Methods and apparatus for freight container loading
Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for use thereof for loading bulk material into freight containers. One apparatus comprises a hopper configured to receive bulk material that is sized and shaped to be at least partially enclosable by a container to occupy a substantial volume of the container and a ram. The ram comprises a plate and a driver configured to move the plate from a back end of the hopper to an open end of the hopper to expel material into a container. Another apparatus comprises a hopper configured to receive bulk, material that is sized and shaped to be at least partially enclosable by a container to occupy a substantial volume of the container and a reciprocating conveyor floor system. Optionally, the apparatuses further include a stand and/or collapsible legs to further support the hopper.
1. A method of loading a shipping container with material comprising:
(a) providing a loader comprising a hopper with a first end and a second;
(b) loading the material into said hopper;
(c) partially enclosing at least a portion of said hopper within said container, wherein said portion occupies a substantial volume of said container; and
(d) shifting said material towards an open end of said hopper while moving said container away from said hopper.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the loader further comprises a movable plate positioned adjacent said material and wherein step (d) comprises causing the plate to move towards said open end.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said container is attached to a flatbed tractor-trailer.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises driving said flatbed tractor-trailer forward.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (c) comprises:
positioning said container in front of said hopper and moving said container backwards towards said hopper to cause said container to enclose at least a portion of said hopper.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said material is shifted towards said open end at a predetermined speed and said container is moved away from said hopper at approximately the same speed.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said portion occupies substantially the entire volume of said container.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said shifting causes only the material contained in said portion to be loaded into said container.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the volume of said portion is determined based upon the volume of said container to be filled with said material.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the length of said portion is substantially equal to or less than the length of said container.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said hopper is capable of occupying substantially the entire length or less of said container.
12. A method of loading a shipping container with material comprising:
(a) providing a loader comprising a hopper with a first end and a second end;
(b) loading the material into said hopper;
(c) partially enclosing at least a portion of said hopper within said container, wherein the amount of material loaded into said container is substantially equivalent to the amount of material contained in said portion; and
(d) shifting said material through said second end of said hopper while moving said container away from said hopper.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said portion occupies substantially the entire volume of said container.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the volume of said portion is determined based upon the volume of said container to be filled with said material.