EP1002151A1

EP1002151A1 - Continuous high temperature, high pressure calendering/decatising/fixing method for fabrics and relative device

Info

Publication number: EP1002151A1
Application number: EP98932462A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Franchetti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-08
Filing date: 1998-07-27
Publication date: 2000-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-27
Also published as: DE69813239T2; DE69813239D1; ES2197479T3; ITUD970145A1; WO1999007933A1; AU8237798A; IT1295735B1; EP1002151B1; ATE237017T1

Abstract

Continuous high temperature and high pressure calendering/decatising/fixing method for woollen fabric, wool mix, silk, cellulose, synthetic fabrics or non-fabrics, wherein the fabric (11) is subjected to steam treatment or treatment in super-heated water, the steam treatment or treatment in super-heated water being performed by introducing the fabric (11) inside a sealed chamber (13), the sealed chamber (13) being defined by at least four cylinders (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) arranged in a foulard configuration with adjustable pressure and by front sealing plates (17) associated with the ends of the cylinders (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b), inside the sealed chamber (13) at least one face of the fabric (11) being in direct contact with at least one of the cylinders (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b). Device achieving the method as above.

Description

"CONTINUOUS HIGH TEMPERATURE, HIGH PRESSURE CALENDERING/

DECATISING/FIXING METHOD FOR FABRICS AND RELATIVE DEVICE"

* * * * *

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns a continuous high temperature, high pressure calendering/decatising/fixing method for fabrics and the relative device as set forth in the respective main claims.

The invention is applicable to the finishing cycles, after dying, of woollen fabrics, wool mix, silk, cellulose or synthetic, non-fabric or similar, in order to permanently bestow on the carded and combed fabrics the high characteristics of quality and the properties normally required for a finished, ready-for-use fabric. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the textile field the state of the art includes finishing processes to which woollen fabric or similar is subjected to confer or fix particular surface characteristics which enhance the quality or confer particular properties.

Among these finishing processes there is continuous calendering, which consists of making the fabric pass between two surfaces, generally metallic and pressing against each other, in order to increase the compactness and shine of the fabric.

The two metallic surfaces are advantageously heated, normally by steam.

The calender normally consists of a hollow cylinder, which rotates on its axis, and a so-called basin which is arc- shaped and also hollow so as to allow the heating steam to pass .

The basin presses against the cylinder, and the piece of cloth, which is drawn by the cylinder, flows over the surface of an extremely smooth metallic sheet covering the basin.

The result of the calendering operation is a combination of two factors: the pressure of the basin against the cylinder and the sliding friction of the fabric against the smooth surface of the basin.

The first factor makes the fabric compact, the second makes it shiny.

Calendering has some undesirable consequences: the fabric may stretch due to the strong drawing pressures, and it may be made too shiny, which is often unwanted.

The decatising treatment, which may be performed after or as an alternative to the calendering process, substantially has the function of giving the fabric fullness of touch and permanent stability.

If carried out in combination with calendering, decatising also serves to diminish any excessive shininess of the fabric .

Decatising is based on the characteristic property of plasticisation of the wool fibre when acted on by steam or water at high temperature.

Wool fibre, when acted on by steam, modifies its chemical/physical characteristics, and its texture with respect to the surrounding fibres becomes permanent, particularly when the subsequent cooling is done quickly.

There are many methods, in the state of the art, to carry out decatising.

A first, fundamental differentiation is between dry decatising, with steam, and wet decatising, with hot water. A second differentiation is between continuous decatising and discontinuous decatising, that is to say, with the piece of cloth staying stationary on the cylinder.

One dry decatising technique provides to wind the fabric together with a sub-fabric on a holed cylinder from which a flow of water vapour emerges for a determined period of time and at a determined pressure.

Dry decatising on the cylinder may be performed in the air, with the steam at a temperature of 98°C, or in an autoclave with the steam at a temperature which can reach 120÷125°C.

Decatising in air with a temperature of 98°C is simple and economical, as a plant; however, in functioning it causes disadvantages because of the considerable amount of steam required to replace what condenses and to heat the metallic parts .

Moreover, decatising with a semi-permanent effect is not always uniform, either in height or in the various layers, and can cause a marbling effect, particularly in the inner layers .

Decatising in air, moreover, cannot easily be adapted in continuous decatising; machines developed so far give regular processing but bland finishing effects. Decatising in an autoclave provides to arrange the cylinder on which the fabric is wound in a boiler or cistern which is under pressure and hermetically sealed; the steam is injected therein at a temperature of 120÷125°C.

Using this method confers on the fabric a permanent feel and stability which cannot be obtained with air decatising.

However, it is not possible to prevent discontinuity and irregularity in the processing; moreover, the process requires a long time to carry out and high equipment costs. Some improvements have been made in the process by working the fabric in an autoclave in a damp state, with a humidity rate of between 20 and 80%, but even these improvements have not been completely satisfactory.

Another evolution in the decatising process, as taught by EP-A-293.028 , has been the development of a decatising machine working continuously and under pressure. Here, the fabric is accompanied like a "sandwich" between two pieces of felt which wind continuously around portions of a cylinder, and is then subjected successively to a treatment with saturated, pressurised steam up to a temperature of 135°C and to a subsequent step of cooling to stabilise the surface and the size.

Although this solution is conceptually valid, it has not had a real industrial success because of the technical problems inherent in the construction of the machine and the costs of the plant, which are too high.

Furthermore, this embodiment has obvious irregularities in the processing which cause a marbling effect and marking on the surface due to the presence of the two pieces of felt.

A further solution proposed to obtain an efficient decatising, combining the effects of high pressure, high temperature and mechanical pressure, is to combine the techniques of calendering and decatising. In practice, it has been suggested to wet the fabric before treating it, using pure water or water to which chemical reducing compounds have been added, and then to transport it sandwich-like between a heated cylinder, which carries out a steam treatment, and a belt or other appropriate element which exerts thereon a defined surface pressure so as to obtain steam at high temperature.

The rapid evaporation of the water with which the fabric is impregnated causes steam to develop at a temperature of up to 135°C, which gives optimum conditions so that the mechanical pressing performed by the pressing organs gives a very good fixing result.

There have been various proposals for techniques and the relative machines, more or less sophisticated, for example to accurately control the humidity content applied to the fabric as it enters the decatising machine so as to optimise the efficiency of the treatment .

By exploiting the principle of the combined effect of steam, temperature and pressure, a plurality of constructors have proposed substantially similar machines, comprising a cumbersome containing structure inside which there is housed a humidifier assembly, followed by the pressing-steaming assembly followed in turn by a cooling assembly. All the plants proposed and present on the market have not been used widely and efficaciously due to their high cost, the large amount of space they occupy, their need for constant and costly maintenance.

Moreover, these plants have the problem that their productivity is very low.

Furthermore, the finishing effect is not always satisfactory and uniform for all types of fabric.

This is due to the fact that the stability effect of the fibres in a woollen fabric heated to a high temperature using the humidity transformed into steam at high temperature is much less accentuated than the effect obtained on a fabric steamed at high temperature with live steam. Therefore, even the solutions described above do not obtain fully satisfactory results with economical and practical solutions.

The present applicant has tested and embodied this invention to overcome all these shortcomings and to obtain further advantages .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is set forth and characterised in the respective main claims, while the dependent claims describe variants of the idea of the main embodiment .

The purpose of the invention is to combine the teachings of the state of the art to obtain a continuous calendering/ decatising/fixing treatment with high temperature and high pressure steam wherein the fabric is subjected to a treatment with live steam inside a sealed pressure chamber consisting of cylinders arranged peripherally in contact and delimited at the front by sealing plates.

At the inlet and outlet of the sealed chamber, the fabric is subjected to a pressing action as it passes between the cylinders . By using this procedure, the invention makes it possible to obtain, among other advantages, a high level of compactness, a drapery finishing effect, a greater permanence of the fixing effect on the fibres and a greater stability of size of the fabric. The invention is embodied moreover as a very simple device, which requires limited investment, is limited in size and requires very limited maintenance.

Moreover, the invention is extremely versatile and can be adapted to every type of fabric and can obtain any type of result, inasmuch as it can be used to intervene easily and rapidly and possibly to regulate an extremely high number of parameters so as to adapt to the needs of every occasion. According to a variant, the fabric to be decatised is first dampened and then sent to a pressing and steam treatment assembly where it is treated with live steam under pressure in a closed chamber configured in the known form of a foulard.

In the case that the fabric should be dampened, there may also be included a suitable humidifier assembly upstream of the sealed chamber, or the fabric may arrive at the device already dampened .

According to another variant, the fabric is introduced into the sealed chamber not dampened. According to a further variant, the fabric is pre-heated before being sent into the sealed chamber.

The foulard, for example but not exclusively in the form of four cylinders, defines a sealed, pressurised chamber inside which the fabric is subjected to the action of the high pressure, high temperature live steam.

According to the invention, the pressure of the live steam introduced inside the sealed chamber can reach maximum values of 4÷6 atmospheres, while the temperature can reach up to 140÷160°C.

At the inlet and outlet of the live steam treatment zone, the fabric is pressed between two pressing cylinders, with at least one possible accompanying element, such as a piece of felt or similar, interposed. In the sealed chamber, the fabric has one of its faces directly in contact with at least one of the return and/or pressure cylinders.

At the outlet of the pressing and steam treatment assembly the fabric is then cooled in order to fix both the arrangement of the surface fibres and the size of the fabric .

This cooling treatment is achieved by subjecting the fabric to a current of cold air at a pre-determined temperature. According to a variant, the cooling treatment is achieved by using azote vapours.

According to a variant, the fabric emerging from the pressurised sealed chamber, before being cooled is subjected to a steam treatment with steam at atmospheric pressure. The pressurised sealed chamber wherein the live steam treatment is carried out is defined, according to one embodiment of the invention, by a pressing cylinder at inlet, a pair of return cylinders and by a pressing cylinder at outlet.

According to a variant, the return cylinders also function as pressure cylinders.

The return cylinders, according to a variant, are driven and heated and have their surface covered with steel, paper, ebonite, rubber, non-fabric fabric or similar material.

The pressure cylinders are also heated and, according to a variant, are covered with rubber.

According to a further variant, they are associated with means to regulate the pressure with which they act on the fabric .

According to a variant, the return cylinders and/or the pressure cylinders are associated with means to regulate the temperature. According to another variant, the pressure cylinders and the return cylinders have lining rings made of hard rubber at their ends; these cooperate by friction with lateral sealing plates associated with thrust means.

The rings of hard rubber, according to a further variant, may be associated with lubrication means, for example with a mixture of air and water or with air mixed with oiling and/or lubricating products.

According to another embodiment of the invention, inside the sealed chamber the fabric is subjected to a treatment with super-heated water at a maximum temperature of around 140°C and a maximum pressure of around 4 bar.

This embodiment is preferentially used on 100% woollen products or wool mix, either raw or dyed, to ensure a permanent fixing. The device adopted for this embodiment is substantially the same as the one which achieves the steam treatment, with the exclusion of the dampening process before the fabric enters the sealed chamber and the steam treatment at the outlet thereof.

The circuit to feed the steam, or the super-heated water, inside the sealed chamber comprises valve means to regulate the pressure, advantageously located both at the inlet and the outlet of the chamber, by means of which it is possible to regulate the pressure of the steam or water introduced.

According to another variant, when steam treatment is used, the sealed chamber has breather means to discharge any possible condensation which might have accumulated during the processing.

The procedure according to the invention, according to the type of fabric to be treated and/or the type of result to be obtained, provides to intervene on one and/or another of the following parameters : - pressure and/or temperature of the steam or water;

- tension of the accompanying element, if any, interposed between the fabric and the pressing cylinders;

- pressure of the inlet and/or outlet pressing cylinder and/or of the return cylinders; - temperature of the pressing cylinders and/or the return cylinders;

- speed of feed of the fabric;

- intensity of the cooling treatment and/or the steam/ cooling; - dampening of the fabric upstream of the steam treatment;

- type of lining used for the cylinders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The attached Figures are given as a non-restrictive example and show some preferential embodiments of the invention as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the calendering/decatising/fixing device according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a first variant of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a second variant of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a third variant of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a fourth variant of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a diagram of the sealing system and the system to feed steam inside the sealed chamber according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The attached Figures 1-5 show possible embodiments of the calendering/decatising/fixing device 10 for fabrics 11 according to the invention, in diagram form.

In the embodiments shown, the fabric 11 is first dampened by being passed through a humidifier device 12 until it reaches a desired rate of humidity; then it is pre-heated and sent inside a sealed chamber 13 inside which a pressurised environment is created by means of introducing high pressure, high temperature live steam.

The humidifier device 12 can be omitted, in which case the fabric 11 can arrive already dampened by an appropriate assembly upstream, or it may not be dampened.

The pressures which may be reached inside the sealed chamber 13 may have values of up to 4÷6 atmospheres, while the temperatures attainable may be as much as 140÷160°C.

According to a variant which is not shown here, the fabric 11 is subjected inside the sealed chamber 13 to treatment with water super-heated to a maximum temperature of 140°C, there not being included, in this case, any humidifier device 12.

In this case, the sealed chamber 13 is defined by four cooperating cylinders, respectively two counter-opposed pressure cylinders 14a and 14b, and two counter-opposed return cylinders 15a and 15b.

According to variants which are not shown here, the device 10 comprises six or more cylinders arranged so as to constitute several sealed chambers 13 through which the fabric 11 is made to pass in succession.

Each of the return cylinders 15a and 15b, which may also have a pressure function, has its respective surface tangent to the surface of both the pressure cylinders 14a and 14b so that the four respective lines of tangency 16a, 16b, 16c and

16d define the limits of the sealed chamber 13.

The inlet return cylinder 15a also has the function of pre-heating the fabric 11 before it enters the sealed chamber 13.

Before entering the sealed chamber 13, the fabric 11 is made to pass on an inlet return cylinder 21 which causes it to wind onto a defined arc of the heated return cylinder 15a.

At the front, the sealed chamber 13 is defined by sealing plates 17 cooperating with the ends of the cylinders 14a, 14b and 15a, 15b.

The plates 17 cooperate by friction, in this case, with rings 18 made of hard rubber and applied to the ends of the cylinders 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b. The plates 17 are associated with compression means 19 which ensure that the sealed chamber 13 is maintained sealed with respect to the outer environment . The rings 18 of hard rubber may cooperate with a lubrication system, which is not shown here, which acts, for example intermittently, delivering a lubrifying flow based on a mixture of air and water or air to which oiling products or lubricants of another type have been added. The fabric 11 is introduced inside the sealed chamber 13 through an inlet pressure zone, defined by the line of tangency 16a between the pressure cylinder 14a and the return cylinder 15a. In this case, the fabric 11 is pressed along the line of tangency 16a with an accompanying element interposed; the said element consists of a piece of felt 20 which, in Fig. 1, winds around the arc of the return cylinder 15a inside the sealed chamber 13 , the pressure cylinder 14b and the return cylinders 21.

The surface of the fabric 11 subjected to treatment is in direct contact with the relative return cylinder 15a so that pressure is exerted in a regular and uniform manner without marbling or marking the surface.

The accompanying element interposed between the cylinders and the fabric 11 may consist, apart from a piece of felt, of a strip made of polyester, polyester-wool, wool, cotton or of another suitable material, even synthetic. The material which constitutes the accompanying element 20 will vary according to whether the treatment is achieved with live steam or in super-heated water.

The return cylinders 21 may have an adjustable position so as to vary the tension imparted to the fabric 11 compressed by the pressure cylinders 14a and 14b.

The pressure cylinders 14a and 14b, in this case, are covered by a layer of rubber 22 and can be regulated radially in the direction of the arrows 23 to regulate the intensity of the pressure on the fabric 11. By regulating the pressure acting on the fabric 11, on the one hand it is possible to guarantee that the sealed chamber 13 remains sealed, and on the other hand to regulate the level of pressure on the fabric 11 entering the sealed chamber 13 or emerging therefrom. The return cylinders 15a and 15b are driven and are covered by a lining made of rubber, ebonite, steel, paper, non-fabric fabric or similar material. The pressure cylinders 14a and 14b and the return cylinders 15a and 15b are also associated with heating means which include the possibility of regulating their temperature according to the type of fabric 11 and the result of the treatment to be obtained. The material which lines the return cylinders 15a and 15b and the pressure cylinders 14a, 14b will also vary according to the type of treatment performed inside the sealed chamber 13.

The fabric 11 emerging from the sealed chamber 13 and the treatment with steam or super-heated water is sent to a cooling system 24.

In the case shown in Fig. 1, the cooling system comprises a plane of feed with a conveyor belt 25 over which the fabric 11 passes; a ventilation system acting from above cooperates therewith.

The cooling flow can consist of air or mixtures of steam- air or other cooling fluids, such as for example azote vapours .

The cooling flow can also be sent from below through holes included on the plane of feed-conveyor belt 25.

In the variant shown in Fig. 2, the cooling system 24 comprises a holed cylinder 26 cooperating along one of its arcs with a compression system consisting of a piece of felt

120 which acts as an accompanying and pressure element and is guided by return cylinders 121 against the fabric 11.

In the variant shown in Fig. 3, the fabric 11 emerging from the steam treatment zone inside the sealed chamber 13 is made to cooperate with a steaming assembly 27 while it is winding around the cooling cylinder 26 and is pressed against the cylinder 26 by the piece of felt 120.

Following the steaming treatment, the fabric 11 is subjected to cooling by delivering a cooling fluid from the cylinder 26. In the variant shown in Fig. 4, the fabric 11 is introduced into the sealed chamber 13 without being accompanied by the piece of felt.

In the further variant shown in Fig. 5, in order to ensure a prolonged action of compression after the steam treatment, the fabric 11, together with the piece of felt 20, follows a winding path around the pressure cylinder 14a inside the sealed chamber 13 , and then winds for the whole arc of the return cylinder 15b outside the sealed chamber 13. Then, it re-enters inside the sealed chamber 13, winding around the arc of the pressure cylinder 14b, and is then sent to the cooling system 24, where it winds around the cooling cylinder 26 in cooperation with the piece of felt 120. Fig. 6 shows a diagram of a system to introduce the steam inside the sealed chamber 13, defined by the cylinders 14a, 14b, 15a and 15b, wherein there is a conduit 28 associated with an inlet valve 29a and with an outlet valve 29b and with a condensation separator 30 placed at the inlet. The valves 29a and 29b make it possible to regulate the pressure and quantity of the steam introduced inside the sealed chamber 13 so as to obtain the desired treatment of the fabric 11.

There are also valves which are not shown here to discharge any possible condensation before the steam is introduced inside the sealed chamber 13.

Claims

1 - Continuous high temperature and high pressure calendering/decatising/fixing method for woollen fabric, wool mix, silk, cellulose, synthetic fabrics or non-fabrics, wherein the fabric (11) is subjected to steam treatment or treatment in super-heated water, the method being characterised in that the steam treatment is performed by introducing the fabric (11) inside a sealed chamber (13), the sealed chamber (13) being defined by at least four cylinders (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) arranged in a foulard configuration with adjustable pressure and by front sealing plates (17) associated with the ends of the cylinders (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b), inside the sealed chamber (13) at least one face of the fabric (11) being in direct contact with at least one of the cylinders (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) .

2 - Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that the steam has a temperature of up to 160°C and a pressure of up to 6 bar.

3 - Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that the super- heated water has a temperature of up to 140°C and a pressure of up to 4 bar.

4 - Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that the quantity, pressure and/or temperature of the steam or the super-heated water introduced into the sealed chamber (13) can be regulated at least according to the type of fabric (11) to be treated and the type of result to be obtained.

5 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that at the inlet and outlet of the sealed chamber (13) the fabric (11) is subjected to an adjustable pressing action performed by pressure cylinders, respectively the inlet cylinder (14a) and the outlet cylinder (14b).

6 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that, in the case of steam treatment, the fabric (11) is dampened before being introduced into the sealed chamber (13) .

7 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that the fabric (11), on its path inside the sealed chamber (13) defined between the inlet pressure cylinder (14a) and the outlet pressure cylinder (14b) , winds around at least an arc of a return cylinder (15a, 15b) and/or at least an arc of a pressure cylinder (14a, 14b) .

8 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that at least an accompanying element (20) such as felt or similar is interposed between the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and the fabric (11).

9 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that at the outlet of the sealed chamber (13), the fabric (11) is subjected to cooling.

10 - Method as in Claim 9, characterised in that, in the case of stream treatment, between the treatment in the sealed chamber (13) and the cooling treatment, there is a steam treatment with steam at atmospheric pressure. 11 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and/or the return cylinders (15a, 15b) are heated.

12 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that according to the type of fabric to be treated and/or the type of result to be obtained, the method provides to intervene on one and/or another of the following parameters:

- pressure and/or temperature of the steam or the superheated water;

- tension of the accompanying element placed between the fabric and the pressure cylinders;

- pressure of the inlet pressure cylinder and/or the outlet pressure cylinder;

- temperature of the pressure cylinders and/or the return cylinders;

- speed of feed of the fabric ,-

- intensity of the cooling treatment and/or the steaming/ cooling; - dampening of the fabric upstream of the steam treatment;

- the type of lining used for the return cylinders.

13 - Continuous high temperature and high pressure calendering/decatising/fixing device (10) for woollen fabric, wool mix, silk, cellulose, synthetic fabrics or non- fabrics, wherein the fabric (11) is subjected to steam treatment or treatment in super-heated water, the device being characterised in that it comprises a sealed pressurised chamber (13) defined by a pair of pressure cylinders, respectively inlet (14a) and outlet (14b), and by a pair of return cylinders (15a, 15b), the sides of the closed chamber (13) being defined by the respective lines of tangency (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) between the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and the return cylinders (15a, 15b), the closed chamber (13) being defined at the front by sealing plates (17) cooperating with the ends of the cylinders (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b), the closed chamber (13) cooperating with means to introduce the live steam at a temperature of up to 160°C and a pressure of up to 6 atmosphere or with means to introduce super-heated water at a temperature of up to 140°C and a pressure of up to 4 bar.

14 - Device as in Claim 13 , characterised in that the means to introduce steam or super-heated water (28) cooperate with means to regulate the pressure (29a, 29b) .

15 - Device as in Claim 13 or 14, characterised in that at least between the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and the fabric (11) there is at least an accompanying element (20) interposed.

16 - Device as in Claim 15, characterised in that the accompanying element (20) consists of a piece of felt or a strip made of polyester, polyester-wool, wool, cotton or another suitable material, including synthetic.

17 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 16 inclusive, characterised in that upstream of and outside the sealed chamber (13) there is at least a humidifier assembly (12) .

18 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 17 inclusive, characterised in that downstream of and outside the sealed chamber (13) there is a cooling system (24) . 19 - Device as in Claim 18, characterised in that the cooling system (24) comprises a plane of feed-conveyor belt (25) cooperating with means to deliver a flow of ventilation.

20 - Device as in Claim 18, characterised in that the cooling system (24) comprises a holed cooling cylinder (26) on which the fabric (11) is wound.

21 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 20 inclusive, characterised in that, in the case of steam treatment, between the sealed chamber (13) and the cooling system (24) there is a steaming assembly (27) with steam at atmospheric pressure .

22 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 21 inclusive, characterised in that the surface of the return cylinders (15a, 15b) is covered with steel, paper, ebonite, rubber, non-fabric fabric or similar material.

23 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 22 inclusive, characterised in that the return cylinders (15a, 15b) function as pressure cylinders .

24 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 23 inclusive, characterised in that the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) are associated with means to regulate the pressure.

25 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 24 inclusive, characterised in that the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and/or the return cylinders (15a, 15b) are heated and associated with means to regulate the temperature.

26 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 25 inclusive, characterised in that the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and the return cylinders (15a, 15b) have rings (18) made of hard rubber at the ends which cooperate through friction with the sealing plates (17) .

27 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 26 inclusive, characterised in that the sealing plates (17) are associated with compression means (19) .

28 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 27 inclusive, characterised in that the hard rubber rings (18) cooperate with a lubrication system.

29 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 28 inclusive, characterised in that the means to deliver the steam (28) cooperate with a condensation separator/collector (30).

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 28 december 1998 (28.12.98); original claims 1 and 13 amended; remaining claims unchanged (6 pages)]

1 - Continuous high temperature and high pressure calendering/decatising/fixing method for woollen fabric, wool mix, silk, cellulose, synthetic fabrics or non-fabrics, wherein the fabric (11) is subjected to steam treatment or treatment in super-heated water in an at least partly closed environment, the method being characterised in that the steam treatment or super-heated water treatment is performed by introducing the fabric (11) inside a sealed chamber (13) defined by at least four cylinders arranged in opposite pairs cooperating with front sealing plates (17) in correspondence with the ends thereof, the four cylinders comprising two pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) , opposite each other, defining respectively the inlet and outlet of the sealed chamber, and two return cylinders (15a, 15b) , opposite each other, arranged respectively in contact at least at one point (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) with each of the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) , wherein it is provided that the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) are radially movable with respect to the return cylinders (15a, 15b) so as to adjust the intensity of the pressure on the fabric (11) at inlet to and at outlet from the sealed chamber according to the degree and type of finish required, and wherein it is provided that the fabric (11) at inlet to and at outlet from the sealed chamber is pressed by the pressure cylinders

(14a, 14b) directly against the surface of the return cylinders (15a, 15b) , appropriately lined with a suitable material correlated to the desired degree of surface finish of the fabric (11) itself. 2 - Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that the steam has a temperature of up to 160°C and a pressure of up to 6 bar. 3 - Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that the super- heated water has a temperature of up to 140°C and a pressure of up to 4 bar.

5 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that at the inlet and outlet of the sealed chamber (13) the fabric (11) is subjected to an adjustable pressing action performed by pressure cylinders, respectively the inlet cylinder (14a) and the outlet cylinder (14b) .

8 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that at least an accompanying element (20) such as felt or similar is interposed between the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and the fabric (11) .

9 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that at the outlet of the sealed chamber (13), the fabric (11) is subjected to cooling. 10 - Method as in Claim 9, characterised in that, in the case of stream treatment, between the treatment in the sealed chamber (13) and the cooling treatment, there is a steam treatment with steam at atmospheric pressure.

AMENDED SHEET (AKΪΪCLE 19) 11 - Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and/or the return cylinders (15a, 15b) are heated.

- pressure and/or temperature of the steam or the superheated water; - tension of the accompanying element placed between the fabric and the pressure cylinders;

- pressure of the inlet pressure cylinder and/or the outlet pressure cylinder;

- temperature of the pressure cylinders and/or the return cylinders;

- speed of feed of the fabric;

- intensity of the cooling treatment and/or the steaming/ cooling;

- dampening of the fabric upstream of the steam treatment; - the type of lining used for the return cylinders.

13 - Continuous high temperature and high pressure calendering/decatising/fixing device (10) for woollen fabric, wool mix, silk, cellulose, synthetic fabrics or non- fabrics, wherein the fabric (11) is subjected to steam treatment or treatment in super-heated water inside an at least partly closed environment, the device being characterised in that it comprises a sealed pressurised chamber (13) consisting of at least four cylinders arranged in opposite pairs, cooperating with front sealing plates (17) in correspondence with the ends thereof, the four cylinders comprising two pressure cylinders (14a, 14b), opposite each other, defining respectively the inlet and outlet of the sealed chamber, and two return cylinders (15a, 15b) , opposite each other, arranged in contact at least at one point (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) with each of the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) , the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) being movable radially with respect to the return cylinders (15a, 15b) so as to adjust the intensity of the pressure on the fabric (11) at the inlet to and at the outlet from the sealed chamber according to the degree and type of finish required, the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) being suitable to press the fabric (11) directly against the surface of the return cylinders (15a, 15b), the return cylinders (15a, 15b) being appropriately lined with a suitable material correlated to the desired degree of surface finish of the fabric (11) itself.

14 - Device as in Claim 13, characterised in that the means to introduce steam or super-heated water (28) cooperate with means to regulate the pressure (29a, 29b) .

16 - Device as in Claim 15, characterised in that the accompanying element (20) consists of a piece of felt or a strip made of polyester, polyester-wool, wool, cotton or another suitable material, including synthetic. 17 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 16 inclusive, characterised in that upstream of and outside the sealed chamber (13) there is at least a humidifier assembly (12).

18 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 17 inclusive, characterised in that downstream of and outside the sealed chamber (13) there is a cooling system (24).

19 - Device as in Claim 18, characterised in that the cooling system (24) comprises a plane of feed-conveyor belt (25) cooperating with means to deliver a flow of ventilation.

20 - Device as in Claim 18, characterised in that the cooling system (24) comprises a holed cooling cylinder (26) on which the fabric (11) is wound. 21 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 20 inclusive, characterised in that, in the case of steam treatment, between the sealed chamber (13) and the cooling system (24) there is a steaming assembly (27) with steam at atmospheric pressure. 22 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 21 inclusive, characterised in that the surface of the return cylinders (15a, 15b) is covered with steel, paper, ebonite, rubber, non-fabric fabric or similar material.

23 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 22 inclusive, characterised in that the return cylinders (15a, 15b) function as pressure cylinders.

24 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 23 inclusive, characterised in that the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) are associated with means to regulate the pressure. 25 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 24 inclusive, characterised in that the pressure cylinders (14a, 14b) and/or the return cylinders (15a, 15b) are heated and associated with means to regulate the temperature.

29 - Device as in any claim from 13 to 28 inclusive, characterised in that the means to deliver the steam (28) cooperate with a condensation separator/collector (30) .