Axial and transverse roller die adjustment apparatus and method

A roller die apparatus for supporting pairs of roller dies in predetermined clearances for processing a web workpiece, at least some of said pairs being adjustable for varying said clearances between said roller dies to accommodate variations in the thickness of a web workpiece passing there between, said apparatus comprising,

• first and second roller dies in each of said adjustable pairs of roller dies being rotatably mounted on respective roller stands, said roller dies having at least two forming surfaces lying in planes different from one another, wherein at least some of said first and second roller dies are movable relative to the other of said first and second roller dies, for adjusting the clearances between said first and second roller dies;
• movable die bearing means for one of said first and second roller dies;
• movement means for moving said movable die bearing means both axially and transversely relative to its axis of rotation, and,
• control means for causing both axial and transverse movements simultaneously, thereby moving said one of said first and second roller dies along an axis diagonal to said axis of rotation during operation of said roller die apparatus, thereby achieving adjusting of the die clearance between said first and second roller dies in two phases simultaneously.