Tufted carpets, floor coverings, and dyeing machines for tufted carpets

Abstract

We provide tufted carpets, floor coverings, and dyeing machines for tufted carpets that can richly express gradient areas with various shades and tones. [Solution] The tufted carpet 10 has a first region 11 in the width direction where the hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform, a second region 13 in the longitudinal direction where the hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform, and a gradient region 12 in which at least one of the hue, saturation, and lightness is continuously changed. The first region 11, the gradient region 12, and the second region 13 are arranged in this order, and the first region 11 and the second region 13 differ in at least one of the hue, saturation, and lightness elements, while the gradient region 12 changes only in at least one of the hue, saturation, and lightness elements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tufted carpet with a gradation expression, a laid product using the tufted carpet, and a dyeing machine for tufted carpets for manufacturing the tufted carpet.

Background Art

[0002] A tufted carpet is formed by tufting pile yarns on a base fabric. As such a tufted carpet, for example, a tile carpet has a tile shape such as a square or a rectangle in a plan view and is laid so as to cover a floor surface with a plurality of sheets. Such tufted carpets such as tile carpets are designed with various pattern expressions to decorate the laid floor surface, and examples of such pattern expressions include a gradation in which colors continuously change. Since tufted carpets have a high processing speed and low production costs, they are given a pattern expression by dyeing using a continuous dyeing method. However, since the continuous dyeing method is also a method for preventing color differences in the width direction and the length direction, it was usually not suitable for imparting a gradation pattern expression. In order to solve such problems, Patent Documents 1 and 2 are disclosed. The continuous dyeing machine for carpets disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a conveying device for conveying a green carpet, a plurality of discharge ports arranged in the width direction of the green carpet conveyed by the conveying device and discharging a dyeing agent, and a guide plate arranged between the green carpet and the plurality of discharge ports and guiding the dyeing agent discharged from the discharge ports to the green carpet, and an adjustment unit for adjusting the discharge amount of the dyeing agent from each discharge port. This continuous dyeing machine discharges dyeing agents of different colors from a plurality of discharge ports, and adjusts the discharge amount of each color of dyeing agent from the discharge ports with an adjustment unit to make the pattern expression a gradation. The continuous dyeing method for tufted carpets disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a continuous dyeing machine equipped with a dye supply applicator having independent dye supply paths A and B, each of which has multiple nozzles that can be opened and closed by opening and closing an opening and closing mechanism to start and stop the discharge of dye, and the dye discharged from the nozzles is applied so as to flow uniformly onto the tufted carpet base through a plate, and the nozzles of dye supply paths A and B are arranged in an alternating order and the nozzles of dye supply paths A and B The method is characterized by arranging the nozzles in a straight line parallel to each other in the width direction, opening at least one nozzle of dye supply path A and at least one nozzle of dye supply path B by controlling the opening and closing of the opening and closing means, simultaneously supplying dyes of different hues or concentrations to each of dye supply path A and dye supply path B, releasing these dyes from the opened nozzles, creating areas on the plate where the dyes of different hues or concentrations come into contact with each other from the width direction and mix, and then applying these dyes to the tufted carpet base to dye it. In other words, this continuous dyeing method simultaneously supplies dyes of different hues or concentrations to different supply paths, releases them from the nozzles and allows them to fall onto the plate, creating areas on the plate where the dyes mix, and then applying these dyes to the carpet to create a gradient pattern. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-226945 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5952952 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] Tufted carpets, such as tile carpets, require not only individual design appeal but also a sense of unity and coherence across the entire carpet laid on the floor. Conventional continuous dyeing machines and methods, when dyes of different colors are applied to the carpet, can result in the random occurrence of a third color in the gradient area due to the mixing of the dyes. Such third colors disrupt the continuous transition of colors in the gradient area, impairing the overall design sense and coherence of the carpet. Furthermore, the conventional continuous dyeing machines and methods described above require a complex configuration of the dyeing machine itself.

[0005] This invention aims to solve the problems of the conventional technology and to provide a tufted carpet or floor covering that can richly express gradient areas with various shades and tones. Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide a dyeing machine for tufted carpets that can easily manufacture tufted carpets capable of richly expressing gradient areas with various shades and tones. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention is shown below. [1] The tufted carpet of the present invention has substantially uniform hue, saturation and lightness in the width direction, In the longitudinal direction, A first region in which hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform, A second region in which hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform, A gradient region in which at least one of hue, saturation, and lightness is continuously changed, The first region, the gradient region, and the second region are arranged in this order. The first region and the second region differ in at least one element among hue, saturation, and lightness. The gist of the aforementioned gradient region is that only the aforementioned elements are changing. [2] In the tufted carpet of the present invention, The first region, the second region, and the gradient region have the same hue. The brightness of the first region and the brightness of the second region are different. The aforementioned gradient region can be defined as a region where only the brightness changes. [3] In the tufted carpet of the present invention, The first region, the second region, and the gradient region have the same hue. The saturation of the first region and the saturation of the second region are different. The aforementioned gradient region can be defined as one in which only the saturation changes. [4] In the tufted carpet of the present invention, The first region and the second region have different hues from each other. The gradient region can be defined as a gradient region in which the hue changes at least from the first region to the second region, moving from the first region to the second region. [5] The floor covering of the present invention is a floor covering using the above-mentioned tufted carpet, A cutting piece A consisting only of the first region, A cutting piece B consisting only of the second region, The cutting piece C includes the aforementioned gradient region, The gist of this is that the cutting pieces A, B, and C are arranged randomly. [6] In the laying structure of the present invention, The tufted carpet may consist of two or more types of tufted carpets having the same hue but differing in at least some of their lightness. [7] The floor covering of the present invention is a floor covering using the above-mentioned tufted carpet, A gradation piece having the first region, the gradation region, and the second region in this order, and in which only the element is changed in the gradation region. The gist is that a plurality of the laid gradation pieces form a further gradation that continuously changes the element as a whole. [8] In the laying of the present invention, The gradation piece can be a combination of a cut piece A consisting only of the first region, a cut piece B consisting only of the second region, and a cut piece C including the gradation region. [9] The tufted carpet dyeing machine of the present invention is a tufted carpet dyeing machine for manufacturing the above tufted carpet, a plurality of dye storage tanks, a plurality of nozzles for discharging dyes to the tufted carpet to be dyed, a dye flow pipe connecting the dye storage tank and the nozzle, and the dye flow pipe has a single pipe region that collectively connects the discharge ports of the plurality of dye storage tanks, The gist is that a switching valve for switching the type of dye flowing out from the dye storage tank is provided in the single pipe region.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] The tufted carpet and the laying of the present invention can richly express the gradation region with various tones and shades. In addition, the tufted carpet dyeing machine of the present invention can easily manufacture a tufted carpet that can richly express the gradation region with various tones and shades.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] A plan view showing the tufted carpet of the present invention. [Figure 2] A plan view showing the cut piece A. [Figure 3] Plan view showing the cut piece C. [Figure 4] Plan view showing the cut piece B. [Figure 5] Plan view showing an example of the laying object of the present invention. [Figure 6] Plan view showing an example of the laying object of the present invention. [Figure 7] Photograph substituting for drawing showing an example of laying of the laying object. [Figure 8] Explanatory drawing showing the dyeing machine for tufted carpet of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] The matters shown here are exemplary and for exemplarily explaining the embodiments of the present invention, and are described for the purpose of providing an explanation that is considered to be the most effective and easy to understand for the principles and conceptual features of the present invention. In this regard, it is not intended to show the structural details of the present invention more than necessary for a fundamental understanding of the present invention, and it is to clarify to those skilled in the art how some forms of the present invention are actually embodied by the explanation combined with the drawings.

[0010] [1] Tufted carpet The tufted carpet of the present invention In the width direction, the hue, chroma, and lightness are substantially uniform, In the longitudinal direction, a first region where the hue, chroma, and lightness are substantially uniform, a second region where the hue, chroma, and lightness are substantially uniform, and at least one of the hue, chroma, and lightness has a continuously changing gradation region, and the first region, the gradation region, and the second region are arranged in this order, the first region and the second region have at least one element of the hue, chroma, and lightness different, and the gradation region is characterized in that only the element is changed (see Fig. 1).

[0011] A tufted carpet comprises a base fabric and pile yarns implanted in the base fabric (not shown). The base fabric and pile yarns can be made from dyeable materials such as synthetic fibers, semi-synthetic fibers, organic fibers like regenerated fibers, and natural fibers. Furthermore, inorganic fibers such as metal fibers, glass fibers, and carbon fibers can be blended with organic fibers or natural fibers to create the base fabric and pile yarns. In tufted carpets, when one side of the base fabric on which the pile threads are implanted is considered the surface, a reinforcing layer, backing layer, adhesive layer, etc., can be laminated on the back side of the base fabric (not shown). The reinforcing layer is a layer that reinforces the base fabric for dimensional stability, etc., and is usually formed from nonwoven fabric or woven fabric. The backing layer is a layer for adjusting the weight of the tufted carpet, ensuring stability when laid on the floor surface, and preventing slippage on the floor surface, and is usually formed from a sheet material made of synthetic resin, elastomer, rubber, etc. The adhesive layer is a layer that prevents the pile threads from falling out of the base fabric and adheres the reinforcing layer, backing layer, etc., to the base fabric, and is made of adhesive.

[0012] The shape of tufted carpet is not particularly limited as long as it can be laid on the floor surface of the installation location. It is usually in the form of a sheet, and the shape in plan view can be circular, elliptical, or polygonal, such as a square, rectangle, triangle, or hexagon, depending on the installation location. The size of tufted carpet can be determined according to the dimensions of the installation area and is not particularly limited. Among these tufted carpets, those with a plan view shape of a square with sides of 40-50 cm are also called tile carpets and are considered highly useful due to their ease of installation, ease of size matching, adaptability to the shape of the installation area, and high degree of freedom in design and arrangement. Alternatively, among tufted carpets, those with a plan view shape of a long rectangle or other shape, which are rolled up, are also called roll carpets and are considered highly useful due to their large installation area, ease of installation, and ease of design matching to the installation area, regardless of the application, such as houses and hotels.

[0013] Tufted carpets can be designed with a wide variety of colors and patterns by primarily dyeing the pile yarns with dyes or pigments, and the present invention features a gradient in which the colors continuously change. In other words, as shown in Figure 1, the tufted carpet 10 is dyed using any two colors: a first color (represented as "white" in Figure 1) and a second color (represented as "gray" in Figure 1). Assuming that the tufted carpet 10 has a vertically elongated rectangular sheet shape when viewed from above, and with the shorter side as the width direction and the longer side as the longitudinal direction, the color attributes of hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform in the width direction, and the longitudinal direction has a gradient in which the first color and the second color transition continuously.

[0014] The tufted carpet 10 with a gradient has, in order from one end edge (upper edge in Figure 1) to the other end edge (lower edge in Figure 1) in the longitudinal direction, a first region 11, a gradient region 12, and a second region 13. The first region 11 is a region stained with only the first color, and its hue, saturation, and lightness attributes are substantially uniform in the longitudinal direction. The second region 13 is a region stained with only the second color, and its hue, saturation, and lightness attributes are substantially uniform along its longitudinal direction. The gradient region 12 is a region stained with the first color and the second color, in which at least one of the color attributes of hue, saturation, and lightness changes continuously in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] The tufted carpet 10 is designed so that as you move from one end edge to the other edge in the longitudinal direction, the color attributes change in a gradient area 12, from the first color in the first area 11 to the second color in the second area 13. In other words, the tufted carpet 10 can have a gradient region 12 by dyeing it using a first color and a second color that have different color attributes. The first and second colors are not particularly limited as long as they differ in at least one of their color attributes, such as hue, saturation, and lightness. Any color can be used, whether achromatic (white, black, gray) or chromatic (red, blue, yellow, green).

[0016] Regarding color attributes, lightness refers to the brightness of a color; the higher the lightness, the closer the color is to white, and the lower the lightness, the closer the color is to black. Even if the hue of the first and second colors is the same, for example, red and blue, if the lightness is different, the gradient region 12 can express changes in tone and intensity, such as transitioning from bright red to dark red, or from bright blue to dark blue. Saturation refers to the vividness of a color; the higher the saturation, the more vivid the color, and the lower the saturation, the duller the color. Even if the hue of the first and second colors are the same, for example, red and blue, if their saturation differs, the gradient region 12 can express changes in tone and intensity, such as transitioning from a vivid red to a dull red, or from a vivid blue to a dull blue. Hue refers to the color, tone, and characteristics of a color, such as red, yellow, green, and blue; in other words, it refers to the color that appears within a specific wavelength range on the light spectrum, or to the color itself that is visible. When the hues of the first and second colors differ, the gradient region 12 allows for a clear transition in the visible color, such as from red to blue or from red to yellow.

[0017] When the first and second colors appear differently, considering that the appearance of a color differs due to changes in its three attributes—hue, saturation, and lightness—in many cases, the saturation and / or lightness also differ in addition to the hue. Therefore, if the first and second colors have different hues, their saturation and / or lightness can also be different in addition to the hue. Furthermore, even if the first and second colors have the same hue, by using different saturation and / or brightness levels, it is possible to express a gradient with changing tones and shades. In this case, by using the same hue, it is possible to create a sense of unity in the overall color while still expressing changes in tones and shades.

[0018] Therefore, the tufted carpet 10 can express three main gradient patterns, as shown below, by using a first color and a second color that differ in at least one of the color attributes of hue, saturation, and lightness. First pattern; a style in which the first color of the first region and the second color of the second region have the same hue but different lightness, so that only the lightness changes in the gradient region 12. The second pattern: The first color of the first region and the second color of the second region have the same hue but different saturations, resulting in a style where only the saturation changes in the gradient region 12. Third pattern; a style in which the first color of the first region and the second color of the second region are of different hues, and the hue changes at least in the gradient region 12. The third pattern includes styles in which only the hue changes in the gradient region 12, styles in which the hue and lightness or saturation change, and styles in which the hue, lightness, and saturation change.

[0019] Regarding the difference between the first and second colors described above, the color difference (ΔE), which is the difference between these colors, can be quantified and expressed numerically by measuring it using a spectrophotometer in accordance with the provisions of JIS Z8781. For details, the hue, saturation, and lightness of each of the first and second colors were measured in three dimensions, and the points of the first color and the points of the second color were connected by L * a * b * These can be represented in a color space, and the distance between two of these points can be expressed as the color difference (ΔE).

[0020] Regarding color difference (ΔE), a ΔE of 0.5 or less is generally considered to be a difference where the two colors cannot be distinguished when viewed side by side. In the tufted carpet 10 described above, the color difference (ΔE) between the first color and the second color can preferably be 1 or more, more preferably 2 or more, and even more preferably 3 or more, from the viewpoint of allowing the gradation, shade, etc. to change to an extent that can be easily distinguished in the gradient region 12. The color difference (ΔE) between the first color and the second color can preferably be 15 or less, more preferably 10 or less, and even more preferably 5 or less, from the viewpoint of suppressing extreme changes in gradation, shade, etc. in the gradient region 12 and creating a unified and calm design. Furthermore, since the color difference (ΔE) is a value based on three-dimensional measurement of hue, saturation, and lightness, as described above, even when only lightness or only saturation is changed in the gradient region 12, the difference between the first color and the second color can also be expressed by the color difference (ΔE). In addition, the range of the color difference (ΔE) when only lightness or only saturation is changed can be the range described above.

[0021] [2] Layout The floor covering of the present invention uses the above-mentioned tufted carpet, A cutting piece A consisting only of the first region, A cutting piece B consisting only of the second region, The cutting piece C includes the aforementioned gradient region, The invention is characterized by the arrangement of the cutting piece A, the cutting piece B, and the cutting piece C.

[0022] In other words, the floor covering consists of cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 obtained by cutting the tufted carpet 10 described above, and is constructed by appropriately combining these cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 and laying them on the floor surface. Cut piece A111 is obtained by cutting the tufted carpet 10 so that it consists only of the first region (see Figure 2). Cut piece C121 was obtained by cutting the tufted carpet 10 so as to include a gradient region (see Figure 3). Cut piece B131 was obtained by cutting the tufted carpet 10 so that it consisted only of the second region (see Figure 4).

[0023] The tufted carpet 10 used for flooring is not particularly limited in terms of the pattern of the gradient expression, as long as it has a gradient area, and any of the first pattern, second pattern, and third pattern described above can be used. Furthermore, among the first, second, and third patterns described above, the tufted carpet 10 used for flooring is preferably the first pattern, that is, the first color and the second color have the same hue but different brightness levels, so that only the brightness changes in the gradient area. This is because the tufted carpet 10 of the first pattern is easy to arrange because the first area, the second area and the gradient area are all the same color, it has excellent overall color uniformity as flooring, and the changes in gradation and shade are clear, resulting in a high level of design appeal.

[0024] The plan view shape of the cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 to be laid is not particularly limited, as long as it is a shape that can be laid on the floor surface. Depending on the laying location, the plan view shape can be circular, elliptical, or a quadrilateral such as a square or rectangle, or a polygon such as a triangle or hexagon. Furthermore, the shapes of cutting pieces A111, B131, and C121 can all be the same, or they can each be different to match the shape of the floor surface on which they are laid. The sizes of cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 are not particularly limited, as long as they are large enough to be laid on the floor. For example, cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 can be made into so-called "tile carpets" with sides of 40-50 cm in a plan view. In this case, they can be highly useful due to their ease of installation, ease of size matching, adaptability to the shape of the installation site, and high degree of freedom in design and arrangement.

[0025] The arrangement of cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 when used as a laying material is not particularly limited and can be arranged randomly. A tile made by randomly arranging cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 can be made to have a high level of design due to the color difference between cut piece A111 and cut piece B131, and the gradation expression created by cut piece C121. In particular, the cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 obtained from the first pattern of tufted carpet 10 are of similar colors, so even when arranged randomly, they maintain an overall sense of color unity. Furthermore, any two pieces placed next to each other do not create a sense of incongruity, and the overall design does not become monotonous.

[0026] When used as a laying structure, the arrangement of cut pieces A111, B131, and C121 can be combined as appropriate to form a gradient piece 140 (see Figures 5 and 6). The gradient piece 140 can be formed by arranging cutting piece A111 (first region), cutting piece C121 (gradient region), and cutting piece B131 (first region) in this order in at least one part of the arrangement of cutting pieces A111, B131, and C121. This gradient piece 140 can express a gradient pattern in which the first color of cutting piece A111 (first region) and the second color of cutting piece B131 transition in the cutting piece C121 (gradient region).

[0027] The installation in Figure 5 shows the gradient pieces 140 arranged in a cross shape. In this case, the gradient pieces 140 as a whole form a further gradient that continuously changes at least one element of hue, saturation, and lightness in a cross shape. The installation in Figure 6 consists of gradient pieces 140 arranged in parallel. In this case, the gradient pieces 140 as a whole form a further gradient that continuously changes at least one element among hue, saturation, and lightness. The paving materials in Figure 7 are the same as those in Figure 6, but arranged side-by-side in the direction of travel. These paving materials in Figure 7 create a further gradient, with a continuous change in light and dark tones in the direction of travel, reminiscent of waves.

[0028] [3] Dyeing machine for tufted carpets The present invention is a dyeing machine for tufted carpets for manufacturing the above-mentioned tufted carpet, Multiple dye storage tanks, Multiple nozzles for dispensing dye onto the tufted carpet to be dyed, The system includes a dye flow pipe connecting the dye storage tank and the nozzle, The dye distribution pipe has a single-pipe section that connects the discharge ports of the multiple dye storage tanks together. The single-pipe region is characterized by having a switching valve for switching the type of dye discharged from the dye storage tank.

[0029] As shown in Figure 8, the dyeing machine for tufted carpets (hereinafter simply referred to as "dyeing machine") is used to manufacture the tufted carpet 10 described above, and includes a first storage tank 31A for storing a first dye that exhibits a first color, and a second storage tank 31B for storing a second dye that exhibits a second color. Although not specifically shown in the figures, the first storage tank 31A and the second storage tank 31B each have a discharge port for discharging the dye. The dyeing machine is equipped with an applicator 32 having multiple nozzles. This applicator 32 is positioned above the tufted carpet 10, and the tufted carpet 10 is dyed by discharging dye from the nozzles of the applicator 32 onto the tufted carpet 10.

[0030] The dyeing machine includes an applicator 32 and a dye flow pipe 33 connecting a first storage tank 31A and a second storage tank 31B. The dye flow pipe 33 has a first pipe 33A extending from the discharge port of the first storage tank 31A, a second pipe 33B extending from the discharge port of the second storage tank 31B, and a third pipe 33C extending from the applicator 32. The first pipe 33A and the second pipe 33B are bundled together and connected to the third pipe 33C. That is, the third pipe 33C constitutes a single-pipe region that bundles together the discharge ports of the first storage tank 31A and the second storage tank 31B. The dyeing machine has a switching valve 34 within the single-pipe area. Specifically, the switching valve 34 is connected to the end of the third pipe 33C, which is connected to the first pipe 33A and the second pipe 33B within the single-pipe area. In other words, the first pipe 33A, the second pipe 33B, and the third pipe 33C are interconnected via the switching valve 34. This switching valve 34 is used to switch the dye flowing into the third pipe 33C, which is the single-pipe area, between the first dye (first color) that flows out from the first storage tank 31A through the first pipe 33A, and the second dye (second color) that flows out from the second storage tank 31B through the second pipe 33B.

[0031] The dyeing machine described above delivers dye from the first storage tank 31A or the second storage tank 31B to the applicator 32 via the dye flow pipe 33, and then discharges the dye onto the tufted carpet 10 from the nozzle of the applicator 32, thereby dyeing the tufted carpet 10. The dyeing machine can switch the dye sent to the single-pipe area, the third pipe 33C, from the first dye (first color) in the first storage tank 31A to the second dye (second color) in the second storage tank 31B, or from the second dye (second color) in the second storage tank 31B to the first dye (first color) in the first storage tank 31A, by operating the switching valve 34.

[0032] By switching the dyes using the switching valve 34, two types of dyes, the first dye and the second dye, coexist within the single-pipe area (third pipe 33C). When switching from the first dye to the second dye, for example, the nozzle of the applicator 32 will discharge the first dye as long as the first dye remains in the single-pipe area (third pipe 33C). At the boundary between the first and second dyes, the discharged dye will sequentially switch from the first dye to the second dye, and after all of the first dye in the single-pipe area (third pipe 33C) has been discharged, only the second dye will be discharged. By switching the dye through the operation of the switching valve 34 described above, the tufted carpet 10 undergoes a process in which the dye discharged from the nozzle is sequentially switched from the first dye (first color) to the second dye (second color), or from the second dye (second color) to the first dye (first color), resulting in a transition between the first and second colors and the formation of a gradient region 12.

[0033] By switching the dye through the operation of the switching valve 34, two types of dyes, the first dye and the second dye, will be present simultaneously in the single-pipe area (third pipe 33C), but these two types of dyes will hardly mix with each other. The reason why the two types of dyes do not mix within the single-pipe region (third pipe 33C) is not fully understood, but it is thought that this is because the flow of the dyes within the single-pipe region (third pipe 33C) remains laminar before and after the switching of the dyes by the switching valve 34.

[0034] In other words, generally speaking, fluid flow tends to be laminar when the Reynolds number is small, and the fluid velocity contributes significantly to the magnitude of the Reynolds number. In the dyeing machine described above, the amount of dye (flow rate per unit time) sent from the dye storage tank of the first storage tank 31A or the second storage tank 31B to the applicator 32 is kept constant, and this amount (flow rate per unit time) remains unchanged before and after the dye is switched by the switching valve 34. Furthermore, in the dyeing machine described above, the first tube 33A and the second tube 33B usually have the same diameter. Therefore, if the amount of dye sent to the applicator 32 (flow rate per unit time) does not change before and after switching, the flow rate of the dye within the single-tube region (third tube 33C) also does not change before and after switching. Therefore, since the flow velocity of the dye within the single-pipe region (third pipe 33C) does not change before and after switching, it is considered that the flow of the dye within the single-pipe region (third pipe 33C) remains laminar before and after the switching of the dye by the switching valve 34.

[0035] The type of switching valve 34 is not particularly limited, but one that takes a short time to switch, that is, one with a fast switching speed, is preferred. This is because if it takes time to switch the dyes, the flow of the dye becomes turbulent due to the change in the amount of dye (flow rate per unit time) during the switching, and there is a high possibility that the two types of dyes will mix together. Regarding the types of switching valves 34, those with a fast switching speed include solenoid valves, high-speed solenoid valves, and electromagnetic directional switching valves.

[0036] The dyeing machine described above is not particularly limited in terms of the method used to dye the tufted carpet 10; it can be either a continuous or batch type, but a continuous type is preferable from the standpoint of mass production. Furthermore, the applicator 32 of the dyeing machine described above is not particularly limited in terms of the method of dispensing dye from the nozzle to the tufted carpet 10, and can be either a shower curtain method or a spray method, but from the viewpoint of mass production, the shower curtain method is preferred.

[0037] Furthermore, the following can be listed as methods for manufacturing the tufted carpet using the dyeing machine described above. In the width direction, the hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform. In the longitudinal direction, it has a first region where the hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform, a second region where the hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform, and a gradient region where at least one of the hue, saturation, and lightness changes continuously. The first region, the gradient region, and the second region are arranged in this order. The first region and the second region differ in at least one element among hue, saturation, and lightness. The gradient region is a method for manufacturing a tufted carpet in which only the elements are changed, The system comprises multiple dye storage tanks, multiple nozzles for dispensing dye onto the tufted carpet to be dyed, and dye flow pipes connecting the dye storage tanks and the nozzles. The dyeing machine used has a dye distribution pipe that has a single-pipe region connecting the discharge ports of the plurality of dye storage tanks in one unit, and a switching valve within the single-pipe region for switching the type of dye discharged from the dye storage tanks. The first dye discharged from the dye storage tank is discharged from the nozzle onto the tufted carpet to dye the first area. The second dye, which has flowed out of the dye storage tank, is discharged from the nozzle onto the tufted carpet to dye the second area. The first dye and the second dye flowing from the dye storage tank into the single-pipe area are switched by the switching valve and discharged from the nozzle onto the tufted carpet to dye the gradient area. A method for manufacturing a tufted carpet, characterized by the following: [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10; Tufted carpet, 11; First area, 12; Gradient area, 13; Second area, 111; Cutting piece A, 131; Cutting piece B, 121; Cutting piece C, 140; Gradient piece, 31A; First storage tank as a dye storage tank; 31B; Second storage tank as a dye storage tank; 32; Applicator with multiple nozzles; 33; Dye flow pipe; 33A; First pipe; 33B; Second pipe; 33C; Third pipe as a single-pipe area; 34; Switching valve.

Claims

1. In the width direction, the hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform. In the longitudinal direction, A first region in which hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform, A second region in which hue, saturation, and lightness are substantially uniform, A gradient region in which at least one of hue, saturation, and lightness is continuously changed, The first region, the gradient region, and the second region are arranged in this order. The first region and the second region differ in at least one element among hue, saturation, and lightness. The tufted carpet is characterized in that the gradient region is characterized by only the element being changed.

2. The first region, the second region, and the gradient region have the same hue. The brightness of the first region and the brightness of the second region are different. The tufted carpet according to claim 1, wherein the gradient region is characterized by a change in only the brightness.

3. The first region, the second region, and the gradient region have the same hue. The saturation of the first region and the saturation of the second region are different. The tufted carpet according to claim 1, wherein the gradient region is characterized by a change in saturation only.

4. The first region and the second region have different hues from each other. The tufted carpet according to claim 1, wherein the gradient region has a hue that changes at least from the first region to the second region, moving from the first region to the second region.

5. A floor covering using a tufted carpet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A cutting piece A consisting only of the first region, A cutting piece B consisting only of the second region, The cutting piece C includes the aforementioned gradient region, A laying structure characterized in that the cut pieces A, B, and C are arranged randomly.

6. The floor covering according to claim 5, wherein the tufted carpet is two or more types of tufted carpets having the same hue but differing in at least some of their brightness.

7. A floor covering using a tufted carpet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The gradient piece comprises the first region, the gradient region, and the second region in this order, wherein only the element is changed within the gradient region. A paving structure characterized in that a plurality of the laid gradient pieces form a further gradient as a whole, causing the elements to change continuously.

8. The paving material according to claim 7, wherein the gradient piece is a combination of a cut piece A consisting only of the first region, a cut piece B consisting only of the second region, and a cut piece C including the gradient region.

9. A dyeing machine for tufted carpets for manufacturing a tufted carpet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Multiple dye storage tanks, Multiple nozzles for dispensing dye onto the tufted carpet to be dyed, The system includes a dye flow pipe connecting the dye storage tank and the nozzle, The dye distribution pipe has a single-pipe section that connects the discharge ports of the multiple dye storage tanks together. A dyeing machine for tufted carpets, characterized in that it has a switching valve within the single-pipe area for switching the type of dye discharged from the dye storage tank.

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