Leveling apparatus for loading and leveling flowable metal chip scrap in shipping container

A scrap handling system for loading and leveling non-balling, flowable, metal chip scrap in an open-topped container, comprising:

• a support;
• a screw conveyor including an elongated housing having an input end pivoted to the support, an opposite end, and an open bottom, the screw conveyor further including a rotatable screw configured to move metal chip scrap along the housing from the input end to the opposite end and to deposit metal chip scrap out the open bottom into the container and to engage the metal chip scrap as the metal chip scrap is deposited out the bottom to better distribute and level the metal chip scrap throughout the container, the screw and the open bottom of the housing being configured to facilitate moving the metal chip scrap toward the opposite end as a first end of the container becomes filled;
• and
• a lift connected to the opposite end of the housing for moving the screw conveyor between a raised position that provides room to lift, remove, and replace the container, and a lowered position that positions the screw conveyor to deposit and spread the metal chip scrap toward an unfilled end of the container.

A scrap handling system for loading and leveling non-balling, flowable, metal chip scrap in an open-topped container, comprising:

• a support;
• a leveler including an elongated housing having an input end pivoted to the support, an opposite end, and an open bottom, the leveler further including a rotatable screw configured to deposit metal chip scrap into the container and to engage the metal chip scrap as the metal chip scrap is deposited to better distribute and level the metal chip scrap throughout the container, the screw and the open bottom of the housing being configured to facilitate moving the metal chip scrap toward the opposite end as a first end of the container becomes filled;
• and
• a lift connected to the opposite end of the housing for moving the scrap leveler between a raised position that provides room to lift, remove, and replace the container, and a lowered position that positions the leveler to deposit and spread the metal chip scrap toward an unfilled end of the container;
• the housing including side sections that extend laterally from the housing of the scrap leveler and extend at least as far as vertical side walls of the container, and wherein the side sections include outwardly angled panels shaped to flow moisture outwardly beyond the side walls of the container.

A scrap handling system for handling non-balling, flowable metal chip scrap from a machining operation, comprising:

• a bay having an area for receiving a roll-off container having side walls defining an open top;
• a feeder conveyor for conveying metal chip scrap from the machining operation to the bay;
• a scrap leveler including an input end positioned to receive metal chip scrap from the feeder conveyor, and further including a screw configured to engage the metal chip scrap as the metal chip scrap is deposited in the container to distribute and level the metal chip scrap in the container, the scrap leveler still further including side sections extending laterally from the screw for covering the open top out to the side walls;
• a leveler support pivotally supporting the leveler at the input end;
• and
• a lift configured to move the scrap leveler between a raised position providing room to lift, remove, and replace the container, and a lowered position positioning the leveler to deposit the metal chip scrap in the container and to engage the metal chip scrap as the metal chip scrap is deposited in the container to level the metal chip scrap.

A method comprising steps of:

• providing an area for an open-topped roll-off container and a leveler movably positioned in the area for movement between a raised position providing room to lift, remove, and replace the container, and a lowered position positioning the leveler to deposit non-balling, flowable, metal chip scrap in the container and to engage metal chip scrap that has been deposited in the container to level the metal chip scrap;
• positioning an open-topped roll-off container in the area under the leveler;
• moving the leveler to the lowered position where the leveler is parallel a top of the container, and operating the leveler to deposit and also level metal chip scrap in the container;
• moving the leveler to a clearance position;
• and
• removing the container including lifting at least part of the container to haul the container away, the step of lifting the container being done after moving the leveler to the clearance position so that the container does not strike the leveler as the container is lifted and moved away, the step of lifting the container including pulling the container at an angle up onto a carrier on a truck.