CONTINUOUS PRESSURE DECATISING OF FABRICS AND SETTING OF STAPLE FIBRE ASSEMBLIES

摘要

A method and apparatus for continuously pressure decatising a fabric include a rotatable drum (12) around which an endless belt (15) is arranged to travel for conveying a fabric (19) (and optionally a moisture laden textile (20)) between the facing surfaces of the belt (15) and the drum (12). The drum (12) is heated and fabric (19) is pressed between the belt and the drum as it is conveyed through the apparatus. The fabric (19) is subjected to pressurised saturated steam, which may be generated by evaporation of the moisture in textile (20) when it contacts the heated drum, as it is pressed. Various options other than use of a moisture laden textile (20) for supplying the steam are disclosed. The invention involves enclosing the drum in a pressure vessel (14) within which a compressed air atmosphere at ambient temperature is maintained. The surrounding compressed air atmosphere can be used to control the steam temperature, that is, the saturated steam temperature can be changed by changing the pressure of the surrounding compressed air. The surrounding compressed air atmosphere also reduces the sealing requirements for the steam treatment and belt wear. The method and apparatus are also applicable for setting staple fibres.