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

A method for implementing an extrusion facility (1) intended for production of a profiled element (2), the extrusion facility comprising a roller (3) which is supported rotatably by at least a first bearing (4), a tool module (10) which comprises a die (11) intended to interact with the roller (3) so as to form an air gap (12) allowing the profiled element (2) to be shaped, and at least a first head module (13) having a first extruder (14) which is intended to supply the tool module (10) with a first constituent material of the profiled element, the method comprising:

• an engagement step (s1), during which the tool module (10) is moved relative to the first head module (13) and to the first bearing (4) in an engagement direction (Z), in such a way as to bring the tool module (10) into abutment against the first bearing (4) and to subject the tool module (10) to a preload force (F_Z) which is oriented in the engagement direction (Z) and counter to the first bearing (4), in such a way as to place the tool module (10) relative to the roller (3) in an engagement configuration which defines a desired air gap (12) for producing the profiled element (2);
• and
• then a clamping step (s2), during which, while the tool module (10) is in the engagement configuration, prestressed against the first bearing (4) by the preload force (F_Z), the tool module (10) is clamped between the first head module (13) having the first extruder (14) and a second head module (23) distinct from the first head module (13), by moving the first head module (13) and the second head module (23) toward one another, on either side of the tool module (10), in a coupling direction (X) which is transverse to the engagement direction (Z), in such a way as to place the first extruder (14) in communication with the tool module (10), and by subjecting the first and second head modules (13, 23) to a clamping force (F_X) which is oriented in the coupling direction (X), in such a way as to hold the tool module (10) by compression between the first and second head modules (13, 23).

An extrusion facility (1) intended for production of a profiled element (2), the facility comprising:

• a roller (3) which is supported rotatably by at least a first bearing (4);
• a tool module (10) which comprises a die (11) intended to interact with the roller (3) so as to form an air gap (12) allowing the profiled element to be shaped;
• a first head module (13) which carries at least a first extruder (14) intended to supply a first constituent material of the profiled element (2);
• an engagement device (19), which makes it possible to move the tool module (10) relative to the first bearing (4) and relative to the first head module (13) in an engagement direction (Z), in such a way as to be able alternatively to either bring the tool module (10) toward the roller (3) until the tool module (10) is in abutment against a docking stop (18) which is rigidly secured to the first bearing (4), and subject the tool module (10) to a preload force (F_Z) which is oriented in the engagement direction (Z) and counter to the docking stop (18) and the first bearing (4), in such a way as to place the tool module (10) relative to the roller (3) in an engagement configuration which defines a desired air gap (12) for producing the profiled element, or conversely move the tool module (10) away from the roller (3) and from the docking stop (18) in order to place the tool module (10) in a disengagement configuration, distinct from the engagement configuration;
• a second head module (23);
• and
• a coupling device (29) which gives the first head module (13) and/or the second head module (23) its own mobility relative to the first bearing (4) and relative to the tool module (10) in a coupling direction (X) which is oriented transversely to the engagement direction (Z), so that the coupling device (29) makes it possible alternatively either to bring the first head module (13) and the second head module (23) toward one another in the coupling direction (X), on either side of the tool module (10), when the tool module is in the engagement configuration, in such a way as to place the first extruder (14) in communication with the tool module (10) and to clamp the tool module (10) between the first head module (13) and the second head module (23), in a closed configuration, or conversely to move the first head module (13) away from the second head module (23) in the coupling direction (X), in such a way as to disengage the first extruder (14) from the tool module (10) and to release the tool module (10) to allow a movement of the tool module relative to the bearing (4) and relative to the first and second head modules (13, 23) in the engagement direction (Z).