and so prevents it flying about.
To some makes of these machines a hank wringer is attached.
Klauder-Weldon Hank-dyeing Machine.—This is illustrated in Fig. 12, which shows the latest form. This machine consists of a half-cylindrical dye-vat built of wood. On a central axis is built two discs or rod carriers which can revolve in the dye-vat, the revolution being given by suitable gearing, which is shown at the side of the machine. On the outer edge of the discs are clips for carrying rods, on which one end of the hanks of yarn is hung, while the other
FIG. 12.—Klauder-Weldon Dyeing Machine.
end is placed on a similar rod carried near the axle. The revolution of the discs carries the yarn through the dye-liquor contained in the lower semi-cylindrical part of the machine previously alluded to. At a certain point, every revolution of the discs, the rods carrying the yarns are turned a little; this causes the yarn to move on the rods, and this motion helps to bring about greater evenness of dyeing. The most modern form of this machine is provided with an arrangement by means of which the whole batch of yarn can be lifted out of the dye-liquor. Arrangements are made by which from time
to time fresh quantities of dye can be added if required to bring up the dyed yarn to any desired shade. This machine works well and gives good results. Beyond the necessary labour in charging and discharging, and a little attention from time to time, as the operation proceeds, to see if the dyeing is coming up to shade, the machine requires little attention.