Abstract: An apparatus is operative for treating both tubular and open-width fabrics for shrinkage. The apparatus includes an elongated continuously advancing belt, a nose roller which defines a curved area in the extent of the belt, and a low-friction compression shoe which is preferably made of tetrafluoroethylene. The compression shoe is received in substantially mating relation with the curved area of the belt and biased toward the belt in a compression area which includes a portion of the curved area and a portion of the area which is immediately past the curved area and which is preferably substantially straight. The belt has a significant thickness relative to the radius of the nose roller so that the outer surface of the belt travels at an increased rate of speed where it is stretched in the curved area.

Abstract: A press for securing a plurality of workpiece elements in substantially coplanar, side-by-side, pressurized engagement during a gluing operation. The press comprises a bed, a retaining wall adjacent one edge of the bed, a plurality of pusher shoes mounted adjacent an opposite edge of the bed, and a top platen which is positionable in substantially parallel, spaced relation to the bed and has a plurality of spaced platen fingers along one edge thereof for receiving the pusher shoes in interfitting relation between the fingers. The press is operable for maintaining a plurality of workpiece elements in substantially coplanar relation between the bed and the top platen, and because the pusher shoes are receivable between the platen fingers, it is simultaneously operable thereto for urging the workpiece elements into pressurized engagement with each other between the pusher shoes and the retaining wall.