Description

Technical Field

The present inventions relates to the treatments for textile finishing, and more in particular to the treatments for finishing open width fabrics, in particular knitted fabrics. State of the Art

The supplemental aim of finishing knitted fabrics made of cotton or cellulose fiber in general must be the fabric dimensional stability, that is important for producing the finished piece of clothing. The currently used methods for continuous and open- width finishing of this type of knitted fabric result in a fabric with poor handle characteristics, i.e. a fabric without a bulkiness effect. Currently, a discontinuous rope method is used to obtain a knitted fabric with dimensional stability and soft handle, which is implemented in tumblers similar to those used in laundry. These treatments have high costs due to the high consumptions and the use of labor, as each piece of fabric must be inserted into the machine, processed and then extracted from the machine. This requires a great energy dissipation and long manual operations, that are therefore expensive and, furthermore, require specialized labor. Due to the process discontinuity it is not possible to obtain an adequate uniformity of the final finishing effects on the various pieces.

There are also continuous rope treatments, which however present some disadvantages due to the formation of folders and knots on the fabric. In addition to this, it is necessary, as however also in the discontinuous rope methods, to subject the treated fabric to a rope opening process through specific machines to extend the fabric again. Moreover, the continuous rope treatments are very expensive from an energy consumption viewpoint.

Unsatisfactory textile treatments are described, for instance, in the patent documents EP0148113, US3195210, US4055003, US4010550, and WO2010/064130. Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect, the object of the invention is to provide a continuous open-width treating process or method for a fabric, especially and preferably a knitted fabric, to obtain effective dimensional stability, high softness and a 3D thickness effect.

Substantially, according to the invention a method is provided for treating an open-width fabric, wherein an open-width fabric is fed with a substantially continuous movement forward through an intensive vaporization area, where said fabric is vaporized. The vaporized fabric is gradually fed toward a shrinking and softening area, where the fabric is pneumatically transported and is subjected to a repetitive impact action against opposite impact walls with an alternating motion. The fabric treated in the shrinking and softening area is then gradually extracted from the shrinking and softening area and collected, for example on a roll or in folders. The vaporization area, i.e. the area where the fabric is invested by an intense steam, is outside the shrinking and softening area, so as to allow an adequate humidity absorption; inside the shrinking and softening area the fabric under processing is preferably immersed in further steam. It should be noted that it is fundamental that the phase of investing the fabric with intense steam occurs before the entrance in the shrinking and softening area, as the fabric under processing must have the time to become adequately wet (the simple immersion in the steam present in the shrinking and softening area, if any, does not allow to achieve the optimum moistening degree, so as to allow, together with the impacts against the above mentioned impact walls, the optimum shrinking and the desired softening).

In some advantageous embodiments the fabric is fed to the intensive vaporization area at an overfeeding speed and preferably transversally stretched. In this way, also a fabric longitudinal shrinkage occurs in the intensive vaporization area, before the entrance in the real shrinking and softening area.

According to advantageous embodiments, in the shrinking and softening area the fabric is supported and transported through a flow of a pneumatic transport gaseous means. As mentioned above, the gaseous means can be steam, or preferably an air-steam mix. In some embodiments, the quantity of steam and the quantity of air can vary to obtain particular effects, for example of fabric drying.

In some advantageous embodiments of the invention, in the shrinking and softening area the fabric is invested by pneumatic transport blows on both the upper and lower faces, said pneumatic transport blows being distributed along a pneumatic transport path that extends between said two impact walls and have a variable orientation to invert the fabric feed direction along said pneumatic transport path. The blows on the lower face support the fabric and reduce the tension thereof. The blows on the upper face, together with those on the lower face, contribute to process the fabric and to impart a pneumatic push to the fabric towards and against the impact walls. The transport blows can alternate, singularly or in groups, with suction areas that extract the air of the pneumatic transport area; in this way in the pneumatic transport area the air (or air-steam mix) circulation can have a flow rate greater than that necessary to make the fabric impact against the impact walls; in this way, it is possible to separate the mechanical impact effect from the drying effect. For instance, allowing to increase the quantity of humidity sucked from the fabric per time unit without increasing the fabric transport speed.

In some embodiments the fabric exiting from the shrinking and softening area is subjected to an ironing action with further vaporization.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method provides for accumulating the intensely vaporized fabric on at least one containing structure and subjecting the accumulated fabric to a vibration or oscillation to cause a relax and a shrinkage of this fabric while it is arranged in the containing structure, thus achieving an effective dimensional stability, high softness and 3D thickness effect. Advantageously, the fabric can be maintained in temperature during the vibration or oscillation phase in the lower support.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fabric vibration or oscillation occurs in the softening and shrinking area, upstream and/or downstream of the fabric pneumatic transport area obtained in this softening and shrinking area. The fabric vibration or oscillation occurs preferably upstream or below a first impact wall arranged upstream of the pneumatic movement area and/or occurs downstream or below a second impact wall arranged downstream of the pneumatic transport area.

In a preferred embodiment, this containing structure is, or comprises, a collection bowl, with which vibration or oscillation means are associated; bowl means any container suitable to collect a sufficient quantity of fabric, if necessary in presence of bath, but preferably without bath. The bowl can be therefore laterally opened and can be formed by a sheet, a grid or any other containing structure, even if devoid of side walls.

According to another preferred embodiment, the containing structure is, or comprises, a vibrating or oscillating mat, on which the fabric is arranged; practically, the mat contains above itself the fabric, and supports it. This mat moves preferably in the feed direction towards the pneumatic transport area and preferably also in the opposite direction. Mat means a non rigid, flexible support, such as for example a band, a mat, a net, a flexible grid, a chain, etcetera; this mat can be also formed by many flexible supports adjacent to one another, such as for instance a plurality of chains or mats arranged parallel to one another, which wholly define the mat surface on which the fabric rests and is contained. This support or supports can be continuous, or perforated or provided with apertures or passages through their thickness. The mat can extend in a continuous manner and can be open at the ends, or closed in a loop, or closed in other manner to form a circuit; the mat can be preferably supported by one or more rollers or returns. In the case of a movable mat, for example one of the rollers with which the mat is associated can be motorized, can be for instance a feed roller. The mat can move with the ends open, for instance with the ends wound on respective winding/unwinding rollers, or with the ends closed in a loop with at least one return roller and at least one motorized roller. If the mat is closed in a loop, it will present two segments, one upper segment and one lower segment, moving in opposite directions. In the case of a mat closed in a loop, the part for containing the fabric is preferably the part related to the upper segment of the loop. In general, the mat configuration is for example the typical configuration of a conveyor mat.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mat vibrates or oscillates through a plurality of alternating impulses below the mat, directed preferably upwards or more preferably according to a direction perpendicular to the mat. This vibration or oscillation is obtained for instance with a plurality of vibrating or oscillating elements arranged below the mat and into contact with it, so as to transmit to the mat a vibrating or oscillating motion.

Adequately, according to an embodiment, this vibrating or oscillating mat can consist of a part of the above mentioned collection bowl (for instance the bottom or a wall of the bowl inclined towards the entrance of the pneumatic transport area) or it can consist of a structure, for instance a slide from the pneumatic transport area to the collection bowl.

As mentioned, in some advantageous embodiments the fabric is gradually taken from the containing structure (bowl, mat, or a combination thereof) and made impact against an impact structure belonging to the shrinking and softening area.

In other embodiments the fabric is arranged or collected in a second containing structure arranged below or downstream from an impact structure. The impact structure can be a solid wall. It is preferably a grid structure. Grid means any structure allowing the air passage, so as not to hinder the effect of fabric pneumatic transport and impact against the fixed structure due to the drawing. According to a preferred embodiment, this containing structure is a second collection bowl, with which vibration or oscillation means are associated; bowl means any container suitable to collect a sufficient quantity of fabric, if necessary in presence of bath, but preferably without bath. The bowl can be therefore laterally open and be formed by a sheet, a grid or any other containing structure, even if devoid of side walls. According to another preferred embodiment, the second containing structure comprises a second vibrating or oscillating mat, on which the fabric is arranged. Preferably, this mat moves in the feed direction towards the pneumatic transport area and preferably also in the opposite direction. Adequately, according to an embodiment, this second vibrating or oscillating mat can consist of a part of the above mentioned second collection bowl (for instance a wall thereof oriented towards the pneumatic transport area) or of a part, for instance a slide from the pneumatic transport area to this second collection bowl.

According to a different aspect, the invention relates to a processing line for continuous processing an open- width fabric, comprising ins sequence: a feeder for the fabric to be processed; an intensive vaporization station; a shrinking and softening station with opposite impact walls, between which a pneumatic transport member for the fabric is arranged, which gives the fabric under processing an alternating motion between said impact walls and a gradual movement of passage through the shrinking and softening station; a collection group for collecting the processed fabric exiting from the shrinking and softening station.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shrinking and softening station of this processing line provides, at the entrance of the pneumatic transport area, at least one containing structure for the fabric and oscillating and/or vibrating means associated with said containing structure.

Said containing structure is preferably an oscillating or vibrating collection bowl or a vibrating or oscillating mat, preferably movable, or a combination of bowl and mat, as described above.

In advantageous embodiments the fabric is therefore transported with an alternating motion between two containing structures, such as bowls or mats (or a combination thereof), both vibrating or oscillating, to treat a respective stock of fabric through vibration or oscillation. The transport from a bowl to the other and vice versa occurs through a reversible pneumatic transport system, with a Venturi tube or a system of oriented blowers. The reversible transport system, with which the vibrating or oscillating lower support is combined, allows imparting to the fabric, in both the treatment directions, a sufficient kinetic energy to be impacted against an impact structure.

Further stations and operations to be performed on the fabric will be described hereinafter with reference to some examples of embodiment. It should be understood that each of the operations and the corresponding processing stations can be present in combination, or only one station with only one processing can be provided, or combinations or sub-combinations of stations and corresponding processing can be provided.

According to a third aspect, the invention also relates to a processing method for a fabric, preferably an open- width and preferably knitted fabric, which provides only the previously illustrated phases, or combinations thereof, performed within the shrinking and softening area. This method in fact allows to obtain a soft fabric and can be used, if necessary, in combination with other treatments. Substantially, this method preferably provides that the fabric is transferred, through a pneumatic transport system, alternatively from one to the other of at least two containing structures in which the fabric is accumulated, said fabric impacting against respective impact structures associated with each of said two containing structures; characteristically, in each of said containing structures said fabric, while it is collected in said containing structure, is subjected to a vibration or oscillation operation; and a gradual movement forwards is added to the alternating movement from one to the other of said at least two containing structures and reversely, to feed gradually unprocessed fabric to the first of said at least two containing structures and to extract gradually processed fabric from the last one of said containing structures; the fabric vibration or oscillation in the containing structures causes a relax and shrinkage of this fabric while it is arranged in the containing structure, thus achieving an effective dimensional stability, high softness and a 3D effect of thickness. The fabric can be advantageously maintained in temperature during the vibration and oscillation phase in the lower support.

According to a preferred embodiment, this method provides that the pneumatic transport occurs through pneumatic transport blows investing the fabric on both the upper and lower faces, said pneumatic transport blows being distributed along a pneumatic transport path extending between said two impact walls and having a variable orientation to invert the fabric feed direction along said pneumatic transport path. According to another embodiment, the transport blows act from the top downwards on the upper surface of the fabric, while on the lower surface substantially vertical blows act, that support the fabric; in this embodiment, the transport blows are with variable orientation to invert the transport direction, or with fixed orientation and two groups of blows are present, that realize opposite transport directions but that can be activate in an alternating manner from each other.

The transferring and/or supporting blows (i.e. both the blows above the fabric and those below the fabric) can alternate (singularly or in groups) with suction areas sucking the air of the pneumatic transport area; in this way in the pneumatic transport area the air (or air-steam mix) circulation can have a flow rate greater than that necessary to make the fabric impact against the impact walls; in this way, it is possible to separate the mechanical impact effect from the drying effect. For instance, allowing to increase the quantity of humidity sucked from the fabric per time unit without increasing the fabric transport speed.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention also relates to a fabric processing machine for implementing the method of the above mentioned third aspect of the invention, i.e. to perform a fabric shrinking and softening comprising a relaxing phase. According to a preferred embodiment, this machine, at the entrance of a fabric pneumatic transport device, comprises at least one fabric containing structure and oscillating and/or vibrating means associated with said containing structure. Practically this machine corresponds to an embodiment related to the shrinking and softening station of the fabric processing line illustrated above or to combinations of various embodiments described for this shrinking and softening station.

Said containing structure is preferably an oscillating or vibrating collection bowl or a vibrating or oscillating mat, preferably movable, or a combination of bowl and mat, as in the previously described embodiments.

In advantageous embodiments it is provided for transporting the fabric in an alternating manner between two containing structures, such as bowls or mats (or a combination thereof), both vibrating or oscillating, to treat a respective stock of fabric through vibration or oscillation. The transport from a bowl to the other and vice versa occurs through a reversible pneumatic transport system, with a Venturi tube or a system of blowers that are oriented or can be oriented. The reversible transport system allows imparting to the fabric, in both the treatment directions, a sufficient kinetic energy to impact against an impact structure, with which a vibrating or oscillating lower support is combined.

Further advantageous characteristics and embodiments of the method, the processing line and the components thereof according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims, which are an integral part of the present disclosure.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be better understood by means of the description of the attached drawing, which shows a non-restrictive embodiment of the invention. More in particular, in the drawing:

figure 1 shows a complete line according to the invention;

figures 2, 3, and 4 show enlargements of three sections of the line; and

figures 5a, 5b, and 5c show three enlargements of the fabric transport channel in the central section of the processing line related to three different examples of embodiment;

figure 6 shows an enlargement of a section of the line, different than that of the previous figures.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

Figure 1 shows in its entirety a processing line according to the invention in a possible embodiment, whose main parts are represented in greater detail in the subsequent figures. The line is indicated as a whole with the number 1. It comprises a feeder 3 feeding an open width knitted fabric T to the subsequent processing stations. In the illustrated example the fabric T to be processed in arranged in folders on a rest surface 5. In other not shown embodiments, the fabric to be treated can be wound in a roll or reel.

The feeder 3 comprises a centering-widening group 7 and a series of rollers 9, 11 feeding the fabric T to be processed towards a subsequent intensive vaporization station, indicated as a whole with number 13. At the entrance of the intensive vaporization station 13 a fabric overfeeding system 15 is arranged. Substantially, the system 15 moves the fabric T towards the intensive vaporization station 13 at a speed greater than that of the fabric movement forward.

In some embodiments the intensive vaporization station 13 comprises a pair of continuous flexible conveyors 17 extending along a feeding path according to the feeding direction F of the fabric T through the intensive vaporization station 13. In some embodiments each of the flexible conveyors 17 can present a respective chain with coupling members, for example pins or the like, for holding the fabric T to be treated. The coupling system for connecting the fabric T to the members of the conveyor 17 can be obtained in a manner known to those skilled in the art, for example analogously to what occurs in the so-called stenters.

Advantageously, according to an embodiment the flexible conveyors 17 are slightly divergent, i.e. the two upper branches driven between pulleys 19 and 21 move slightly away from the point of entrance of the fabric T toward the point where the fabric T is released to be fed to the subsequent station of the processing line. In this way the fabric is subjected to a gradual transverse stretching. This stretching, in combination preferably with the overfeeding made by the overfeeding system 15, causes a shrinkage or longitudinal shrinkage of the fabric, as first operation of fabric dimensional stabilization.

In an intermediate position along the extension of the trajectory defined by the continuous flexible conveyors 17 the intensive vaporization system is provided, comprising a steam source 23 and a suction hood 25 above. The fabric is fed between the members 23 and 25 and invested by a strong steam flow, for example saturated vapor, moistening the fabric T fed in open width through the station 13.

The intensive vaporization obtained in the station 13 physically prepares the stitches of the fabric T for the subsequent shrinking and softening action that will be performed in the station downstream of the station 13.

The fabric T is released by the continuous conveyors 17 and fed between a pair of rollers 27, 29 and around a reel 31 for feeding the fabric T in a subsequent shrinking and softening station indicated as a whole with the number 33. This station can be produced for example as described in WO-A-2009/141841, whose content is integrally incorporated in the present description.

According to some embodiments, the main components of the softening and shrinking station 33 can be designed as follows.

The main component of the shrinking and softening station 33 is constituted by a fabric pneumatic transport member 35, an enlarged detail of which is illustrated in figure 5. The pneumatic transport member 35 is designed to impart to the fabric T an alternating movement according to the double arrow Fx at a speed, the direction of which is periodically inverted and which is greater than the speed at which the fabric T is fed to the shrinking and softening station 33 and with which it is extracted from it. In this way each portion of fabric T is subjected to a multiplicity of alternating movements inside the shrinking and softening station 33 to be subjected to the mechanical action described below.

As shown in figure 3 and in the detail of figure 5a, along the longitudinal extension of the transport member 35 blowing nozzles 41 and 43 are arranged below and above the trajectory of the fabric T. The blowing members 41 and 43 have a variable inclination to impart to the fabric T a speed in one or in the other of the two possible opposite feed directions represented by the arrow Fx. In the illustrated embodiment it is provided for each nozzle 41, 43 to be angularly movable so as to be oriented in one direction or in the other. It is also possible to have available blowing nozzles 41 and 43 with different and fixed orientations, wherein the inversion of motion is obtained by actuating now the nozzles oriented in one direction and then the nozzles oriented in the other direction, according to the direction to be imparted to the movement of the fabric T.

Figure 5b shows an embodiment wherein the lower nozzles 43 are fixed and oriented perpendicularly to the fabric trajectory (with reference to the figures, a vertical orientation), and have therefore the function, among the other things, of supporting the fabric, while the upper nozzles 41 are inclined so that they can pull (or push) the fabric pneumatically in a direction (indicated with Fx), and present variable inclination, in order to invert the direction of the push component on the fabric (and therefore the fabric movement direction). Figure 5c shows another example, wherein the lower nozzles 43 are fixed and oriented perpendicularly to the fabric trajectory (with reference to the figures, a vertical orientation) to support the fabric; while the upper nozzles are divided into two groups, a first group of nozzles 41' inclined in a same direction to allow pneumatic transport of the fabric in a first direction Fx', and a second group 41" inclined in the opposite direction to allow pneumatic transport of the fabric T in the direction Fx" (according to the direction to be imparted to the fabric, the groups of upper nozzles 4 or 41" will be fed selectively). In the examples of figures 5 illustrated above, both between the lower nozzles 43 and between the upper nozzles 41, suction areas 200 are present, alternating with the nozzles (or groups of nozzles), for example formed by areas with holes 201 on the lower and upper wall of the pneumatic transport channel, connected with suction means not shown in the figures. The aim of these suction areas 200 is to suck the air from the pneumatic transport area so as to further adjust the quantity of wet air inside. Practically in the pneumatic transport area it is possible the air (or air-steam mix) circulation can have a flow rate greater than that necessary to make the fabric impact against the impact walls; in this way, it is possible to separate the mechanical impact effect from the drying effect. For instance, allowing to increase the quantity of humidity sucked from the fabric per time unit without increasing the fabric transport speed. Obviously, these suction areas 200, in all the examples of figures 5 or combinations thereof, can be not present, or one or more areas can be present only on the upper part of the transport channel (between one or more nozzles 41) or only in the lower parte of this channel (between one or more nozzles 42), or on both the parts of the channels.

The blowing nozzles 41 and 43 preferably present a linear profile according to the transverse direction, i.e. orthogonal to the plane of the figures and therefore to the movement direction of the fabric T. In other embodiments it is possible to provide for the nozzles 41, 43 to be constituted by alignments of single nozzles for example with circular section, even if the extension in the form of linear slit is preferable thanks to the better fabric transporting and processing effect obtained with the blades of gaseous flow generated by the nozzles.

Characteristically and preferably the nozzles 41 and 43 blow an air- vapor mix or only vapor, or, for example in some phases of the treating process, only air. Preferably at least during one phase of the process, the fabric is invested by an air-vapor mix so that the fabric stitches are subjected to a vaporization effect combined with a mechanical effect obtained by pushing now in one direction and then in the other direction the fabric T against two opposite impact walls 47, 49.

In some advantageous embodiments the impact walls 47 and 49 are in the shape of grids, bars or the like. They can be for example constituted by bars parallel to one another and extending with a substantially comb-structure between two crossbars 47A, 47B and 49 A, 49B. In other embodiments the impact walls 47 and 49 can be formed by perforated sheets or with other structures and conformations, for example in the shape of grooved sheets. Preferably the structure of the impact walls is such as to allow the passage of the transport gas or vapor.

Below the impact walls 47 and 49 there are slides indicated respectively with 51 A and 53 A and containing structures comprising collection bowls 5 IB, 53B. On these slides and on the collection bowls fabric stocks TS1 and TS2 are formed, schematically represented in the attached drawing.

According to advantageous embodiments the impact walls 47 and 49 can be arranged in two distinct angular positions with an oscillating movement according to the double arrow f47 for the wall 47 and f49 for the wall 49. This movement can be obtained through cylinder-piston actuators, or electric motors, or any other adequate actuator. Analogously also the slides 51 A and 53 A and/or the collection bowls 5 IB, 53B can be arranged with an oscillating movement according to the double arrow f51A for the slide 51A and f53A for the slide 53A. In the position represented in the drawing, the fabric T moves along the path defined by the pneumatic transport member between the nozzles 41 and 43 from the right to the left, so as to impact, due to the kinetic energy imparted by the pneumatic means pushed by the nozzles 41 and 43, against the impact wall 47 and to fall on the slide 51 A below and in the bowl 5 IB to collect the fabric stock TS1. The fabric of the stock TS2 is gradually taken due to the effect of the pneumatic traction exerted by the pneumatic transport member 35. To effectively decrease or eliminate the fabric tension in longitudinal direction the bowl 53 A and the slide 53 A can be lifted in a position higher than that of the slide 51 A and of the bowl 5 IB. To allow this lifting also the impact wall 49 above can be lifted. The lifting and lowering movement of the slides and/or of the bowls and/or of the impact walls can be a rotation or oscillation movement. However, also a different movement is possible. For example in particular the impact walls can be provided with a translation movement.

When the stock TS2 on the slide 53A and in the bowl 53B is finished (condition that can be detected for example with an optical system, a load cell or other adequate detection means), the fabric movement is inverted, orienting adequately the blowing nozzles 41 and 43. The impact wall 47 can be lifted, the slide 51 A can be lifted to facilitate the entrance of the fabric from the stock TS1 inside the transport channel defined by the pneumatic transport member 35, while the impact wall 49 can be lowered together with the slide 53 A and the bowl 53B.

To the highly fast and alternating movement of the fabric T inside the shrinking and softening section 33 a gradual movement forward is summed between the entrance and the exit of the same section, so that each fabric portion, once it has been subjected to a plurality of impacts against the wall 47 and the wall 49, exits from the station 33 after an adequate shrinking and softening treatment.

Characteristically, to obtain a better treating effect on the fabric T, especially if it is a knitted fabric, the bowls 53B, 5 IB and also the slides 53 A, 51 A, if necessary, can be provided with a vibrating or oscillating movement. Figure 3 schematically shows an actuating system generating the vibration or oscillation of the bowls 5 IB, 53B. It comprises, for each bowl, a motor M and an eccentric system E or other adequate mechanism, transforming the rotation movement of the motor M in a vibration or oscillation movement of the corresponding bowl 5 IB, 53B. The movement can advantageously present a frequency from some tens to some hundreds of oscillations per minute, for example a frequency comprised between 1200 Hz and 6000 Hz. These values must be considered however as non limiting examples.

Due to the vibration imparted to the bowls and therefore to the fabric stock contained inside them, the fabric is subjected to a strong relaxing action. The fabric, that is in a humid environment with high temperature, tends to sink, causing a shrinking effect of the fibers and therefore of the stitches.

Figure 6 shows a variant of the line, wherein the fabric vibration or oscillation is due to a pair of vibrating or oscillating containing structuresl51A and 153 A, comprising, in this example, respective mats 192 and 193, preferably closed in a loop and wound between two respective pairs of return rollers and/or motorizations 194 and 195 allowing the movement of the upper segments 192 A and 193 in one direction or in the other, according to their direction of rotation, so as practically to realize two conveyor belts.

Below each mat 192-193 and more precisely in this example below the upper segment 192A-193A of the loop mat 192-193 on which the fabric T is contained and rests, a plurality of respective vibrating or oscillating elements 196 and 197 are present, into contact with the lower face of the mat segment 192A-193A. For example these vibrating or oscillating elements are cams vibrating or oscillating around respective axes parallel to the plane of the mat 192A-193A, preferably orthogonal to the mat movement direction. These cams, rotating or oscillating, lift, in a periodic manner, slightly upwards the portion of mat with which are into, or come into, contact, creating the mat vibration or oscillation.

Each mat 192-193 is arranged inclined between the respective bowl 51B-53B and the pneumatic transport member 35, and the end area of each mat opposite to the respective bowl 51B-53B (i.e. that brings towards the pneumatic transport member 35) is arranged below the respective impact wall 47-49.

Practically, relative to the example previously described and shown in figures 1 to 5, these mats 192 and 193 replace the slides 51 A and 53A and the vibration or oscillation is obtained on the mats and not on the bowl; from another point of view, these mats practically define at least one part of the walls of the bowls 5 IB and 53B with which they are associated, and in particular the wall facing toward the pneumatic transport member 35. Obviously, in other embodiments the mat 192 and 193, and more in general the containing structures 151A and 153A can be designed in a different way, for example they can constitute the bottom of the bowl with which they are associated, or another wall, or they can be interposed between the pneumatic transport member 35 and the slides of the bowls.

In the line variant described now, the fabric movement forward is substantially the same as that described in the example related to figures 1 to 5, with the only difference that the fabric is made vibrate on the mats 192 and 193 and not made slide on the slides 51 A and 53 A, and the mats 192 and 193 (i.e. the upper segments 192 A and 193 A thereof) move concord to the fabric movement between the bowl 5 IB and the bowl 53 B, thus helping the movement of the fabric coming in and exiting from the pneumatic transport member 35, with consequent advantageous reduction in the traction on the fabric.

When the fabric movement direction is inverted through the inversion of the push direction of the pneumatic system in the station 33, also the mats 192 and 193 are controlled to invert their movement.

Obviously in other embodiments the mats can move differently; for example, in the fabric movement direction from the bowl 5 IB to the bowl 53B, the mat 192 (i.e. the upper segment thereof 192 A) can move toward the pneumatic transport member 35, thus helping the fabric in the upward movement phase, while the mat 193 remains fixed (it only vibrates or oscillates), allowing the fabric to go down from the pneumatic transport member 35 to the bowl 53B sliding downwards on the mat. The same can occur when the fabric motion is inverted, i.e. the mat 193 moves the fabric upwards towards the pneumatic transport member 35, while the mat 192 remains fixed (it vibrates or oscillates only), with consequent sliding towards the bowl 5 IB.

Due to the vibration imparted to the mats 192 and 193 and therefore to the fabric stock contained on them, the fabric is subjected to a strong relaxing action. The fabric, that is in a humid environment with high temperature, tends to sink, causing a shrinking effect of the fibers and therefore of the stitches.

Obviously the shrinking and softening station, which comprises vibrating or oscillating means for the fabric accumulated on at least one containing structure, can constitute an invention of machine independent of the other stations downstream and upstream, as it allows to obtain a satisfactory shrinking and softening result relative to the state of the art. Obviously, this result is highly amplified in the combination with an intense vaporization station arranged upstream. Also the method implemented by said machine must be considered an independent invention relative to what presented till now.

The treated fabric exiting from the station 33 passes on a centering-widening group 65 to be fed to a subsequent ironing station 67. In some embodiments the ironing station 67 comprises a drum or roller 69 with a pervious cylindrical wall 69A, i.e. provided with a plurality of holes or apertures through which vapor fed inside the roller 69 can be made pass. This vapor invests the fabric T driven around the roller 69, between this and a flexible continuous member 71, that is also driven around the roller 69 by an angle for example comprised between 90° and 180°. The roller 69 and/or the flexible member 71 are motorized to feed the fabric and make it move forwards.

The roller 69 can be covered by a sleeve of fabric in synthetic material. The surface of the roller 69 and the flexible member 71 (for example a ply made of felt or other vapor-permeable material), iron the fabric that exits therefore stabilized, swelled but ironed from the ironing station 67 and is fed to an optical control system 73. This latter can comprise a transparent or translucent plane wall 75, on the back of which lighting systems 77 are arranged to allow inspection of the fabric and detection of defects, if any, that can be removed in the subsequent processing operations, for example in the fabric cutting phase for producing garments.

Advantageously the lighting system 77 can also provide for the heating of the fabric running along the plane wall 75. In other embodiments autonomous and supplemental heating systems can be provided, for example with electric resistance, hot air blow or the like to dry the fabric passing on the wall 75, or upstream or downstream of it, to eliminate the vapor absorbed by the fabric in the ironing station 67.

The ironing station 67 can also be excluded from the fabric path. In less advantageous embodiments, the ironing station 67 can be omitted.

Downstream of the inspection station 73 a collection system is arranged for collecting the treated fabric T in folder or roller. In the illustrated example the collection system, indicated as a whole with number 81, comprises a conveyor mat 83, a transport system for example with chains 85, a pair of winding rollers 87, 89 on which a roll of treated fabric R is formed. Along the fabric path near the chains 85, in the illustrated example brushes 91 are arranged to facilitate gripping of the fabric on the chains.

It is understood that the drawing shows only an example given only as a practical demonstration of the finding, and this finding can vary in the forms and arrangements without however departing form the scope of concept that informs the finding itself. Any presence of reference numbers in the appended claims has the purpose of facilitating reading the claims, with reference to the description, and does not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.