Method for transporting bent, irregularly shaped pieces of scrap sheet metal

A method for transporting large quantities of thin, contorted, multiply bent and irregularly shaped pieces of scrap sheet metal generated in a manufacturing procedure from the location of the procedure to a remote location for recycling the metal, comprising the steps of:

• collecting a batch comprising a substantial number of individual, separate scrap metal pieces at a first location, such as near where the scrap pieces are produced in a manufacturing procedure;
• applying a first force against the batch of pieces to compress the pieces together to form a unitary wafer;
• with said first force being sufficient to cause adjacent portions of adjacent pieces to interconnect sufficiently to bind the pieces together in the wafer formation, but with said first force being insufficient to bind the pieces against separating when a second force of a different intensity is later applied to the wafer;
• transporting the wafer, with other wafers formed in the same manner, to a remote location for processing the metal of the pieces for recycling the metal;
• applying a second force externally to the wafer, with the second force being sufficient to cause the pieces to disengage from each other for disassembling the wafer into its constituent separate pieces.

A method for improving the meltability and, therefore, the value of large quantities of individual pieces of scrap sheet metal that are provided to melt furnaces for recycling the metal, comprising:

• collecting a batch of separate pieces of multiply bent, irregularly shaped pieces of scrap sheet metal generated at a manufacturing site at which sheet metal is processed into industrial parts;
• applying a first force to the batch to substantially flatten and to compact, interlock, and bond the pieces together into a temporary compact unit formed of said pieces;
• transporting the unit to a remote site for recycling the metal;
• applying a second force to the unit at said remote site, with the force being sufficient to overcome the bonding of the pieces together for thereby separating the unit into its constituent pieces;
• whereby the separated pieces may be fed into a melt furnace for individual exposure to the furnace heat for melting and recycling the metal.