Shutter press compressor with shaping elements

An apparatus for compressing a material, the apparatus having a central longitudinal axis and comprising:

• a plurality of levers, each lever comprising a lever outer end and a radially-inward end portion and a lever longitudinal axis extending from the lever outer end to the radially-inward end portion;
• a plurality of jaws, wherein each jaw is attached to a lever, and wherein each jaw has a compression surface having an area and wherein the compression surface defines a plane that is generally parallel to the lever longitudinal axis;
• a compressing mechanism configured to move each lever in a non-linear motion such that the area of a compression surface exposed to the material decreases with the inward movement of that compression surface;
• and
• a plurality of shaping elements projecting from at least one compression surface, wherein the plurality of shaping elements is configured to impart a pattern in the material.

An apparatus for compressing a material, the apparatus having a central longitudinal axis and comprising:

• a plurality of levers, each layer comprising a lever outer end and a radially-inward end portion and a lever longitudinal axis extending from the lever outer end to the radially-inward end portion;
• a plurality of jaws, wherein each jaw is attached to a lever, and wherein each jaw has a compression surface having an area;
• a compressing mechanism configured to move each lever in a non-linear motion such that the area of a compression surface exposed to the material decreases with the inward movement of that compression surface and wherein the compression surface defines a plane that is generally parallel to the lever longitudinal axis;
• and
• a plurality of shaping elements each projecting from a compression surface, wherein the plurality of shaping elements is configured to impart a plurality of grooves in the material.