Abstract A method and apparatus for providing fabric articles with a durable press on a commercial scale comprises an elongate treating chamber with loading and unloading doors at the ends and with a circulating conduit leading from the bottom of the chamber to an overhead manifold separated from the chamber by a specially slotted ceiling. The conduit includes a blower, exhaust and air inlet ducts with dampers for either exhaust circulation or closed-circuit circulation, and a heat exchanger. Opening into the chamber are headers for injecting steam and sulphur dioxide gas, and a device for feeding formaldehyde to be vaporized into formaldehyde gas. Cool air and water spray are injected into hollow walls of the chamber to cool the same to room temperature after each treating cycle. A step in each treating cycle after the steam is cut off comprises an exhaust heating to rid the articles of free chemicals and steam and a closed-circuit heating to raise the temperature to at least 250*F.
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the flange at the side of each panel farthest from the center of the box has a shorter height than the flange at the side of the same panel nearer the center of the box, and wherein the latter flange of each panel has the upper portion thereof turned towards the center of the box to overhang the shorter flange of the next adjacent panel at a distance therefrom forming louvers for catching the flow of air from said central conduit and directing the air downwarDly into the treating chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein the spacing between successive panels and the spacing between said overhanging flanges and the adjacent shorter flanges are increased proceeding from the center of the box to each end thereof.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles with treating agents to provide the articles with a durable press comprising a box having hollow walls enclosing a treating chamber, means for supporting articles from the top of said chamber along the length thereof, said box having an air conduit leading from the bottom of said chamber to the top thereof including a blower for circulating air through said chamber via said conduit, said conduit having a heat exchanger therein for heating the air which is blown into said chamber, and means for spraying water into said hollow walls against the wall of said treating chamber for cooling said chamber after the heat exchanger is turned off.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
213 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles with treating agents to provide the articles with a durable press comprising an elongate box having hollow walls enclosing a treating chamber along the length of said box, said box having doors at the opposite ends thereof for transporting hangered articles into and from the box at the opposite ends thereof, means for introducing steam and chemical treating gases into said chamber, means for circulating both hot and cool air through said chamber, and a double seal along the edges of each door including a groove in the rim of each door-opening facing outwardly of the box and a groove in the rim of each door facing inwardly of the box when the door is closed, said grooves being offset laterally of each other when the doors are closed and being provided with sponge padding on the inside walls thereof, and at least one of said grooves having a flange along the inner side thereof to engage the sponge padding in the other groove while the flange at the outer side of the other groove engages the sponge padding in said one groove to enclose an air pocket and provide a double seal against the escape of gases from said treating chamber when the doors are closed.