Metal scrap compacting press

A scrap metal compacting press, comprising a supporting bed, a chamber formed in said bed, said chamber having a bottom surface and being open at the top for the introduction of scraps thereinto, a closing cover for said chamber, means for locking said cover in its closed position, movable walls and stationary walls defining the sides of said chamber and associated with said bed, control and guide means for the shifting movement of said movable walls operative to bring the movable walls closer to each other until there is defined therebetween a cavity wherein the distances between said walls are smaller and proximate the distances between the inner walls of a furnace whereinto the compacted scraps are to be molten, a ram having an active face defining the base of said cavity, and means for moving said ram in said bed to and away from said cover in order to press, against said cover, the scraps already compacted in said cavity, wherein said active face of said ram has a cup-like configuration including a bottom and lateral walls surrounding said bottom and projecting towards said cavity, said ram being movable between a rest position in which said bottom lies at a level below said bottom surface of said chamber and a number of operative positions in which said bottom lies above said bottom surface of said chamber.