Container compressing arrangement

A method of operating a container compressing arrangement, for compacting empty containers, said container compressing arrangement comprising:

• a first and a second rotatable roller, each of said rollers having a working surface arranged between two oppositely arranged ends, wherein said rollers are arranged adjacent to each other to rotate in opposite directions around a respective rotation axis in a common geometrical xz-plane (xz);
• and
• wherein said working surface comprises a plurality of ridges extending across said working surface, in an axial direction of said roller, and distributed in the circumferential direction of said working surface, each ridge having a longitudinal extension in said axial direction;
• wherein said ridges each comprise a leading surface, a trailing surface and a leading edge for gripping said containers, wherein said leading edge is arranged between said leading surface and said trailing surface, wherein said leading surface forms an angle, α, in the direction of rotation of said rollers and in relation to a radial direction of said rollers such that the leading surface comprises an overhang, wherein at least one of said ridges of at least one of said rollers is provided with recesses extending in the axial direction, and
• said method comprising:
• rotating said rollers such that said rollers co-operate in a meshed and contactless arrangement, wherein a roller gap is always present between said rollers in a xy-plane,
• wherein said roller gap is, during rotation, defined by:
• said leading edge of a ridge on said first roller and a trailing surface on said second roller;
• and
• said leading edge of a ridge on said second roller and a trailing surface on said first roller.

A container compressing arrangement, mountable in a reverse vending machine, for compacting empty containers, said container compressing arrangement comprising:

• a first and a second rotatable roller, each of said rollers having a working surface arranged between two oppositely arranged ends, wherein said rollers are arranged adjacent to each other to rotate in opposite directions around a respective rotation axis in a common geometrical xz-plane;
• wherein said working surfaces comprise a plurality of ridges extending across said working surface, in an axial direction of said rollers, and distributed in the circumferential direction of said working surfaces, each ridge having a longitudinal extension in said axial direction;
• wherein said ridges each comprise a leading surface, a trailing surface and a leading edge for gripping said containers, wherein said leading edge is arranged between said leading surface and said trailing surface, wherein said leading surface forms an angle, α, in the direction of rotation of said rollers and in relation to a radial direction of said rollers such that the leading surface comprises an overhang, wherein at least one of said ridges of at least one of said rollers is provided with recesses extending in the axial direction, and wherein the recesses form a clearance between the rollers along a direction parallel to a center-to-center direction between said rotation axes;
• and
• wherein said rollers are adapted to rotate in a meshed and contactless co-operation such that a roller gap is always present between said rollers along the center-to-center direction between said rotation axes, and wherein said roller gap extends along the entire axial direction of said rollers.

A method of operating a container compressing arrangement, for compacting empty containers, said container compressing arrangement comprising:

• a first and a second rotatable roller, each of said rollers having a working surface arranged between two oppositely arranged ends, wherein said rollers are arranged adjacent to each other to rotate in opposite directions around a respective rotation axis in a common geometrical xz-plane (xz);
• and
• wherein said working surface comprises a plurality of ridges extending across said working surface, in an axial direction of said roller, and distributed in the circumferential direction of said working surface, each ridge having a longitudinal extension in said axial direction;
• wherein said ridges each comprise a leading surface, a trailing surface and a leading edge for gripping said containers, wherein said leading edge is arranged between said leading surface and said trailing surface, wherein said leading surface forms an angle, α, in the direction of rotation of said rollers and in relation to a radial direction of said rollers such that the leading surface comprises an overhang, wherein at least one of said ridges of at least one of said rollers is provided with recesses extending in the axial direction, and
• said method comprising:
• rotating said rollers such that said rollers co-operate in a meshed and contactless arrangement, wherein a roller gap is always present between said rollers in a xy-plane, and wherein said roller gap extends along the entire axial direction of said rollers.