Device for bulk recovery of nonwoven cloth, and method for recovering bulk of nonwoven cloth

A device for recovering the bulk of nonwoven cloth by blowing hot air on, and thereby heating, nonwoven cloth conveyed in a conveying direction, said device having a case member in which both ends in the conveying direction are open, the opening on one conveying-direction-end side of the case member being provided with an inlet for when the nonwoven cloth is conveyed, and the opening at the other conveying-direction-end side of the case member being provided with an outlet for when the nonwoven cloth is conveyed. A side surface along the conveying direction between the inlet and the outlet of the case member being provided with an injection port through which the hot air is injected into the space inside the case member in the conveying direction or the direction opposite the conveying direction. The portion of the case member downstream in the direction in which the hot air is injected is provided with a discharge opening through which the hot air is discharged from the space inside the case member. The hot air flows from the injection opening to the discharge opening while contacting one of the two surfaces of the nonwoven cloth in the space inside the case member.