Bulk material container loading and system

In a bulk material handling system, the combination comprising

• (a) an upwardly open container and a housing forming a zone removably receiving the container to be moved into position in the housing to be filled with said material and thereafter to be removed from the housing for transport, the container supported on wheels,
• (b) material supply means defining an outlet for gravity flow of the material to fill a localized portion of the container, and there being a generally horizontal materials conveyor everywhere directly and openly overlying said zone and being everywhere located openly above the container but closely spaced to the top level thereof to spread the material filling said container portion up to the level of the conveyor so that the spread material will fill other portions of the container, said outlet openly exposed downwardly through the conveyor to said zone therebeneath, the conveyor comprising a screw conveyor having an elongated generally horizontal shaft,
• (c) a drive connected with the conveyor shaft to rotate same, and
• (d) elevator means supporting the conveyor at opposite ends thereof and outside the container to elevate and lower the conveyor and its drive relative to the container and the housing, said elevator means being free of connection to and support by the container and connected to the conveyor at locations in alignment with the direction of travel of the container on said wheels.