Patent ID: 8151392

Claim:
A method for smoothing articles of clothing ( 14 ) in a tunnel finisher, comprising the steps of: (a) transporting the articles of clothing ( 14 ) in a transporting direction ( 13 ) through an admission chamber ( 11 ), a treatment chamber ( 10 ) and a discharge chamber ( 12 ) of the tunnel finisher; (b) in the treatment chamber ( 10 ), directing a transverse air flow transversely with respect to the transporting direction ( 13 ) of the articles of clothing ( 14 ) through the treatment chamber ( 10 ), and subjecting the articles of clothing ( 14 ) to the transverse air flow; and (c) in addition to the transverse air flow, subjecting the articles of clothing ( 14 ) to a counter air flow directed counter to the transporting direction ( 13 ), wherein the treatment chamber ( 10 ) is formed from modules ( 17 ) following one another in the transporting direction ( 13 ), and wherein the counter air flow is produced by introducing some of the air produced in at least one of the modules ( 17 ) into the module ( 17 ) preceding the at least one of the modules ( 17 ) resulting in a spiral flow of air that extends through the treatment chamber ( 10 ) counter to the transportation direction ( 13 ).