KR20000068994A - Backwashing of partially processed wool - Google Patents

Abstract

The fiber assembly processing apparatus for processing the moving fiber assembly after the refining and carding steps of the fiber assembly, or after the combing step of the assembly, comprises: a holding means for liquid to hold a shallow flow liquid bath; Means for guiding the fiber assembly through the shallow flow liquid bath to reduce drag on the fiber assembly and to remove and / or rinse residual contaminants from the fiber assembly while minimizing damage to the fiber assembly. .

Description

Backwashing device and method of partially processed wool {BACKWASHING OF PARTIALLY PROCESSED WOOL}

Prior to the 1960s, it was an established practice to clean wool downstream of the carding of many wool combing plants. Combers were cleaned again after the carding step, but others were preferred to delay the cleaning step after the combing step. This step is called backwashing, and wool is basically scouring in three steps. Typically, 24 slivers with linear densities of 30 to 40 g / m each were fed to a first scouring bowl at a speed of about 10 m / min. The first refining bath usually contained warm water at 35-45 ° C. and approximately 0.5% of detergent. The sliver was then sent to a second refining bath, which contained warm water and detergent, or acted as a warm rinse bowl, in the same way as the first refining bath. Thereafter, the sliver was sent to a third bath, which is a warm rinse bath. In some cases, the sliver was then led to another rinse bath. The scouring bath and the rinsing bath were respectively equipped with a guide roll and a sqeeze roll to assist the scouring step and the rinsing step. The sliver exited the rinse bath, passed through the dryer, and entered the gill box.

The purpose of backwashing is to remove impurities that still remain after the refining and carding steps, thereby improving the color of the wool top and thus the commodity value. Another secondary advantage of backwashing is that it slightly improves the yield of the wool saw and the average length of the fibers.

In the 1960s, wool scourers were suitable to use synthetic detergents rather than traditional soaps. These synthetic detergents have been found to be quite efficient at cleaning wool in the first refining stage, thus reducing the relative value of backwashing. These factors, combined with the high cost of backwashing, have often given up on backwashing. However, backwashing was still used for rinsing after dyeing, and in some sliver shrinkage processing methods, backwashing was also used as a preparation for applying the resin to the wool.

Over the last decade, the production rate (kg / hr) of refining operations has been rising, resulting in higher levels of refinable residues remaining in the refined wool. Regardless of this trend, the value of backwashing wool slivers used in modern high-speed spinning operations has not been reevaluated until relatively recently. Mainly hesitant to reintroduce backwashing, mainly because of the relatively high cost of backwashing. Conventional backwashing machines are expensive, require a large work area, are labor intensive, have high energy consumption and are relatively poor in operating efficiency.

As is well known, the traditional backwashing operation is an additional refinement step. Applicant's pending International Patent Publication No. WO97 / 34031 discloses that the carding step modifies and substantially reduces the adhesion of residual contaminants in the wool, and the conventional method of removing such residual contaminants from the carded wool is disclosed. It is also disclosed that backwashing is inefficient. These residual contaminants are mainly located on the outer side of the wool fibers of the sliver and are very loosely bonded to the fiber tissue, which can be removed with a less expensive and improved backwashing operation that can eliminate the need for strong drying. Turned out. Alternative solutions disclosed in WO97 / 34031 include the use of cleaning fluid flows or jets directed across a sliver, such as across a suction device, for brief submersion in a single bath. By rapid treatment.

In order to reintroduce the concept of backwashing as an integral part of modern work rather than as a standalone unit, the current and predictable dispensing speeds of modern carding machines and feed rates to the giling machines are 0.4 to 0 in conventional work. It should be recognized that it is about 1 to 2.5 m / sec compared to 5 m / sec. The solution proposed in the above-mentioned international patent application is suitable when the movement speed of the sliver is up to about 0.5 m / sec. There was a difficulty to achieve. Initial efforts to overcome this difficulty include returning to the rinsing and rinsing baths continuously, although at higher speeds (more than 1 m / sec) than in the traditional backwashing step. This improves the removal of contaminants but results in unacceptable levels of sliver end rupture. The present invention aims to at least partially alleviate these problems.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the backwashing of partially treated wool, more specifically to pre-combing or post-combing in the form of slivers. to an improved method of cleaning wool).

1 is an isometric view of a backwashing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention in which an overhead liquid transport device is omitted for clarity.

2 is a partial isometric view of the condensation tray.

3 is an isometric view of a condensation tray, showing a liquid transport facility.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

5 is a schematic side view of a backwashing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a block diagram showing a state in which the backwashing device of FIG. 1 or 2 is mounted in a wool top manufacturing plant.

In one aspect of the invention, a method of processing a moving fiber assembly comprises: refining a fiber assembly to remove contaminants other than residual contaminants from the fiber assembly, and reducing the adhesion of the remaining contaminants to reduce residual contamination. Carding the refined fiber assembly such that the material is located primarily on the outer surface of the fiber assembly. The carded fiber assembly is backwashed, for example following a carding or combing step, by passing the fiber assembly through one or more liquid baths, wherein at least one of the liquid baths reduces drag on the fiber assembly, A shallow flowing bath is thus used to remove and / or rinse residual contaminants from the fiber assembly while minimizing the occurrence of damage to the fiber assembly.

In another aspect of the invention, for example, a fiber assembly processing apparatus for treating a moving fiber assembly subsequent to the step of refining and carding the fiber assembly, or subsequent to the combing step of the fiber assembly, provides a shallow flow liquid bath. Retaining means for retaining, and guiding means for guiding the fiber assembly through the liquid bath, whereby the shallow flowing liquid bath reduces drag on the fiber assembly, thereby creating damage to the fiber assembly. To remove and / or rinse residual contaminants from the fiber assembly.

The shallow flow liquid bath holding means preferably comprises at least one tray means which is inclinedly supported such that the shallow liquid bath flows by gravity. The tray means advantageously comprise elongated channels for guiding and confining the fiber assembly and the flowing liquid. This channel preferably has a nip or other restraint that condenses the fiber assembly at its downstream location.

Backwashing may affect one embodiment immediately after the carding step and before the Gilling step. In another embodiment, the sliver may be post-coated, for example as a wool top sliver. The method and apparatus of the present invention may be useful for afterwashing or backwashing of dyed wool top slivers.

In one application, the apparatus of the present invention is disposed downstream of the refining means and carding means, for example in a fiber processing facility such as a worn wool processing facility or a wool saw manufacturing facility, the refining means being The fiber assembly is refined to remove contaminants other than residual contaminants from the fiber assembly, wherein the carding means reduces the adhesion of the residual contaminants so that the residual contaminants are primarily located on the outer surface of the fiber assembly. The refined fiber assembly is carded to be removed and / or rinsed by.

Preferably, the direction of movement of the fiber assembly in the bath is parallel to or in the opposite direction of the liquid flow direction.

It is preferable to provide a spraying means for spraying a liquid forming a shallow flow bath into the flow bath. This means advantageously includes a nozzle arranged to guide at least a portion of the liquid generally downward of the tray into which the fiber assembly enters the shallow flow bath, to facilitate smooth movement of the fiber assembly.

The fiber assembly is preferably supported while moving through a shallow flow bath. If a shallow flow bath is provided in the tray, the support of the fiber assembly includes a fluid layer formed by the shallow bath at the bottom of the tray that is effective to at least partially float the moving fiber assembly.

Preferably, means such as one or more wet rolls are provided to abut the fiber assembly across the tray means, eliminating residual vertical airflow and thus facilitating increased wetting force of the fiber assembly.

For example, it is advantageous for the compression nip between the rolls rotating in opposite directions to each other to be adjacent to or downstream of the discharge end of the shallow flow bath. Such nips may improve the removal efficiency and reliability of contaminants.

In a preferred arrangement, backwashing is accomplished by passing the fiber assembly through two or more liquid baths. These liquid baths may include a first refining bath containing a cleaning agent or a refining agent, and a second rinsing bath containing a rinsing liquid such as water. In one arrangement, one of these baths is a static submerged bath and the other is a shallow flow bath according to the present invention. In the case of a static submerged bath, in particular in the case where the moving speed of the fiber assembly is faster than about 0.5 m / sec, the fiber assembly support means is provided in the submerged bath, in particular in the downstream portion of the travel path formed through the submerged bath. It is desirable to be.

In one embodiment, both liquid baths include respective shallow flow baths, in which case a pair of inclined trays are provided in a tandem arrangement, particularly in a convenient arrangement. In this arrangement, the general direction of movement of the fiber assembly between each bath is reversed. This allows for a compact, space saving deployment.

The apparatus of the present invention further comprises means for treating the fiber assembly in a drying step sufficient to remove a predetermined amount of liquid held in the backwashed fiber assembly. This drying step may also include directing an air jet onto the fiber assembly to evaporate or remove the liquid.

Means for laterally unfolding the sliver may be provided downstream of the shallow flow bath (in terms of the movement of the sliver) to assist in subsequent drying.

The method and apparatus of the present invention may be integral to a wool treatment plant, for example a wool saw manufacturing plant or a waste treatment plant, for example between a carding stage and a giling stage or between a post coaming stage and a jilting stage. The fiber assembly can be backwashed in the path of travel between the steps.

The fiber assembly may be pre-wet, for example by a pad or roller nip, before penetrating the liquid bath.

Preferably, penetration of the fiber assembly is minimized or prevented, for example by limiting the residence time in the liquid bath to a maximum of several seconds, for example to one or two seconds, preferably less than five seconds, the degree of wetting being the drying step. It is maintained at a level sufficient to remove and / or rinse residual contaminants while minimizing the energy required to affect the temperature.

It is advantageous that the method and apparatus of the present invention may be applied to a common shallow flow bath or to a plurality of fiber assemblies guided through each such bath.

The liquid used is preferably water, more preferably warm water above ambient temperature and may contain a detergent. In addition, a chemical treatment agent may be added, and the liquid may be a solvent for the reagent or the reagent itself.

The backwashing step is preferably integrated into a high speed carding or combing operation, for example at a transport speed in the range of 1 to 2.5 m / sec.

Although embodiments of the present invention illustrate a carded single sliver cleaned individually for simplicity of description, it should be understood that multiple slivers can be adapted to be supplied.

The backwashing device 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a pair of oppositely inclined tray units 12, 14 in a tandem arrangement, which tray units 12, 14 respectively have inlet rollers 16, 18. And one outflow roller 17 and 19, respectively. By arranging the tray unit 12 on the tray unit 14, the arrangement becomes more compact, and space use is optimal, and the moving sliver (shown by broken line 5 'in FIG. 3) is moved by the roller 16. It is fed into the apparatus and guided down the upper tray unit and then passed around the guide roller 18 through the nipping roller 17 and arranged such that the general direction of movement of the sliver is reversed. The sliver is then guided down the lower tray unit, passing through the roller 19 and the pair of release squeezing rolls 84 at a low level in the direction opposite to the entry direction, and discharged in a predetermined form.

Each tray includes a wide and generally flat outer tray 20a, 20b, which includes a side lip 13 defining the lateral direction of the liquid zone and an inner portion through which the sliver moves. A narrower condensation tray 22a, 22b, and a perforated liquid spray bar 30 (see FIG. 3). Each tray unit 12 also includes an array of liquid jets 32 that guide the liquid to the entry top of each condensation tray 22a, 22b. The liquid guided from the spray bar 30 and the jet 32 to the upper tray unit 12 is, for example, water containing a detergent such as a conventional scouring agent at a concentration of 0.5%, while the liquid guided to the lower tray unit Simply with water, the lower tray provides a shallow flow rinse bath. The general liquid flow direction in both trays is parallel to the sliver movement direction.

An internal condensation tray 22a is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 4. It basically consists of a substantially semicircular channel 23, the upper end of which is flattened to form a wider landing plate 23 into which the sliver enters and the jet 32 is guided. Channel 23 is actually slightly larger in angular range than 180 °. The lower end of the channel 23 is tapered in the form of a funnel 25 provided at its distal end with an outlet 26 for the sliver 5. This cross-sectional shape of the channel 23 causes the sliver 5 and the flowing liquid to be guided and confined therein. The funnel 25 acts as a nip or restraint that condenses the sliver as the sliver exits directly from the tray 22a into the nip of the roller sets 17, 19.

Liquid flowing onto the trays 22a and 22b is supplied through two places. The first is a jet 32 provided by a transverse branching tube 33 disposed in front of the pair of inlet rollers 16 proximate the end of the plate 24, which jets generally replace some of the liquid. Guided down the trays 22a and 22b (including the plate 24), the sliver enters the liquid bath formed at this point. This promotes smooth movement of the sliver and prevents bunching or buckling of the fibers that may occur at this point. Second is a perforated spray bar 30 which releases an overhead shower or spray 55 of liquid approximately to the midpoint below the trays 22a and 22b. It can be seen that the spray bar 30 is less inclined than the tray, so that the shower or spray 55 is more dispersed at the bottom of the tray.

This liquid forms a shallow flow bath in the downward direction, through which the sliver passes parallel to the flow liquid. Although the moving slivers are substantially supported by the bottom of each tray, the moving slivers will float partially due to the fluid layer formed by the liquid flowing shallowly to the bottom of the tray, rather than pushing down the bottom heavily. It is understood that. Thus, the shallow flow baths in the trays 22a and 22b play a valuable role in supporting and lubricating the sliver, minimizing fiber leakage or even preventing end rupture of the sliver even at high speeds in the range of 1 to 2.5 m / sec. Keeping at an acceptable level, it is believed to at least partially relieve the difficulties encountered in high speed transportation, as described earlier.

The characteristics of the shallow flow in the condensation trays 22a, 22b, including the depth, are controlled by respective arrays of drains 35, 36, 38 in the trays that flow liquid to the outer trays 20a, 20b. The first array includes drains 35, 36 formed in a row at the side of the tray in the middle of the trays 22a, 22b. The hole 36 is formed just below the edge of the channel 23. The remaining array includes a plurality of holes 38 formed in the funnel 25. The number and size of these drains 35, 36, 38 for each tray, in conjunction with the liquid transport costs from spray bar 30 and jet 32, prevents excessive overflow or overflow of liquid in the channel and It can be set to maintain the flow and depth of at a predetermined level.

The upper tray unit 12 includes a rotatable wet roller 40 near its upper end, usually made of stainless steel, which abuts on a moving sliver. This wet roll acts not only as a guide roll as in conventional backwashing, but also as a complete wetting action by eliminating residual vertical airflow to promote faster and increased wetting of the sliver fibers.

The liquid containing contaminants removed from the sliver fibers is preferably overflowed from the lower ends of the respective tray units 12, 14 to the respective collection tanks 70, 72 for reprocessing and recycling. There is an overflow liquid collection reservoir 74 for the upper tray, and the liquid in the lower tray unit falls straight into the tank 72. The tanks 70, 72 are equipped with an electric heating device 78, a filtration system (not shown), and a pump 79 for returning the liquid to the spray bar 30 and the jet 32.

The roller sets 16, 17, 19 are formed as compression rollers. In the case of the roller sets 17, 19, lip splash trays 76, 77 lying underneath each collect the transport liquid in the collection reservoir 74 and the tank 72, respectively.

Various adjustable parameters of the illustrated embodiment should be set to complement each other to achieve optimal results. These parameters include the inclination of the tray, the sliver speed, the volumetric flow rate of the liquid, and the flow characteristics of the trays 20a and 20b, all of which are taken into account to determine the bath contact time for each fiber. The inclination of the tray is considered suitable in the range 1 in 8 to 45 °, preferably in 4 or more, for example 1 in 2, and the length of the tray is approximately 0.8. To about 1.2 m may be satisfactory. The rinse tray unit 14 should be slightly shorter than the cleaning liquid tray unit 12 as is reflected in the illustrated embodiment.

It is believed that the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 can also satisfactorily remove contaminants from slivers traveling at speeds on the order of 1 to 2.5 m / sec. Of course, this contaminant is a residual contaminant after the refining step and the carding step, which is known to be located mainly on the outer surface of the sliver fibers and very loosely bonded to the fiber tissue. The appropriate residence time of the contaminants in each shallow flow bath is 1 second or less. Contaminants are swept into the flowing liquid during subsequent separation and disposal. Preferred aspects of the successful apparatus or method of the present invention include liquids that flow shallowly downward, overhead spray, jet 32, compaction of roller sets 16, 17, 19, wet rollers 40, inner trays. Constraining of the sliver and the flowing liquid due to the shape of 22a, 22b and condensation funnel 25 is included.

The illustrated backwashing device may also be integrally installed in a wool treatment plant, for example a wool saw manufacturing or a waste treatment plant, so that the movement between other steps, typically between the carding step and the Gilling step The fiber assembly can be backwashed in the path. This is schematically illustrated in FIG. 6, where the refining stage 90, card 92, backwashing apparatus 10, and the giling stage 94 for processing the sliver 5 are in line. Is shown. In the refining stage 90, unclean greasy wool is usually refined by a plurality of baths, which is effective for removing contaminants other than residual contaminants from the fiber agglomerates. The refined wool is transported to the card 92 where it is carded, whereby the adhesion of residual contaminants is reduced such that these residual contaminants are primarily disposed on the outer surface of the fiber assembly, thereby making the fiber assembly a sliver backwashing device ( Transported to 10) and removed and / or rinsed. Backwashed slivers are typically dried (not shown) and pass through the giling stage 94.

In a variant, the illustrated device may use post combing, and the sliver may certainly be a wool top sliver. In one such application, the device may be used to backwash or afterwash the dyed wool top sliver.

A variant device 10 ′ is shown in FIG. 5 and differs in many respects from the device shown in FIG. 1. The shallow flow is only in the rinsing stage with a pair of inlet and outlet rollers 18 'and 19' and the spray nozzles 20 'are arranged at regular intervals and the inclined tray unit 14' Equipped. In addition, the cleaning stage is a more conventional conventional boil 12 ', where the sliver is completely submerged in a bath where the cleaning liquid is replenished almost statically and slowly.

The arrangement of the tray unit 14 ′ differs from the arrangement of the tray unit 14 of FIG. 1 in that the sliver moves above the inner tray, ie in the opposite direction to the flow direction. The refining bath 12 'is characterized in that a pair of inlet rollers 16' support the cleaning / refining liquid 16a on the nip for prewetting purposes and the discharge moving part 6 of the sliver is equipped with a moving roller. This is different from the conventional refining bath in that it is supported in the bath by the inclined upper moving part of the continuous belt 78. This arrangement helps to reduce end rupture in the bath during high speed movement of the sliver.

The immersion time in the refining bath can be controlled by the immersion roller mechanism 80 which is movable in the vertical direction, and a splash collection tray 82 is placed below the rinsing stage.

It is noted that both embodiments include a pair of squeeze rolls 84 downstream of the rinse stage that minimize or control the moisture content of the slivers carried by the backwashing device. This helps more efficient and uniform drying in the downstream drying stage. The upper roller has a layer that adjusts the liquid dispersion in the sliver to make it more uniform, and may be a "Nollap" roll. In addition, the lower roll is preferably polyurethane coated stainless steel.

In a variant arrangement, a pair of press rolls 84, or a set of release rollers and press rolls 84, are replaced with a pair of tongue-in-groove rollers. This style of outflow roller is useful for concentrating the pressure of the wool top roller on the fiber assembly, making this pressure more uniform in the nip, reducing the water content or return level, and thus achieving more uniform water dispersion. I think. Thus, the load of the slave on the subsequent dryer can be reduced.

Drying may also be facilitated by providing an apparatus for laterally unfolding the sliver, just inside the discharge ends of the tray units 14, 14 ′, downstream of the shallow flow bath of the inner tray. This unfolding is particularly facilitated by unfolding the sliver while the sliver is still in the shallow flow of liquid in the tray.

Although the illustrated embodiments are shown as tray units with inner and outer trays, it is emphasized that each tray unit may be of a single tray structure.

Claims (34)

A fiber assembly processing apparatus for processing a moving fiber assembly after a scouring and carding step of the assembly, or after a comming step, Flow liquid bath holding means for holding a shallow liquid liquid bath, Means for guiding the fiber assembly through the liquid bath Wherein the shallow flow liquid bath reduces drag on the fiber assembly and removes and / or rinses residual contaminants from the fiber assembly while minimizing the occurrence of damage to the fiber assembly. . The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for retaining the shallow liquid liquid bath comprises one or more tray means that are inclinedly supported such that the shallow liquid bath flows by gravity. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tray means comprises an elongate channel for guiding and confining said fiber assembly and said flow liquid. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said elongate channel comprises an inner tray and said tray means comprises an outer tray inclined at or above said inner tray. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the channel includes a nip or other restraint that condenses the fiber assembly at a downstream position thereof. 6. 6. A channel as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the channel comprises the liquid outlet drainage array, the drainage array arranged to control a feature comprising the depth of the shallow flowing liquid. Fiber assembly processing apparatus. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising spraying means for spraying a liquid constituting a shallow flow bath into the bath. 8. The fiber assembly processing of claim 7, wherein the spraying means is arranged to guide at least a portion of the liquid generally downward of the tray into which the fiber assembly enters the shallow flow bath, to facilitate smooth movement of the fiber assembly. Device. 9. A spray according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the spraying means comprises a device for guiding the multi-flowing liquid downwardly over at least its longitudinal portion on the tray means and the fiber assembly thereon. Fiber Assembly Processing Apparatus. The fiber assembly of claim 1 further comprising a wetting means adapted to abut said fiber assembly across said tray means, thereby removing residual vertical airflow and thereby promoting an increase in wetting force of the fiber assembly. Processing unit. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a squeezing nip adjacent or downstream of the discharge end of the shallow flow bath. 12. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shallow flow liquid bath holding means each comprises the pair of tray means arranged to provide a separate shallow flow bath, each of the tray means Each flow bath is inclinedly supported to flow by gravity and is in complementary tandem arrangement with said guide means for allowing the moving fiber assembly to pass through one bath and then through the other. Fiber assembly processing apparatus. 13. The fiber of claim 12 wherein, in use, one bath further comprises means for providing a different liquid to each bath so that one bath may contain a detergent or a refiner and the remaining bath may serve as a rinse bath. Assembly processing apparatus. 14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the tray means are generally arranged one on top of the other so that the general direction of movement of the fiber assembly is switched between each bath. 12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for providing a static immersion bath, wherein the guiding means directs the fiber assembly through a shallow flow of liquid bath and a static immersion bath. Fiber assembly processing device, characterized in that arranged. 17. The method of any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising means for treating the backwashed fiber assembly in a drying step sufficient to remove a predetermined amount of liquid held in the fiber assembly. Fiber assembly processing apparatus. 17. A fiber assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged downstream of the refining means and carding means in a fiber processing facility, the refining means for removing contaminants other than residual contaminants from the fiber assembly. The carding means reduces the adhesion of residual contaminants such that the residual contaminants are located primarily on the outer surface of the fiber assembly, thereby carding the refined fiber assembly such that they are removed and / or rinsed by the apparatus of the present invention. Characterized in that the fiber assembly processing apparatus. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the direction of movement of the fiber assembly in the bath is arranged such that it is parallel to or parallel to the direction of liquid flow. 19. A fiber assembly processing apparatus according to any preceding claim, arranged to guide a plurality of fiber assemblies through the common shallow flow bath or each such bath. With a moving fiber assembly processing method, Refining the fiber assembly to remove contaminants other than residual contaminants from the fiber assembly; Carding the refined fiber assembly such that the stickiness of the residual contaminants is reduced such that the residual contaminants are primarily disposed on the fiber outer surface of the assembly; Following the carding or combing step, backwashing the fiber assembly by passing the fiber assembly through one or more liquid baths. Wherein at least one of the liquid baths is a shallow flow bath that acts to remove drag and / or rinse off residual contaminants from the fiber assembly while reducing drag on the fiber assembly and minimizing damage to the fiber assembly. A fiber assembly processing method. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing the shallow flow bath in the elongate channel for guiding and confining the fiber assembly and the flow liquid. 22. The method of claim 20 or 21, further comprising condensing the fiber assembly at a nip or other restraint in a downstream position. 23. The method of any one of claims 20 to 22, further comprising spraying a liquid consisting of a shallow flow bath into the bath. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the liquid is directed generally downward of the tray into which the fiber assembly enters the shallow bath to facilitate smooth movement of the fiber assembly. 25. The method of any of claims 20 to 24, further comprising pressing the fiber assembly in a compression nip adjacent to or downstream of the discharge end of the shallow flow bath. . 26. The method of any of claims 20-25, comprising passing the fiber assembly through two or more separate shallow flow baths. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein one bath contains a cleaning or refining agent, and the other bath is provided with a different liquid in each bath to serve as a rinse bath. 28. The method of any of claims 20 to 27, wherein the direction of movement of the fiber assembly in the bath is parallel to or in the opposite direction of the liquid flow direction. 29. The method of any of claims 20-28, wherein the fiber assembly is supported while moving through a shallow flow bath. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the support comprises a fluid layer formed by a shallow bath at the bottom of the tray that serves to at least partially float the moving fiber assembly. 31. The fiber assembly of any one of claims 20 to 30, wherein the fiber assembly is integrated into a wool treatment method to backwash the fiber assembly in a path of movement between, for example, a carding step and a giling step or a post coaming step. Treatment method. 32. The fiber assembly of any one of claims 20 to 31, further comprising pre-wetting the fiber assembly before the fiber assembly passes through the liquid bath. Treatment method. 33. The method of any of claims 20-32, wherein the residence time of the fiber assembly in the liquid bath is less than 5 seconds. 34. The method of any of claims 20 to 33, wherein the fiber assembly is transported at a speed in the range of 1 to 2.5 m / sec.