exit 9 39 the apparatus for steaming a web 1 of textile material which is diagrammatically illustrated in fig3 comprises in a chamber 2 39 a plurality of suspension bars 5 39 which circulate along a continuous path 16 in the direction of the arrow 15 the continuous circuit 16 has an elongate preferably substantially elliptical form and consists of upper and lower zones with a large radius of curvature and two lateral zones with a small radius of curvature in the embodiment illustrated the elliptical circuit 16 is formed by two guide rails 16a 16b in which suspension bars 5 39 are guided as shown in fig4 it is obvious that the distance between the guide rails 16a and 16b corresponds to the largest width of the webs of textile material to be treated in the apparatus at its point of entry 8 34 the web 1 of textile material is deposited in the form of a loop on the next free suspension bar for example 5a 39 to this end there is provided a drive element not shown which carries the empty suspension bars for example 5a 39 to the entrance 8 34 for the web 1 and which is formed for example by a rotating cam the thrust applied.