Abstract: Tubular knit goods including natural fibers and synthetic elastomeric fibers are steam treated and then circularly expanded and heat-fixed while being transported vertically downwardly over a circular spreader in a heat fixing chamber. The goods build up a buffer or excess material reserve on the conical feed section of the circular spreader, either by using a greater transport velocity into the feed section than that out of the feed section and along the spreader, or by starting to feed the goods into the feed section for a time before starting to draw the goods out of the feed section and then transporting the goods to and from the feed section at the same velocity. The goods relax in the buffer. Transporting the goods vertically downwardly over the circular spreader during the heat-fixing uses gravity advantageously, and reduces tension in the goods.

Abstract: Tubular knit goods including natural fibers and synthetic elastomeric fibers are steam treated and then circularly expanded and heat-fixed while being transported vertically downwardly over a circular spreader in a heat fixing chamber. The goods build up a buffer or excess material reserve on the conical feed section of the circular spreader, either by using a greater transport velocity into the feed section than that out of the feed section and along the spreader, or by starting to feed the goods into the feed section for a time before starting to draw the goods out of the feed section and then transporting the goods to and from the feed section at the same velocity. The goods relax in the buffer. Transporting the goods vertically downwardly over the circular spreader during the heat-fixing uses gravity advantageously, and reduces tension in the goods.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for treating tubular knitted goods containing elastomeric fibers, the goods are effectively relaxed, expanded, and heat fixed or set in the desired expanded condition, while maintaining the tubular configuration of the goods and without cutting open and re-sewing the tubular configuration of the goods. The tubular knitted goods are continuously transported through a relaxing process followed by a heat fixing process and then a cooling process, while constantly maintaining the tubular structure of the goods. The goods are expanded in the radial or width direction by a tubular expander, and in the lengthwise direction by being transported between a feed roller arrangement and a draw-off roller arrangement operating at different transport velocities respectively. The temperature in the heat fixing chamber is preferably over 200.degree. C. and the transport velocity of the tubular knitted goods can be greater than 18 m/min.