辽宁科技大学本科生毕业设计 - 1 -Chip screw conveyor with feed assistAbstractA screw conveyer for conveying metal turnings from a machining operation. The chip screw conveyor includes an auger-like screw configured to move metal turnings in a given direction. The conveyor includes a tubular housing and an input chute defining an input opening. A secondary feeder arm is pivoted to the conveyor housing. The arm is pivoted out of the way in direction when agglomerated scraps/chips are dumped threw input opening into the input chute. Once the chips are dumped in place, the arm is allowed to rotate downwardly to press on the top of the agglomerated scraps/chips. This prevents the chips from bridging between the sides of the input chute and prevents the scraps from balling or rolling on top of the screw in a manner that makes the screw ineffective. The arm creates sufficient force to press the scrap into engagement with the flutes of the screw. In an alternative embodiment, an arm includes a small secondary screw mounted to the arm for moving agglomerated scraps/chips along the arm and into engagement with the underlying screw. In yet another embodiment, an arm includes a vibrator for vibrating the arm to make it more effective. Claims The invention claimed is: 1. A screw conveyor apparatus for conveying agglomerated metal scrap that has a tendency to bridge and ball up in a manner reducing effectiveness of the screw conveyor apparatus, comprising:a screw conveyor including a housing defining an inlet chute with angled sides and a screw rotatable in the housing, the screw including an inlet end proximate the inlet chute, the housing and the screw being constructed from heavy-duty materials and designed to engage and convey highly-abrasive agglomerated metal scrap; and a feed assist operably mounted to the housing at the inlet chute, the feed assist being movable between a first position allowing addition of agglomerated metal scrap into the inlet end and movable to a second position for pressing the agglomerated metal scrap in the inlet end against an outer surface of the screw. 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the feed assist includes an arm pivoted to the housing. 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the arm is gravity actuated. 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein the arm is weighted. 5. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the arm includes a first end hinged to the housing and an opposite end that is free to move up and down, with the opposite end being located closer to the inlet end than the first end. 6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the screw conveyor is configured to operate at an upwardly extending angle from the inlet chute. 7. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the arm includes a vibrator. 8. A screw conveyor apparatus comprising: a screw conveyor including a housing defining an inlet chute with angled sides and a screw rotatable in the housing, the screw including an inlet end proximate the inlet chute; and a feed assist operably mounted to the housing at the inlet chute, the feed assist being movable between a first position allowing addition of agglomerated metal scrap onto the inlet end and movable to a second position for pressing the agglomerated metal scrap material in the inlet end against an outer surface of the screw, the feed assist including an arm pivoted to the housing, the arm including a secondary screw positioned adjacent the conveyor screw when the arm is in a downward/operating position. 9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the secondary screw includes a drive for rotating the secondary screw in a direction the same as the conveyor screw. 10. A method comprising steps of: providing a screw conveyor having a primary screw with a feed assist positioned at an inlet end of the screw conveyor, the screw conveyor being constructed from heavy-duty materials adapted to engage and convey highly abrasive agglomerated metal scrap; moving the feed assist to a first position permitting agglomerated metal scrap to be added to the inlet end; adding agglomerated metal scrap to the inlet end; moving the feed assist to a second position for pressing the agglomerated metal scrap onto the primary screw in the screw conveyor; and pressing the agglomerated metal scrap into engagement with the screw of the screw conveyor to assist in moving the agglomerated metal scrap while rotating the primary screw. 11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the feed assist includes an arm pivoted to the screw conveyor, and wherein the step of moving includes pivoting the arm. 12. The method defined in claim 11 including vibrating the arm to improve effectiveness of the feed assist.13. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the arm is weighted and wherein the step of moving includes utilizing gravity to cause the arm to move. Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns