web 2 then travels upward into shaft steamer 1 which is open at the bottom for which purpose the steamer deflecting roller 16 which is located at the top and is preferably driven is provided in the steamer housing web 2 travels over spreading guide rollers 17 back to stand 6 in which ahead of the next deflecting roller 18 vacuum device 5 is positioned relative to the pile or the visible side of the webs of goods the web then goes to the next treatment assembly over a speed controllable roller 19 as shown in fig1 or over a dancer roller control 19 39 as shown in fig2 shaft steamer 1 consists of a simple housing open at the bottom likewise mounted on stand 6 the endwise inlet wall 20 ends further down than wall 21 on the outlet side so that only excess steam can escape from steamer 1 this steam is then captured and vented by means of hood 22 located outside wall 21 the required steam is supplied at the top through pipes 23 and then passes through perforated walls 24 into the processing chamber any condensate that is present flows down the sloping or vertical inside walls of the steamer into the gutters or troughs 25 that may be heated the steamer according to fig2 resembles the steamer shown in fig1 but the web guidance is provided for only a double input of the web for this.