Continuous pressure decatising of fabrics and setting of staple fibre assemblies

This invention relates to a method, and apparatus for performing the method, for the continuous pressure decatising of fabrics. The invention also extends to a method and apparatus for continuously setting staple fibers, wherein the staple fibers are contained in an assembly of fibers such as a sliver, roving, strand, yarn or the like. The invention is particularly suitable for setting wool fibre assemblies and decatising woollen and wool containing fabrics (hereinafter the term wool fabric or the like is to be understood as encompassing fabrics containing a mixture of wool and another or other fibers) and will be described hereinafter with reference to such fibers and fabrics, but it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to other staple fibers, and to other fabrics such as, for example, cottons and rayons which are generally decatised to set the material, enhance lustre or impart some dimensional stability. A method and apparatus for continuously pressure decatising a fabric include a rotatable drum () around which an endless belt () is arranged to travel for conveying a fabric () (and optionally a moisture laden textile ()) between the facing surfaces of the belt () and the drum (). The drum () is heated and fabric () is pressed between the belt and the drum as it is conveyed through the apparatus. The fabric () is subjected to pressurized saturated steam, which may be generated by evaporation of the moisture in textile () when it contacts the heated drum, as it is pressed. Various options other than use of a moisture laden textile () for supplying the steam are disclosed. The invention involves enclosing the drum in a pressure vessel () 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 fibers.