Apparatus for continuously decatizing a fabric

Apparatus for decatizing a web of fabric of indeterminate length, comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a radially inner cylinder fixed to said supporting frame, said cylinder having a longitudinal axis and a radially outer perimetral surface;
• a cylindrical drum having a perforated radially outer perimetral wall which coaxially, radially spacedly surrounds said inner cylinder;
• said radially outer perimetral wall of said cylindrical drum being externally provided with a circumferentially extending covering sleeve made of textile material, and about a portion of which, in use, a web of fabric of indeterminate length is to be fed for being decatized as said cylindrical drum is rotated in a given angular direction about said axis;
• an endless underpiece of textile material supported so as to have a portion thereof disposed to externally embrace said radially outer perimetral wall of said cylindrical drum throughout said portion of said radially outer perimetral wall of said cylindrical drum;
• said outer perimetral wall of said cylindrical drum being maintained in radially spaced relation to said inner cylinder by:
• at least two transverse radially outwardly projecting walls which are secured on said inner cylinder and are axially spaced from one another along said axis;
• at least three longitudinal radially outwardly projecting walls which are secured on said inner cylinder and are angularly spaced from one another about said axis;
• said longitudinal walls being connected at axially opposite ends thereof to respective ones of said transverse walls, for defining between two of said transverse walls and two of said longitudinal walls a steam chamber and between two of said transverse walls and two of said longitudinal walls a forced suction treatment chamber located rotationally downstream of said steam chamber along said given angular direction;
• and
• seal elements sealing between radially inner edges of those of said walls which define said chambers and said radially outer perimetral wall of said cylindrical drum, and including a sealing structure which effectively isolates said steam chamber from said forced suction treatment chamber for preventing steam which, in use, is introduced into said steam chamber under pressure, from being lost to and suctioned-off out of said forced suction treatment chamber without having affected said web of fabric;
• said cylindrical drum being supported for rotating in said direction about said axis;
• and
• sealing structure effectively providing a radially outer wall for said steam chamber externally of said portion of said endless underpiece of textile material.