Method for two-stage closure of a roller extrusion facility for precise adjustment of the air gap for generating a profiled element

An extrusion facility intended for production of a profiled element, the facility comprising:

• a roller which is supported rotatably by at least a first bearing;
• a tool module which comprises a die intended to interact with the roller so as to form an air gap allowing the profiled element to be shaped;
• a first head module which carries at least a first extruder intended to supply a first constituent material of the profiled element;
• an engagement device, which makes it possible to move the tool module relative to the first bearing and relative to the first head module in an engagement direction, in such a way as to be able alternatively to either bring the tool module toward the roller until the tool module is in abutment against a docking stop which is rigidly secured to the first bearing, and subject the tool module to a preload force which is oriented in the engagement direction and counter to the docking stop and the first bearing, in such a way as to place the tool module relative to the roller in an engagement configuration which defines a desired air gap for producing the profiled element, or conversely move the tool module away from the roller and from the docking stop in order to place the tool module in a disengagement configuration, distinct from the engagement configuration;
• a second head module;
• and
• a coupling device which gives the first head module and/or the second head module its own mobility relative to the first bearing and relative to the tool module in a coupling direction which is oriented transversely to the engagement direction, so that the coupling device makes it possible alternatively either to bring the first head module and the second head module toward one another in the coupling direction, on either side of the tool module, when the tool module is in the engagement configuration, in such a way as to place the first extruder in communication with the tool module and to clamp the tool module between the first head module and the second head module, in a closed configuration, or conversely to move the first head module away from the second head module in the coupling direction, in such a way as to disengage the first extruder from the tool module and to release the tool module to allow a movement of the tool module relative to the bearing and relative to the first and second head modules in the engagement direction.