Fiber application head with retractable flap

A fiber application head for the production of composite material parts comprising:

• a compaction system comprising at least one compaction roller;
• guiding means for guiding at least one fiber towards said compaction roller;
• at least one retractable flap displaceable by actuation means between an active position in which said at least one retractable flap is able to come by its distal end against the fiber exiting from the guiding means in order to bring said fiber in abutment against the compaction roller, and a retracted position in which said at least one retractable flap is spaced apart from the compaction roller;
• and
• at least one heating system able to emit thermal radiation towards a nip zone between the compaction roller and an application surface, in order to heat the fiber exiting from the guiding means, as well as the application surface and/or one or more fibers previously applied,
• said at least one retractable flap being displaceable by actuation means between its active position and its retracted position so that the compaction roller is subjected to the radiation of the at least one heating system over a greater surface area in the retracted position than in the active position of the at least one retractable flap,
• wherein, in the retracted position, a surface of the compaction roller is exposed to the radiation emitted by the heating system over a first angle, and, in the active position, a surface area of the compaction roller receiving the radiation extends from the distal end of the retractable flap to the nip zone over a second angle that is smaller than the first angle.