"MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF A FABRIC IN ROPE FORM AND RELATIVE METHOD"

DESCRIPTION Technical field The present invention relates to a machine for treating a fabric. More specifically, trie present invention relates to a continuous cycle machine for treating a fabric in rope form. Moreover, the invention relates to a respective method for continuous treatment of fabric in rope form. Prior art In the field of fabric processing and finishing, machines are known that subject the pieces of fabric to treatments both in a bath and without a bath by transferring the fabric along a transfer path where said fabric is subjected to the mechanical action of one or more mechanical members and, if necessary, a chemical action by means of enzymes and/or a thermal action. In particular, machines are known that process fabrics in rope form with a discontinuous cycle. This means that a rope of fabric of finite length is inserted in the machine and closed joining the head and tail of said rope to each other to form a sort of loop. This loop of fabric is made to circulate for a suitable number of times, i.e. for a suitable treatment time, along the treatment path. When the treatment has been concluded the machine is stopped, depressurized if required, opened and the treated fabric is removed there from to be replaced with a new fabric to be treated.

Machines of this type, see for example patents EP-B-0518065, EP-B- 0565884, EP-B-0633340 and EP-B-0952247, in general allow dry fabric to be treated principally in a bath, and have the drawback of requiring frequent stops for loading and unloading, stitching the fabric in a loop and unstitching it. This results in loss of production and high labor costs. The need to depressurize and cool the machine (when it operates at pressure and/or temperature) also results in considerable energy consumption. Moreover, the finishing effect between one process and the next cannot be controlled and repeated accurately, as is increasingly required by the market.

Furthermore, there is a high machine cost/production rate ratio, as in order to obtain high production levels this type of machine must be structured with various treatment tanks.

To attempt to overcome these drawbacks machines have been designed to process fabrics in a continuous cycle, both in rope form and in open width. These machines generally comprise two tanks in line or in series, wherein the fabric is inserted in the first tank, passes through the machine according to a transfer path and is removed from the second tank at the opposite end of the path. Inside the machine a supply of fabric forms and moves at a higher speed than the speed at which it is fed into and removed from the machine, so that each section of fabric is subjected to more than one treatment.

Examples of machines that process the fabric in open width are described in EP-A-0653508, EP-B-921437, EP-B-0341183, EP-B-1054093, while a machine for treatment of fabric in rope form is for example described in WO-A-03023111.

The main drawback of machines with two tanks in line is that processing pieces of fabric of considerable dimensions requires considerable processing times, as in order to obtain the desired treatment quality countless alternate cy- cles are required.

Moreover, either various machines must be positioned adjacent to one another to perform separate processes on a same piece or the machine must be stopped to modify the configuration of the same machine.

Furthermore, it may be difficult to transfer the fabric due to the twisted nature of the paths or to the limited efficiency of the transfer systems that act on the fabric during treatment.

To attempt to overcome these drawbacks multi-tank machines have been designed; these are machines that utilize intermediate treatment tanks to treat fabrics. In multi-tank machines that process the fabric in open width in a continuous cycle, the fabric is fed into a first tank, transferred to the intermediate treatment tanks and then removed gradually from a last tank at the opposite end of the path. In each intermediate tank inside the machine a supply of fabric forms, moving at a greater speed than the speed at which it is inserted into and re- moved from the machine, so that each section of fabric is subjected to more than one treatment.

Fundamentally, these machines cannot be used for enzyme or fabric breakage treatments, for specific pre-dyeing wash treatments or for washing and treatment with final finishing products of stiff fabrics to be softened and to shrink

the weave. To date the best results for treatments in a bath are generally obtained with discontinuous machines which have the aforesaid drawbacks and which, to offer acceptable production levels, are very costly and bulky.

Patent IT-B-1151983 describes a multi-tank machine for continuous treat- ment of fabric in rope form with tanks placed side by side longitudinally, which comprises a single reel for feeding the fabric from one tank to the other.

In this machine the tanks are not separate from one another and it is therefore difficult to control the supply of fabric that accumulates in each tank.

Moreover, the treatment is bland and the treatment speed limited. EP-A-1301658 describes a multi-tank machine for continuous treatment of fabric in rope form with tanks placed side by side that facilitates feed of the fabric from one tank to the next thanks to pneumatic transfer ducts sloping in relation to said tanks, i.e. positioned so that a tank adjacent to the inlet tank of each transfer duct corresponds to the outlet of the same duct. The main disadvantage of a machine of this type is that means must be pro- vided to facilitate transfer of the fabric* from one end of each treatment tank to the other; in particular, this patent describes a solution in which tanks are designed to tilt in the direction of movement of the fabric. Moreover, the tanks are not separate from one another and this complicates machine management. To date, notwithstanding the developments in technology, the production of simple and low cost machines for continuous processing of fabrics in rope form with a better output, reducing production and maintenance costs poses a problem and is deemed necessary. Objects and summary of the invention An object of the invention is to provide a machine for continuous treatment of fabrics in rope form which is less expensive and simpler to construct, which facilitates control of the treatment process obtaining particularly high production levels and overcoming or reducing at least some of the aforesaid drawbacks of existing machines. Another object is to obtain a machine which is more versatile than prior art machines.

A further object of the present invention is to produce a method that allows continuous processing of a fabric in rope form in an improved and faster way at a moderate cost.

In substance, these and other objects and advantages, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the text hereunder, are obtained with a machine for continuous treatment of a fabric in rope form comprising: a plurality of treatment sections arranged in series along the feed path of the fabric, each of which has at least two accumulation areas; in each section at least one bidirectional transfer system to transfer the fabric alternatively between accumulation areas of a same section; and means to convey the fabric from one section to an adjacent section, said conveying means being separate from the transfer systems provided in each section. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the treatment sections are placed side by side longitudinally, i.e. positioned beside each other in the direction of their length so that the accumulation areas of each section are adjacent to the accumulation areas of a same contiguous section. In substance, the sections extend longitudinally and the accumulation areas are aligned according to this linear extension. Adjacent sections are placed side by side transverse to their longitudinal extension. With an arrangement of this kind the overall length of the machine is reduced. However, it would also be possible for at least some of the treatment sections to be aligned with one another according to the longitudinal extension, i.e. with one section arranged aligned with the adjacent section along the extension of the longitudinal axis of the latter. Several sections can also be arranged according to a mixed arrangement, pro- , ducing customized configurations mainly on the basis of the available space.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the means to convey the fabric from one section to the other are motorized and their purpose is to lift a supply of fab- ric stored in an accumulation area and unload it in an accumulation area of an adjacent section to control the supply of fabric in each accumulation area in a substantially independent way, as will be explained in greater detail hereunder.

The purpose of the bidirectional transfer system is to convey the fabric alternatively in opposite directions from one accumulation area to the other of a same section at a greater speed than the speed at which the fabric is inserted into and removed from the machine and therefore than the speed at which the fabric is transferred from one section to the consecutive one by said transfer ^' means, to allow repeated treatment in each single accumulation area. This transfer system is preferably and advantageously produced with a Ven-

turi tube pneumatic system and the path is at least partially pressurized so that, in a simple and inexpensive way, the movement of the fabric in rope form from one accumulation area to the other qan be reversed and further elements for physical treatment of said fabric can be provided. In fact, in front of the transfer system, in particular at the end of the path in the direction of transfer of the fabric, at least one striking element, preferably a grid, can advantageously be provided. According to a preferred embodiment, two opposed striking elements are provided for each treatment section, as described for example in WO-A-03023111 , in front of the two ends of the pneu- matic transfer duct, against which the fabric is made to strike due to the kinetic energy imparted thereto by the transfer system, to increase the effect of the physical treatment and softening of said fabric.

A grid structure must be understood as any structure suitable to form a strik- ing surface for the fabric, and at the same time allowing air to pass through. It can be composed of a series of horizontal and/or vertical bars, a perforated metal sheet, a continuous metal sheet with a central slit or a series of slits vary- ingly arranged, or other systems.

On the opposite side of each grid structure to each transfer system, a respective suction mouth of a pneumatic circuit can advantageously be provided, to al- ternatively suck the air emerging from the transfer system. In this way, the treatment efficiency of the machine is increased. In fact, the flow of air sucked in by the suction mouths allows an increased acceleration of the fabric, in particular each time the direction of movement is reversed, and therefore higher speeds can be reached to obtain more efficient treatment. Moreover, high tem- perature air can be used, especially when the machine operates in the drying configuration, providing an air recirculation or regeneration circuit capable of improving the efficiency and- increasing the output of the drying system.

Furthermore, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a control unit and, sensor means such as load cells or similar systems are provided in each accumulation area, to individually control the supply of fabric stored in the respective accumulation areas, to control the system to reverse the direction of movement of the fabric in each operating or treatment section of the machine (in particular, for example, in the Venturi tube pneumatic system), and to control the means that convey the fabric in rope form from one section to

the other, as will be described in greater detail hereunder.

According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for continuous treatment of a fabric in rope form comprising the following steps:

(a) arranging, along the treatment path, a plurality of treatment sections, each comprising at least two accumulation areas of the fabric and at least one bidirectional transfer system of the fabric from oηe of said at least two areas to the other and vice versa;

(b) arranging, between consecutive treatment sections, conveying means to convey the fabric from one section to the other; (c) alternately transferring the fabric between accumulation areas of a same section by means of the respective bidirectional transfer system; (d) feeding the fabric from a first of the sections to an adjacent and subsequent section using the conveying means.

Preferably, the speed at which the fabric moves between accumulation areas of a same section and reversal of movement imparted by the transfer system of each section can be adjusted separately to the speed at which the fabric is moved from one section to the consecutive section by said conveying means. In this way, the fabric can be moved several times at high speed between one accumulation area of a same treatment area and the other and vice versa, before being transferred to the subsequent section, while the transfer speed from one section to the subsequent one is substantially lower than the feed speed inside the single treatment section. In this way, each portion of fabric is treated several times in each treatment section and passage of the fabric from one section to the next is implemented in a way thai can be controlled separately from the treatment speed in the single sections. .

The bidirectional transfer system allows physical treatment of the fabric in rope form and transfer is advantageously performed using a pneumatic pressur- ized-air system.

According to the invention, the step (c) to alternately transfer the fabric inside each section and the step (d) to convey the fabric from one section to the adja- . cent one are controlled to' produce accumulation areas substantially independent from one another. In other words, according to the invention, the step (c) and the step (d) are essentially independent from each other, in the sense that each treatment section comprises a bidirectional transfer system independent

from the others, allowing separate and even different treatment processes to be implemented in each accumulation area.

In particular, during alternate transfer according to step (c), the direction of movement of the fabric between one accumulation area and the other of a same section is reversed to avoid exhausting the supply of fabric in each accumulation area using suitable control systems, for example by performing this reversal as soon as the weight of a supply of fabric reaches a pre-set lower threshold value.

In the step (d) where the fabric is conveyed from one section to the other, motorized conveying means, such as reels or pulleys are provided synchronized with fabric entry to and delivery from the machine, so that the quantity of fabric entering the machine is the same as the quantity delivered; moreover, the conveying means are synchronized with each other on the basis of the treatment time required in each of the sections. It must be noted that the fabric being treated can undergo a "shrinking" effect - i.e. a decrease in length - in particular as a function of the treatment it undergoes.

This "shrinking" effect (which can even be considerable and different for each accumulation area or for each treatment section) determines a decrease in the reversal time in the accumulation areas, thus making synchronization of the conveying means with entry to and delivery from the machine ineffective and running the risk of exhausting the supplies of fabric or subjecting the fabric to excessive traction.

According to an' improved embodiment of the invention, therefore, to cόm- pensate or recover the "shrinking" effect and prevent a supply of fabric from being exhausted in an accumulation area, for each decrease in the reversal time of each transfer system a decrease in speed in the step to convey the fabric from one section to the adjacent one is set.

In this way the fabric can be delivered continuously from the last tank of the machine at a perfectly synchronized speed, the same as - or preferably lower than, due to the shrinking effect - the speed at which it enters the machine.

A bath containing suitable enzymes or other chemical products can advantageously be provided inside the accumulation area, so that a machine according to the invention can treat the fabric dry or also in a bath.

In fact, this type of machine can advantageously be utilized for a plurality of dry treatments on a fabric in rope form, such as drying, steaming, softening, shrinkage of the woven or knitted fabric, or for treatment in a bath, such as chemical or physical/chemical and/or enzyme treatments in specific baths and other treatments.

The machine can also be utilized to perform specific pre-dye washes or washes and treatments with final finishing products for stiff fabrics to be softened and to shrink the weave.

Chemical or enzyme treatment in a sheet of water at high temperature can also be performed; this consists essentially of producing a sheet of water that evaporates in each accumulation section to maintain an ideal temperature for the specific treatment, e.g. treatment with preimpregnation.

In particular, the same type of treatment can be implemented in all the accumulation areas and in all the treatment sections in order to increase the speed and output of said treatment.

Nonetheless, in a possible embodiment of the present invention, different treatments can be performed in one or more sections, to produce combined treatments, e.g. to perform in succession washing, treatment in a bath, drying and steaming or to perform in succession washing and treatment in a bath only, or yet again drying and dry steaming only.

It would also be possible to switch from one type of treatment to the other without requiring to stop the machine at each change of treatment, by suitably modifying the machine configuration. .

Dry processes, such as finishing or processes having an effect on the fabric are improved compared to those perfoVmed with a discontinuous machine, with a very advantageous ratio production rate/machine cost.

The machine according to the invention can advantageously be designed as a complete line and operated automatically for entry and delivery of fabric in rope form. It would also be possible for the fabric to enter and/or be delivered from the machine in open width, although the treatment inside the machine is always performed on fabric in rope form.

Moreover, the compact dimensions of this type of machine make it particu- larly easy to provide external systems or units for further treatments of the fabric entering and/or being delivered from the machine, such as a rinse unit for fabric

in rope form or even open-width fabric, with the aforesaid rope opening systems.

Compared to discontinuous treatment machines, with the machine according to the invention greater repeatability of the process can be obtained between one batch of fabric and the next, as a new piece can be stitched to the end of a piece being processed so that the machine remains continuously in movement without requiring to stop it each time to reload it with new fabric. Moreover, the independent treatment of the fabric in each treatment section with pneumatic transfer systems and elements for striking the fabric in combination with con- veying means allows processing effects equal to or greater than those obtainable with discontinuous machines to be obtained with much higher productivity. Yet another advantage is offered by the fact that a machine of this type can be constructed with treatment sections of the type with very compact and easily removable or transportable modular units, facilitating the addition of further sec- tions and optimization of the space available for construction of the machine.

All in all, the machine according to the present invention is extremely versatile, as it is particularly suitable to perform one or more processes - dry and/or in a bath - continuously, without any downtimes for loading/unloading, stitching and unstitching the piece, decreasing ^v energy consumption and increasing pro- ductivity with smaller overall dimensions compared to conventional machines.

Further advantageous features and embodiments of the method and of the machine according to the invention are indicated in the appended dependent claims and will be further described hereunder with reference to some non- limiting embodiment. Brief description of the drawings

The present invention can be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the attached schematic drawings, which show a non-limiting practical example of the invention. In the drawing: Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a treatment section of a machine according to the invention;

Figures 2A and 2B show different configurations of a partially sectional detail of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an axonometric and schematic view of a treatment path for a

fabric produced with a plurality of sections like the one in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows an axonometric and schematic view of a machine according to the invention in drying configuration, complete with air circuit;

Figure 5 shows an axonometric and schematic view of a. machine according to the invention in washing configuration, complete with air circuit and treatment baths;

Figure 6A shows a schematic side view of an enzyme treatment line with entry in open width and delivery in open width;

Figure 7A shows a schematic side view of an enzyme treatment line with eh- try in open width and delivery in rope form;

Figure 7B shows a plan view according to VII-VII of Figure 7A of units of the line in Figure 7A; and

Figures 8A, 8B and 8C respective!^ show exemplificative diagrams of a plurality of alternative arrangements of treatment sections of a machine according to the invention.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings, in which the same numbers correspond to the same parts in all the various figures, a machine according to the invention comprises a path formed by a plurality of treatment sections or modules placed side by side along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of each section, for continuous treatment of a fabric in rope form, one of these treatment sections being indicated in Figure 1 with the reference numeral 2.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , section 2 includes: accumulation areas 3A and 3B, between which a transfer system 7 is arranged; aη electronic control unit 18; conveying means of the pulley or reel type 12 to transfer the rope of, fabric from one section to the adjacent section, not shown for simplicity in Figure 1 ; and load cells 4A and 4B in the respective accumulation areas 3A and 3B . to control the quantity of rope, i.e. the supply of fabric in each accumulation area. The accumulation areas 3A and 3B are of the tank type with respective surfaces 5A and 5B which are inclined towards the transfer system 7; it is nonetheless understood that the accumulation areas 3A and 3B are. in no way limited to the number and type described, which represent a exemplificative embodiment of the invention.

The transfer system 7 is of the pneumatic type and comprises: a bidirectional transfer duct 9 of the Venturi tube type, inside which the rope of fabric T is pulled; a pressurized air feed duct 11 , to feed the transfer duct 9; and striking elements in the form of grids 1OA and 1OB placed in front of the outlets of the duct 9. This transfer system is also in no way limiting the invention, and represents a exemplificative embodiment thereof.

The transfer duct 9 can be a duct with a circular or rectangular cross section or similar; moreover, it can have variable geometry to improve the efficiency and increase the output of the transfer system 7. Figures 2A and 2B show in particular a partial section of an example of the transfer duct 9 of the type with substantially rectangular variable geometry which comprises movable wall elements P1 and P2 in a first configuration (Figure 2A), in which the walls P1 and P2 are moved towards each other to form a section S1 of passage for the rope of fabric; and in a second configuration (Fig- ure 2B) in which the wall elements P1 and P2 are moved away from each other to form a larger section of passage S2 than the section S1.

Moreover, Figures 2A and 2B schematically show a baffle element 8 in the pressurized air feed duct 11 , the purpose of which is to select the direction of transfer of the fabric inside the duct 9 by means of control unit 18. In the layout shown in Figure 1 , a fabric, in rope form T is fed to the accumu- iation area 3A of the treatment section 2 by means of a pulley 12 from an adja- cent section ~ not show for simplicity in the figure - to feed a first supply of fabric, then passes through the duct 9 of the transfer system 7, where it is struck, against the grid 10B by the pressurized air coming from the feed duct 11 and thus feeds a supply of fabric into the accumulation area 3B.

Movement of the fabric T between the accumulation areas 3A and 3B is . completely reversible.

Respective suction mouths 24 and 26, omitted for simplicity in Figures 1 and 3 but shown in Figures 4 and 5, can be positioned in proximity to the grids 10A and 10B.

Moreover, washing or dyeing spray nozzles, not shown for simplicity in the figure, can be provided in the transfer duct 9 to increase the output of any washing and/or dyeing operations on the rope of fabric.

Figure 3 shows a schematic embodiment of a treatment path produced with

three treatment sections 2A to 2C analogous to the section 2 described in Figure 1; it is clear that the number of sections can vary without being limited to the number illustrated in the figure.

: According to the invention, the three sections 2A to 2C are placed side by side in a direction transverse to their longitudinal extension and each one comprises motorized pulleys or reels 12, suitable to lift the rope of fabric from an accumulation area 3B or 3C and deposit it in the accumulation area 3D or 3E of the respective adjacent section 2B or 2C. Moreover, Figure 3 shows a roller or reel feeder 14, with which the fabric T is fed to the entrance of the machine 1 , and a roller or reel extractor 16 in the last section 2C at the exit of the machine to finally remove the treated fabric therefrom.

Operation of the machine 1 comprises a first loading step in which the rope of fabric T is positioned along the entire path inside the machine, i.e. the fabric T is passed from the feeder 14 at the entrance to the extractor 16 at the exit, taking care to arrange it inside each transfer duct 9 and to form a pre- established quantity of supply in each accumulation area 3A to 3F (advantageously approximately 10 to 20 meters, but also up to and over 70 meters in each accumulation area) as a function mainly of the type of fabric and the treatment to be performed. After loading, the actual treatment step commences.

. In this step the transfer systems 7 present in each section 2A to 2C are activated to violently transfer the fabric T alternately from an accumulation area 3A, 3C _. or 3E to the respective area 3B, 3D or 3F Of the same , section 2A, 2B or 2C and vice versa. The duration of each transfer before reversal can be set manually by an op- . erator by adjusting the speed of the pressurized air.and the minimum quantity of fabric supply, detectable by the load cells 4A or 4B in each accumulation area 3A or 3F, Advantageously, during operation the control unit 18 can receive data from the load cells 4A and 4B of each accumulation section and control reversal of each transfer system 7 by movement of the baffles 8, see also Figures 2A and

2B, on the basis of the parameters set by the operator, diverting the flow of pressurized air from the feed ducts 11 alternatively in the two directions.

The transfer speed between consecutive reversals - i.e. the speed of the

pressurized air that can be set by the operator - can be adjusted as a function of the process to. be performed and mainly as a function of the intensity of physical treatment to be obtained on the fabric.

The fabric T is conveyed to the subsequent section by means of motorized pulleys or reels 12 after having undergone treatment in the previous section.

The unit 18 controls movement of the pulleys 12 synchronizing it with that of the feeder 14 and of the extractor 16,. so that the quantity of fabric entering the machine is the same as the quantity of fabric delivered from the machine, and, on the basis of the processing time - which can be set by the operator - required for the treatment in each of the sections 2A - 2C, taking account of any shrinkage of the fabric which can be variable from section to section.

Movement of the pulleys 12 is preferably discontinuous, although it would also be possible for the pulleys 12 to move continuously ^" even varying the speed. As described previously, the "shrinkage" phenomenon of the fabric can determine a decrease in the reversal time in the accumulation areas 3A - 3F, and therefore to prevent the supply of fabric T in an accumulation area from being exhausted due to shrinkage, a decrease in the transfer speed of the fabric T from one section to the adjacent section is set for each decrease in reversal time.

In particular, the unit 18 determines ^l any variation in the transfer speed of the fabric T from one treatment section to the other taking into account the reversal time of the fabric in the previous section. For example, if the unit 18 determines a decrease in the reversal time, i.e. if between one reversal and the next of the direction of transfer of the fabric in one section there is a decrease in time, this. means _; that the length of fabric in the section is decreasing. To compensate this decrease in length, the unit 18 reduces the transfer speed of the fabric in the subsequent section.

The fabric T thus controlled and processed in each single accumulation area 3A to 3F and in each section 2A to 2C is delivered continuously from the final section 2C at a perfectly synchronized speed, equal to (or less than, if there is shrinkage of the fabric) the speed at which it enters the machine.

The machine is equipped with air circuits and/or treatment baths according to the configuration for which it was designed. For example, Figure 4 shows an

axonometric and schematic view of a machine 100 according to the invention in drying configuration. This machine 100 comprises a feed circuit 13 for pressurized air - optionally heated - which by means of a plurality of feed ducts 11 feeds a plurality of transfer ducts 9 of the respective transfer systems 7 in the sections placed side by side, 2A, 2B and 2C respectively, of the machine body 1. This circuit is substantially formed by a pressurized air input duct 20, of a pressurized ^' air uptake duct 22 which fluidly connects mouths 24 and 26 positioned in proximity to the grids 1OA and 10B respectively with a fan 23. Between the fan 23 and the mouths 24 and 26 there can be further systems substantially known in the art, such as an exhauster 30, a filter 32 and a burner or heat exchanger 34 (not in scale in the figure) for pressurized air.

In this configuration, the mouths 24 and 26 take up pressurized air through the grids 10A and 10B respectively, against which the fabric T being delivered . from the transfer duct 9 strikes, in order to increase the transfer effect on the fabric and re-utilize this pressurized air.

The configuration described above refers in particular to dry treatments such as drying, softening, shrinkage, steaming and similar.

According to the invention, as already described hereinbefore, the machine can also perform wet processing. Figure 5 shows an axonometric and sche- matic view of a machine 200 according to the invention in washing configuration.

In this figure it can be seen how the machine 200 advantageously comprises the pressurized air feed circuit 13 of the drying configuration described in Figure 4. In fact, with this type of machine it is possible to utilize the pressurized air cir- cuit 13 to improve the performances of the machine 200 which has a pneumatic transfer system 7, for example of the Venturi tube type, to allow rapid conversion of this machine from the dry configuration to the wet configuration, and to perform any drying and/or dry operations in some of the sections 2A to 2C of the machine 200, thus producing a machine that performs both dry and wet processes.

The machine 200 comprises a pumping system 33 for input of the chemical treatment bath produced with a pump 37, feed ducts 35, a filter 39 and any additional systems, such as a heat exchanger 41.

The pumping system 33 feeds chemical treatment fluid to each accumulation

area 3A to 3F of the sections 2A, 2B and 2C respectively of the machine body 1 through the feed ducts 35.

In the embodiment shown in the figure, the pumping system is a closed circuit system to continuously recirculate the treatment fluid, after it has been fil- tered by the filter 39 and heated by the burner 41 , suitably reintegrated with any new fluid.

It would also be possible for different treatment fluids to be fed to different accumulation areas or sections, to perform different processes in the same ma- chine. In this case, distinct and separate pumping systems must be provided for each treatment fluid.

Moreover, spray nozzles, not shown for simplicity in the figure - are provided to spray the chemical treatment directly onto the fabric T.

In this configuration, in which the machine operates in wet configuration, the steps to load the fabric, for intermittent treatment movement, for feed from one accumulation area to the next until reaching the exit, for delivery, to synchronize movement to maintain the supply of fabric in each single accumulation area 3A to 3F, for synchronization for reversal of transport of the fabric in the transfer ducts 9, for striking against the grids 10A and 10B, for air circulation in the transfer systems 7, for air uptake through the mouths 24 and 26 positioned be- hind the grids 10A and 10B respectively are substantially the same and are repeated in entirely the same way as those of the dry configuration described hereinbefore.

An automatic metering system can be provided so that a constant quantity of treatment product or fluid is consumed on the continuously fed fabric T. As described previously, the machine according to the invention can be used for drying and for performing dry treatment or for washing and for treatment in a bath or, in the combined version, for washing and treatment in a bath of a batch of fabric and subsequently, at the end of the batch, for continuous drying with softening treatment or for softening of the dry fabric and for steaming. Figure 6A shows a schematic side view of. an enzyme treatment line with entry in open width and delivery in open width.

In this configuration the fabric T is fed from a large roll 51 in open width to an impregnation padder 53, then passes into a J-Box accumulator 55 to be fed to the machine 1 of the invention which can comprise 3, 5, 7 or several sections

2A, 2B, 2C placed side by side, to then be delivered from a synchronizing J-Box 57, pass into a squeezing device 59 in rope form, to a rope opener 61 to be delivered with the fabric T in open width, and then to a tank 63 with rinse spray nozzles and squeezing device to be finally delivered in an open-width roll 65. Figure 7A shows a schematic side view of an enzyme treatment line with entry in open width and delivery in rope form.

In this configuration the fabric T is fed from a large roll 51 in open width, passes into an impregnation padder 53, then into a J-box accumulator 55, then into a machine 1 according to the invention which can comprise 3, 5, 7 or sev- eral sections 2A, 2B, 2C placed side by side, then into a continuous rinse tank with three overflow stations 67 to be finally delivered in rope form into a large tank.

Figure 7B shows a top view of the continuous rinse tank 67 with three overflow stations in Figure 7A. In this tank 67 the fabric T in rope form passes through a plurality of rinse tanks before being deposited in the large storage tank.

Figure 8A shows an exemplificative diagram of a plan view of the path traveled by the fabric in the embodiment of the invention described in Figure 3, having three treatment sections 2A, 2B and 2C placed side by side longitudinally, each of which provided with the bidirectional transfer system 7 - in particular the Venturi tube pneumatic system - connected by the pulley conveying means 12. The fabric is fed to the entrance of the machine by feeders 14 and is delivered by extractors 16.

Figures 8B and 8C respectively show two variants of the invention on the ba- sis of the diagram in Figure 8A. In particular, Figure 8B shows an embodiment of the invention produced with a first series of three treatment sections 2Ax, 2Bx, 2Cx placed side by side, with which a second series of three sections 2Ay, 2By, 2Cy are combined, the three sections 2Ax, 2Bx, 2Cx being placed side by . side with one another in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of said sections, and arranged in line with each respective second section 2Ay, 2By, 2Cy, in turn arranged longitudinally with one another. In substance, the first two sections 2Ax, 2Ay are aligned with each other along the direction of feed of the fabric in said sections, while the section 2Ay and the section 2By are placed side by side transverse to the direction of movement of the fabric in said

sections, i.e. transverse to the longitudinal extension of these sections.

In this configuration, the fabric in rope form T therefore takes the following path:

- from the feeder means 14 it is fed into the initial section 2Ax; - it is fed to the treatment section 2Ay positioned in line with the previous section 2Ax;

- it is fed to the section 2By positioned side by side with the section 2Ay;

- it is fed to the section 2Bx positioned in line with the section 2Ay and side by side with the section 2Ax; - it is fed to the section 2Cx positioned side by side with the previous section 2Bx;

- it is fed to the section 2Cy positioned in line with the previous section 2Cx and side by side longitudinally with the section 2By;

- from the extractor means 16 it is delivered from the machine. Figure 8C shows an embodiment of the invention produced with a first series of three treatment sections 2Ax, 2Bx and 2Cx positioned side by side with which . is a second series of three sections 2Ay, 2By and 2Cy, in this configuration the treatment sections being arranged so that the entrance of the second sections 2Ay, 2By and 2Cy corresponds to the exit of the first sections 2Ax, 2Bx and 2Cx.

In this configuration the fabric in rope form T therefore takes the following path: from the feeder means 14 it is fed into the initial section 2Ax; it is fed to the section 2Bx positioned side by side with the previous section 2Ax; it is fed to the section 2Cx positioned side by side with the previous section 2Bx; it is fed to the sections 2Cy positioned in line with the previous section 2Cx; it is fed to the section 2By positioned side by side with the previous section 2Cy and in line with the section 2Bx; it is fed to the section 2Ay positioned side by side with the previous section 2By and in line with the section 2Ax; from the extractor means 16 it is delivered from the machine. The considerations and operation of the variants of the invention schema-

tized in the previous Figures 8B and 8C are entirely analogous to those already described with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

It is clear that the number of the sections 2Ax, 2Bx, 2Cx o 2Ay, 2By, 2Cy, their form and arrangement can vary without being limited to those described in the previous figures.

These variants of the invention have been described by way of example to show the versatility of embodiment of the machine according to the present invention which can be produced with a plurality of different configurations, without departing from the inventive concept. It is understood that the illustration hereinbefore purely represents a non- limiting possible embodiment of the invention, which can vary in forms and arrangements without departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. Any reference numerals in the appended claims are provided purely to facilitate reading thereof in the light of the description and of the accompanying drawings and do not in any way limit the scope of protection.