Using a continuous open-width washing machine for pile-structured textiles, and equipment therefor

An apparatus for treating a length of textile material having a pile surface which comprises means for washing the entire width of the textile material with a treatment liquid to equalize irregularities across the width of the pile surface;

• a first steamer unit for treating the washed textile material to a steam-containing atmosphere;
• means for applying the dye to the steamed and washed textile material;
• and a second steamer unit for treating the dye-containing textile material with steam to fix the dye to the textile material;
• said washing means including at least one sieve drum washing bath comprising a rotatably mounted sieve drum positioned in a liquid container containing the treatment liquid, said sieve drum having a sieve surface for supporting the textile material, being at least partly immersed within the treatment liquid, and being so arranged within the container that the liquid flows from the outside to the inside of said sieve drum and a plurality of nozzle openings arranged within said container and spaced closely adjacent to said sieve drum surface for directing the treatment liquid in the form of a plurality of jets across the width of the textile material being supported on said sieve drum.