Hierarchy classification:

1. top of the aat hierarchies
2. Objects Facet
3. Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name)
4. Tools and Equipment (hierarchy name)
5. equipment
6. [equipment by material processed]
7. textile working equipment
8. [textile fabricating tools and equipment]
9. textile machines

Anotations

Scope note:

Mechanized devices, typically comprising a steam box, water bath, cloth feeder, series of rollers, and drying mechanism, designed to manipulate the fabric structure of textiles to facilitate controlled shrinkage or stretching, thus stabilizing textile dimensions. To facilitate the shrinkage process, cloth is fed into the device's steam box where it is submerged in a water bath. Once exposed to heat and moisture, the cloth is then rid of excess water and fed to a conveyor belt on which various sets of rotating rollers, moving at decreasingly rapid rates, regulate the direction and tension of the materials for precise shrinking or stretching tasks. In addition to allowing precise adjustments in fabric dimensions, these devices also improve fabric texture and elasticity.