EP1713968B1 - Method and device for the treatment of tubular textile materials, e.g. circular knitted fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for treating tubular textile materials (1), e.g. circular knitted fabrics, so as to apply chemicals, textile auxiliaries, dyes, or similar by continuously feeding the tubular material (1) into a horizontal frame (5) comprising a liquid bath via a material reservoir (2) and redirecting the tubular material (1) to a tensioning mechanism (13, 14) with an adjustable gap width to the circular expander (16) of an annular suction nozzle (17) via an adjustable guide roller (12). According to the invention, homogeneous and reproducible effects with a high degree of penetration of chemicals, textile auxiliaries, and dyes are obtained on textile material by providing a minimal liquor content in the horizontal frame (5), creating long dipping distances of the web of material (1) over and underneath the guide rollers (10) in order for the bath to better penetrate the top face and bottom face of the web of material, carrying out an intermediate dewatering process in the tensioning mechanism (13, 14) while optionally adding small amounts of bath, annularly expanding the tubular material on the circular expander (16), and carrying out a final dewatering process with the aid of the annular suction nozzle (17). The liquid withdrawn there is reconcentrated and redirected to the liquid bath.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the treatment of textile materials in tubular form, for example circular knits, by applying chemicals, textile auxiliaries, dyes or the like by means of liquid bath in a horizontal chassis and subsequent dewatering for setting a defined moisture content in the textile material, wherein the textile Material web is continuously guided in the liquid bath via a roller assembly, according to the preamble of claim 1 or 12.

Processes for the treatment of textile materials in the sense of a continuous application of chemicals, textile auxiliaries and dyes in a dry-in-wet or else in a wet-on-wet process belong to the state of the art. On the one hand, it is possible to treat textile surfaces in a wide format continuously with a minimal application system or, on the other hand, to impregnate them with liquor in a chassis and then bring them to a defined moisture content by means of a drainage system. Textile surfaces in tube form, eg circular knits, are treated either in a full bath or with a hose squeegee. In hose squeezing, a significant disadvantage is that applied finishing agents and dyes diffuse insufficiently into the fabric. Also, the drainage effects are bad. If an improved drainage effect is achieved by an increase in pressure, undesirable folds of the fold result, which usually result in irreversible quality deficiencies. A reduced fleet exchange in wet-on-wet applications and a high concentration gradient between bath batch concentration and Badnachsatzkonzentration in the chassis of the hose squeeze increase the risk of non-uniform product quality over the part length. Directly during dewatering occur in the existing nip undesirable longitudinal expansions, a reduction in the width of the fabric and a simultaneous compression of the textile material. Existing air inclusions are not significantly minimized in the crimp joint.

There have therefore been proposed solutions that are used to eliminate bow folds from Rundgestricken after the Schlauchquetsche. It also belongs to the prior art to make a squeezing of the tubular fabric in the extended state. From E. Rothweiler, Melliand Textilberichte 4/1979, page 341 et seq., A vacuum impregnation is previously known, which is discussed in the article mentioned in detail on the necessary Warenvorbehandlung and the dyeing process.

The Tubetex Padrol padder described there is described in detail for the continuous dyeing of knitted fabrics in the hose. The vacuum impregnation according to this prior art is carried out so that the product is sucked off for air removal and immediately afterwards the liquor passes through a sieve under which the circular knits are passed by means of a circulating endless belt. In this way, one side is applied to the double web of the continuous Rundgestricks fleet. However, this inevitably leads to unevenness between the upper and the lower side of the web. In the case of the Tubetex Padrol padder, six rollers are arranged in a V-chassis at an angle of 45 ° to each other, three to the bottom right, one bottom centrally and two rollers to the top right, the latter acting as a stocking squeeze. Downstream is squeezed off with two soft rolls. A displacement body reduces the liquor content. A swiveling down chassis facilitates the collection of goods. The goods entry over a total of seven rolls with angles of wrap of 50% and more is not suitable for a large proportion of circular knits and therefore can not be used.

The DE 36 24 406 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for treating continuously transported tubular fabric when wet.

The tubular fabric is specifically overstretched in a stretch zone by Lufteindüsung and it is measured behind the expansion zone, the effectively obtained fabric width. From a comparison between the achieved actual value of the product width and a predetermined desired value, a correction value is formed in the case of differences and, depending on this, the amount of air injection into the tubular fabric is controlled. The overstretching of the tubular fabric is immediately followed by a wet treatment.

In the device for wet treatment of tubular fabric according to DE 36 00 559 A1 a horizontal chassis is proposed, which consists of three rollers, wherein the first pair of rollers is designed as Unterfleet crusher. The special design of the roller assembly should serve to avoid bow folds.

Regarding the Rundausbreitens textile tubular goods and the removal of moisture by means Ringschlitzdüse is still on the DE 101 12 045 A1 , the DE 198 28 206 A1 as well as the EP 0 014 787 A1 directed. The local solutions have a Ringschlitzdüse in common, which is used for dewatering or wet refining of textile tubular fabric by vacuum extraction. The Rundausbreiter for such a device each have a spreader ring, which is stored below the tubular goods free of each attachment, and a locked to the Spreizringen centering ring. The centering rings are in the direction of the tubular fabric immediately before and behind the Ringschlitzdüse according to DE 101 12 045 A1 positioned.

to EP 0014787 A1 It should also be noted that it opens up from this, the output side of the liquid bath to provide an intermediate drainage of tubular goods by means of an adjustable train, the removed liquid directly back into the liquid bath and wherein above the train by means provided there Rundausbreiter and Ringaugdüse can be made dewatering.

The EP-A-0320701 discloses a method and apparatus for discontinuous post-treatment of knitted and knitted fabrics. The estate is endless in a container. In the container, a dwell zone is provided in the lower region and it is formed a dip tray. The treatment trough is located in the dipping trough. With such a process, it is important to work economically especially for smaller production quantities. This is done by spreading the textile material in the area of the dipping trough and dehydrating in the area above the dipping trough to a predetermined residual moisture content before it again enters the dwelling zone during its endless circulation.

As already indicated, the state-of-the-art minimum application methods such as runners, slot dies, spray devices and the like can be used exclusively only for simple wide goods. A conceivable application of chemicals, textile auxiliaries and dyes by means of such devices, which are preferably located in the interior of the knitting tube, is technologically complex.

From the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention, a further developed method and an arrangement for carrying out a method for the treatment of textile materials in tubular form, for example, and in particular circular knits, by applying chemicals, textile auxiliaries, dyes or the like by means of liquid bath in a horizontal chassis indicate the solution to be created for a dry-in-wet, but also a wet-in Wet process is to be suitable and to realize the possibility that an effective product exchange of liquor and goods at the same time intensive bilateral loading of the goods can be realized without any bow and / or creases occur. Ultimately to be reduced by the inventive solution, the use of water and textile auxiliaries while increasing the overall efficiency and reduce the amount of wastewater.

By providing a Warerispeichers input side of the device is to ensure that no standstill of the goods occurs when changing the goods storage container. The concentration of the treatment liquid or liquor should be maintained throughout the entire process period in the chassis, i. be almost constant in the liquid receiving container.

The object of the invention is achieved by a method according to the definition according to the teaching of claim 1 and with a device in the feature combination of claim 10, wherein the dependent claims represent expedient refinements and developments.

According to the invention, to adjust and maintain a uniform concentration of the liquor over the respective treatment period, the filling volume is minimized, taking into account a sufficient immersion path. This is done by an appropriate dimensioning of the fleet receiving container or the horizontal chassis.

On the output side of the liquid bath, an intermediate drainage is provided by means of adjustable in the gap width train, wherein the removed liquid directly back into the liquid bath.

Above the train is still arranged by means of a there. Post-drainage, which is known per se, in addition to the annular suction nozzle, can be carried out, in which case the liquid withdrawn by means of the annular suction nozzle is concentrated again and then returned to the liquid bath.

The treatment of the textile material in tubular form can be assisted by means of a submerged squeezing unit located in the bath.

Also to improve the wetting of the upper and the lower side of the textile material web, it is guided under a variable wrap angle and alternately above and below the rollers of the roller assembly within the bath.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is possible to form at least one of the rollers in the bath to improve the wetting of the material web as suitable for air injection.

To set the necessary voltage at the Ringaugdüse the train is operated according to the invention selectable trailing to the main drive.

The width of the horizontal chassis is selected substantially equal to half the circumference of the largest ring suction nozzle used.

Above the train is blown in a special embodiment of the invention in the web of tubular fabric air, forming an air cushion against the closed lower surface of the Rundausbreiters below the ring suction.

The dosage of Badansatz and Badnachsatz is made on the input side and across the width evenly on the horizontal chassis.

The amount of lag depends on the textile substrate, the overstretching of the circular knit on the round spreader and the parameters of the ring suction nozzle and, when combined, makes it possible to achieve low moisture contents.

According to the invention, the intermediate drainage is adjusted to a moisture content> 150% and the post-dewatering takes place to a moisture content corresponding to the required product order.

Intermediate drainage adds liquor additions, i. reached the difference from the moisture content to the submission of> 80%, on average> 120%. This requires extremely low make-up concentrations. The subsequent post-dewatering causes a fleet addition to the original of about 0, usually of about 5% and thus simultaneously ensures excellent energy efficiency.

The fact that crushing processes are avoided results in a high quality level of the treated textile material. Also gentle on materials is the goods management and distribution of drainage in a Zwischenentwässerung the train with the following drainage with the aid of a Ringaugdüse.

On the device side, the horizontal chassis has an inlet, a drain and a fill level control for regulating the liquid level, and the material web is guided via a goods store, a fabric brake and at least one guide roll located outside the liquid bath.

The roller assembly within the horizontal chassis has several, for example, three guide rollers, which guide the material web with a not too large wrap to obtain a long dive. In the further goods run a horizontally adjustable or pivotable Warenleitwalze is arranged, which can perform the web at a different angle to the train with adjustable gap width. Of the Product order of the upper and lower side of the web is thereby made uniform. The fabric guide roller and the train are essentially located on the output side above the horizontal chassis, so that the removed liquid passes back into the bath.

The circular spreader with annular suction nozzle is arranged in the middle of the train for subsequent drainage.
To support the opening of the tubular fabric and to improve the treatment success of the textile material web, an air supply arrangement, for example in the form of a nozzle system is provided above the train.

The extracted liquid from the post-drainage passes into a Nachdosierbecken, which is in communication with the horizontal chassis to fill the fleet, taking into account the desired homogeneity.

In the horizontal chassis a Unterfleet squish is provided, which consists of at least two rollers.
In a preferred embodiment, an upper roller is provided vertically above a lower guide roller, which by means of its own weight exerts a compressive force on the guided-through textile material web. At least the lower roll of the Unterfleetquetschwerks and the material web are below the liquid level in the horizontal chassis.

At least one of the guide rollers in the horizontal chassis can be designed to be air-injecting, which leads to a further improvement of the treatment success.

In a special embodiment of the invention, the Rundausbreiter on two centering rings, which are arranged concentrically one above the other. A centering ring located above the annular suction nozzle is designed to be open, wherein the centering ring arranged below the annular suction nozzle forms a closed surface, so that the desired inflation of the tubular fabric is possible via the air supply device and the formation of the air cushion.

The centering rings are connected to one another via spacer bolts, so that a centering ring package which absorbs the ring suction nozzle as it were, is formed. The upper centering is supported in an embodiment of the invention against a stop, wherein the Zentrierringpaket or the lower centering ring is weight loaded and the weight is directed against the driving force caused by the movement and friction of the web. In this way it is prevented that the lower centering ring comes into contact with the lower ring portion of the annular suction nozzle in the system and possibly an undesirable bruising or tearing of the material web occurs here. In such an embodiment of the ring spreader with annular suction nozzle results in a significant structural simplification compared to the introduction side described prior art. Essential elements are only the centering rings, which are equal to or larger than the diameter of the ring suction, which guarantee that the tubular fabric spread circular, wrinkle-free and slightly overstretched transported to the Ringaugdüse over. The embodiment of the compact Zentrierringpakets ensures that selbiges can not fall out of the Ringaugdüse. Nor is there any danger that the centering ring package will be pulled upwards through the material web.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of a figure and on the basis of exemplary embodiments.

The figure shows a schematic representation of the device according to the invention for the treatment of textile materials in tubular form, for example circular knits.

The textile web 1 to be treated passes into a goods store 2 and is via a fabric brake 3 and a guide roller 4 in the horizontal chassis 5, which is filled with the treatment liquid (liquor).

On the horizontal chassis 5 are a Behandlungsflüssingkeits Zulanfeinrichtung 6, a drain 8, an overflow 7 and a level control device 9 is present.

Inside the horizontal chassis 5 is the treatment liquid. Furthermore, the horizontal chassis 5 takes in the example shown three successively arranged guide rollers 10 which guide the textile web, in particular tubular fabric.
As can be seen from the figure, the web 1 is taken up at the inlet-side first roller and then guided over the middle roller under the output-side roller 10. Due to the alternating guidance, both the upper side of the fabric web and the lower side come into roll contact.

The platen roller 11, together with the guide roller 10 underneath, forms an underfloor squeezer. The support roller 11 can rest with its own weight, whereby an additional contact pressure via mechanical or pneumatic-hydraulic means is possible.

In one embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the guide rolls is in the range between 40 mm and 100 mm.

In the further goods run, a horizontally adjustable fabric guide roller 12 is provided, which the goods to the downstream train, e.g. consisting of the rollers 13, 14 deflects. The arrangement of this fabric guide roller 12 influences the liquid return to the chassis. 5

The train serves to drive the web, the Zwischenentwässerung and the adjustment of the goods voltage and is located centrally below the Ringaugdüse 17 and the upstream Rundausbreiter 16.

The train, as mentioned above, consists of two horizontally arranged rollers 13, 14, which are for example rubberized. A roller may be trailing by 30% relative to the master drive driven by an electric motor, while the opposite roller is horizontally displaceable so that a defined gap between the two rollers 13, 14 remains. The gap adjustment can be made mechanically, but also pneumatically / hydraulically. By pulling the web from the goods storage 2 and through the chassis 5 is pulled.

The gap setting on the tensioning device 13, 14 as a function of the hose thickness makes it possible to realize the desired moisture content in the range of> 150%.

With these moisture contents it is ensured that there are no leading edges in the tubular fabric, despite an intensive homogeneous penetration of the lower and upper side of the product, a homogeneous product loading of the product in length, width and thickness is secured, wet-in-wet applications with Very small fleet additions are possible and the conditions for high energy efficiency for subsequent drying processes are created.

The further goods run then takes place via the annular suction nozzle 17 for the purpose of re-dewatering by means of vacuum extraction and the lead drive of the system shown in the figure above.

Above the train, for example, formed by the pair of rollers 13, 14, an air supply means 15, for example in the form of a blowpipe or a blowing nozzle with one or more air outlet holes arranged, whereby an air filling of the tubular fabric is possible and a support of the hose opening is made to Ringaugdüse. The resulting air cushion or the airbag is bounded at the bottom by the train and above by the closed embodiment of the lower centering ring as part of the Rundausbreiters 16.

The lower centering ring is connected to the upper centering ring 18 via spacer bolts 19, so that a Zentrierringpaket as Rundausbreiter arises, which on the one hand can not fall out of the Ringaugdüse 17, but on the other hand is not pulled up through the moving web.

The upper centering ring 18 may have a plurality of spokes, while the lower centering ring is designed as explained as a dense, flat disc. About the mass of Zentrierringpakets a movable, quasi-floating storage of the same during transport of the web through the Ringaugdüse 17 is ensured. A figured not shown upper stop prevents unwanted crushing occurs in the gap between the lower centering of the Rundausbreiters 16 and the underside of the Ringaugdüse 17 with the result that results in quality loss of the treated web to the tear.

The width of the horizontal chassis 5 is dependent on the maximum hose width, the chassis width is greater than the maximum hose width of the web is selected.

In the horizontal chassis, the liquid level is kept constant by the level control 9, wherein the liquid supply via the inlet 6 is designed so that the liquor is introduced uniformly over the width of the chassis.

Basically, it is important to dimension the horizontal chassis with a minimum fleet content. The fleet content at the working level depends on the width of the goods and is about 20 l at a working width of 45 cm.

In a first embodiment, a wet-in-wet application with crosslinkers is assumed.
A dehydrated circular knit of CO with a moisture content of 70% is presented to the device and passes over the Strandausbreiter, a Vorratsmulde, guide rollers and a pendulum roller, for a uniform low supply voltage, and another guide roller to the horizontal chassis. $$\mathit{moisture\; content}\mathit{=}\frac{\mathit{wet\; goods}\mathit{-}\mathit{dry\; goods}}{\mathit{dry\; goods}}*100\left[\%\right]$$

The knitted fabric is thoroughly impregnated in the chassis with the liquor by the goods under the first guide roller, on the second guide roller, on which there is an overlying roller, which works in conjunction with the second guide roller as Unterfleetquetschwerk. Subsequently, the circular knit passes under the third guide roller and behind or in front of the output side provided Warenleitvorrichtung to the train.

The underfleet squeezer can achieve moisture contents in the range of> 150%.

The sliding fabric guide roller 12 is in the horizontal direction depending on the moisture content to be reached backwards or forwards, i. pivotable to the input side or away from it.

The rollers 13, 14 of the train serve in this embodiment, a drainage of the circular knit to about 200%.

The circular knit is fed after this Zwischenentwässerung the Rundausbreiter, which is charged differently according to the quality of goods. By the already described embodiment of the lower centering ring a sealing of the fabric tube is effected inwardly, so that the desired inflation of the fabric tube in front of the Rundausbreiter the Ringaugdüse is possible. In the ring suction then the post-drainage of the circular knit takes place.

All guide rollers are arranged so that working with a small wrap angle of the goods around the rollers and so the goods voltage can be minimized.

The knitted fabric is treated with a conventional bath batch concentration with crosslinkers. In the example, 40 g / l of DMDHEH (dimethylol-dihydroxy-ethyleneurea), 20 g / l of PE dispersion, 13.5 g / l of plasticizer and 13.5 g / l of acid donor are used. In the following, only the amount of DMDHEH is mentioned. The moisture content after the post-drainage should be 75%.

The basis weight of the circular knit used, for example, is 152 g / Ifd m and it is the goods speed 25 m / min.

Taking into account the two-stage dewatering, a bath add-on concentration of 61.5 g / l DMDHEH, corresponding to a quotient of bath replenishment to bath batch of 1.54, was required. This increased concentration can be achieved by reusing the extracted liquor at a rate of 4.75 l / min and increasing its concentration by the respective concentrate. The refilling amount is 4.94 l / min. At the same time, 2.66 l / min of water are introduced through the goods into the chassis.

For a standard peristaltic squeegee, the following add-on level in the chassis would be required:
600 g / l DMDHEH
at a replenishment rate of 0.19 l / min.

This high concentration would have to mix with the required bath concentration of 40 g / l DMDHEH and the water introduced by the circular knitting of 2.66 l / min in a very short time to give homogeneous finishing effects. This would require extremely long dive routes. The quotient of Badnachsatz to Badansatz is 15. However, the time to mix these large concentration differences would lead to the affinity of the finishing agent / dye to the pulp and take the whole process the possibility of a defined liquor uptake.

For this reason, work is carried out in a known manner only with a liquor addition of> 30%. This would result in a device according to the prior art, a tail of 100 g / l DMDHEH and a quotient of Badnachsatz / Badansatz = 3.3, in the inventive device, however, only a trailer of 61.5 g / l DMDHEH consistent.

The above means that during subsequent drying according to the proposal, about 25% less moisture must be removed from the textile substrate.

In the method presented according to the embodiment, despite a smaller fleet addition, a comparatively low Badnachsatzkonzentration is possible because part of the fleet water exchange takes place in the chassis and the further liquor exchange is achieved on the transport to Ringaugdüse and there by the gas kinetische dehydration. The economy of the presented embodiment is thus in a reduction of the water content on the goods, in an increased drying capacity, respectively, in a significantly improved energy efficiency. Also, quality improvement of the finish effect occurs by uniform product application across the width, the entire part length and the total thickness of the fabric. Furthermore, there is an improvement in the quality of the product by avoiding running and creases.

In the second embodiment, a wet-in-wet application with a stain protection agent. The general technical conditions correspond to Example 1. A circular knit same basis weight and width, as Example 1, but made of PES is presented with a moisture content of 15% of the device and after an intermediate drainage of 200% to 20% moisture content post-dewatering. The intermediate drainage initially achieves a fleet addition of 185%. Only then is the product in the Ringaugdüse to 20% dewatered and thus achieved a 5% fleet addition to the product template.

The stainproofing agent is applied at a concentration of 150 g / l. Taking into account the two-stage dewatering becomes a post-concentration requires only 162 g / l of stainproofing agent, which equates to a quotient of Badnachsatz and Badansatz of only 1.1. 0.57 l / min are introduced through the template to water. 6.84 l / min of water are sucked off and returned to the concentration increase in the chassis. In this process, 30 g / kg of stainproofing agent are applied wet-on-wet to the textile substrate. High uniformity of product application with excellent knit quality can be produced.

In order to apply the same amount by means of foulards, a moisture content of the original of 30% must be assumed. The fleet addition must be at least 30%. Then the Badansatzkonzentration must be only 50 g / l, but the Badnachsatzkonzentration 100 g / l. This is metered at 1.14 l / min and must mix with the significantly lower bath batch concentration and the introduced water in the amount of 1.14 l / min. The quotient of Badnachsatz and Badansatz is still 2.

Furthermore, 40% more water must be removed from the textile substrate. The economic and qualitative advantages of the proposed method are thus evident.

In the third embodiment, a dry-in-wet application with dyes. The general technical conditions correspond to the first example. The circular knits made of different textile materials are moved into the dyebath, which was provided with dyes, textile auxiliaries and chemicals depending on the textile substrate, the color depth and the color. It can be worked with and without Unterfleet squish. The moisture content of the intermediate drainage is> 150% and the post-drainage should be very high. For example, for 100% CO, a moisture content of 60%, CO / elastane 55%, 100% PES 10% can be reached approximately. Especially at low moisture contents, a high uniformity of the dyeing and a simplified handling with the padded goods for further dye fixation are ensured. The extracted liquor is continuously fed together with a new dye liquor, which generally corresponds to the Badansatzkonzentration supplied to the chassis. Uniform dyeings in length, width and thickness are produced. The reproducibility of the results is also very good. Marking of creases by the padding process does not occur.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

web

2

goods storage

3

fabric brake

4

guide roll

5

chassis

6

Intake

7

overflow

8th

procedure

9

level controller

10

Guide rollers in the chassis

11

Platen roller / roller for Unterflecksquetschwerk

12

sliding fabric guide roller

13/14

Zugwerk with roller pair for intermediate drainage

15

Air supply device

16

lower centering ring

17

Ringsaugdüse

18

Upper centering ring

19

Distance bolt for connection between lower and upper centering ring

20

main drive

Claims (19)

1. Method for treating tubular textile materials, for example circular knitted fabrics, by applying chemicals, textile auxiliaries, dyes or the like in a liquid bath contained in a trough, followed by a water extraction process to achieve a defined residual moisture content of the textile material, in which the width of the textile material (1) is guided continually through the liquid bath via a roller arrangement, passes through a tensioning mechanism with adjustable gap width (13; 14) at the outlet side of the liquid bath, where an intermediate water extraction process takes place - the extracted liquid returning directly into the liquid bath - and is subjected to a final water extraction process above the tensioning mechanism (13; 14) by means of a circular expander and an annular suction nozzle (17),
   characterised in that
   the filling volume is minimised, taking into consideration a sufficient length of immersion, to achieve and maintain a uniform concentration of the liquor over the treatment time, and that the liquid extracted from the liquid bath is reconcentrated and afterwards returned to the liquid bath.
2. Method according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the liquor exchange with the textile material (1) is supported by an under-liquor squeezer (11) located in the bath.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the tubular fabric is led at variable angles of wrap and alternating over and under the rollers of the roller arrangement (10) in order for the bath to better penetrate the top face and bottom face of the fabric (1).
4. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   air is injected above at least one of the rollers of the roller arrangement (10) in the bath for better wetting of the fabric.
5. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the tensioning mechanism (13; 14) provides for adjustable lagging operation in order to reach the required cloth tension towards the annular suction nozzle (17).
6. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the width of the horizontal trough (5) is selected, in essence, corresponding to the half of the circumference of the largest usable annular suction nozzle (17).
7. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   air is injected into the tubular fabric (1) above the tensioning mechanism (13; 14), causing the formation of an air cushion between the rollers of the tensioning mechanism (13; 14) and the closed bottom face of the circular expander underneath the annular suction nozzle (17).
8. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the dosage of the initial liquor and the replenishing liquor is carried out at the inlet and uniformly over the width of the horizontal trough (5).
9. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the intermediate water extraction is set from a range > 150% and the final water extraction to a moisture content according to the required production order.
10. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that,
    through the intermediate water extraction process in the case of a wet-on-wet application, the addition of liquor, i.e. the difference of the moisture content of the fabric relative to the feed, is adjustable to > 80%, and that, through the final water extraction process, the addition of liquor relative to the feed is adjustable to around 0.
11. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that,
    by changing the position of the adjustable material guide roller (12), the fabric (1) gets in contact with it optionally at the front or at the back, which brings about further improvement of the homogeneity of the finishing effects.
12. Device for treating tubular textile materials, for example circular knitted fabrics, by applying chemicals, textile auxiliaries, dyes or the like in a liquid bath contained in a trough (5), followed by a water extraction process to achieve a defined residual moisture content of the textile material, in which the width of the textile material (1) is guided continually via a roller arrangement (10) in the liquid bath composed of the trough (5), an inlet (6) and an outlet (8), as well as a level monitoring system (9), and the fabric (1) is fed via a material reservoir (2), a fabric brake (3), and at least one of the guide rollers (4) outside the liquid bath, and in which, furthermore, a circular expander with annular suction nozzle (17) and a tensioning mechanism (13; 14) for intermediate water extraction is provided,
    characterised in that
    the roller arrangement located inside a trough (5), which is designed for the fabric to be guided horizontally, is composed of several rollers (10) to guide the fabric, ensuring this way an adequate length of immersion, and, following the passage of the fabric outside the horizontal trough (5), a horizontally adjustable guide roller (12) is provided, which diverts the course of the fabric (1) to the tensioning mechanism (13; 14) with adjustable gap width for intermediate water extraction, with the fabric guide roller (12) and the tensioning mechanism (13; 14) for intermediate water extraction being located above the horizontal trough (5) at the outlet side, so that the extracted liquid returns directly to the bath,
    that
    the circular expander with annular suction nozzle (17) for final water extraction is located centrically above the tensioning mechanism (13; 14) for intermediate water extraction and that an air supply arrangement (15) is provided above the tensioning mechanism (13; 14) for intermediate water extraction to open the tubular fabric,
    that
    the finally extracted liquid flows into a post-dosage tank, which is connected with the horizontal trough (5).
13. Device according to claim 12,
    characterised in that
    the horizontal trough (5) contains an under-liquor squeezer (11) composed of at least two rollers.
14. Device according to claim 12 or 13,
    characterised in that
    the guide rollers (10) inside the horizontal trough (5) are arranged in tandem in the travelling direction of the fabric.
15. Device according to one of the claims 12 to 14,
    characterised in that
    at least one of the guide rollers (10) inside the horizontal trough (5) is designed as an air-injecting unit.
16. Device according to one of the claims 12 to 15,
    characterised in that
    the circular expander comprises two centring rings (16; 18), the one (18) located above the annular suction nozzle (17) being designed as an open and the other (16) located underneath the annular suction nozzle (17) being designed as a closed element.
17. Device according to claim 16,
    characterised in that
    the centring rings (16; 18) are linked with each other by means of distance bolts (19) and form a movable ring package inside the annular nozzle (17).
18. Device according to one of the claims 16 or 17,
    characterised in that
    the upper centring ring (18) abuts against a stopper.
19. Device according to claim 14 or 15,
    characterised in that
    the centring ring package (16; 18) is weight-loaded, with the weight directed against the drive force caused by the movement and friction of the fabric (1).

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