Apparatus for Producing a Blank, Also a Method for This Purpose and a Blank

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus, preferably a press, comprising a cavity which is to be filled and at least a first material feed, for a first material, and a second material feed, for a second material, wherein the first and the second material feeds are arranged separately from one another, having a feeding apparatus for feeding the first and the second materials into the cavity which is to be filled, wherein the feeding apparatus has a mouth-opening cross section with at least a first region of the mouth-opening cross section for the first material, and with a second, separate region of the mouth-opening cross section for the second material, for filling the cavity preferably in parallel, and at separate locations. A method and also a blank are proposed in addition.

Claims

1. A press device having a device for filling of a mold of the press device with at least two different materials, comprising a cavity to be filled with the at least two materials and a filling unit for discharging the at least two materials for the purpose of introducing these materials into different regions of the cavity, wherein the filling unit has at least two separate chambers or at least two chamber regions of a common chamber for simultaneous feeding of the at least two materials, directly adjoining one another or in separate locations, for introduction thereof into the cavity as at least partly distinguishable layers, and comprising a relative rotary motion between the filling unit and the cavity, preferably about a common axis, preferably about a common center axis, during a filling operation.

2. The press device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that wherein the filling unit and the cavity and/or a base of the cavity are movable in a translational manner relative to one another during the filling operation, and are preferably movable away from one another along the center axis.

3. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first of the chambers extends at least partly around the center axis and wherein at least a second of the chambers likewise extends at least partly around the center axis, and the second of the chambers, preferably extends around the first chamber.

4. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling unit has an outlet orifice arrangement which faces the cavity and is provided with at least one outlet orifice for each chamber, preferably with provision of an outlet orifice for a mixture of two different materials from two different chambers and/or with one chamber feeding two or more outlet orifices.

5. The press device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the filling unit, for feeding of at least one first and one second material, has been provided with an opening cross section of the filling unit having at least one first region and a separate second region for parallel, separate feeding of the first and second materials, preferably with outlet orifices of at least two chambers arranged offset with respect to one another, considered in the direction of rotation and/or radial direction, such that the outlet orifices, in the case of relative rotation between the filling unit and the cavity, cover at least partly identical regions of the area, preferably in such a way that they only partly overlap one another.

6. The press device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outlet orifice of the first chamber extends in a transverse direction relative to the alignment of the center axis, and is especially arranged to one side of the center axis and within the outlet orifice of the second chamber which itself extends around the center axis.

7. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling unit has a third chamber, the third chamber extending around the outside of the second chamber and having an outlet orifice which extends around the second outlet orifice, the second outlet orifice having an essentially V-shaped constriction pointing in the direction of the center axis.

8. The press device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the position of the constriction is essentially diametrically opposite the position of the first outlet orifice based on the center axis.

9. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling unit has filling orifices for the individual chambers, and wherein the center axis runs through a first inlet orifice assigned to the first chamber and a second inlet orifice assigned to the second chamber extends in a ring shape around the first inlet orifice.

10. The press device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that wherein the inlet orifice of a third chamber extends in a ring shape around the outside of the second inlet orifice.

11. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the individual chambers are separated from one another by a wall in each case, and wherein the walls have, in their edge regions within the outlet orifices, at least one edge cutout or an edge projection, especially a zigzag or comb structure.

12. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling unit dispenses at least one free-flowing material, preferably two or more free-flowing materials, present especially in powder form.

13. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling unit has an additional strip feed, by means of which a material in strand, strip or ribbon form can be introduced into the cavity.

14. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two materials that are to be introduced into the cavity arrive at separate times or simultaneously in the cavity.

15. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling unit has a contact element, for example a doctor blade, a comb, a scraper, a roller, a bar or the like for interaction with at least one material introduced into the cavity, especially for interaction for the purpose of alignment of at least one nonspherical material and/or a nonspherical constituent of this material and/or for influencing the distribution of the at least one material and/or a constituent of this material for generation of a distribution gradient.

16. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the different regions of the cavity to be filled with the materials at least partly or fully adjoin one another.

17. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling unit has a mixing zone for mixing of the at least two materials.

18. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling unit and the cavity, in the case of positioning of the filling unit with its outlet arrangement above or within the cavity, execute a defined superimposed rotational and translational movement with respect to one another, preferably for helical introduction of at least one of the materials about a common axis, along which the filling unit can be moved in a rotational manner in one direction or can be moved back and forth in a rotational manner relative to the cavity.

19. The press device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the materials is porous or forms a porous structure and/or in that at least one element introduced into the cavity, especially in the form of spikes, forms a structure permeated by at least one channel.

20. A press device for production of a compact comprising: a device designed with the features of claim 1 for filling of a mold for the compact with at least two different materials and a compaction unit for compaction of material within the cavity.

21. The press device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the compaction unit has at least one ram that can be immersed into the cavity.

22. The press device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the cavity is formed from a passage orifice in a die and a first ram which seals the passage orifice on one side, and in that a second ram is provided, at least the second ram being movable in the direction of the first ram into the cavity or within the cavity.

23. A method of filling a mold of a press device, preferably of a powder press, with at least two different materials, preferably with a device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the method, at least two different materials are dispensed for filling of a cavity and are introduced into the cavity, wherein the at least two materials are dispensed from a filling unit in different regions of the filling unit with relative rotation of filling unit and cavity and are introduced into various regions of the cavity.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the materials emerge simultaneously as material streams running alongside one another in an intermittent or continuous manner, and wherein the material streams are introduced into the cavity with rotation about an axis that runs through the arrangement of the material streams and in the direction of the flow direction of the material streams to form a helical and/or wave-shaped structure of at least one of the materials.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least one of the materials which is supplied is free-flowing and especially a powder material.

26. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein as well as free-flowing materials, one or more materials having intrinsically dimensionally stable structure are also introduced into the cavity in, for example, strand, strip or ribbon form.

27. A method of compacting material, wherein a cavity is filled with material by means of a method as claimed in claim 23 and the material within the cavity is compacted.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the compaction is effected by means of at least one ram, or in that isostatic compaction is effected.

29. The use of a device as claimed in claim 1 for production of a hydrogen storage element in the form of a composite material in the form of a sheet, a block, tablets, pellets or the like which is dimensionally stable when used as hydrogen storage means.

30. A blank, especially obtainable using a device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a body having at least two different materials arranged in different regions of the body and separated from one another in that the materials adjoin one another at the boundaries of the regions of the body in which they are arranged.

31. The blank as claimed in claim 30, wherein at least one material is arranged in helical form within the body.

32. The blank as claimed in claim 30, wherein the body has at least one third material, with at least two, preferably three and especially all materials having been produced in powder form, or at least one of the materials, for example the third material, in strand, strip or ribbon form, this third material especially being arranged in a helical manner and having been embedded into the other materials of the body.

33. A filling device for a press device as claimed in claim 1, for feeding of at least one first and one second material, with an opening cross section of the filling device having at least one first region and a separate second region for parallel, separate feeding of the first and second materials into a cavity, the filling device having an axis of rotation about which the filling device can be rotated during the feeding.

34. A method as claimed in claim 23 for production of a hydrogen storage element in the form of a composite material in the form of a sheet, a block, tablets, pellets or the like which is dimensionally stable when used as hydrogen storage means.

35. A blank, especially obtainable using a method as claimed in claim 23, comprising a body having at least two different materials arranged in different regions of the body and separated from one another in that the materials adjoin one another at the boundaries of the regions of the body in which they are arranged.

Description

[0142] Further advantageous configurations and also features are apparent from the figures which follow and the corresponding description. The individual features that are apparent from the figures and the description are merely illustrative and not restricted to the particular configuration. Instead, one or more features from one or more figures can be combined with other features from other figures and also from the above description to give further configurations. Therefore, the features are specified not in a restrictive manner but instead by way of example. More particularly, some executions of the filler construction are presented:

[0143] FIGS. 1 to 8 each show three representations, namely on the left a top view of the filler for illustration of its chamber and especially chamber outlet orifice arrangement, and top right a perspective view of the compact, and bottom right a section through the compact which can be produced by means of the filler and a press (not shown), with choice of a cylindrical compact in each case for illustration and without showing openings or other details of geometry,

[0144] FIGS. 9 to 28 show, in principle, the sequence in the filling of a die cavity with two fillers in different process stages,

[0145] FIGS. 29 to 44 show, in principle, the sequence in the filling of a die cavity with one filler having two chambers,

[0146] FIGS. 45 to 54 show, in principle, the sequence in the filling of a die cavity with a rotary filler,

[0147] FIGS. 55 to 60 show a further working example of a rotary filler having three chambers and a representation of a blank produced by compression of powder materials introduced into a die cavity by means of the rotary filler, and

[0148] FIGS. 61 to 63 show a further example of a rotary filler.

[0149] FIG. 1 shows a filler 11 with two chambers 5, 6 of equal size for two different powders 1, 2, and the corresponding compact 9.

[0150] FIG. 2 shows a filler 11 with three chambers 5, 6, 7, the division of the three chambers 5, 6, 7 by area being different in each case, and the corresponding compact 9.

[0151] FIG. 3 shows a filler 11 similar to that from FIG. 2, but with four chambers 5, 6, 7, 8 rather than three chambers, and the corresponding compact 9.

[0152] FIG. 4 shows a possible chamber construction of a filler 11 for three powders 1, 2, 3, with which four layers of the compact 9 (likewise shown) are produced, the material in the center of the compact 9 here being homogeneous and a helical structure being present on the outside.

[0153] FIG. 5 shows a filler 11 for three different materials, where material 1 surrounds the helix formed by materials 2 and 3 in the compact 9 which is likewise shown.

[0154] FIG. 6 shows a filler 11 and the compact 9 which is produced with the aid of normal filling at the top and bottom ends, and with a helical structure in the middle, it being possible to isolate the materials present in the interior, material 2 and material 3 here, completely from the outside, here by means of material 1, material 4 and material in the chamber 5, and the filler 11 serving for production of the middle segment of the compact 9 in the form of a helix.

[0155] FIG. 7 shows a further working example of a filler 11 and the compact 9 producible therewith.

[0156] FIG. 8 shows a further working example of a filler 11 and the compact 9 producible therewith.

[0157] In the top views of fillers to the left of each of FIGS. 1 to 8, outlet orifice arrangements for the filler chambers are shown, the effect of which is that powder material is laid down in intermeshing helices in a press cavity when the filler in its filling position rotates above the press cavity and the base of the cavity becomes ever further removed in the course of relative rotation of the filler. The outlet orifices of at least two chambers, viewed in the radial direction and the direction of rotation of the filler, are offset relative to one another, i.e. cover concentric area regions which overlap one another, or one of which is arranged within the other.

[0158] FIG. 9 to FIG. 28 show the basic sequence in the filling of a die cavity with two fillers. In this case, the filler 18 is filled with the material 1, and filler 24 with material 2. The example shows a 4-lamina structure, wherein two laminas of powder 1 and two laminas of powder 2 are compressed. However, it is also possible to use more than two fillers. In this case, the number, sequence and thickness of the laminas may be configured freely on the basis of the properties to be achieved. The respective sequence in each figure is described briefly hereinafter.

[0159] FIG. 9: the lower ram 10 is run downward for the particular path that corresponds to the height of the part of the filling space 12 (of the cavity 14) for the first material 16. The first filler 18 moves over the cavity 14.

[0160] FIG. 10: the first (powder) material 16 falls under gravity into the die cavity 14.

[0161] FIG. 11: the filler 18 returns back to its starting position and scrapes the (powder) material 16 in the die cavity 14 at the level of the top end of the die 20.

[0162] FIG. 12: the lower ram 10 moves downward and thus defines a further part of the filling space 12 (of the cavity 14) for a second (powder) material 22.

[0163] FIG. 13: the second filler 24 moves over the cavity 14.

[0164] FIG. 14: the (powder) material falls under gravity into the die cavity 14 onto the (powder) material 16.

[0165] FIG. 15: the filler 24 returns to the starting position and scrapes the (powder) material 22 at the level of the top end of the die 20.

[0166] FIG. 16: the lower ram 10 moves further downward in a stepwise manner and thus defines a further part of the filling space 12 for the next lamina of first (powder) material 16. This is then the second layer of (powder) material 16.

[0167] FIG. 17: the filler 18 moves over the die cavity 14.

[0168] FIG. 18: the (powder) material 16 falls out of the filler 18 under gravity into the die cavity 14 onto the (powder) material 22.

[0169] FIG. 19: the filler 18 is moved back to its starting position.

[0170] FIG. 20: the lower ram 10 moves further downward in a stepwise manner and thus defines a further part of the filling space for the next lamina of second (powder) material 22.

[0171] FIG. 21: the filler 24 moves over the cavity 14.

[0172] FIG. 22: the (powder) material 22 falls under gravity into the die cavity 14 onto the upper (powder) material 16.

[0173] FIG. 23: the filler 24 returns to the starting position and scrapes the (powder) material 22 at the level of the top end of the die 20.

[0174] FIG. 24: the die cavity 14 is filled with two laminas of two materials arranged alternately one on top of another.

[0175] FIG. 25: the upper ram 26 moves toward the lower ram 10. The lower ram 10, prior to the compression of the material laminas in the cavity 14, may be run slightly downward by the upper ram, as shown here (for production of what is called an underfilling).

[0176] FIG. 26: the upper ram 26 compresses the four layers to the desired density and then moves back to its starting position. The lower ram 10 remains in the position that it adopted beforehand. However, it is also possible that the lower ram 10 moves toward the upper ram 26 after the dipping of the upper ram 26 into the die cavity 14. It is likewise possible that the die cavity 14 is moved in a linear manner in the longitudinal machine axis 30, in which case the die cavity, with fixed lower ram 10, is moved, preferably at half the upper ram speed, in the same direction as the upper ram 26.

[0177] FIG. 27: after the pressing operation, the compact 32 is ejected from the die 28 by the lower ram 10. It is likewise possible here that the upper ram 26, during the ejection of the compact 32, acts on the compact 32 with a small force and only moves back to the starting position after the complete ejection of the compact 32.

[0178] FIG. 28 shows the ejected compact 32 and the machine components in starting position. The compact 32 can be removed. The cycle of operation can begin from the outset for production of a next compact.

[0179] FIG. 29 to FIG. 44 show the basic sequence of filling with a (single) filler 18 having two chambers 34, 36, which can thus store two different powders. It is likewise possible here that more than two different chambers are used for correspondingly more than two powders.

[0180] FIG. 29: the lower ram 10 moves into the first filling position and the filler 18 moves over the die 28 until the first chamber 34 comprising the first (powder) material 16 covers the die cavity 14.

[0181] FIG. 30: the filler 18 is above the die cavity 14 with its first chamber 34 and the (powder) material 16 is dropped out of the chamber 34 into the die cavity.

[0182] FIG. 31: the filler 18 is moved further until its chamber 36 comprising the (powder) material 22 is above the die cavity 14.

[0183] FIG. 32: the lower ram 10 is moved downward until the fill height for the second layer of (powder) material 22 has been attained.

[0184] FIG. 33: the (powder) material 22 falls out of the chamber 36, specifically during the downward movement of the lower ram 10, into the die cavity 14 and thus forms the second layer. However, it is equally possible at this early stage to (completely) lower the lower ram 10 when the chamber 36 is above the cavity 14.

[0185] FIG. 34: the filler 18 is moved until the chamber 34 comprising the (powder) material 16 is above the die cavity 14.

[0186] FIG. 35: the lower ram 10 is moved downward until the fill height for the third layer has been attained.

[0187] FIG. 36: the (powder) material 16 falls out of the chamber 34, specifically during the downward movement of the lower ram 10 into the die cavity 14, and thus forms the third layer.

[0188] FIG. 37: the filler 18 is moved further until the chamber 36 comprising the (powder) material 22 is above the die cavity 14.

[0189] FIG. 38: the lower ram 10 is moved downward until the fill height for the second layer has been attained. The (powder) material 22 falls out of the chamber 36 during the downward movement of the lower ram 10 into the die cavity 14, and thus forms the fourth layer.

[0190] FIG. 39: the filler 18 is moved into the starting position.

[0191] FIG. 40: the upper ram 26 is moved in the axial direction in the direction of the lower ram 10 in order to compress the individual laminas.

[0192] FIG. 41: the upper ram 26 and lower ram 10 are in the final pressing position.

[0193] FIG. 42: the upper ram 26 is moved into starting position and the lower ram 10 ejects the compact 32.

[0194] FIG. 43: the mold components are in their starting positions with ejected compact 32.

[0195] FIG. 44: the compact 32 is removed; the cycle of operation can start again.

[0196] FIG. 45 to FIG. 54 show the basic sequence in the filling of the cavity with a rotary filler having two or more chambers. In this case, the filler needs to rotate only during the downward motion of the lower ram or during the filling of the cavity. However, it is also conceivable that the filler rotates permanently.

[0197] FIG. 45: the rotary filler 18 is moved over the die cavity 14.

[0198] FIG. 46: the rotary filler 18 is above the die cavity 14.

[0199] FIG. 47: the rotary filler 18 rotates about the longitudinal machine axis 30, while the lower ram 10 moves downward along the longitudinal machine axis 30, in order to free up the cavity 14 gradually for introduction of material.

[0200] FIG. 48: the lower ram 10 is in its lower filling position. The rotary filler 18 no longer rotates.

[0201] FIG. 49: the rotary filler 18 is moved back into its starting position.

[0202] FIG. 50: the rotary filler 18 is between the filling position and starting position.

[0203] FIG. 51: the upper ram 26 moves in the direction of the lower ram 10, with the rotary filler 18 not shown.

[0204] FIG. 52: upper ram 26 and lower ram 10 compress the (powder) material present in a double helix in the cavity 14 to give a compact 32. Here too, the rotary filler 18 is not shown.

[0205] FIG. 53: the upper ram 26 moves into its starting position. The lower ram 10 also moves into starting position and ejects the compact 32. The rotary filler 18 is not shown here either.

[0206] FIG. 54: the compact 32 is removed. Thereafter, the cycle can restart, in which case the rotary filler 18 (not shown) comes into action again.

[0207] FIGS. 55 to 60 show a further working example of a press 100 for production of a blank from in this case three different powder materials arranged in an intermeshed and helical manner in the blank. According to FIG. 55, the press 100 has a die 110 with a cavity 112. The cavity 112 in this working example is designed as a passage orifice of the die 110 and is closed at its base by a lower ram 116 which can be moved axially along the center axis 114. The upper ram 119 can likewise be moved back and forth along the center axis 114 of the cavity 112. In this way, it is possible, as is common knowledge, to compress powder material introduced into the cavity 112 to give a blank (if appropriate with additional use of heat).

[0208] To introduce the powder material into the cavity 112, what are called fillers 118 are used, which can generally also be referred to as filling units 120. In this working example, the filling unit 120 has a rotary filler 118 which, when it is above the orifice 122 of the cavity 112, rotates about the center axis 114 relative to the cavity 112.

[0209] The rotary filler 118 is shown in FIG. 55 in its filling position, in which, in this working example, three free-flowing materials (e.g. powder materials) 124, 126, 128 are introduced into three separate chambers 130, 132, 134 of the rotary filler 118. Alternatively, it is also possible that the rotary filler 118 is filled during its movement and especially also during the release of material. For this purpose, the material feed conduits, in one configuration, are moved in a translational manner together with the rotary filler 118, in order to be able to replenish the rotary filler 118 during the release of material.

[0210] In FIG. 56, the rotary filler 118 is above the cavity 112 (filling position) and introduces the three powder materials into the latter with rotation. At the same time, the lower ram 116 is at first in its uppermost position. The lower ram 116 is then moved correspondingly downward by the volume of the material introduced per unit time, such that it frees up exactly the portion of the cavity volume per unit time which is to be introduced into the cavity 112 by powder material from the rotary filler 118.

[0211] The detailed construction of the working example of the rotary filler 118 described here is shown in FIGS. 57 and 58. According to FIG. 57, the rotary filler 118 which is driven with rotation by a drive 136 has an essentially cylindrical outward shape, similar to that of a sleeve or a tube. At its upper end facing away from the cavity 112, the filler 118 has an inlet orifice arrangement 138 with, in this working example, three concentric inlet orifices 140, 142, 144. The central orifice 144 is penetrated by the axis of rotation and is concentric thereto. The two orifices 140 and 142 each run in rings around one another and are accordingly in a concentric arrangement. The three chambers 130, 132, 134 are delimited from one another and bounded on the outside by chamber walls 146, 148, 150, these three chamber walls 146, 148, 150 forming concentric rings in the region of the inlet orifice arrangement 138.

[0212] The inner chamber walls 148, 150 are formed to give the lower end of the outlet facing the cavity 112, so as to give, in this working example, the outlet orifice arrangement 152 according to fig. d at the lower end of the rotary filler 118. The outer chamber wall 146 is essentially cylindrical over its entire axial length, while the next chamber wall 148 on the inside has a constriction 154 (similarly to a heart shape) at the end of the outlet of the rotary filler 118. The V-shaped constriction 154 points toward the center of the rotary filler 118 and hence toward the innermost chamber wall 134 which has, at the end of the outlet of the rotary filler 118, a shape that extends radially. Between the outer chamber wall 146 and the next chamber wall 148 on the inside, an outlet orifice 156 of the chamber 130 is formed, while the next chamber 132 on the inside has an outlet orifice 158 formed by the chamber wall 148 with constriction 154 on the one hand and by the chamber wall 134 with its radially elongated shape. Finally, the third, innermost chamber 134 has an outlet orifice 160 which is aligned radially outward and extends partly around the center axis 162 of the filler 118.

[0213] As can be seen particularly from FIG. 58, the chamber walls have zigzags or comb structures 164, 166. These comb structures 164, 166 serve for variation of the powder materials that exit from the chambers at their respective interfaces.

[0214] With the configuration shown in FIGS. 57 and 58, it is possible to use the rotary filler 118 in order to lay down three powder materials into the cavity 112 which form three intermeshed partial or full helical arrangements. The powder material 126 exiting from the middle chamber 132 is present as the middle helix 168 in the blank or in the cavity 112 (see FIG. 59). The powder material 124 exiting from the outer chamber 130 forms a cylindrical shape with a helical line running on the inside of the cylinder wall. The powder material 128 exiting from the inner chamber 134 is within the core of the blank as a solid cylinder with an external helical projection. The situation is shown for a subsection of the blank in FIG. 59.

[0215] FIG. 60 shows the situation when, on rotation of the filler 118, a spike (not shown) serves as a spacer in the inner chamber 134 thereof and keeps the center 169 of the blank free of powder material. Such an arrangement is advantageous, for example, in order to provide the blank with a channel for gas supply.

[0216] As already mentioned above, the rotary filler can be used especially for production of a blank for use as a hydrogen-storing component or a hydrogen-storing assembly. In this case, for example, the material 126 fed in via the middle chamber 132 and inserted into the cavity 112 is hydrogenatable, while the material 124 which passes through the outer chamber 130 of the rotary filler 118 into the cavity 112 has heat-conducting properties. In the interior of the blank, in that case, there is gas-permeable material 128. The inner material of the blank thus assures the supply and hence the porosity of the blank, such that hydrogen can be introduced into the latter and then binds the hydrogenatable material. The heat that arises is removed to the outside via the material 124. On the outside around the hydrogen storage component (blank) is a (pressure) vessel which is in thermal contact with the hydrogen-storing component.

[0217] In quite general terms, it should be pointed out in connection with the invention that, as well as bonding of the particles of the pulverulent materials with one another by compression (optionally additionally with the action of heat), it is additionally also possible to work by additive methods, for example laser melting. For this purpose, for example, one or more laser beam bundles are introduced through hollow walls of the filler, which are deflected by means of prisms and enter the powder material that has just been dispensed via transparent orifices in the hollow walls of the filler, where there is local melting of the powder.

[0218] FIG. 61 shows a perspective view and FIG. 62 a top view of a further working example of a rotary filler 170. As in the case of the working example of FIGS. 55 to 60, the rotary filler 170 has three ring chambers which, however, by contrast with FIGS. 55 to 60, have an essentially concentric arrangement throughout. An inner dividing wall 172 delimits an inner chamber 173, while a further cylindrical wall 174 arranged in the middle delimits a second chamber 176. On the outside, there is a third cylindrical wall 178 which defines the outer chamber 180. What is special about the rotary filler 170 is that, on the outlet side, it forms a further chamber 182 into which material trickling close to the wall passes on either side of the middle chamber wall 174. At the flow inlet of the chamber 182, there are deflecting elements 184 which ensure local mixing of the two material streams close to the wall.

[0219] The features of individual configurations of the invention are specified once again in groups hereinafter by way of example, it being possible to combine the features of individual groups with one another and also with features of the working examples, configurations and variants of the invention described further up, specifically by addition or omission of individual features. [0220] 1. A device, preferably press, comprising [0221] a cavity to be filled, [0222] at least one first material feed of a first material and a second material feed of a second material, the first and second material feeds being arranged separately from one another, [0223] comprising a feed device for feeding the first and second materials into the cavity to be filled, [0224] wherein the feed device has an opening cross section with at least one first region of the opening cross section for the first material and with a separate second region of the opening cross section for the second material for preferably parallel, locally separate filling of the cavity. [0225] 2. The device according to point 1, wherein the cavity to be filled is preferably round and, preferably, a contact element with a contact face for interaction with the material in the cavity, especially in the form of a comb, a smooth or contoured bar or a roller is provided, which can be run at least onto a surface of the at least first and/or second material introduced into the cavity and can be moved along the latter, more preferably can be run into the at least one first and/or second material and can be moved therein. [0226] 3. The device according to point 1 or 2, wherein the first region at least partly, preferably fully, adjoins the second region. [0227] 4. The device according to any of the preceding points, wherein the device has a drive, by means of which at least a controlled relative movement between the cavity to be filled and the feed device is enabled. [0228] 5. The device according to any of the preceding points, wherein this device has an axis of rotation about which the feed device is arranged so as to be rotatable and/or in that the cavity is arranged so as to be rotatable. [0229] 6. The device according to any of the preceding points, wherein the cavity to be filled is a die cavity and the feed device is a filler and the device comprises a press device for compaction of the at least first and second materials in the die cavity. [0230] 7. The device according to any of the preceding points, wherein a contact face, preferably in the form of a comb, a smooth or else contoured bar or a roller is provided, which can be moved by means of a moving device to such an extent that it comes into contact with the material introduced into the cavity, and a moving device moves the contact face within the material. [0231] 8. The device according to point 7, wherein the contact face is movable at least into the material and along the material. [0232] 9. A feed device for a device, especially a press, preferably according to any of points 1 to 6, for feeding of at least one first and one second material, having an opening cross section of the feed device having at least one first region and a separate second region for parallel separate feeding of the first and second materials. [0233] 10. The feed device according to point 9, wherein the feed device has a movable contact face, preferably a comb, a smooth or else contoured bar or a roller, preferably according to point 7 or 8, preferably for controlled orientation of nonspherical particles such as elongated platelet-shaped particles or fiber pieces and/or generation of a distribution gradient for particles and/or fiber pieces. [0234] 11. The feed device according to point 9 or 10, wherein this feed device has a material feed for the first material and a separate material feed for the second material, wherein a mixed zone feed is present, along which the first and second materials are miscible and can be fed in. [0235] 12. The feed device according to point 9, 10 or 11, wherein an additional ribbon feed is present, by means of which a material ribbon can be conducted into the opening cross section. [0236] 13. A method of producing a blank, preferably with a device according to any of points 1 to 8, by means of at least one first material and by means of a second material, wherein a first material feed for the first material is effected via a first region of a feed device and a second material feed of the second material, parallel to the first material feed, via a second region of the feed device, wherein the at least first and second materials fed in in parallel and in separate regions are filled into a cavity and used to form the blank therefrom. [0237] 14. The method according to point 13, wherein the feed device and the cavity move relative to one another in the course of filling. [0238] 15. The method according to point 13 or 14, wherein the feed device is rotated, wherein the first and second materials exit from the feed device in parallel. [0239] 16. The method according to point 15, wherein a nonplanar, preferably helical or wave-shaped geometry is formed in the blank. [0240] 17. The method according to any of the preceding points, wherein the first and second materials form a porous structure, preferably with production of one or more channels in the composite material by means of one or more spikes or spacers and/or material to be removed. [0241] 18. The method according to any of the preceding points, wherein the first and second materials are arranged at least partly at separate locations and form separate layers. [0242] 19. The method according to any of the preceding points, wherein the first and second materials are filled into a cavity, wherein the first and second materials are compressed in the cavity, preferably by means of movement of an upper ram and lower ram in the cavity. [0243] 20. The method according to any of the preceding points 11 to 18, wherein isostatic pressing of the composite material of the hydrogen storage means is effected. [0244] 21. The method according to any of the preceding points, wherein a movable contact face, preferably a comb, a smooth or else contoured bar or a roller, is run into the material filled into the cavity and moved within the material. [0245] 22. A blank comprising at least one first and one second material, preferably according to any of the preceding points, wherein the first and second materials are arranged separately at least in one region and form separate layers. [0246] 23. The blank according to point 22, wherein the green body has a material distribution at least of the first material which is helical. [0247] 24. The blank according to point 22 or 23, wherein at least a third material is provided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0248] 1 powder material [0249] 2 powder material [0250] 3 powder material [0251] 4 powder material [0252] 5 chamber [0253] 6 chamber [0254] 7 chamber [0255] 8 chamber [0256] 9 compact [0257] 10 lower ram [0258] 12 part of filling space [0259] 12 part of filling space [0260] 12 part of filling space [0261] 14 die cavity [0262] 16 material [0263] 18 filler [0264] 18 rotary filler [0265] 20 top end of die [0266] 22 material [0267] 24 filler [0268] 26 upper ram [0269] 28 die [0270] 30 longitudinal machine axis [0271] 32 compact [0272] 34 chamber [0273] 36 chamber [0274] 100 press [0275] 110 die [0276] 112 cavity [0277] 114 center axis [0278] 116 lower ram [0279] 118 rotary filler [0280] 119 upper ram [0281] 120 filling unit [0282] 122 orifice [0283] 124 powder material [0284] 126 powder material [0285] 128 powder material [0286] 130 chamber [0287] 132 chamber [0288] 134 chamber [0289] 136 drive [0290] 138 inlet arrangement [0291] 140 inlet orifice [0292] 142 inlet orifice [0293] 144 inlet orifice [0294] 146 chamber wall [0295] 148 chamber wall [0296] 150 chamber wall [0297] 152 outlet orifice arrangement [0298] 154 constriction [0299] 156 outlet orifice [0300] 158 outlet orifice [0301] 160 outlet orifice [0302] 162 center axis [0303] 164 comb structure [0304] 166 comb structure [0305] 168 helix [0306] 169 center [0307] 170 rotary filler [0308] 172 dividing wall [0309] 173 chamber [0310] 174 chamber wall [0311] 176 chamber wall [0312] 178 chamber wall [0313] 180 outer chamber [0314] 182 chamber [0315] 184 deflecting element