PURPOSE: To facilitate the release of the air introduced in the course of charging of coal and, consequently, to prevent an increase in pressure derived from expansion of the air, by forming an uneven compact layer as a top layer of charge coal when coal is introduced into a coke oven chamber and is then leveled by a leveler.

CONSTITUTION: A roller 9 for the formation of an uneven surface is provided on the underside of the front end of a leveler 7 mounted on an extruder 6. Coal, for coke making from a coal charging car 3 is charged through a plurality of charging ports 2 which are openings located above a coke oven chamber 1. Then, a leveler 7 is inserted through an insert port 5 into the coke oven chamber 1 and moved forward and backward on the top surface of a stacked coal layer 8, and, at the same time, a compacted uneven stripe 81 is formed in the forward and backward directions of the leveler 7 on the top surface of the stacked coal layer 8. By virtue of this constitution, a protruded portion in the uneven stripe 81 serves to compact the coal, while the recessed portion serves to conduct evacuation. This constitution facilitates the release of the air included within the coal layer 8 and prevents an increase in pressure derived from expansion of the air, thereby maintaining the compact state.