RVM cleaning arrangement

Abstract

An arrangement comprising: an RVM (410) for receiving containers, an RVM transportation arrangement (440) for transporting the containers to a discharge space a compacting arrangement (420), a storage (460), a set of hollow pipes (451) for transporting said used containers therein, actuation means (450, 453) for providing an airflow to force said compacted used containers to move within said hollow pipes from a pipe inlet to a pipe outlet; a control unit configured to determine that a cleaning session is to be initiated based on at least a time parameter, and upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated being configured to actuate a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement to dispose cleaning liquid through a cleaning liquid outlet and actuate an airflow from each one of said set of at least one discharge space to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet.

Description

[0001] RVM CLEANING ARRANGEMENT

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present inventive concept generally relates to RVM arrangements and more specifically to RVM arrangement being provide with an automatic cleaning arrangement and a method for cleaning RVM arrangements.

[0004] Background

[0005] Environmental and economic concerns have spurred significant developments in the field of facilities for collecting used items such as bottles, cans, cups, bowls, jars, buckets and / or other containers, preferably for recovering the material for recycling purposes. Today, fully automatic systems are available that are capable of receiving and optionally storing many different types of used containers, or parts of used containers. In RVMs (Reverse Vending Machines) returned items are often exchanged for money or vouchers or other valuables or tokens. If so, there is many times a national standard which regulates: which objects (with respect to e.g. types, sizes and materials) that are to be collected by means of the RVM, which redemption that is to be given in return and preferably how the financial transactions within the redemption system is to be handled.

[0006] When used containers are returned, they may contain residues of sweet food and / or beverages e.g. Coke. During e.g. the transportation and compaction of the used container these residues might leak or being poured or squeezed out of the container. The sugar in these residues easily sticks to the mechanical parts, builds up and, over time, the abrasive nature of the sugar particles might wear down the parts of RVM arrangement leading to higher maintenance, and small pieces of e.g. used container material might get stuck in the in the sticky residues. Build ups of used container residues may also impair an efficient transport of the used containers, leading to jamming of movable parts and / or containers, and may lead to an unpleasant smell in the vicinity of the RVM arrangement. Summary of the invention

[0007] An object of the present inventive concept is to alleviate at least some of the above problems, and to provide a solution that to at least some extent, improves the prior art in one or more regards. This, and other objects, which is understood from the disclosure below, is accomplished by means of the solutions defined in the accompanying claims.

[0008] As used herein the term "used container residues" refer to the residues or scrap present on or in the used containers when entered into the RVM (the Reverse Vending Machine) and optionally to small pieces of used container material that for some reason has been separated from the used container during the handling of the used container within the RVM. Disadvantages related to used container residues are discussed in the background.

[0009] In relation to this inventive concept the RVM may be configured to receive one, two or a plurality of items selected from a group comprising bottles, cans, cups, bowls, jars, buckets and other types of containers, preferably for recovering the material for recycling purposes. In relation to this disclosure, the term a used container of a predetermined type refers to a type of container e.g. cup or bottle and optionally also a type of container of a specific material, shape, colour and / or brand, which optionally may be provided with a validation mark to facilitate the recognition of that the used container is of this predetermined type. A used container may be formed of a material such as metal, paper, plastic and combinations thereof, e.g. a tetra pak; and being e.g. a small or large juice box, a plastic cup, a PET-bottle, a plastic bowl, a tin can, metal can and / or an aluminium can, e.g. a drinks can or a food can. According to one example, only containers of predetermined types and fulfilling a national standard are validated as accepted by the validation arrangement. Additionally or alternatively, only containers being provided with a validation mark selected from a group of at least one validation mark, is determined as valid.

[0010] In relation to this inventive concept, when an RVM is configured to receive the used containers in single feed it is configured to receive them one-by-one, see e.g. WO 2020 / 089436 Al, WO 2012 / 177148, it may also be configured to receive them in bulk, see e.g. WO 2024 / 165696, WO 2018 / 007524. The documents also describe different set-up of the RVM arrangements with respect to e.g. the validation arrangement, RVM transport arrangement and the compacting arrangement.

[0011] According to a first aspect thereof, the inventive concepts provides a method for cleaning an RVM arrangement comprising the steps of:

[0012] providing:

[0013] at least one RVM configured to receive used containers through an RVM inlet and to determine, by a validation arrangement, if each of said received used containers is acceptable or non-acceptable,

[0014] at least one compacting arrangement for compacting the used containers which has been determined as acceptable,

[0015] at least one discharge space configured to receive compacted used containers from at least one of said at least one compacting arrangement, wherein each compacting arrangement is arranged upstream of a designated one of said at least one discharge space,

[0016] an RVM transportation arrangement for active and / or passive transportation of the received used containers, which has been determined as valid, from said RVM inlet via said validation arrangement to one of said at least one compacting arrangement, and thereafter to the designated one of said at least one discharge space,

[0017] an air flow transportation arrangement comprising a set of hollow pipes configured to provide at least one transportation path for the compacted used containers, which path is arranged inside said set of hollow pipes and extends at least from one pipe inlet to at least one pipe outlet,

[0018] a storage configured to receive the compacted used containers from said at least one pipe outlet,

[0019] a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement comprising at least one cleaning liquid outlet, which cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is in fluid communication with at least one cleaning liquid reservoir and is configured to transport cleaning liquid from said at least one cleaning liquid reservoir to each one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlets, which at least one cleaning liquid outlets is configured to provide cleaning liquid upstream of, downstream of or within each one of said at least discharge space,

[0020] at least one control unit configured to actuate said air flow transportation arrangement to provide an air-flow at least within said set of hollow pipes and to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement to provide said cleaning liquid to at least said cleaning liquid outlet,

[0021] said method comprising the steps of:

[0022] determining, by said control unit, that a cleaning session is to be initiated at a set of cleaning liquid outlets based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, which set of cleaning liquid outlets comprises at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet,

[0023] upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated at said set of cleaning liquid outlets:

[0024] - actuating said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement to dispose cleaning liquid via said set of cleaning liquid outlets, and

[0025] - providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement, an airflow within said set of hollow pipes.

[0026] According to a second aspect thereof, the inventive concepts provides an arrangement for transportation of used containers, such as used beverage containers, comprising:

[0027] at least one RVM having at least one housing, at least one RVM inlet for receiving used containers at least one compacting arrangement for compacting said received used containers, at least one discharge space for said compacted used containers, and an RVM transportation arrangement for transporting said received used containers inside said at least one housing from said at least one RVM inlet to said at least one discharge space via said compacting arrangement,

[0028] a storage for said received used containers,

[0029] an air transportation arrangement or an air flow transportation arrangement comprising actuation means and a set of hollow pipes for transporting said used containers therein, wherein the set of hollow pipes comprises:

[0030] at least one pipe inlet for receiving compacted used containers from the at least one discharge space,

[0031] at least one pipe outlet for passing said received used containers into said storage,

[0032] wherein said actuation means is configured to provide an airflow within the set of hollow pipes, which air flow is configured to force said compacted used containers to move from said discharge space to one of said at least one pipe outlet;

[0033] a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement configured to be arranged in flowing communication with a cleaning liquid reservoir and configured to feed cleaning liquid from said a cleaning liquid reservoir to cleaning liquid outlets or at least one cleaning liquid outlet,

[0034] at least one control unit configured to determine that a cleaning session is to be initiated based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, and

[0035] upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated being configured to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement to dispose cleaning liquid through at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet and actuate said air flow transportation arrangement to provide an airflow from each one of said set of at least one discharge space to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet. Effects and features of the first and second aspects are largely analogous, and embodiments and examples mentioned in relation to one of the aspects are largely compatible with the other aspect. Hence, all advantages detailed in herein pertaining to the first aspect or any embodiments thereof applies to the second aspect or any embodiments thereof, and vice versa. It is further noted that the inventive concepts relate to all possible combinations of features unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0036] One advantage related to the above aspects is that the cleaning may be performed with a significantly increased frequency, without demanding any increased attention from the staff, or that a member of the staff remembers to execute the cleaning manually. Another advantage related to the above aspects is that it may be performed even when there is a shortage of staff. A further advantage is that even when there is a shortage of staff, the cleaning may be performed so often that the RVM arrangement is significantly cleaner and therefor the downtime of the machine is notably reduced. It is also advantageous that that cleaning may be preformed outside opening hours, and / or that cleaning of hard to reach areas are significantly facilitated. Also, the above aspects provides an increased control and / or facilitates regulating of the amount of water used for cleaning.

[0037] Moreover, the above aspects are advantageous as an air flow transportation provides an enclosed transportation with a minimum of moving parts, which is low in maintenance and easy to install.

[0038] The inventive concept is i.a. based on an insight by the inventors that by providing cleaning liquid during an at least partially air flow based transport of returned items, the surfaces of the returned items may contribute to the cleaning of the boundary surfaces of transportation path. Furthermore, the inventive concept is based on an insight by the inventors that by automatically providing cleaning liquid at regularly occurring intervals, the residues from the received empty containers are at least partially dissolved and preferably transported towards the storage by said airflow, and the residues may also at least to some degree be prevented from solidifying. In essence, there is provided an automatic cleaning of an RVM arrangement's air transportation arrangement based on a set of at least one parameter.

[0039] The RVM arrangement or the arrangement for transportation of used containers according to the first or second aspect is preferably arranged within a building e.g. a store or a warehouse, and may e.g. be arranged on the floor of this facility and / or it may be supported by a supporting structure. Alternatively, the arrangement may be arranged outside, in e.g. a recycling area, optionally being protected by a roof and e.g. one or more weather protective screens.

[0040] As stated above, there is a set of hollow pipes for transportation of used containers therein to at least one pipe outlet, hence the set of hollow pipes may form one or more transportation paths for the used containers, which transportation paths may extend from e.g. one of the discharge spaces to one of said pipe outlets; or extend upstream of e.g. one of the discharge spaces passed, the discharge space and to one of the pipe outlet. The set of hollow pipes may consist of hollow pipes, or the hollow pipes may be interrupted by other structures, feedlines or ducts for guiding, holding and / or passing the used containers along the transportation paths.

[0041] According to one example, the transportation path is fully enclosed from or passed the discharge space to the pipe outlet, according to another example the transportation path is partly open somewhere between the discharge space to the pipe outlet. According to a third example at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90% of the transportation path is fully enclosed from the discharge space to the pipe outlet. According to one examples the hollow pipes have a circular or elliptical crosssection, the hollow pipes may e.g. be formed of tubes having a circular cross-section. According to one example, the hollow pipes are steel pipes and optionally the hollow pipes or tubes are made of a light weight material such as a material comprising aluminium. The diameter of the hollow pipes is e.g. within the range of 150 - 250 mm, e.g. 200 mm, and may extend a distance of at least 5 m or at least 10 m or at least 50 m or at least 100 m, or at least 300 m. The pipes may be arranged such that after their first or second high point they slope downwards in the flow directions towards the storage, wherein their first and optionally second high point of the pipes is arranged at least 1.5 m or at least 2 m or at least 5 m above the discharge space. Many times, the longer the transportation path the higher the arrangement of the hollow pipes to allow for the slight slope downwards..

[0042] According to one exemplifying embodiment, at least one of said at least one transportation path within set of hollow pipes extends passed said at least discharge space. Also two, three, a majority or all of the transportation paths may optionally extend passed said at least discharge space.

[0043] This is advantageous as it allows for providing an air flow passed said discharge space so as to e.g. improve the efficiency of the transport from the discharge space of the compacted used containers and the cleaning liquid (if present).

[0044] According to one exemplifying embodiment, said discharge space is enclosed by at least one wall, e.g. a plurality of walls, and during a cleaning session the cleaning liquid is provided to at least a portion of the at least one wall. According to one example, the discharge space is enclosed by one or more continuous walls such as the inner wall(s) of a chute or container having e.g. a rectangular or elliptic cross section, e.g. forming a square or circle, and during the cleaning sessions the cleaning liquid is e.g. provided to two portions of said inner wall(s), which two portions are arranged opposite each other. This may be achieved e.g. by an outlet providing a 2D fan of cleaning liquid, which fan extends from one side of the discharge space to the opposite side of the discharge space, or which fan wets two opposite sides of the of the discharge space e.g. adjacent to the mid and / or the bottom of the discharge space; or which fan reaches two opposite inner walls e.g. at the mid and / or bottom of the container or chute. Additionally or alternatively, said inner walls are optionally provided with cut outs configured to allow the air flow to pass through the wall(s) enclosing the discharge space.

[0045] According to one exemplifying embodiment, said air flow transportation system further comprises at least one air inlet preferably arranged in said set of hollow pipes, and at least one air flow generator configured to force air into said at least one air inlet. At least one of said at least one air inlet is preferably arranged upstream of a respective one of said at least one discharge space. Also two, three, a majority or all of the air inlets is optionally arranged upstream of a respective one of said at least one discharge space. Also, each discharge space may optionally have at least one air inlet arranged upstream thereof, i.e. arranged upstream of the discharge space.

[0046] The use of an air flow generator that accelerates air within air flow transportation arrangement, by e.g. urging air in through an inlet of said set of hollow pipes, provides an efficient way of creating and / or accelerating an air flow along said at least one transportation path. One air flow generator may e.g. be provided upstream of each one of said a discharge spaces, and an air flow generator may optionally be provided upstream and in the vicinity of each one of said pipe outlets.

[0047] The purpose of the airflow is to force the used containers in the discharge space to move along a transportation path and into the storage, and also to force any cleaning liquid and optionally also residues from the used containers to move along one transportation paths towards said storage.

[0048] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the storage comprises at least two storage compartments, which compartments are separated from each other e.g. by a wall. Optionally two, three or a plurality of the pipe outlets feeds the used containers to a different one of said at least two storage compartments.

[0049] According to one alternative, the RVM arrangement is closed down e.g. during the night, and during this time it is not operational to receive used containers. According to another alternative, the RVM arrangement is ready or open to receive used containers 24 / 7. The RVM arrangement may be scheduled to closed down at other predetermined intervals than once a day during the night, e.g. at weekends or any other predetermined interval e.g. longer than 4 or 6 or 8 or 10 hours. That an RVM arrangement enters into a sleep mode is generally not the same as the RVM arrangement being scheduled to close down.

[0050] According to one example, the RVM arrangement the cleaning liquid at least one cleaning liquid outlet is configured to provide to provide said cleaning liquid upstream of said discharge space and is arranged downstream of the RVM inlet and optionally upstream of said at least one compacting arrangement.

[0051] According to one exemplifying embodiment, at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet is configured to provide cleaning liquid onto said received used containers, at least when said received used containers are being transported in the vicinity of or passed said at least one cleaning liquid outlet during one of said cleaning sessions,

[0052] wherein at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet that is arranged to provide cleaning liquid onto said received used container is optionally arranged upstream of said compacting arrangement.

[0053] Providing, spraying and / or pouring cleaning liquid onto passing received used containers is advantageous as it may improve the used containers ability to dissolve, sweep, scrape and / or remove used container residues present along the transportation path of the wet used container.

[0054] The cleaning liquid may be provided to the used container e.g. when it is transported by the RVM transportation system or the air flow transportation arrangement or present in the discharge space. Optionally, a plurality of cleaning outlets may be provided along the transportation path within the set of hollow pipes, e.g. in the vicinity of at least one, at least two or at least three bends, or along a straight path. The cleaning outlets may e.g. be arranged no more than 0.5 m, 0.3 m or 0.2 m before and / or after a bend. According to one example, one, two or a plurality of the cleaning outlets along a cleaning path is configured to provide cleaning liquid which the air flow forces towards an area where used container residues would build up at least in absence of a regular providing of cleaning liquid. In this disclosure the terms cleaning liquid outlets and cleaning outlets are used interchangeably.

[0055] The RVM transportation arrangement may comprise elements freely selected from a group comprising: V-conveyors, flat belt conveyors optionally provided with compartments, passive slides, passive chutes, air transportation systems, similar element and / or combinations thereof. The RVM transportation arrangement may at least partially be configured to transport said containers by means of free fall, e.g. into the compactor and / or the discharge space.

[0056] According to one exemplifying embodiment, said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement further comprises at least one cleaning outlet arranged in said set of hollow pipes and adjacent to the highest point of each transportation path, and the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is further configured to transport cleaning liquid to said at least one cleaning outlet and into said set of hollow pipes via said at least one cleaning liquid outlet.

[0057] This is advantageous as cleaning liquid provided upstream and at a lower level might not reach the highest point e.g. due to gravity. By adding cleaning liquid in the vicinity of the highest point, or in the vicinity of one of the highest points, or in the vicinity of the second, third and / or fourth highest point, or in the vicinity of the first high turn after the discharge space the cleaning of this part of the set of hollow pipes may be improved. The first high turn after the discharge space is a turn in the vertical direction and may e.g. be the first turn arranged at a height of at least 1.5 m or at least 2 m or at least 2.5 m or at least 3 m or at least 4 m above the discharge space.

[0058] According to one exemplifying embodiment, said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement further comprises at least one cleaning liquid outlet arranged upstream of said at least one discharge space with respect to said transportation path with said set of hollow pipes, and the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is further configured to transport cleaning liquid to said at least one cleaning liquid port outlet or cleaning liquid port arranged up-stream of said at least one discharge space.

[0059] This is advantageous as cleaning liquid provided upstream of a discharge space may drain into the same and improve the cleaning of at least the bottom surface of this space. This is also advantageous as the cleaning liquid may mix with the used containers and thereby improve their cleaning efficiency when the containers are transported further. According to one exemplifying embodiment, the cleaning liquid that is provided during one of said cleaning sessions is provided while said compacting arrangement receives and compacts used containers.

[0060] This is advantageous as it may improve the used containers ability to dissolve, sweep, scrape and / or remove used container residues present along the transportation path of the wet used container.

[0061] According to one exemplifying embodiment, said at least one cleaning liquid outlet is configured to provide cleaning liquid upstream or within at least one or within each one of said at least one discharge space, or onto at least one or onto each one of said compacting arrangements, so that the cleaning liquid drains into respective ones of said at least one discharge space. Further, said step of providing an air flow within said set of hollow pipes comprises providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement, an airflow from each one of said respective ones of said at least one discharge space to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet while said cleaning liquid is present in said discharge space.

[0062] This is advantageous as the compacting of the used containers many times gives rise to an increased flow of used container residues, which may drain into the discharge space. Providing cleaning liquid to discharge space and an airflow from or passed the discharge space, may urge some, a substantial part or nearly all of the used container residues at least a small distance (at least 0.1 m) towards one of the pipe outlets. The urging of the used container residues towards the pipe outlet may be caused by the flow of cleaning liquid and / or air. After being transported a smaller or longer distance (at least 1 m) some or all of the container residues may be relocated at a new surface or evaporated.

[0063] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the amount of cleaning liquid that is provided at each of said cleaning sessions is within the range of 0.25 L to 10 L, or within the range of 0.75 L to 5 L, or within the range of 1 L to 1.5 L, or within the range of 0.5 Lto 1 L.

[0064] According to one example, when all outlets are used along one transportation path the amount of cleaning liquid provided during one normal cleaning session is within the range of 0.25 L to 10 L, or 1 L to 5 L, or within the range of 1 L to 1.5 L, or within the range of 0.5 L to 1 L. According to one example, the cleaning liquid is provided as a liquid stream, liquid droplets, liquid vapour and / or a liquid mist.

[0065] According to one example, the temperature of the cleaning liquid leaving the cleaning liquid outlet is e.g. 40 - 80 °C, or 50 - 75 °C, or 60 - 70 °C. The temperature of the cleaning liquid may e.g. be measured within the liquid transportation arrangement, upstream of the outlet or upstream of the valve arranged closest to the cleaning liquid outlet, optionally between two cleaning sessions when the outlet and / or valve are / is closed and e.g. 10 seconds before the outlet is opened again.

[0066] According to one example, the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement comprises rigid tubes or flexible tubes for transporting the cleaning liquid such as metal, copper, PEX or Airhose having a diameter of e.g. 10 mm or a diameter between e.g. 5-20 mm.

[0067] The cleaning liquid transportation arrangement may comprise a pressure arrangement configured to provide and preferably maintain the cleaning liquid at a predetermined pressure e.g. at 3 bar, or at predetermined minimum pressure e.g. at at least 2 bar, or at predetermined maximum pressure e.g. at at most 6 bar, or within a predetermined pressure interval e.g. within 1-5 bar at least between cleaning sessions and / or when the outlet and / or valve is closed. For example, the pressure arrangement may be configured to raise the pressure of the cleaning liquid to a predetermined minimum pressure e.g. to at least 1 bar, additionally or alternatively the pressure arrangement may be configured to lower the pressure of the cleaning liquid beneath a maximum pressure e.g. beneath 5.5 bar..

[0068] According to one example, the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement comprises and at least one valve arranged upstream of at least one of the at least one cleaning liquid outlet, or at least one valve arranged upstream of each one of the at least one of the cleaning liquid outlet. The valve is configured to allow the cleaning liquid to pass to the cleaning liquid outlet during the cleaning session, and preferably to prevent backflow of the cleaning liquid when / if the pressure of the cleaning liquid drops at the end of or after the cleaning session. According to one example, the at least one valve is arranged upstream of the one(s) of the at least one cleaning liquid outlet that is / are arranged at least 1.5 m or at least 2 m above the discharge space and is, this valve is e.g. a back flow valve for preventing back flow. The pressure arrangement is preferably arranged downstream of said at least one cleaning liquid reservoir and upstream of at least one, a plurality or each of said at least one cleaning liquid outlets. The pressure arrangement may optionally comprise one device or one centralized device, e.g. one pump, providing pressurized cleaning liquid to all cleaning liquid outlets or selected ones of the cleaning liquid outlets. Alternatively, the pressure arrangement may optionally have a distributed set of devices, e.g. two, three or a plurality of pumps, each pump providing cleaning liquid to one, two, three or a predetermined sub-set of the cleaning liquid outlets.

[0069] According to one example, the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement and / or the cleaning liquid reservoir further comprises a pressure arrangement configured to provide the cleaning liquid at a pressure of 1 - 5 bar, or preferably at a pressure of 1.5 - 4 bar, or preferably at a pressure of 2 - 3.5 bar, or preferably at a pressure of 2.5 - 3 bar. The pressure arrangement is e.g. configured to provide the cleaning liquid at the stated pressure to the part of the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement that is arranged down stream of the pressure arrangement.

[0070] According to one example, the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement comprises a return flow inhibitor arranged downstream of one of the discharge space(s), to prevent cleaning liquid from reentering e.g. the discharge space and / or wetting or flooding surfaces of and / or adjacent to the RVM arrangement. The return flow inhibitor is optionally arranged between 0.1 m to 3 m or between 0.5 - 2 m from the discharge space. According to one example, the cleaning liquid is provided through the outlet during a time interval of between 1 sek to 2 min, or during at least 2 sek, or at least 5 sek, at least 15 sek or at least 20 sek.

[0071] According to one exemplifying embodiment, said cleaning liquid is selected from a group comprising: tap water, water, water mixed with a detergent, water mixed with an anti-freezing agent, a composition comprising alcohol, solvents and combinations thereof.

[0072] The use of tap water, or running water, is advantageous as it eliminates the need for making sure that the reservoir is timely refilled. The use of water mixed with an anti-freezing agent is advantageous at it prevents the cleaning liquid from freezing into droplets due to the high transportation speed. The use of water mixed with a detergent is advantageous as it may increase the dissolving properties and / or the efficiency of the cleaning liquid.

[0073] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the cleaning liquid that is provided during a time interval of at least 1 seconds, 5 second, 10 seconds or 15 seconds, or during a time interval within the range of 1 second to 15 seconds.

[0074] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the amount of cleaning liquid or water within a storage filled by said used containers is lower than 20 wt% or lower than 10 wt% or lower than 5 wt%, or maximum 5 wt%, or maximum 10 wt% or maximum 20 wt%.

[0075] This is advantageous as when metal objects, such as cans, are collected for recycling the recycling company many times, for security reasons, has an upper limit to the accepted water content of the compacted used metal containers. The upper limit of the water content is e.g. 5 wt% or 10 wt%.

[0076] The storage may or may not be provided with openings configured to allow cleaning water to drain from said storage. According to one exemplifying embodiment, each RVM is configured close down the receiving and processing of used containers at predetermined intervals, such as daily or weekly, and at a predetermined time thereafter resume the receiving and processing of used containers,

[0077] wherein said time parameter is further indicative of at least one of:

[0078] - the time when the RVM arrangement is configured to close down the receiving and processing of used containers, e.g. 10 pm,

[0079] - the time when the RVM arrangement is configured to resume the receiving and processing of used containers, e.g. 9 am, or e.g. 10 hour after closing down

[0080] - a predetermined interval at which cleaning sessions are to be initiated, e.g. once every 2 hours or once every 4 hours,

[0081] - at least one predetermined time at which a cleaning session is to be initiated, e.g.

[0082] 10 minutes before resuming operation.

[0083] According to on example, the time based parameter is indicative of a time interval since the last cleaning, e.g. within 1.5 h to 3 h, or within 30 min to 5 h, within which time interval the next cleaning session is to be initiated. Additionally or alternatively, the time based parameter is indicative an elapsed time since the last cleaning, e.g.

[0084] 20 min or 30 min or 45 min or lh or 2 h, after which the next cleaning session is to be initiated. Additionally or alternatively, the time based parameter is indicative of a predetermined time, e.g. at 3.00 pm and 4.30 pm, at which a cleaning session is to be initiated. Additionally or alternatively, the time based parameter is indicative of the time interval with which the cleaning session is to be initiated, e.g. every 2 hours or within every 1 to 4 h.

[0085] As stated above the RVM arrangement may be configured to be closed down daily e.g. during the night and e.g. closed sometime between 5 pm and 11.30 pm, and reopened again sometime between 5.30 am and 12 am. According to one example the RVM arrangement is configured to perform a deep cleaning, a regular or a light cleaning in conjunction to the closing of the machine, e.g. which cleaning is performed e.g. within an interval of e.g. 1 hour before until 1 hour after the machine or the store is closed. According to one example, the time parameter is indicative of the time the RVM closes, how long before and / or after the closing time the clean session is to be initiated, and optionally the type of cleaning session e.g. deep, normal or light. According to one example the different types of cleaning sessions differ in the amount of cleaning liquid and / or the amount of air and / or the air speed and / or the type of cleaning liquid and / or the temperature of the cleaning liquid that is provided through the cleaning outlets. Additionally or alternatively, the different types of cleaning sessions differ in the amount of air and / or in the air speed that is provided during the cleaning session.

[0086] According to one exemplifying embodiment at least one cleaning element is provided within said set of hollow pipes, and during a cleaning session the at least one cleaning element is transported along at least one transportations path or along a portion of at least one transportation path. Each cleaning element comprises at least one brush and / or at least one abrasive scrubber and / or at least one abrasive pad, which is configured for rubbing the inner walls of the transportation path. According to one example, the cleaning element is a pig or scraper which performs a pigging action while being transported within at least one of said hollow pipes. The cleaning element may be inserted at a launching station before the cleaning session and removed at a receiving station e.g. at the end of or after the cleaning session. The cleaning element may be transported by means of the air flow and optionally the used containers.

[0087] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated is also based on an activity parameter indicative of the activity rate of said at least one compacting arrangement since the last cleaning session.

[0088] Cleaning the RVM arrangement based on an activity parameter is advantageous as it prevents or reduces an increased build up of empty container residues caused by a high activity rate of the RVM.

[0089] According to one exemplifying embodiment, each RVM is configured to accept used containers of at least one predetermined type, such as PET-bottles and / or cans. Further, each of said at least one RVM is optionally configured to receive a set of at least one used container from a user, which set of at least one used container is processed during a user session, during which user session at least the number of received acceptable used containers is determined. Also according to this exemplifying example, said activity parameter is indicative of at least one of:

[0090] - the number of user sessions each compacting arrangement or each RVM has been involved in since the last cleaning session,

[0091] - the number of used containers received by each compacting arrangement or each RVM since the last cleaning session,

[0092] - the number of used containers of one predetermined type received by each compacting arrangement or each RVM since the last cleaning session

[0093] the number of times the air flow transportation arrangement has been actuated by said at least one control unit since the last cleaning session,

[0094] the amount of time the air flow transportation arrangement has been actuated since the last cleaning session.

[0095] The activity parameter may e.g. be set so a cleaning session starts when there has been 10 or 20 or 30 return sessions or user sessions since the last cleaning. The activity parameter may e.g. be set so a cleaning session starts after a predetermined number of return sessions or user session, which predetermined number of return sessions or user sessions is in the interval of 5 to 50 sessions, or in the interval of 7 to 30 sessions, or in the interval of 10 to 25 sessions. These user sessions or return sessions may denote the number of sessions a specific RVM and / or a specific compacting device has been involved in.

[0096] Additionally or alternatively, the activity parameter may be indicative of the total number of used containers, or the number of used containers of one or at least two specific types, that have been received by a specific RVM or group of RVMs since the last cleaning session.

[0097] Additionally or alternatively, the activity parameter may be indicative of the number of times and / or the amount of time an air flow has been generated from or passed a specific or group of specific discharge spaces. The time parameter and activity parameter may be freely selected to fit the RVM arrangement at hand. According to one example, the time parameter and the activity parameter are selected such that a deep cleaning of the RVM arrangement is performed 15 min before the machine opens for operation in the morning.

[0098] Thereafter a normal cleaning is performed once every 2 hours or after 10 user sessions since the last cleaning, whichever is the shortest. Additionally, a deep cleaning of the RVM arrangement is performed 15 min after the machine closed for operation in the evening. Also, a light cleaning is performed 3 hour after the machine closed for operation in the evening, which is 4 hours before the machine opens in the morning. Alternatively, the cleanings are preformed at the times described above, but all cleanings are normal cleanings.

[0099] Irrespective of the time parameter and activity parameter; according to one exemplifying embodiment cleaning liquid is provided through all cleaning outlets at each cleaning session. Alternatively, the cleaning liquid is provided to only a sub-set of the cleaning outlets during each cleaning session. In other words, during this cleaning session the cleaning liquid is provided to and through one sub-set, or a first sub-set of the cleaning outlets, while the cleaning liquid is not provided through a second sub-set of the cleaning outlets. The first and second sub-sets together forms all the cleaning outlets. According to a third alternative cleaning liquid is sometimes provided to all cleaning outlets during a cleaning sessions, e.g. during a daily deep cleaning session, and sometimes only to a sub-set of cleaning outlets, e.g. when only a subset of the RVMs have had a high activity rate.

[0100] The inventors have noted that to increase the mechanical performance of the RVM arrangement, it is better to use a low amount of cleaning liquid more often, than a higher amount of cleaning liquid more seldom. In more detail, for a given amount of cleaning liquid, e.g. x L / 4 hours, a better mechanical performance [e.g. less jamming of transported items, less breakdown of machine parts, less movable machine parts getting stuck, less calls for maintenance] is achieved by ejecting a lower amount of cleaning liquid more frequently, e.g. 2 or 3 times / h, compared to ejecting a higher amount of cleaning liquid 1 time / 2 h. The inventors have noted that if a cleaning session is run e.g. every 30 minutes a major part of the surfaces inside the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement never dries up between the cleaning sessions. That the cleaning liquid transportation surfaces never dries up between the cleaning sessions is advantageous as it prevents residues form sticking or forming a strong attachment to the inner surfaces of liquid transportation arrangement. The suitable time interval for preventing residues from sticking to the inner surfaces may be dependent on the specific installation and user frequency at hand and is e.g. between 15 min and 1.5 h.

[0101] According to one exemplifying embodiment an air stream is provided along all the transportation paths during each cleaning session. Alternatively, the airstream is provided along only a sub-set of the transportations paths during each cleaning session. In other words, during this cleaning session the airstream is provided along one sub-set, or a first sub-set of the transportation paths and / or partial transportation paths, while the cleaning liquid is not provided along a second subset of transportation paths and / or partial transportation paths. The first and second sub-sets together forms all transportation paths within said set of hollow pipes. According to a third alternative an air flow is sometimes provided to all transportation paths during a cleaning sessions, e.g. during a daily deep cleaning session, and sometimes only to a sub-set of transportation paths, e.g. when only a subset of the RVMs have had a high activity rate.

[0102] According to one alternative, at or during a cleaning session, the air flow is provided passed or from where the liquid cleaning outlets through which cleaning liquid have recently been provided is arranged.

[0103] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the velocity of said air-flow when present inside said set of hollow pipes is within the range of 5 m / s to 35 m / s, or within the range of 15 m / s to 30 m / s. Optionally, the velocity and duration of the air flow is configured to transport any valid container from the discharge space to the storage. According to one exemplifying embodiment the air-flow is provided for a duration of at least 2 min, or at least 3 min, or at least 5 min, or at least 7 min, or at least 10 min, or at least 15 min, or at least 20 min. Additionally or alternatively, the air-flow is provided continuously, or for a duration of at most 30 min, or at most 15 min, or at most 10 min, or at most 5 min, or at most 3 min, or at most 2 min, or at most 1 min.

[0104] This is advantageous as a strong air flow provides a reliable transport of compacted used containers at least from the discharge space to the respective pipe outlet.

[0105] When the air stream is sufficiently high, the surfaces and edges of the used containers many times travel about the same way as the liquid residues, especially at the bends, and that way the cleaning result is improved even further as both are forced along the longer surface of the bend inside the hollow pipe.

[0106] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the number of RVMs and the number of compacting arrangements and the number of discharge space in said RVM arrangement is the same, and each RVM has one dedicated compacting arrangement and one dedicated discharge space, and used containers received at one RVM is transported, by said RVM transportation arrangement to the respective dedicated compacting arrangement and thereafter to the respective dedicated discharge space.

[0107] According to this embodiment each RVM feeds to a respective compactor which in turn feeds to a respective discharge space. Thus for each RVM there is one designated compactor, and for each compactor there is one designated discharge space. Also, for each compactor there is one designated RVM and for each discharge space there is one designated compactor and one designated RVM.

[0108] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the number of RVMs is lower than the number of compacting arrangements in said RVM arrangement. For a set of at least one RVM, each one of the RVMs in this set has at least two dedicated compacting arrangements, and said RVM transportation arrangement is configured to transport used containers, received by an RVM in said set of RVMs, to said dedicated compacting arrangements, e.g. one used beverage container to a respective one of the dedicated compacting arrangement at the time. Thus, there may be a stream of containers which are transported, by the RVM transportation arrangement, to the dedicated compacting arrangement so that the used containers are compacted by a respective compacting arrangement one at a time, which dedicated compacting arrangements may work in parallel.

[0109] According to this embodiment there are RVMs that feed to more than one compactor and there is optionally also one or more RVMs that feet to only one designated compactor. Thus for these RVM there is more than one designated compacting arrangement, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more compactors, and for each compacting arrangements there is one designated discharge space. Also, for each of these compacting arrangements there is at least one designated RVM and for each discharge space there is at least one designated compactor and one at least one designated RVM.

[0110] According to one exemplifying embodiment, the transport of said used containers from said compacting arrangement to said discharge space is fully or partly performed by use of gravity.

[0111] According to one exemplifying embodiment, each RVM is configured to receive said used containers in bulk or in single feed.

[0112] According to one exemplifying embodiment, said used containers are made of at least one of the materials metal, paper and / or plastic.

[0113] According to one example there is provided: an arrangement comprising: an RVM for receiving containers, an RVM transportation arrangement for transporting the containers to a discharge space a compacting arrangement, a storage, a set of hollow pipes for transporting said used containers therein, actuation means for providing an airflow to force said compacted used containers to move within said hollow pipes from a pipe inlet to a pipe outlet; a control unit configured to determine that a cleaning session is to be initiated based on at least a time parameter, and upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated being configured to actuate a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement to dispose cleaning liquid through a cleaning liquid outlet and actuate an airflow from each one of said set of at least one discharge space to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet.

[0114] Generally, the cleaning method and the cleaning arrangement has been described in relation to an RVM arrangement having at least compaction arrangement. However, the cleaning system is equally useful for an RVM Arrangement without any compaction arrangement.

[0115] According to one example there is provided a method for cleaning an RVM arrangement comprising the steps of:

[0116] providing:

[0117] at least one RVM configured to receive used containers through an RVM inlet and to determine, by a validation arrangement, if each of said received used containers is acceptable or non-acceptable,

[0118] at least one discharge space configured to receive the used containers from at least one of said at least one RVM;

[0119] a transportation arrangement for active and / or passive transportation of the received used containers, which has been determined as valid, from said RVM inlet via said validation arrangement to one of said at least one discharge space,

[0120] an air flow transportation arrangement comprising a set of hollow pipes configured to provide at least one transportation path for the used containers, which path is arranged inside said set of hollow pipes and extends at least from one pipe inlet to at least one pipe outlet, a storage configured to receive the used containers from said at least one pipe outlet,

[0121] a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement comprising at least one cleaning liquid outlet, which cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is in fluid communication with at least one cleaning liquid reservoir and is configured to transport cleaning liquid from said at least one cleaning liquid reservoir to each one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlets, which at least one cleaning liquid outlet is configured to provide cleaning liquid upstream of, downstream of or within each one of said at least discharge space,

[0122] at least one control unit configured to actuate said air flow transportation arrangement to provide an air-flow at least within said set of hollow pipes and to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement to provide said cleaning liquid to at least said cleaning liquid outlet,

[0123] said method comprising the steps of: determining, by said control unit, that a cleaning session is to be initiated at a set of cleaning liquid outlets based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, which set of cleaning liquid outlets comprises at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet,

[0124] upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated at said set of cleaning liquid outlets:

[0125] - actuating said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement to dispose cleaning liquid via said set of cleaning liquid outlets, and

[0126] - providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement, an airflow within said set of hollow pipes.

[0127] According to one example there is provided an arrangement for transportation of used containers, such as used beverage containers, comprising:

[0128] - at least one RVM having at least one housing, at least one RVM inlet for receiving used containers, at least one validation arrangement configured to determine each of said received used containers as acceptable or non-acceptable, at least one discharge space for said used containers, and an RVM transportation arrangement (140;440) fortransporting said received used containers inside said at least one housing from said at least one RVM inlet to said at least one discharge space via said validation arrangement,

[0129] - a storage (160; 460) for said received used containers,

[0130] - an air transportation arrangement comprising actuation means and a set of hollow pipes for transporting said used containers therein, wherein the set of hollow pipes comprises:

[0131] - at least one pipe inlet for receiving compacted used containers from the at least one discharge space,

[0132] - at least one pipe outlet for passing said received used containers into said storage,

[0133] wherein said actuation means is configured to provide an airflow within the set of hollow pipes, which air flow is configured to force said compacted used containers to move from said discharge space to one of said at least one pipe outlet; - a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement configured to be arranged in flowing communication with a cleaning liquid reservoir and configured to feed cleaning liquid from said cleaning liquid reservoir to cleaning outlets,

[0134] - at least one control unit configured to determine that a cleaning session is to be initiated based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, and

[0135] - upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated being configured to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement to dispose cleaning liquid through at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet and actuate said air flow transportation arrangement to provide an airflow from each one of said set of at least one discharge space to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet.

[0136] Optionally, the arrangement for transportation of used containers and / or a method for cleaning an RVM arrangement, which arrangements is e.g. devoid of any compacting arrangement upstream of the discharge space, further comprises at least one compacting arrangement, wherein each one of the at least one compacting arrangement is arranged downstream of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet, and the transported used container is provided to and compacted by the compacting arrangement before it is passed to the storage.

[0137] The invention is defined by the appended independent claims, with embodiments being set forth in the appended dependent claims, in the this description and in the drawings. It is to be understood that this inventive concept is not limited to the particular components, parts of the arrangement, or steps of the methods described herein, as these are just described as examples which may be adapted to the situation at hand. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings do not exclude other elements or steps.

[0138] Brief description of the drawings

[0139] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing example embodiments, wherein:

[0140] Fig. 1 is a schematic partial side view and schematic partial cross-sectional view of an RVM arrangement according to the inventive concept, providing a cross-sectional view of two compactors;

[0141] Fig. 2 is a closeup of the RVM arrangement of Fig. 1, but without an indication of the air and cleaning liquid flow directions;

[0142] Fig. 3 is a close-up of the RVM arrangement of Fig. 2, but with the indication of the air and cleaning liquid flow direction and a partial cross-sectional view of the set of hollow pipes.

[0143] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an RVM arrangement according to the inventive concept;

[0144] All figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and mainly show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the inventive concept, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. Throughout the figures, the same reference signs designate the same, or essentially the same features.

[0145] Detailed description of the drawings

[0146] In the following description, the inventive concept is described with reference to an RVM arrangement for receiving used containers. The present disclosure is also described with reference to a method of cleaning an RVM arrangement. It should be noted that this by no means limits the scope of the inventive concept, which is also applicable in other circumstances for instance with other types or variants of devices and steps than the embodiments described in relation to the appended drawings. Further, that specific components are mentioned in relation to one embodiment does not mean that those components cannot be used to an advantage together with other embodiments of the disclosure. Also, that a specific component is mentioned in relation to one embodiments, does not mean that this embodiment can not be used also without this component.

[0147] Fig. 1 is a schematic partial side view, and schematic partial cross-sectional view, of an RVM arrangement 100 according to the inventive concept. Fig. 1. provides a cross-sectional view of two compactors 101 while the rest of the RVM arrangement is provided as a side view. The RVM arrangement is configured to receive used containers, such as cups, cans and / or bottles from e.g. a user, and to feed these into a storage 160 such as a storage container, which storage may later be collected or emptied and the material of the used containers thereafter transported to e.g. a recycling plant.

[0148] When the RVM arrangement is operational and ready to receive used containers, a reverse vending session starts by one or more used containers being entered through an opening of the RVM 111, either in bulk or in single feed. When or after the used container has been entered through the opening of the RVM, it is validated by a validation arrangement 112 which e.g. reads a marking or code, such an image, QR-code or barcode, and / or determines the shape, material and / or weight of said used container to determine if it is to be accepted or rejected. An RVM transportation arrangement 140 transports the ones of the used containers that are determined as acceptable from the validation arrangement to a compacting arrangement 120. The compacting arrangement may e.g. press, tear, crush and / or shred the used container whereafter it is dropped and / or actively transported into a discharge space 130. Before, when or after the compacted used container reaches the discharge space a control unit actuates an air flow within a set of hollow pipes that forces the compacted used container along a transportation path within said set of hollow pipes to an outlet which feeds into the storage. The reverse vending session ends e.g. either when all used containers of said set of used containers have been validated, or when all acceptable used containers of said set of used containers have reached the designated area or have reached the storage.

[0149] A cleaning session of the RVM arrangement is initiated at predetermined intervals, e.g. after every 5 or 10 or 20 reverse vending sessions or at least after a predetermined time since the last cleaning session, whichever interval is the shortest. During such a cleaning session cleaning liquid is provided or poured out of one, two or a plurality of outlets somewhere after the RVM inlet and before the pipe outlet, and the cleaning liquid is preferably poured out simultaneously, or substantially simultaneously, of all outlets arranged along the same transportation path. A cleaning session can be actuated while the RVM arrangement is processing received used containers and / or when the RVM arrangement is idle. When the cleaning liquid is poured onto one or more used containers, the edges and / or outer surfaces of the one or more used containers may act as dissolving scrapers on the surface that they come in contact with, especially while wet and after they have been compacted.

[0150] In Figure 1 and 4 there is provided an RVM arrangement 100; 400 having at least one RVM 110; 410 configured to receive used containers through an RVM inlet 111;411 and to determine, by a validation arrangement 112, if each of said received used containers is acceptable or non-acceptable. In Fig. 1 the RVM 110 is configured for receiving the used container in single feed, and in Figure 4 two of the RVMs are configured to receive the used containers in bulk, and two of the RVMs are configured to receive the used containers in single feed. Each of said five RVMs are provided with an validation arrangement 212.

[0151] Further, the RVM arrangement has at least one compacting arrangement 120; 420 (only the housings of the compacting arrangement is shown in Fig. 4) for compacting the used containers which has been determined as acceptable. Fig 3 shows two teeth provided rotating rollers between which the used beverage containers passes when being compacted according to this non-limiting example. There are a variety of other ways to compact used beverage containers know in the art.

[0152] The RVM arrangement has at least one discharge space 130 configured to receive compacted used containers from at least one of said at least one compacting arrangement, wherein each compacting arrangement is arranged upstream of a designated one of said at least one discharge space. The compacted used beverage containers may be dropped, slid and / or actively transported to the discharge space. One example of a discharge space is shown in detail in Figure 3, and is marked with hatched lines. According to this example the discharge space is the space where compacted used containers may pile up and is in this e.g. outlined by a portion of the tube beneath the compactor together with a portion of the hopper. The RVM arrangement has an RVM transportation arrangement 140;440 for active and / or passive transportation of the received used containers, which has been determined as valid, from said RVM inlet 111;411 via said validation arrangement 112 to one of said at least one compacting arrangement 120;420, and thereafter to the designated one of said at least one discharge space 130. According to one example, the used containers are distributed between the compacting arrangement based on capacity; if one compacting arrangement is occupied another one is used. Additionally or alternatively, the used containers my be distributed between the compacting arrangements based on the type of container; so one subset of compacting arrangements accepts a fist type of containers, e.g. plastic, while another subset of compacting arrangements accepts a second type of containers, e.g. metal. Optionally, one compacting arrangement may accept two types of containers, such as both PET-bottles and cans. Optionally, the transportation system is configured to feed the used containers entered into one of RVM to a dedicated subset of said compacting arrangements. As seen in Figure 4 the RVMs are arranged in two groups, with one bulk RVM and one single feed RVM in each group. Further, also the compacting arrangements are arranged in two groups. Moreover, for each group of RVMs there is a designated group or compacting arrangements. Also, the transporting arrangement is configured so that it may only transport used containers entered into an RVM of one group to compacting arrangements in one of the groups. Consequently, for each RVM there is a designated set of at least one compacting arrangement; and the RVM transportation system may be configured to transport used beverage containers entered into one of the RVM only to a designated set of at least one compacting arrangement.

[0153] Further, each subset of at least one RVM may have a different designated sub-set of compacting arrangement. In Figure 4 there are two subsets of RVM and two subsets of compacting arrangement, and the transportation arrangement is configured to transport used beverage containers entered into an RVM of one of said subset, to a compacting of only one of said subsets of compacting arrangements. According to the example shown in Figures 1-3 each compacting arrangement has a separate designated discharge space formed by a respective portion of the tube and a portion of the respective hopper. Alternatively, the designated spaces may fully or partially overlap. The RVM arrangement has an air flow transportation arrangement 150;450 comprising a set of hollow pipes 151;451 configured to provide at least one transportation path for the compacted used containers, which path is arranged inside said set of hollow pipes 151;451 and extends at least from one pipe inlet 152 to at least one pipe outlet 153;453. The pipe inlet may be arranged inside the pipe, if the discharge space extends across a first portion of the pipe. According to the nonlimiting example shown in Fig. 4 the set of hollow pipes starts at an air inlet 455. There is a separation between the air inlet and the storage wall. The pipe having the air let 455 continues according to this non-limiting example to and through the housing of the compacting arrangement 420 in a similar way as is shown in Fig. 2. In the system shown in Figure 4, the pipe having the air let 455 is split into two hollow pipes 451'and 452" providing two different transportation paths. The two transportation paths may e.g. transport different types of containers, such as one for metal and one for plastic; or the two transportation paths may transport a mixed content. If a separation of the containers is preferred based on material, the compacting arrangements in the row facing the viewer may be configured to handle a first type of material, and the compacting arrangements in the row facing away from the viewer may be configured to handle a second type of material; and the transportation arrangement is preferably configured to feed the received used containers accordingly. After the hollow pipes 451'and 452"have passed the respective lines of compacting arrangements, they make a turn and enters upstream of the second subset of compacting arrangements. The hollow pipes 451'and 452" may pass the two lines of compacting arrangements of the second subset of compacting arrangements in the same or a similar way as shown in Fig. 2. Thereafter the hollow pipes continues to the storage 460, where the pipe outlet 453 of one of the hollow pipes feeds into a first storage compartment, such as a first cargo container, and the other of the two hollow pipes feeds into a second storage compartment, such as a second cargo container.

[0154] As stated above the RVM arrangement has a storage 160;460 configured to receive the compacted used containers from said at least one pipe outlet 153;453.

[0155] The RVM arrangement has a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement 180, where one example is schematically shown in Fig. 1, which is in fluid communication with at least one cleaning liquid reservoir 181, such as a water tap, and configured to transport cleaning liquid from said at least one cleaning liquid reservoir 181 into the RVM arrangement, which cleaning liquid transportation arrangement comprises at least one cleaning liquid outlet 182 configured to provide cleaning liquid upstream of, downstream of or within each one of said at least discharge space 120. According to the example shown in Fig. 1 the cleaning liquid is provided within the housing of the compacting arrangement and at one of the bends formed by the hollow pipes. The RVM arrangement has at least one control unit 470 configured to actuate said air flow transportation arrangement to provide an air-flow at least within said set of hollow pipes and to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement 180 to provide said cleaning liquid to at least said cleaning liquid outlet 183. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 one air flow generator is arranged upstream of the most upstream compacting arrangement 420", similarly to what is shown in Fig. 2, and one air flow generator is arranged at or in the vicinity of the T-cross adjacent to the respective pipe outlets 453.

[0156] The white arrows in Fig. 1 and 3 indicates the direction of the air stream according to this non-limiting example, and it is i.a. generated by e.g. at least one fan 156 e.g. provided in a hollow pipe arranged upstream of the first sub-set of compacting arrangements 420', 420". The at least one fan forces air into the hollow pipes e.g. at a location upstream of one of the at least one discharge space, and optionally upstream of the most upstream discharge space, and / or forces air into the hollow pipes e.g. at a location 483 adjacent to the at least one pipe outlet. The purpose of the airflow is to force the used containers in the discharge space 130 to move along a transportation path and into the storage, and also to force any cleaning liquid and optionally also residues from the used containers to move along one transportation paths towards said storage. The dark arrows in Fig. 1 and 3 indicates the direction of the cleaning liquid.

[0157] Fig. 1 shows two compactors, and each is provided with at least one cleaning liquid outlet above the active transporter 183, which cleaning liquid outlet is arranged upstream of the compacting arrangement 120 as seen in the transportation direction. Moreover, if there are received containers present on the transporter when cleaning liquid is provided from the outlets, these will become wet from cleaning liquid and will carry some of the cleaning liquid downstream util it disappears e.g. by means of being shaken off during the transport, that it slides off e.g. a smooth outer surface of the received container, and / or that it evaporates from the surface. Additionally or alternatively, an outlet or port for cleaning liquid may be arranged in the

[0158] Optionally, an opening or port for cleaning liquid may be arranged in the hollow pipe somewhere between said fan 156 and the discharge space arranged closest to the fan. This opening or port for the cleaning liquid may be referred to as being arranged upstream of the discharge space, and also referred to as being arranged upstream of the discharge space as seen in the direction of the air stream. The air stream generated by the fan may aid the cleaning liquid to reach the first discharge space.

[0159] A method for cleaning the RVM arrangement 100, 400 may comprise the steps of:

[0160] - determining, by said control unit 470, that a cleaning session is to be initiated at a set of cleaning liquid outlets based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, which set of cleaning liquid outlets comprises at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet 183, - upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated at a set of cleaning liquid outlets 183:

[0161] - actuating said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement 180 to dispose cleaning liquid via each one of said set of cleaning liquid outlets 183, and

[0162] - providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement 450, an airflow within said set of hollow pipes 451.

[0163] In more details, in Figures 1-4 there are shown an arrangement 100 for transportation of used containers, such as used beverage containers, comprising at least one RVM and at least one housing. Figure 4 shows two pairs of RVMs 410', 410" and 410"', 410"", where each pair of RVMs shares a common housing. Each RVM 110; 410 has at least one RVM inlet 111; 411 for receiving used containers, and at least one compacting arrangement 120; 420 for compacting said received used containers. There is at least one discharge space 130 for said compacted used containers, and an RVM transportation arrangement 140; 440 for transporting said received used containers inside said at least one housing from said at least one RVM inlet 111; 411 to one of said at least one discharge space 130 via said compacting arrangement 120. The arrangement for transportation of used containers 100 further comprises a storage 160; 460 for said received used containers, an air flow transportation arrangement comprising actuation means 156, 453, 450 and a set of hollow pipes 451 for transporting said used containers therein, wherein the set of hollow pipes comprises:

[0164] at least one pipe inlet 152 for receiving compacted used containers from the at least one discharge space 130,

[0165] at least one pipe outlet 153, 453 for passing said received used containers into said storagel60; 460,

[0166] wherein said actuation means 156, 453, 450 is configured to provide an airflow within the set of hollow pipes 151, which air flow is configured to force said compacted used containers to move from said discharge space 130 to a respective pipe inlet 152 and inside said set of hollow pipes 151 from said pipe inlet to one of said at least one pipe outlet 153, 453.

[0167] The arrangement 100 for transportation of used containers may also comprise a cleaning arrangement 180 for cleaning the air flow transportation arrangement comprising a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement 180 for configured to be arranged in flowing communication with a cleaning liquid reservoir 181 and configured to feed cleaning liquid from said cleaning liquid reservoir to cleaning liquid outlets 183.

[0168] The arrangement 100 for transportation of used containers may also comprise at least one control unit configured to determine that a cleaning session is to be initiated at a set of at least one cleaning liquid outlets 183 based on at least a time parameter the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, and upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated being configured to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement 180 to dispose cleaning liquid through said at least one cleaning liquid outlet 182 and configured to providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement, an airflow from each one of said set of at least one discharge space 130 to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet 153. According to one non-limiting example, to perform the cleaning session tap water or cleaning liquid is provided at, or heated to, a temperature of about 65 °C and given, by a pressure arrangement, a pressure of 2-3 bar, before and / or while it flows inside a flexible tubing. The flexible tubing leads to one or more cleaning liquid outlets, optionally via a valve arranged upstream of each cleaning liquid outlet. During the cleaning session the tap water or cleaning liquid is released through the cleaning liquid outlets during e.g. 7 seconds every 30 minutes or after every 5-7 customer sessions whichever is the shortest. During the 7 seconds may approx. 1.1-1.4 L of tap water / cleaning liquid is released through each outlet.

[0169] The temperature, pressure, time parameter and activity parameter may be freely selected to fit the RVM arrangement at hand. According to one example, the time parameter and the activity parameter are selected such that a deep cleaning of the RVM arrangement is performed 15 min before the machine opens for operation in the morning. Thereafter a normal cleaning is performed once every 2 hours or after 10 user sessions since the last cleaning, whichever is the shortest. Additionally, a deep cleaning of the RVM arrangement is performed 15 min after the machine closed for operation in the evening. Also, a light cleaning is performed 3 hour after the machine closed for operation in the evening, which is 4 hours before the machine opens in the morning. Thus, as the activity rate partly decides the cleaning interval, the transportation path from one of the RVMs 410' might be cleaned three times as often as the transportation path from another RVM 410"' dependent on e.g. user behavior. ITEMISED LIST OF EMBODIMENTS

[0170] Item 1. A method for cleaning an RVM arrangement (100) comprising the steps of:

[0171] providing:

[0172] at least one RVM (110, 410) configured to receive used containers through an RVM inlet (111) and to determine, by a validation arrangement (112), if each of said received used containers is acceptable or non-acceptable, at least one discharge space (130) configured to receive the used containers from at least one of said at least one RVM (110, 410);

[0173] a transportation arrangement (140) for active and / or passive transportation of the received used containers, which has been determined as valid, from said RVM inlet (111) via said validation arrangement (112) to one of said at least one discharge space (130), an air flow transportation arrangement (150) comprising a set of hollow pipes (151) configured to provide at least one transportation path for the used containers, which path is arranged inside said set of hollow pipes (151) and extends at least from one pipe inlet (152) to at least one pipe outlet (153),

[0174] a storage (160) configured to receive the used containers from said at least one pipe outlet (153),

[0175] a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (180) comprising at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183), which cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is in fluid communication with at least one cleaning liquid reservoir (181) and is configured to transport cleaning liquid from said at least one cleaning liquid reservoir (181) to each one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlets (183), which at least one cleaning liquid outlet is configured to provide cleaning liquid upstream of, downstream of or within each one of said at least discharge space (130),

[0176] at least one control unit (470) configured to actuate said air flow transportation arrangement (150) to provide an air-flow at least within said set of hollow pipes (151) and to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (150) to provide said cleaning liquid to at least said cleaning liquid outlet (183),

[0177] said method comprising the steps of:

[0178] determining, by said control unit (470), that a cleaning session is to be initiated at a set of cleaning liquid outlets (183) based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, which set of cleaning liquid outlets (183) comprises at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet, upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated at said set of cleaning liquid outlets (183):

[0179] - actuating said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (180) to dispose cleaning liquid via said set of cleaning liquid outlets (183), and - providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement (150), an airflow within said set of hollow pipes.

[0180] Item 2. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) is configured to provide cleaning liquid onto said received used containers, at least when said received used containers are being transported in the vicinity of or passed said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) during one of said cleaning sessions,

[0181] wherein at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) that is arranged to provide cleaning liquid onto said received used container is optionally arranged upstream of said compacting arrangement (120;420).

[0182] Item 3. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) is configured to provide cleaning liquid upstream or within each one said at least one discharge space (130), so that the cleaning liquid drains into respective ones of said at least one discharge space (130); and

[0183] said step of providing an air flow within said set of hollow pipes comprises providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement (150, 450), an airflow from each one of said respective ones of said at least one discharge space (130) to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet (153) while said cleaning liquid is present in said discharge space.

[0184] Item 4. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated is also based on an activity parameter indicative of the activity rate of said RVM arrangement since the last cleaning session. Item 5. A method according to item 1 or 2, wherein the amount of cleaning liquid or water within a storage filled by said used containers is lower than 20 wt% or lower than 10 wt% or lower than 5 wt%.

[0185] Item 6. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the amount of cleaning liquid that is provided at each of said cleaning sessions is within the range of 0.25 L to 10 L, or within the range of 0.75 L to 5 L.

[0186] Item 7. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the cleaning liquid that is provided during a time interval of at least 1, 5, 10 or 15 seconds.

[0187] Item 8. A method according to any one of the preceding items, further comprises providing at least one compacting arrangement (120,420) for compacting the used containers which has been determined as acceptable, and wherein the discharge space (130) is configured to receive compacted used containers from at least one of said at least one compacting arrangement, wherein each compacting arrangement (120,420) is arranged upstream of a designated one of said at least one discharge space (130) and wherein the cleaning liquid that is provided during one of said cleaning sessions is provided while said at least one compacting arrangement receives and compacts used containers.

[0188] Item 9. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the velocity of said air-flow when present inside said set of hollow pipes is within the range of 5 m / s and 35 m / s, or within the range of 15 m / s and 30 m / s at least when said hollow pipes are free of any used containers, and wherein said at least one control unit (470) is preferably configured to actuate said airflow based on at least a parameter indicative of a used container being provided to said at least one RVM (110;410) and / or a determination by said control unit (470) that a cleaning session is to be initiated. Item 10. A method according to item 8 or 9, wherein each RVM (110, 410) is configured to accept used containers of at least one predetermined type, such as PET-bottles and / or cans,

[0189] wherein each of said at least one RVM is configured to receive a set of at least one used container from a user, which set of at least one used container is processed during a user session, during which user session at least the number of received acceptable used containers is determined,

[0190] wherein said activity parameter is indicative of at least one of:

[0191] - the number of user sessions each compacting arrangement (120,420) or each RVM (110; 410) has been involved in since the last cleaning session,

[0192] - the number of used containers received by each compacting arrangement or each RVM since the last cleaning session,

[0193] - the number of used containers of one predetermined type received by each compacting arrangement or each RVM since the last cleaning session

[0194] the number of times the air flow transportation arrangement has been actuated by said at least one control unit since the last cleaning session,

[0195] the amount of time the air flow transportation arrangement has been actuated since the last cleaning session.

[0196] Item 11. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein each RVM (110,410) is configured close down the receiving and processing of used containers at predetermined intervals, such as daily, and at a predetermined time thereafter resume the receiving and processing of used containers, wherein said time parameter is further indicative of at least one of:

[0197] - the time when the RVM arrangement (100) is configured to close down the receiving and processing of used containers,

[0198] - the time when the RVM arrangement (100) is configured to resume the receiving and processing of used containers,

[0199] - a predetermined interval at which cleaning sessions are to be initiated,

[0200] - at least one predetermined time at which a cleaning session is to be initiated.

[0201] Item 12. A method according to any one of the preceding item, wherein said cleaning liquid is selected from the following: tap water, water, water mixed with a detergent, water mixed with an anti-freezing agent, a composition comprising alcohol, a solvent and combinations thereof.

[0202] Item 13. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement further comprises at least one cleaning outlet (183) arranged in said set of hollow pipes adjacent to the highest point of each transportation path, and the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is further configured to transport cleaning liquid to said at least one cleaning outlet and into said set of hollow pipes via said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183).

[0203] Item 14. A method according to any one of the preceding items wherein at least one of said at least one transportation path within set of hollow pipes extends passed said at least discharge space (130).

[0204] Item 15. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement further comprises at least one cleaning liquid outlet (283) arranged upstream of said at least one discharge space with respect to said transportation path with said set of hollow pipes, and the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is further configured to transport cleaning liquid to said at least one cleaning liquid outlet or cleaning liquid port arranged up-stream of said at least one discharge space.

[0205] Item 16. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said air flow transportation system further comprises at least one air inlet preferably arranged in said set of hollow pipes and at least one air flow generator configured to force air into said at least one air inlet, each one of said at least one air inlet preferably being arranged upstream of a respective one of said at least one discharge space.

[0206] Item 17. A method according to any one of items 8 to 16, wherein the number of RVMs and the number of compacting arrangements and the number of discharge space in said RVM arrangement is the same, and each RVM has one dedicated compacting arrangement and one dedicated discharge space, and used containers received at one RVM is transported, by said RVM transportation arrangement to the respective dedicated compacting arrangement and thereafter to the respective dedicated discharge space.

[0207] Item 18. A method according to any one of items 8 - 17, wherein the number of RVMs is lower than the number of compacting arrangements in said RVM arrangement, and for a set of at least one RVM, each one of the RVMs in said set of RVMs has at least two dedicated compacting arrangements, and said RVM transportation arrangement is configured to transport used containers, received an RVM of said set of RVMs, to said dedicated compacting arrangements preferably one used beverage container to each dedicated compacting arrangement at the time.

[0208] Item 19. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein each RVM (110,410) is configured to receive said used containers in bulk or in single feed.

[0209] Item 20. A method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said used containers are made of at least one of the materials metal, paper and / or plastic.

[0210] Item 21. An arrangement for transportation of used containers, such as used beverage containers, comprising:

[0211] - at least one RVM (110; 410) having at least one housing, at least one RVM inlet (111; 411) for receiving used containers, at least one validation arrangement configured to determine each of said received used containers as acceptable or non-acceptable, at least one discharge space (130) for said used containers, and an RVM transportation arrangement (140;440) fortransporting said received used containers inside said at least one housing from said at least one RVM inlet (111,411) to said at least one discharge space (130) via said validation arrangement (120;420), - a storage (160; 460) for said received used containers,

[0212] - an air flow transportation arrangement (150; 450) comprising actuation means (156; 450, 453) and a set of hollow pipes (151; 451) for transporting said used containers therein, wherein the set of hollow pipes comprises:

[0213] - at least one pipe inlet (152) for receiving compacted used containers from the at least one discharge space,

[0214] - at least one pipe outlet (153;453) for passing said received used containers into said storage,

[0215] wherein said actuation means (156; 450, 453) is configured to provide an airflow within the set of hollow pipes (151; 451), which air flow is configured to force said compacted used containers to move from said discharge space (130) to one of said at least one pipe outlet (153; 453);

[0216] - a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (180) configured to be arranged in flowing communication with a cleaning liquid reservoir (181) and configured to feed cleaning liquid from said cleaning liquid reservoir to at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183),

[0217] - at least one control unit configured to determine that a cleaning session is to be initiated based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, and

[0218] - upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated being configured to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (180) to dispose cleaning liquid through at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) and actuate said air flow transportation arrangement (150;450) to provide an airflow from each one of said set of at least one discharge space (130) to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet (153;453).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for cleaning an RVM arrangement (100) comprising the steps of: providing:at least one RVM (110, 410) configured to receive used containers through an RVM inlet (111) and to determine, by a validation arrangement (112), if each of said received used containers is acceptable or non-acceptable, at least one compacting arrangement (120; 420) for compacting the used containers which has been determined as acceptable,at least one discharge space (130) configured to receive compacted used containers from at least one of said at least one compacting arrangement (120), wherein each compacting arrangement is arranged upstream of a designated one of said at least one discharge space,an RVM transportation arrangement (140) for active and / or passive transportation of the received used containers, which has been determined as valid, from said RVM inlet (111) via said validation arrangement (112) to one of said at least one compacting arrangement (120; 420), and thereafter to the designated one of said at least one discharge space (130),an air flow transportation arrangement (150) comprising a set of hollow pipes (151) configured to provide at least one transportation path for the compacted used containers, which path is arranged inside said set of hollow pipes (151) and extends at least from one pipe inlet (152) to at least one pipe outlet (153),a storage (160) configured to receive the compacted used containers from said at least one pipe outlet (153),a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (180) comprising at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183), which cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is in fluid communication with at least one cleaning liquid reservoir (181) and is configured to transport cleaning liquid from said at least one cleaning liquid reservoir (181) to each one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlets (183), which at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) is configured to provide cleaning liquid upstream of, downstream of or within each one of said at least discharge space (130),at least one control unit (470) configured to actuate said air flow transportation arrangement (150) to provide an air-flow at least within said set of hollow pipes (151) and to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (150) to provide said cleaning liquid to at least said cleaning liquid outlet (183),said method comprising the steps of:determining, by said control unit (470), that a cleaning session is to be initiated at a set of cleaning liquid outlets (183) based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, which set of cleaning liquid outlets (183) comprises at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183),upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated at said set of cleaning liquid outlets (183):- actuating said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (180) to dispose cleaning liquid via said set of cleaning liquid outlets (183), and - providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement (150), an airflow within said set of hollow pipes.

2. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) is configured to provide cleaning liquid onto said received used containers, at least when said received used containers are being transported in the vicinity of or passed said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) during one of said cleaning sessions,wherein at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) that is arranged to provide cleaning liquid onto said received used container is optionally arranged upstream of said compacting arrangement (120; 420).

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) is configured to provide cleaning liquid upstream or within each one said at least one discharge space (130), or onto each one of said compacting arrangements (120; 420), so that the cleaning liquid drains into respective ones of said at least one discharge space (130); andsaid step of providing an air flow within said set of hollow pipes comprises providing, by said air flow transportation arrangement (150, 450), an airflow from each one of said respective ones of said at least one discharge space (130) to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet (153) while said cleaning liquid is present in said discharge space.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated is also based on an activity parameter indicative of the activity rate of said RVM arrangement (100) since the last cleaning session.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of cleaning liquid or water within a storage filled by said used containers is lower than 20 wt% or lower than 10 wt% or lower than 5 wt%.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of cleaning liquid that is provided at each of said cleaning sessions is within the range of 0.25 L to 10 L, or within the range of 0.75 L to 5 L.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning liquid that is provided during a time interval of at least 1, 5, 10 or 15 seconds.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning liquid that is provided during one of said cleaning sessions is provided while said compacting arrangement (120; 420) receives and compacts used containers.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the velocity of said air-flow when present inside said set of hollow pipes is within the range of 5 m / s and 35 m / s, or within the range of 15 m / s and 30 m / s at least when said hollow pipes are free of any compacted used containers, and wherein said at least one control unit (470) is preferably configured to actuate said airflow based on at least a parameter indicative of a used container being provided to said at least one RVM (110; 410) and / or a determination by said control unit (470) that a cleaning session is to be initiated.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each RVM (110; 410) is configured to accept used containers of at least one predetermined type, such as PET-bottles and / or cans,wherein each of said at least one RVM is configured to receive a set of at least one used container from a user, which set of at least one used container is processed during a user session, during which user session at least the number of received acceptable used containers is determined, wherein said activity parameter is indicative of at least one of:- the number of user sessions each compacting arrangement (120; 420) or each RVM has been involved in since the last cleaning session,- the number of used containers received by each compacting arrangement (120; 420) or each RVM since the last cleaning session,- the number of used containers of one predetermined type received by each compacting arrangement (120; 420)or each RVM since the last cleaning sessionthe number of times the air flow transportation arrangement (150, 450) has been actuated by said at least one control unit (470) since the last cleaning session,the amount of time the air flow transportation arrangement has been actuated since the last cleaning session.

11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each RVM (110; 410) is configured close down the receiving and processing of used containers at predetermined intervals, such as daily, and at a predetermined time thereafter resume the receiving and processing of used containers, wherein said time parameter is further indicative of at least one of:- the time when the RVM arrangement (100)is configured to close down the receiving and processing of used containers,- the time when the RVM arrangement (100) is configured to resume the receiving and processing of used containers,- a predetermined interval at which cleaning sessions are to be initiated, - at least one predetermined time at which a cleaning session is to be initiated.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claim, wherein said cleaning liquid is selected from the following: tap water, water, water mixed with a detergent, water mixed with an anti-freezing agent, a composition comprising alcohol, a solvent and combinations thereof.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement further comprises at least one cleaning outlet (183) arranged in said set of hollow pipes adjacent to the highest point of each transportation path, and the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is further configured to transport cleaning liquid to said at least one cleaning outlet and into said set of hollow pipes via said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183).

14. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of said at least one transportation path within set of hollow pipes extends passed said at least discharge space (130).

15. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement further comprises at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) arranged upstream of said at least one discharge space (130) with respect to said transportation path with said set of hollow pipes, and the cleaning liquid transportation arrangement is further configured to transport cleaning liquid to said at least one cleaning liquid outlet or cleaning liquid port arranged up-stream of said at least onedischarge space.

16. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said air flow transportation system further comprises at least one air inlet preferably arranged in said set of hollow pipes and at least one air flow generator configured to force air into said at least one air inlet, each one of said at least one air inlet preferably being arranged upstream of a respective one of said at least one discharge space (130).

17. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of RVMs and the number of compacting arrangements (120; 420) and the number of discharge space (130) in said RVM arrangement is the same, and each RVM (110; 410)has one dedicated compacting arrangement and one dedicated discharge space, and used containers received at one RVM is transported, by said RVM transportation arrangement to the respective dedicated compacting arrangement and thereafter to the respective dedicated discharge space.

18. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of RVMs is lower than the number of compacting arrangements (120; 420) in said RVM arrangement (100), and for a set of at least one RVM (110; 410), each one of the RVMs in said set of RVMs has at least two dedicated compacting arrangements, and said RVM transportation arrangement is configured to transport used containers, received an RVM of said set of RVMs, to said dedicated compacting arrangements preferably one used beverage container to each dedicated compacting arrangement at the time.

19. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each RVM (110; 410) is configured to receive said used containers in bulk or in single feed.

20. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said used containers are made of at least one of the materials metal, paper and / or plastic.

21. An arrangement for transportation of used containers, such as used beverage containers, comprising:- at least one RVM (110; 410) having at least one housing, at least one RVM inlet (111; 411) for receiving used containers, at least one compacting arrangement (120; 420) for compacting said received used containers, at least one discharge space (130) for said compacted used containers, and an RVM transportation arrangement (140;440) fortransporting said received used containers inside saidat least one housing from said at least one RVM inlet (111,411) to said at least one discharge space (130) via said compacting arrangement (120;420),- a storage (160; 460) for said received used containers,- an air flow transportation arrangement (150; 450) comprising actuation means (156; 450, 453) and a set of hollow pipes (151; 451) for transporting said used containers therein, wherein the set of hollow pipes comprises:- at least one pipe inlet (152) for receiving compacted used containers from the at least one discharge space (130),- at least one pipe outlet (453) for passing said received used containers into said storage,wherein said actuation means (156; 450, 453) is configured to provide an airflow within the set of hollow pipes (151; 451), which air flow is configured to force said compacted used containers to move from said discharge space (130) to one of said at least one pipe outlet (153, 453);- a cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (180) configured to be arranged in flowing communication with a cleaning liquid reservoir (181) and configured to feed cleaning liquid from said cleaning liquid reservoir to at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183),- at least one control unit configured to determine that a cleaning session is to be initiated based on at least a time parameter indicative of the elapsed time since the last cleaning session, and- upon determination that a cleaning session is to be initiated being configured to actuate said cleaning liquid transportation arrangement (180) to dispose cleaning liquid through at least one of said at least one cleaning liquid outlet (183) and actuate said air flow transportation arrangement (150;450) to provide an airflow from each one of said set of at least one discharge space (130) to a set of at least one of said at least one pipe outlet (153, 453).

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