AU2014314392A1 - Method for forming molded bodies from a granular material, and corresponding roller press - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for forming molded bodies, wherein a feed flow of a granular material with a specifiable particle size distribution is fed to a roller press (1) with at least two rollers (2, 3) which rotate in opposite directions about a respective rotational axis (4), each of which comprises interacting recesses (13) for the pressing process, said rollers (2, 3) defining a roller gap (5) between each other. The roller press (1) is equipped with rigid rollers (2, 3). The design of the rigid rollers (2, 3) prevents a deflection of a loose roller due to the counter pressure of the granular material in the roller gap (5), thus leading to a consistent pressure in the roller gap (5). In this manner, molded bodies of a specifiable quality can be formed. In a preferred process, the feed flow of granular material to the rollers (2, 3) is kept at a constant level, for example by means of a constant rotational speed of the conveyor screw (9) as a result of a corresponding actuation of the conveyor screw drive (14) using the control unit (6). In particular, molded bodies can thus be produced in a high-pressure method without requiring an additional processing step after the agglomeration or the formation of the molded bodies. In particular, a drying process of the corresponding molded bodies, for example briquettes, can be omitted.

Description

Method for forming molded bodies from a granular material, and corresponding roller press The present invention relates to a method for forming shaped bodies, 5 wherein a granular material, which may consist of one or more substances, in particular at least comprising coal, is formed by a roller press into shaped bodies; the invention also relates to a corresponding roller press. A preferred field of application for the present invention is the production of shaped fuel bodies such as for example briquettes. 10 Roller presses are also used, in addition to other types of presses, for producing shaped fuel bodies. There are various processes in this connection. For example, roller presses are used purely for shaping of the granular material, wherein a subsequent aftertreatment such as for example 15 drying solidifies the shaped bodies correspondingly. Such a process is known for example from DE 199 613 25 C1. Furthermore, so-called high-pressure compression is discussed, in which the final strength of the shaped bodies is achieved by the specific pressing force 20 occurring in the roller gap of the roller press between at least two rollers. Roller presses usually have two rotatably mounted rollers which rotate in opposite directions, on the surface of which corresponding shapes or depressions are located. Granular material delivered to the rollers is transported into the roller gap by the rotation, and is exposed there to a 25 pressure which leads to an agglomeration of the granular medium and thus to the formation of the shaped bodies. In this case the strength of the shaped bodies formed depends substantially upon the spatial and temporal progression of the pressure. 30 It is known from the prior art to combine a fixed roller with a loose roller in a roller press. In this case the counter-pressure of the loose roller is built up by 1 2555 864v1 means of external systems, for example using hydraulic or gas pressure systems. It is advantageous that the corresponding pressure of these systems can be used as a control variable or parameter for the process. However, it is a disadvantage that a yielding of the loose roller and thus an 5 alteration of the roller gap occur because of the counter-pressure with which the granular material opposes the compression, resulting in an irregular pressure curve over the width of the roller, and thus a spatially and temporally fluctuating quality of the shaped bodies. 10 With this as the starting point, the object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims, the respective dependent clams are directed to advantageous modifications. 15 The method according to the invention for forming shaped bodies, wherein a feed flow of granular material with a predeterminable particle size distribution is fed to a roller press with at least two rollers which rotate in opposite directions about a respective axis of rotation and each have cooperating depressions and optionally ridges for the pressing process, said 20 rollers defining a roller gap between them, is characterized in that the roller press is designed with rigid rollers. The term "rigid roller" is understood here in particular to mean that this is not a loose roller which, for example, is pressed against the fixed roller by 25 means of hydraulic or gas pressure systems. On the contrary, this is a system with two rigid, that is to say fixedly mounted, rollers, the position and dimensions of which define a corresponding roller gap of preferably 0 mm [millimeters] to 10 mm, especially preferably from 1 mm to 2 mm. In this case the distance between the two rollers of a roller press, which occurs as the 30 minimum distance between the profiled ridges of both rollers on the line connecting the center points of the roller axes (in particular in a system with 2 2555864v1 a rigid roller and a loose roller) or is set (in particular in a system with two rigid rollers), is designated as the roller gap. A process with a "zero mm gap" is advantageous if, for example, a binder 5 free high-pressure briquetting of materials with a particle size smaller than 6/0 mm is to be carried out. In such a process, the roller gap is set to a size of 1 to 2 mm as a safe distance. In the briquetting with the addition of binders and/or in the hot briquetting of for example iron sponge, the width of the roller gap is determined inter alia as a function of the predeterminable 10 press capacity. Gap widths of approximately 10 mm are advantageously possible here. Due to the use of two rigid rollers, there is no longer a yielding of one of the rollers because of the counter-pressure with which the granular material 15 opposes the compression, so that a contact pressure which is spatially constant and also temporally constant for predeterminable periods of time is achieved in the roller gap. Thus, with a uniform delivery of the feed material, that is to say a uniform feed flow, and in particular a process directed to a constant pressing force, a uniform quality of the shaped bodies can be 20 achieved. Consequently, the method according to the invention enables the production of shaped bodies with defined quality requirements, without the occurrence of the fluctuations in the quality of the shaped bodies which are known from the prior art. Thus, dimensionally stable shaped bodies can be formed in particular by means of high-pressure agglomeration, without 25 having to subject this process to a further treatment step such as for example drying. The bodies of the rollers are preferably provided with segments or bands into which a predeterminable profiling is machined, which preferably forms 30 depressions, or depressions and smooth surfaces (ridges), which succeed one another in the direction of rotation. A segment is understood here to be 3 2555864v1 an element which is screwed onto the body of the roller. A band is understood here to be an element which is shrunk onto the body of the roller. The depressions have the same shape on the preferably two rollers. The geometry of the depressions depends upon the predeterminable unit 5 size of the shaped bodies, which often depends upon the possible use of the shaped bodies, the diameter of the rollers and the briquetting behavior of the materials. A particle size distribution of the material to be pressed contained in the feed 10 flow is preferably predetermined by a corresponding choice of parameters of a preceding grinding process. The axes of rotation of the rollers are preferably oriented parallel to one another in order to be able to define a uniform roller gap between the rollers. The rollers each rotate in opposite directions at an identical rotation frequency, and are designed so that as 15 they rotate, two depressions or a depression and a smooth surface (ridge) lie opposite one another in the roller gap. Due to the pressure produced inside and on the edge of the two respectively opposing depressions or of the opposing depression and smooth surface, a compression of the granular material takes place in which a dimensionally stable shaped body, a so 20 called pressed part, is formed. Thus, in particular even at high pressure, for example in the range of 80 to 160 MPa [megapascal], a high-pressure agglomeration of shaped fuel bodies, for example, can be achieved. According to a preferred embodiment, the granular material is composed at 25 least partially of a fuel, in particular coal. The method according to the invention can be used particularly advantageously for shaping, preferably for pressing at high pressure, of shaped fuel bodies. These shaped fuel bodies preferably are composed at 30 least partially of coal, in particular lignite. Further fuels and additives are possible according to the invention. Further fuels or organic materials can be 4 2555864v1 added, for example, such as for example wood chips, straw or the like, as well as additives, such as for example lime. Furthermore, it is possible according to the invention to improve the briquetting behavior of the granular material by supplying a briquetting adjuvant such as for example starch 5 and/or a certain quantity of water. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the feed flow is kept constant. 10 This means in particular that the feed flow of granular material into a pressing chamber located above the rollers is kept constant. This can be achieved, for example, in that when a conveyor screw is used for delivery of the feed flow out of granular material, the rotational speed of this conveyor screw is kept constant. A constant feed flow enables simple control and 15 regulation of the method, for example by means of the rotational speed of at least one roller. Two rollers are preferably provided, which rotate synchronously with the same rotation frequency. According to an advantageous embodiment, the rotational speed of at least 20 one roller is regulated as a function of at least one of the following variables: a) the pressing force of the rollers and b) the contact pressure of the rollers. Thus, the method according to the invention can be carried out in a simple 25 manner in particular when there is a constant feed flow of granular material. The maximum pressing force or the maximum contact pressure of the rollers which is set as a function of the rotation frequency, which acts on the granular material or material to be pressed as it runs through the roller gap, can be measured in a simple manner by a force sensor and/or a pressure 30 sensor. Strain gauges which are attached for example to a frame of the press are preferably used as force sensors for measuring the pressing force. 5 2555864v1 A pressure load cell is preferably used as a pressure sensor, in particular a pressure load cell which is based on a capacitive measurement principle which is advantageously permanently installed between the bearing of the axes of the rollers and the frame of the press. Furthermore, as an alternative 5 or in addition, an embodiment is preferred in which at least one force sensor or pressure sensor is provided in the depressions for measurement of the maximum pressure or the maximum force which occurs when granular material is pressed directly into the depressions. The force or pressure values in the roller gap can also be advantageously used for regulating the 10 rotational speed of the rollers. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the feed flow is conveyed continuously. 15 This can be achieved in particular by a corresponding conveying means such as for example a conveyor screw. A constant quality of the produced shaped bodies can be ensured by the continuous conveying, and at the same time a simple regulation or control of the process is possible. 20 In this connection it is also preferable that the granular material in the feed flow is compressed. Basically, the process should be chosen so that the granular material is compressed, but is not already briquetted in the feed flow. The compression 25 can take place in particular during the delivery of the granular material into a pressing chamber preceding the rollers. Such compression can be achieved in particular by a corresponding conveying means. The compression of the granular material in the feed flow leads to a homogenization of the feed flow, that is to say to a more uniform delivery of material, and thus to a more 30 uniform supply of the feed flow to the rollers with the corresponding 6 2555864v1 depressions. This leads to a homogenization of the quality of the shaped bodies which are produced. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a roller press for 5 forming shaped bodies is proposed, comprising at least a first roller and a second roller which in each case have cooperating depressions and optionally ridges for shaping the shaped bodies, wherein the rollers are rotatable about respective axes of rotation which are oriented parallel to one another, wherein the rollers are rigid and define a roller gap between them, 10 further comprising a control unit that is suitable and intended for carrying out the method according to the invention. According to an advantageous embodiment, the roller press further comprises at least one of the following measurement sensors: 15 a) a pressure sensor and b) a force sensor for measurement of at least one of the following variables acting on the material to be pressed in the roller gap: a) the pressure and 20 b) the force. The measurement of the pressure and/or the force in the roller gap, that is to say the contact pressure and/or the pressing force of the rollers, that is to say the contact pressure and/or the pressing force on the entire material to 25 be pressed in the nip of the rollers, constitutes a simple controlled variable with the aid of which the method according to the invention and thus also the roller press can be regulated. Thus, for example, in the case of a predetermined feed flow, that is to say in the case of a predeterminable mass flow of granular medium into the roller press, it is possible to use the 30 pressure values and/or force values for regulating the rotational speed of the rollers. The pressing force can preferably be measured by strain gauges, 7 2555864v1 and the contact pressure can preferably be measured by a pressure load cell, which can be provided, for example, between the bearing of the axis of a roller and a frame of the roller press. Alternatively or in addition, a force measurement and/or pressure measurement can advantageously take place 5 in the depressions for shaping the shaped bodies, the results of which can alternatively or additionally be used as a control variable for the regulation of the rotational speed of the rollers. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the roller press, this 10 roller press has a conveying means for continuous conveying of granular material to the rollers. In this connection, it is particularly preferable if at the same time, a compression means for compression of the granular material during conveying is provided, or the conveying means effects not only conveying but also compression of the material. 15 In particular, the conveying means and the compression means may be a so called conveyor screw, which enables simultaneous continuous conveying with simultaneous compression of the granular material. 20 Furthermore, a roller press for shaping shaped bodies is proposed, at least comprising a first roller and a second roller, wherein the rollers are rotatable about respective axes of rotation which are oriented parallel to one another, wherein with the rollers rotating in opposite directions a granular material can be shaped into shaped bodies between the rollers, said roller press 25 being characterized in that the rollers each have a cylindrical surface with depressions and ridges which are distributed on the cylindrical surfaces in such a way that, when the rollers rotate in opposite directions with the same rotation frequency, in each case a depression on one roller cooperates with a ridge on the respective other roller in order to form a shaped body. 30 8 2555 864v1 This roller press is preferably a modification of the roller press described above, but it can also be implemented independently of the features described above as essential to the invention and as characterizing features. The corresponding roller press advantageously makes it possible to produce 5 shaped bodies in the shape of half-cushions or half-droplets as pressed parts by high-pressure compression. A corresponding roller press and the corresponding use thereof for producing shaped fuel bodies, in particular briquettes, are possible without the need for further processing steps such as for example an aftertreatment after the pressing process. The described 10 embodiment, in which in each case a depression cooperates with a ridge, advantageously achieves a force profile and pressure profile in the pressed part which enables corresponding pressing to produce a dimensionally stable shaped fuel body. 15 According to an advantageous embodiment, the at least one depression has a contour comprising, in the direction of rotation, an inlet curve and an outlet curve with different radii of curvature. According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one depression is 20 shaped so that a base of the depression is inclined with respect to a normal plane of a radius. The base of a depression is understood to be the region which corresponds to a long side of the corresponding shaped fuel body. A normal plane is 25 understood here to be a plane to which the radius is normal, that is to say orthogonal. The radius is at least one radius in the region of the depression, in particular a radius in a center of the depression, that is to say a region of the depression which is equally far away from the inlet curves and outlet curves in the direction of rotation. 30 9 2555864v1 According to an advantageous embodiment, the base encloses an angle of 100 and less with respect to the normal plane, in particular in a central region of the base. The central region is understood in particular to be a region which lies inside the edge curves, i.e., between them. 5 Detachment or release of the shaped fuel body from the depression, in accordance with one of the claims, can advantageously be achieved in a simpler manner during operation of the roller press due to the different radii of curvature and/or the inclination of the base with respect to the normal 10 plane of the radius, in particular by 100 or less. In particular due to the combination of the different radii of curvature of the inlet curve and the outlet curve of the depression and the inclination of the base of the depression with respect to the normal, during the rotary movement of the pressing roller a force is generated which is directed tangentially with respect to the 15 direction of rotation of the pressing roller, and which advantageously achieves a release of the shaped fuel body from the depression. According to an advantageous embodiment, the depressions are part of segments or bands which form the cylindrical surface. 20 A segment is understood here to be an element which is screwed onto the body of the roller. A band is understood here to be an element which is shrunk onto the body of the roller. The formation of the depressions by segments and/or bands enables a simple structure of the roller press, and in 25 particular also a simple repair of the roller press in the event of wear by replacement of the damaged segments and/or bands. The details and advantages disclosed for the method according to the invention can be transferred and applied to the roller press according to the 30 invention, and vice versa. The features referred to individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technologically reasonable 10 2555864v1 manner, and can be supplemented by explanatory subject matter from the description and from the drawings, wherein further embodiment variants of the invention are shown. 5 The invention as well as the technical field are explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show particularly preferred exemplary embodiments, but the invention is not limited thereto. In particular, it should be pointed out that the drawings and in particular the illustrated size ratios are only schematic. In the drawings: 10 Figure 1 shows an example of a roller press; Figures 2 to 3 show perspective views of a first type of depression; 15 Figures 4 to 5 show perspective views of a second example of a depression; and Figures 6 to 7 show sectional representations of a further example of a depression. 20 Figure 1 schematically shows a roller press 1 with a first roller 2 and a second roller 3. The rollers 2, 3 rotate in opposite directions about a respective axis of rotation 4, as indicated by the arrows. The axes of rotation 4 are oriented parallel to one another. The rollers 2, 3 are rigid, that is to say 25 they are designed so that a translational movement of the rollers 2, 3 or of the axis of rotation 4 is prevented at least in a predeterminable range, in particular a predeterminable range of the pressing force of the rollers 2, 3. Only a rotation about the axis of rotation 4 (as shown by the corresponding arrows) is possible. The rollers 2, 3 define between them a roller gap 5 on 30 the line connecting the axes of rotation 4 of the rollers 2, 3. In this purely schematic drawing, this roller gap 5 is shown on an excessively large scale 11 2555 864v1 for the purpose of explanation. Roller gaps 5 with a size of 0 mm to 10 mm are preferred. In the case of the binder-free high-pressure briquetting of materials with a particle size from 6/0 mm to 0.5/0 mm and an even finer particle size, operation with a "zero mm gap" is advantageous, wherein the 5 roller gap 5 between the rollers 2, 3 is set to a predeterminable safe distance which is preferably in the range from 1 mm to 2 mm. Furthermore, the roller press 1 comprises a control unit 6 which is connected to the drives of the rollers 2, 3 by means of corresponding data lines 7 inter 10 alia. This control unit 6 is suitable and intended for carrying out the method according to the invention and controlling the corresponding components accordingly. The control unit 6 is connected by a further data line 7 to a pressure sensor 8 by which the pressure of the material in the roller gap 5 can be measured. A force sensor 17 is also provided. The force sensor is 15 designed as a strain gauge. Furthermore, the roller press 1 comprises a conveyor screw 9, which serves simultaneously as conveying means 10 for continuous conveying of granular material to the rollers 2, 3 and as compression means 11 for compression of 20 the granular material as it is conveyed. In this way, a feed flow of granular material (not shown here) is delivered continuously and in compressed form to a pressing chamber 18 above the rollers 2, 3. The conveyor screw 9 has a conveyor screw drive 14 which is likewise connected to the control unit 6 by means of a data line 7. The granular material is delivered to the conveyor 25 screw 9 by means of a feed unit 20. The rollers 2, 3 in each case have cylindrical surfaces 12 which have external depressions 13. These depressions 13 are formed, for example, by segments 16 which are screwed on or by bands which are shrunk on. 30 Examples of depressions 13 formed by segments 16 are shown in Figures 2 to 5. 12 2555864v1 Figures 2 and 3 show a first example of such segments 16 with depressions 13 which, in interaction with a corresponding segment 16 on the respective other roller 2, 3 of the roller press 1, constitute a negative form of the 5 corresponding shaped body as a half-depression blank. In this case, the respective segments 16 have depressions 13 alternating with ridges 15. In each case a segment 16, for example the segment 16 shown in Figure 2, is formed on the first roller 2, whereas the second segment, for example the segment 16 shown in Figure 3, is formed on the second roller 3. In this case 10 the distribution of the segments 16 on the cylindrical surface 12 of the rollers 2, 3 and the geometry of the depressions 13 and the ridges 15 are selected so that, when the first roller 2 and the second roller 3 rotate at the same rotational speed and with a correspondingly defined starting position, these depressions 13 on the two rollers 2, 3 cooperate, so that in the roller gap 5 15 in each case a depression 13 and a ridge 15 lie opposite one another, and the granular material is thus pressed at high pressure to form the shaped bodies, in this case in the half-depression shape. The depressions 13 are designed so that, as the rollers 2, 3 rotate, a corresponding pressure profile is achieved which leads to an agglomeration and compression of the 20 granular material for the shaped body. In this case the cylindrical surface 12 can have a plurality of depressions 13 which are separated from one another by corresponding ridges 15. In particular, a plurality of depressions 13 can be formed over a width of the cylindrical surface 12, so that a plurality of shaped bodies can be shaped simultaneously with a corresponding roller 25 press 1. Before the granular material is fed into the conveyor screw, the material can be heated, for example by means of steam at a comparatively high temperature, for example in a so-called heating bin. The heating of the 30 granular material can be assisted by blowing in steam, preferably during 13 2555864v1 filling of the conveyor screw 9. Vaporization units 19 are provided for this purpose. Figures 4 and 5 show a second example of segments 16 with depressions 5 13 which, as in the first example, are formed opposite one another so as to interact on the cylindrical surface 12 of the first roller 2 and of the second roller 3. The depressions 13 according to Figures 2 to 5 may each be part of 10 segments 16 which are mounted on the cylindrical surface 12 or from which the cylindrical surface 12 is formed. Alternatively or in addition, the depressions 13 may be part of bands which are shrunk onto the cylindrical surface 12. 15 Figures 6 and 7 show a further example of segments 16 with depressions 13 for use on rollers 2, 3 in sections perpendicular to one another. The depressions 13 each have a base 21 which corresponds to a long side of the shaped fuel body. The base 21 is part of a contour 22 of the depression 13. 20 Figure 6 shows a first section through a segment 16, whereas Figure 7 shows a section perpendicular thereto. The segment 16 is mounted on a roller 2, 3 (not shown) and rotated in the direction of rotation 28, as shown in both Figures 6 and 7. In the transverse direction with respect to the direction of rotation 28 (see Figure 6), the contour 22 has two lateral curves 29 which 25 have an identical radius of curvature 25, each indicated here by an arrow. Moreover, the base 21 is oriented perpendicular to the direction of rotation 28 and parallel to a normal plane 26 of a radius 27. Figure 7 shows a section perpendicular to the section shown in Figure 6. In 30 the direction of rotation 28, the base 21 is inclined with respect to the normal plane 26 of the radius 27 in the center 30 as viewed in the direction of 14 2555864v1 rotation 28, that is to say the region which in the direction of rotation 28 is equally far away from an inlet curve 23 and the extreme point 31 thereof, and from an outlet curve 24 and the extreme point 31 thereof. Moreover, the inlet curve 23 has a first radius of curvature 32 and the outlet curve 24 has a 5 second radius of curvature 33, which are not identical. The combination of the inclination of the base 21 after the pressing produces in the direction of rotation 28 a force which is tangential with respect to the direction of rotation 28 and which promotes release of the pressed shaped fuel body. Thus, the shaped fuel bodies can be released in a simple manner from the 10 depressions 13. In the examples of depressions 13 shown in Figures 2 to 7, these depressions are preferably designed so that they are distributed on the cylindrical surfaces 12 in such a way that, when the rollers 2, 3 rotate in 15 opposite directions with the same rotation frequency, in each case a depression 13 on one roller 2, 3 cooperates with a ridge 15 on the respective other roller 3, 2 in order to form a shaped body. Due to the design of the rigid rollers 2, 3, a yielding of a loose roller due to 20 the counter-pressure of the granular material in the roller gap 5 does not occur, thus leading to a consistent pressure in the roller gap 5. As a result, shaped bodies of a predeterminable quality can be formed. In a preferred process, the feed flow of granular material to the rollers 2, 3 is kept at a constant level, for example by means of a constant rotational speed of the 25 conveyor screw 9 as a result of a corresponding actuation of the conveyor screw drive 14 by the control unit 6. By the use of the conveyor screw 9, the granular material is conveyed toward the rollers 2, 3 with simultaneous compression and compaction. The method is regulated in such a way that, because of the constant feed flow and the constant roller gap, the rotational 30 speed of the first roller 2 and of the second roller 3 is regulated as a function of the pressing force of the rollers 2, 3. In this case the pressing force is 15 2555864v1 obtained in a simple manner on the basis of the measured values of the pressure sensor 8 and/or of the force sensor 17. Thus, the method can be regulated simply, and the production of shaped bodies with defined quality parameters is possible. In particular, shaped bodies can thus be produced in 5 a high-pressure method without requiring an additional processing step after the agglomeration or the shaping of the shaped bodies. In particular, drying of the corresponding shaped bodies, for example briquettes, can be omitted. 16 2555864v1 List of reference signs 1 roller press 5 2 first roller 3 second roller 4 axis of rotation 5 roller gap 6 control unit 10 7 data line 8 pressure sensor 9 conveyor screw 10 conveying means 11 compression means 15 12 cylindrical surface 13 depression 14 conveyor screw drive 15 ridge 16 segment 20 17 force sensor 18 pressing chamber 19 vaporization unit 20 feed unit 21 base 25 22 contour 23 inlet curve 24 outlet curve 25 radius of curvature 26 normal plane 30 27 radius 28 direction of rotation 17 2555864v1 29 lateral curvature 30 center 31 extreme point 32 first radius of curvature 5 33 second radius of curvature 18 2555864v1

Claims (15)

1. A method for forming shaped bodies, wherein a feed flow of granular material with a predeterminable particle size distribution is fed to a roller press with at least 5 two rollers which rotate in opposite directions about a respective axis of rotation, and each have cooperating depressions and optionally ridges for the pressing process, said rollers defining a roller gap between them, characterized in that the roller press is designed with rigid rollers. 10

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the granular material is composed at least partially of a fuel, in particular coal.

3. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed flow is kept constant. 15

4. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotational speed of at least one roller is regulated as a function of at least one of the following variables: a) the pressing force of the rollers and 20 b) the contact pressure of the rollers.

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed flow is conveyed continuously. 25

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the granular material is compressed in the feed flow.

7. A roller press (1) for shaping shaped bodies, at least comprising a first roller (2) and a second roller (3) which each have cooperating depressions (13) and 30 optionally ridges (15) for shaping the shaped bodies, wherein the rollers (2, 3) are rotatable about respective axes of rotation (4) which are oriented parallel to one another, wherein the rollers (2, 3) are rigid and define a roller gap (5) between them, further comprising a control unit (6) that is suitable and intended for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims. 35 19 2555880vl

8. The roller press (1) according to claim 7, further comprising at least one of the following measurement sensors: a) a pressure sensor (8) and b) a force sensor 5 for measurement of at least one of the following variables acting on the material to be pressed in the roller gap: a) the pressure and b) the force. 10

9. The roller press (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, comprising conveying means (10) for continuous conveying of granular material to the rollers (2, 3).

10. The roller press (1) according to claim 9, comprising a compression means (11) for compression of the granular material as it is conveyed. 15

11. A roller press (1) for shaping shaped bodies, in particular according to one of claims 7 to 10, at least comprising a first roller (2) and a second roller (3), wherein the rollers (2, 3) are rotatable about respective axes of rotation (4) which are oriented parallel to one another, wherein with the rollers (2, 3) rotating in opposite directions, a 20 granular material can be pressed into shaped bodies between the rollers (2, 3), characterized in that the rollers (2, 3) each have a cylindrical surface (12) with depressions (13) and ridges (15) which are distributed on the cylindrical surfaces (12) in such a way that, when the rollers (2, 3) rotate in opposite directions with the same rotation frequency, in each case a depression (13) on one roller (2, 3) cooperates 25 with a ridge (15) on the respective other roller (3, 2) in order to form a shaped body.

12. The roller press (1) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one depression (13) has a contour comprising, in the direction of rotation, an inlet curve and an outlet curve with different radii of curvature. 30

13. The roller press (1) according to one of claims 11 to 12, wherein at least one depression (13) is shaped so that a base of the depression (13) is inclined with respect to a normal plane of a radius. 35

14. The roller press (1) according to claim 13, wherein the base encloses an angle of 100 and less with respect to the normal plane. 20 2555880vl

15. The roller press according to one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the depressions (13) are part of segments (16) or bands which form the cylindrical surface (12). 21 2555880vl