WO2006021619A1

WO2006021619A1 - Method and arrangement for handling recoverable material

Info

Publication number: WO2006021619A1
Application number: PCT/FI2005/050298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Krister Martell; Clas-Johan Karlsson
Original assignee: Krister Martell; Clas-Johan Karlsson
Priority date: 2004-08-24
Filing date: 2005-08-24
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: NO20071331L; EP1786705A4; FI20041110A0; RU2007109843A; EP1786705A1; FI117428B; FI20041110A; CN101014516A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for handling recoverable material in a logistic chain having a provider (1a) , a first intermediary (1b) and an end user (1c) , wherein a product (2) as well as recoverable material (4, 4b) for which a deposit is set is conveyed from the provider (1a) to the end user (1c) that returns the recoverable material. A first (A) and second step (B) of the logistic chain are subdivided into partial steps (A1;A2, B1;B2) where the transfer (61, 62, 81, 82) of recoverable material (4, 4b) is effected as transactions including said transfer as well as a corresponding paying function (71, 72, 91, 92). A supervising system (11) connected to the intermediary (1b) keeps stockbook for the recoverable material (4b) and supervises and controls the transactions. The present invention also relates to an arrangement comprising one or several modules (11, 12) for automatic processing of data which relate to the individual transactions (61;71, 62;72, 81;91, 82;92 ) and for controlling the process as an entity.

Description

Method and arrangement for handling recoverable material

The present invention generally relates to a method and an arrangement in accordance with the respective introductory portion of independent claims 1 and 6. Thus, the present in¬ vention especially relates to a method for handling recoverable material in a logistic chain with handling nodes including at least a provider, a first intermediary and an end user, wherein a product as well as recoverable material con¬ nected to a deposit is conveyed, as a first step in the logistic chain, from said provider via said first intermediary to said end user, which returns the recoverable material back to the provider via an intermediating party in a second logistic step . The present invention also relates to an arrangement for carrying out said method.

In the consumer goods trade and, especially, in the food stuff, alcohol and soft drink industry it is common that a product is packed into a returnable and usually also re-usable or recyclable packing material, for which the buyer pays a deposit, which encourages a return of the package. This way an often problematic accumulation of package material at the end consumer can be avoided, while at the same time industry can re-use the returned package.

Especially in the drink industry the packaging of drinks into re-usable bottles has a long history, and thus a system has been developed through the years where usually in one and the same transportation chain large quantities of bottles are transported and essentially equal amounts of empty bottles are transported in return. The system includes different kinds of transportation package elements by means of which a simultaneous handling of a multitude of bottles is facilitated and structured. One such element which, in practice, is often transported the whole way up to the end user or consumer is constituted by the bottle crates or boxes standardized with respect to size and shape, while such auxiliary elements like trays, dollies and pallets mostly are used in the transportation chain between producer and retailer as well as at a storing at these locations.

As an example, in order to show the problems related to the present transportation systems it will now be described how the handling of empty bottles in shops and breweries takes place today.

The shops receive empty bottles, crates and cans liable to deposit from the consumers, and repays for these the set deposit. The large volumes come into the system through automatic machines which receive empty and which today write a receipt corresponding to the deposit, which receipt then can be settled against purchases at the shop's paydesk. In the shop's day's takings the deposit amount is noted as a reduction of the day's sale. There are also automatic machines that hand out cash, but they would constitute a minority at least for the present.

From the receiving machines the bottles, cans etc. end up in a so-called empty bottle storeroom where they are sorted into correct packages for transportation. In the brewery industry, which probably is the largest trade within the re-collection system, the procedure is the following:

A provider of soft drinks and beer takes empty packagings in return and they are added to the consignment note. All packagings have a separate product number in accordance to volume, location, glass etc. The storekeeper or some other person in charge supervises that the annotations are correct and a control counting. The lorry which transports the returned bottles away, normally the same lorry bringing full bottles, leaves and unloads the empty packagings either in a reloading storeroom or directly at the brewery. The packages are unloaded and the consignment note is processed prior to invoicing. Now the empty packagings are introduced into the system in accordance with the data on the consignment note. At this stage the system has a ground for invoicing, and a physical invoice is written out. According to present practice the pricing is done as follows :

The price includes a value added tax (VAT) and is first indicated for the actual content in the package, for example beer, soft drink etc. The deposit for the bottles is separately invoiced and it is also separately specified on the invoice. Further the auxiliary elements, i.e. crates, trays, pallets etc. are separately invoiced. Empty packagings taken in return by the brewery are credited on the same invoice and can be seen as separate items . A typical brewery invoice could look like the following:

- "Beer A" 0,33 liters, 5 pieces at price X₁ plus VAT 22% = X2. in Total X.

- "soft drink B" 0,5 liters, 5 pieces at price y^ plus VAT 17% y2, in Total Y.

- Bottles 5*24 = 120 pieces at price Z₁ = Z incl . VAT 22% Z₂.

- Crates 5 pieces at price V incl. VAT 22%.

- Returned bottles 10*24 = 240 pieces at price W₁ = W incl. VAT 22% W₂, which additionally is credited.

Furthermore, a handling charge is added for each bottle.

All products are specified separately both with respect to contents and to bottle type etc. A delivery to an ordinary size retail store may thus include an invoice having 5 to 10 A4 size pages full of information. This invoice must then be double checked against the consignment note in order to control that everything is correctly noted, and in this context it should be observed that the consignment note normally only includes information regarding the number of supplied units (i.e. in practice usually a 24 bottles) of each certain type (e.g. 0,33 liter bottle of "Beer A") . The invoice then indicates the price for 24 "contents", 24 bottles and 1 crate. In practice the present complicated system described above leads to the fact that the control will be unwieldy, and by experience the follow-up and double check is problematic for different reasons and especially since the system is so cumbersome. If the control fails problems may arise especially at the following steps:

1. when the provider loads and annotates the number etc. on the consignment note,

2. if the person who puts the information into the system makes an error,

3. due to dishonesty where a person who has access to the empty bottle storage can introduce the empty bottles some¬ where else against a new deposit,

4. if the driver for his own benefit consciously writes down erroneous information, or

5. if the person checking the invoice makes a reading error, obtains wrong information or the like.

In certain cases there may exist some "home-made" follow-up methods but there are no fool-proof systems.

Another problem is that there are no clear regulations regarding for whom and how many empty bottles the breweries must/may collect from the retail stores. In practice the procedure often is such that Company A says that Company B will not take anything, and vice versa. Then it is, in principle, up to the drivers to solve the problems themselves, which even may lead to physical violence. At the same time the providers lack information regarding the quantities of empty bottles that can be collected at the respective stores, and then it is also impossible for the respective lorry to plan a cargo for the return.

The method and the arrangement according to the present invention is developed, i.a., in order to avoid the above mentioned disadvantages in the logistic systems and to provide, i.a., more effective handling of the recoverable material, better supervision of the operations and improved use of resources including the actual recoverable material, as well as the transportation and handling capacity.

The actual invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the appended independent claims, while the dependent claims disclose some especially favorable embodiments and appli¬ cations. Thus, the method according to the present invention is characterized in that steps in a logistic chain are sub¬ divided into partial steps where each transfer of recoverable material between each two handling nodes is effected as trans¬ actions including, on one hand, said transfer and, on the other hand, an active paying function corresponding to said transfer, whereby a supervising system connected to said inter¬ mediary keeps stockbook for at least the recoverable material which is returned by the end user, and supervises and controls the transactions related to the returning and further transportation of returned recoverable material. In this context the term "recoverable material" covers, in addition to the above mentioned bottles, cans and the like packagings for drinks as well as boxes and crates for such packagings, also other kinds of packaging and other material for which a deposit is set in order to increase the readiness for recycling.

As a summary, the present invention can briefly be described as a function where each transaction including a recoverable material, both in the form of, for example, a packaging and its contents and in the form of an empty packaging, is managed as a purchase having a value both as a quantity and as a value indicated in a currency or a corresponding value unit, wherein the payment at each transaction takes place in cash or in the shape of a transaction of a value corresponding to a purchase in cash. In order to realize the method a system has been developed which carries out the following functions, favorably in the form of a computer program:

A stock accounting is maintained for all bottles, cans etc. which enter into the empty bottle storage through an automatic machine or a corresponding arrangement which receives recoverable material directly from an end consumer or any intermediary representing such a consumer. Information from the automatic machine regarding incoming goods, number of bottles, cans etc. are suitable up-dated in real-time or at a time set agreed. At the same time information is collected from a booking system or manually regarding bought transportation and storage facilities, usually auxiliary packagings such as boxes, bottle crates, trays, dollies and pallets .

In a next step, i.e. upon completion of the assembling of a unit including a certain amount of recoverable material and usually also an auxiliary packaging, for example a crate of bottles assembled either automatically or manually into such shape that is receivable by the provider, a notation is made into suitably a handheld computerized registering means (hereafter PDA, "personal digital assistant") , whereafter the composed unit will be registered, suitably in a data module in the system, as "completely assembled" . The registering means may include means known per se which, in a manner known per se, are connected to a central registering unit.

In connection with a registering "completely assembled" the system removes a corresponding number of bottles and, respectively, auxiliary transportation and storage means such as boxes, bottle crates, trays, pallets and dollies from a database register or some other means representing the storage of empty bottles . When the assembled unit is marked as "completely assembled" a registering of data may also be effected by introducing, into a memory unit such as a micro chip, information regarding, for example, the retail store where the assembling was effected, the assembled quantities, date etc. This information can then be used for follow-up purposes at later stages in the logistic chain. This information is suitably handled by means of so called radio frequency identifying technology (RFID) where data carriers include means capable of saving, receiving and reflecting radio signals, i.e. a data carrier in connection with a product can communicate wireless with a fixed or mobile supervising and control system in the vicinity.

A module "completely assembled" now contains all packages ready for delivery. A person responsible for this part of the logistic chain, or, alternatively, the system itself on the basis of pre-defined criteria, now makes an allocation which indicates which brewery should receive which assembled units. Now the system prints a consignment note, and this stage can be wholly local and even manual, without any, e.g., digital contact between a local data base and an overall supervising system. Thus each respective provider, i.e. in the disclosed case usually the breweries, obtain information in the shape of, e.g., a list indicating what material should be recovered as a return transport in connection with the delivery of drinks, and thus the driver only needs to check and load.

The above discussed information regarding material to be returned can be conveyed in advance, for example over internet, to the providers which have prior information regarding how much empty material they have waiting at each respective intermediary, i.e. in this case a retail store or some other re-seller or distributor, and is thus able to plan, in advance, how the transportation means such as a lorry which transports the deliveries to the store, will be loaded for the return. At the same time statistics regarding taken goods is saved in the system, in the shape of information regarding pallet location, delivery and receptor, for example a brewery or a central instance or party taking care of handling the recoverable material. Thus, the whole transporting function regarding the recoverable material will be based on unambiguous facts.

Favorably, in connection with the registering an invoice will also be produced which can be used as a ledger follow-up, as a base for the book-keeping and so on. This information can suitably also be transferred for processing in other systems such as, for example, book-keeping. It can also be sent to the providers, for example to the breweries and/or to some other party, for example a branch organization which centrally or locally takes care of the handling of recoverable material .

As an example the above description utilizes handling of empty bottles in direct connection with brewery activities. In practice there will often in parallel with the handling of bottles to and from breweries also occur a handling of aluminium cans and recycled bottles for other use or intended for other providers, and this handling is usually physically taking place essentially on the same premises, i.e. in the same automatic machine or automatic machine entity. Thus, in practice it is usually so that several stores or other retail distribution parties will use the same empty bottle receiving automatic machine, and the customer obtains payment for his deposit "in any of these". However, the arrangement is suitably such that one of these parties has the main responsibility for the respective recycling premises, and the different parties then settle packages and money among them¬ selves .

By means of the arrangement according to the invention the present manual, local and unstructured handling functions can be replaced by a central system wherein all un-clarities and locally dependent variations with respect to the handling of recoverable material can be avoided. Thus, by utilizing the arrangement according to the present invention the respective automatic machines for receiving empty bottles and returned cans, the cash systems, the booking systems as well as the handling of recoverable material at the breweries and other providers can be handled centrally.

The present invention will now be described in more details as an example and referring to the appended drawings, wherein

Figure 1 discloses a block diagram for a logistic chain,

Figure 2 in the shape of a princle drawing discloses material and transaction flows in a typical logistic chain in the brewery trade, wherein the respective flows are indicated as symbols representing the respective material as well as a series of subsequent arrow-ends representing the direction of the flow, and

Figure 3 in the shape of a block diagram generally shows handling of returned bottles in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a logistic chain comprises a provider Ia, in the discussed example suitably a brewery which manufactures a drink 2 and bottles it into a packaging 4. Most of these packagings circulate in the logistic chain either in form of aluminium cans where only the raw material is recovered, or in form of empty bottles, i.e. bottles of different sizes, whereby the returned bottles 4b are washed in the brewery and re-filled. For the distribution and sale, respectively, of said drinks 2 the logistic chain further includes a first intermediary Ib, for example a retail store, which sells the bottles 4 filled with a drink 2 forward until they in the last instance end up at an end user Ic, i.e. the consumer, which empties the bottle 4 from its contents 2 and returns the bottle either to the store Ib or to a separate recycling station Id, which suitably functions in connection with a store Ib where an employee has the main responsibility for the collection, for example, in an automatic machine 10. In practice, this collecting ^' station functions as an inter¬ mediating party Id independently of if the activities take place as a separate function within 'the actual store activities Ib, which in Figure 1 has been indicated in phantom. At the intermediating party Id, i.e. the collecting station the returned empty bottles 4b are sorted whereafter they are sold back to the respective brewery Ia.

Figure 1 indicates that the intermediating party Id at the same time can forward different types of recoverable material, of which a part I (for example bottles of the standard sizes 0,33 liters, 0,35 liters, 0,5 liters, 1,0 liters and 1,5 liters) are returned to the brewery Ia, while bottles of a different shape II, different volumes (for example 0,35 liters, 0,375 liters, 0,5 liters, 0,7 liters and 0,75 liters) intended for some other contents are returned to another provider Ia^, while cans III for which a deposit is set are crushed and delivered as raw material to the industry.

In the logistic chain the intermediary Ib, i.e. usually a retail store or some other party which, in form of minute sale to a consumer Ic, runs business by selling the actual product as well as the container for which a deposit is set . According to Figure 2 a first step A of the logistic chain includes this forwarding of the product 2. For this product the distributor Ib pays a first remuneration 3_a]_]_ to the provider, while the consumer Ic, which as such can constitute a part of a sub¬ sequent logistic step (not shown) pays a remuneration 3_a]_2 ^o the distributor. Respective remunerations can as such be in cash or be only registered, possibly so that this takes place as a quittance of a remuneration in connection with some other part of the logistic chain, but according to the present invention each transaction includes, in the respective case, at least a virtual remuneration which will be disclosed in more detail below.

In the example disclosed in Figure 2 the product 2 is a liquid such as a soft drink, which, for the sake of distribution and transportation, is enclosed in a manner known per se into a suitably recoverable vessel 4. In order to make a returning of the vessel 4 attractive a deposit 3_a2χ, 3_a22 i^{s set} for the vessel, which deposit is returned or registered for each trans¬ action or step within the logistic chain. In some embodiments of the present invention the recoverable material is totally or to some parts not re-usable at all, so that the returning is arranged mainly in order to cut down, for example, an environmental strain.

In this context it should be observed that a multitude of vessels 4, as disclosed in Figure 2, suitably can be transported and, respectively, stored on or in some auxiliary packaging material 5, for example boxes, trays, bottle crates, pallets and dollies, as known per se. Except for bottle crates and, to some extent, boxes such auxiliary packaging material 5 mainly circulate within a cycle between provider Ia and distributor Ib, but they are nevertheless included as elements at the arrangement according to the present invention, whereby a respective deposit for these items still may be a virtual quittance of receivables without a direct recalculation into a real acquisition value or deposit 3_a3χ.

Since the actual product 2 passes only in the direction from the provider^' Ia to the consumer Ic while the remuneration 3_aχχ and 3_ai2_f respectively, takes place in the opposite direction, these are hereafter excluded from the description. The detailed discussion is further restricted to deal mainly with the recoverable material constituted by the actual vessels 4, while the same principles, of course, also can be applied for the auxiliary packaging material 5 to the extent it is appropriate.

As disclosed in the Figure a returning of the vessels 4 from the consumer Ic via the distributor Ib and/or a separate inter¬ mediating party Id and back to the provider in the shape of returned vessels 4]-, takes place in a second step B of the logistic chain. In this part of the logistic chain a remuneration of deposit

respectively, is included, i.e. each respective instance Ib, Ic receives back such deposit that earlier has been paid when the flow of recoverable material went in the opposite direction. The amount of such remunerated deposit 3^₄₁, 3^42 is usually as high as the deposit 3_a21' 3_a22 that has been paid earlier, but it may also have a different value. A corresponding arrangement is suitably applied also for such auxiliary packaging material which now, in the form of recoverable material 5]-, runs in the opposite direction and usually is used for the same purpose, i.e. to structure the transportation and storage.

A closer study of the logistic chain according to Figure 2 now indicates that the steps A and B, respectively, can be sub¬ divided into partial steps. For the sake of simplicity this discussion now only includes vessels 4, 4^ and, respectively, deposit 3_a2i, 3_a22/ ^h^kJ_. ^anc^ ^^,42, since the flow of other material as well as remunerations normally follows the same principles. Hereby a partial step A^ indicates a flow 6j_ of full vessels 4 and, respectively, a flow 7^ of deposit 3_a2i between the provider Ia and the distributor Ib, while the partial step A2 indicates a corresponding flow 62 °f vessels 4 and, respectively, a flow 72 of deposit 3_a22 between the distributor Ib and the consumer Ic. In a corresponding way partial steps B]_ and B2/ respectively, indicate a flow 8]_ and 82/ respectively, of essentially empty recoverable material 4b and a flow 9^ and 92, respectively of corresponding deposit ³b41 ^aπ-d ³b42 ^ⁿ the opposite direction.

Thus, according to the present invention the leading principle is that the empty bottles are handled as purchases both with respect to the number of pieces and in Euros, and that payment is effected in cash (i.e. by means of cash or through account transactions) . At the same time the control of the whole handling of recoverable material is transferred from the providers Ia to the intermediary Ib, i.e. the retail shops which, according to the present invention, thus take care of the delivery of recoverable material as a regular sale to the providers Ia.

After registration and a repayment of the deposit to the consumer Ic, recoverable material 4b in the form of returned empty bottles will arrive on an endless band conveyor to a storage room for empty bottles (see Figure 3) , suitably through one or several automatic machines 10 for receiving empty bottles and, respectively, cans. Returned cans III go straight to a separate location and are immediately stored suitably in plastic bags or boxes. At a sorting station 13 bottles I and II are distributed into the correct auxiliary packaging material 5 such as boxes or trays either manually or automatically. This is taken care of either by means of separately paid personnel, other personnel or so that the whole handling is effected on contract as a separate inter¬ mediating party Id. The bottles are sorted and put into the correct boxes or packaging 5 in correct quantity, volume and type, whereafter they including the auxiliary packaging material 5 are included in a storage 14 for empty bottles. Physically the completely assembled packages including the recoverable material 4 and the auxiliary package material 5 are kept in a storage 15 where they are waiting to be purchased and transported 16 back to the providers Ia. The party 12 which, according to the present invention, suitably centrally and by means of a connection 11 to the local intermediating party administrates and controls the handling of the recoverable material makes a follow-up of the amounts of recoverable material passing through the system and can easily provide the statistics needed in order to take care of and improve the handling of recoverable material 4b. At the local intermediating party Id, for example in connection with an automatic machine 10 an updating of the information is undertaken on a daily basis, or favorably in real-time for each transportation unit including recoverable material 4b and auxiliary packaging material 5. The updated information is sent to the central party 12, whereby the system at the same time registers all recoverable material and auxiliary packaging material, including empty bottles, crates, boxes, trays, dollies and pallets.

The party 17 which collects the recoverable material 4, 5 builds, in turn, a loading scheme and plans the transport based on the information provided by the party Id, Ic which is responsible for the storage keeping and which then, in their turn, registers the transactions and bills the providers Ia for the recoverable material which, on the basis of delivery agreements and in accordance with the present invention has been sold to them suitably in order to be refilled with products 2.

Favorably, an automatic machine 10 for receiving bottles and cans sends, by means of a suitably supervising and mediating arrangement known per se, for example a computer 11 with a modem, information regarding the number of received bottles and cans to a central processor 12. The information is processed in real-time or is updated, e.g., every day when the receiving station 10 is closed for the day, and sent over a suitable network or some other communication channel. Now there exists information regarding collected bottles and cans by volume, type etc. A central program now provides a receipt for purchased bottles/cans pro day, which can be checked against the cash-account (the amount that has been repaid as deposit) in order to secure that the transactions have been correct. This receipt can be used for book-keeping and balancing the cash-account for the day. This is done either manually by means of the written receipt or electronically over a network. The transaction will have an account code in accordance with the main book-keeping.

Along with that bottles and cans in the form of a recoverable material 4b enter the storage room for empty bottles they are sorted and put into such boxes, trays etc. intended for that purpose. The boxes are stapled on pallets either by type or mixed. Trays are superimposed by the correct amount/volume. When a unit is finished a registration thereof will take place by means of a PDA (handheld unit) and in the program the unit is transferred to a mode "assembled" . According to his own choice the user himself can set the preferences for when this registration is to take place, for example a registering when each box or pallet is ready. Now a marking of the units can also be effected as a slip including a bar-code or as a micro-chip for RFID information. Such auxiliary packaging material 5 as boxes containing bottles which arrive as "full entities" will directly be transferred to the mode "assembled" . Trays are registered when all trays are in place and the basis is ready, i.e. on a dolly or pallet. When such tray packagings are ready it is usual that they shift place in the empty bottle storage. They are now ready to be collected and placed in the collecting area. Pallets including boxes are usually not shifted before they are collected. The pallets are exchanged along with such goods that arrive at the distributor Ib so that there always will be pallets under the boxes . All such material which is ready to be collected will now be in the mode "assembled" . The person responsible for the empty bottles can now see what goods is to be collected (purchased) , see when the respective provider Ia provides goods and collects recoverable material 4b and supervise which auxiliary packaging material 5 which provider Ia collects .

Now the cargo is made ready for the respective providers Ia so that they in advance can obtain the information regarding how much empty bottles they are to take with them. This means that now also the party taking care of the loading operation at the provider Ia can plan the lorry for the return, since there now is ready information regarding the amount of empty bottles. This information is provided to the providers Ia suitably from the central processor 12. The amounts are registered by pallet location and this information is saved in the program so that information always is available regarding who has bought what at the retail store. In the program it is possible to register parameters for how much recoverable material 4b, such as empty bottles, each respective provider Ia should collect, i.e. buy. By means of the program there will be a basis for control and for drawing up clear criteria to be applied for the distribution of recoverable material between different providers Ia. Since all deliveries are registered the follow- up will be fully clear, which is an essential improvement in relation to prior art .

While the recoverable material 4b has been distributed the program suitably has drawn up a consignment note for the recoverable material 4b to be collected. The information can be sent electronically to the providers Ia for registration straight into their systems . Regarding the payment it can be decided whether it shall be reduced from the delivery invoice or whether the providers Ia pay it against a separate invoice. According to prior art the empty bottles are, for example, manually written down on a consignment note, the information is fed into the system in arrears and thereafter an invoice is written out where the empty bottles are credited. The responsibility for the correct information is at the driver or the distributor, i.e. the one who feeds the information. In comparison the arrangement according to the present invention provides the possibility for the driver to have the information regarding what he is supposed to take in return in advance, either as a paper receipt or as information in a handheld unit or telephone. If the packagings 5 now are marked the information can be read regarding which packagings 5 are to be taken care of by which respective provider Ia, in the soft drink trade for example a brewery. The reader is a handheld unit or a fixed reader in the lorry, e.g. within the cabinet. At this stage a book-keeping basis for the transaction will also be created, which now can be electronically transferred to a book-keeping program as a ready invoice and verification etc.

When "full" goods are delivered must auxiliary packaging material 5 such as boxes, trays, pellets and dollies be trans¬ ferred to the storage for empty bottles. This is effected either automatically by means of the distributor's Ib, such as the retail store chains, own ordering systems or they can be entered manually into the central processor 12. A dolly of δ-pack beer means that 48 pieces of 6-packs are forwarded to be sold, while 7 trays and one dolly are transferred to the storage for empty bottles. Through this operation all units that can be filled with empty bottles are in the registry and the person taking care of the storage for empty bottles can immediately see what empty package material is at hand. It should also be possible to order more empty package material from the providers directly through the central computer 12. If the user so wishes the program of the central computer is capable of showing where the empty packagings material is located, i.e. for example in the store or in the storage for empty bottles . Then a packaging material item is registered when it is taken to the storage for empty bottles or, as already said, as the user desires. Entire boxes going for sale, i.e. including both bottles and boxes, are registered as 24 bottles from the store and 1 box from the storage for empty- bottles.

The control function suitably includes a module for internal setting off of returning functions such as automatic machines 10 that are common for several distributors Ib. Other parties acting within the same physical premises thus have a possibility to sell empty packaging material, pallets etc. to a common principal with the responsibility for the handling of the recoverable material. At an incoming quittance the balance of the storage of empty bottles increases and a receipt is written out either as a paper to be settled, or electronically. Paid deposit remedies are also set off in the same module. The moment for this setting off can be selected by the involved parties at a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

The local processor 11 or a handheld unit or telephone con¬ nected thereto (not shown in more detail) is capable of sending information from the room for handling empty bottles to the program in the central processor. This transfer is effected in a manner known per se, for example over a network. A unitary menu suitably includes buttons for assembled packagings, for example such as 0.33 tray packaging including dolly, 1,5 liter box etc. The user pushes one time for each completely assembled unit, after which the application can write out either bar-code strips or program (RFID) micro-chips which are attached to the completed unit. Now the information is transferred to an input module and a menu indicating "assembled". Now the balances, i.e. the number of bottles, boxes and trays which the packaging includes, are reduced from the automatic machine and the storage for empty bottles,

The input module favorably has a menu "assembled" indicating ready-made packagings by type, volume etc. If the user so wishes they can be grouped according to the owner of the auxiliary packagings 5. Each respective group can favorably be locked so that the wrong auxiliary packaging material 5 cannot be sold to the wrong provider Ia. The menu ends with a summary by group and showing the amount of pallet locations etc.

Under a distribution menu is shown the distribution of the recoverable material, for example the empty bottles. The criteria for the correct distribution is defined separately for each respective distributor Ib, such as an individual retail store, a store chain etc. The criteria are introduced so that each selling is registered, whereafter the system controls that the distribution is followed.

Under a time table menu the delivery schedules for the providers are programmed so that the distribution of the empty bottles can be effected accordingly. For the distribution of the empty bottles automatic variables can also be used.

Under a selling menu consignment notes for the providers Ia can suitably be made either automatically or manually. Based on the balances for "assembled" it is now possible to prepare a distribution to the providers Ia. Auxiliary packaging material 5 such as boxes, tray-packages and, respectively, the basis item (pallet, dolly) are now distributed so that the amount is ready in advance for all parties involved. A deadline for the time when this shall be ready can be set, and then the providers can start from this balance when they have connected to the central computer 12 in order to receive this information. These packaging materials 5 can now be made ready for collection, i.e. they can be ready grouped for the respective provider Ia. If revisions are now made variations can be made also in the program so that the program always includes exact information. When this is ready the consignment note is checked as "assembled" and an open invoice can be transferred to the book-keeping module. In a storage module an automatic menu includes facts related to all bottles, cans etc. that have arrived or that are still un-assembled. The balances are updated either in real-time or, for example, once a day. Favorably, the arrangement is such that the system also can receive bottles etc. that have arrived from the outside of the automatic machine, since it is usual that large individual deliveries of recoverable material from a consumer Ic are received through the back-door straight into the distributor's Ib storage. For this a receipt is written out either on paper or as a direct order to the cash system for remuneration. Here the main user can also write off bottles, cans etc. that has been damaged etc.

A package material menu for storages includes all information regarding all auxiliary package material 5 such as boxes, trays, pallets, dollies etc. located in the storage. Here incoming deliveries are introduced either automatically from the ordering system or manually from an incoming consignment note. The units to be sold are detached from the auxiliary packaging material either automatically or manually. The user can himself decide when the auxiliary packaging material 5 is introduced at the respective location, i.e. should the auxiliary packaging material reside in the store until it is physically transferred to the storage for empty bottles or the like. Favorably the system also includes a structured marking of the products 4 in order to facilitate the introduction into the system. For example, a code "A" could indicate all 0,33 liter bottles in a box etc. In this menu the user can order extra auxiliary packaging material 5 such as empty boxes, trays etc. straight from the providers Ia, whereby the trans¬ action is transferred straight into an ordering system, straight from the respective provider, or is given as an order on paper to the person who orders goods.

A book-keeping module discloses, under a menu "actualities", how many bottles, cans etc, are bought by day, week, month and/or year. Here such verifications suitably are provided, which can be used for balancing the day's takings, the book¬ keeping, and as a control that everything is correct. Paper receipts can favorably be printed, and additionally electronical transfers can be effected to different external systems such as the cash-account and book-keeping system. Balances in Euro regarding what is assembled and how much cash is tied-up in the auxiliary packaging material storage can be obtained at any time, as well as the cost for broken bottles, cans etc. including a possibility to write them off.

A ledger menu includes a register covering those who buy the empty bottles etc. Every sale transaction is registered and can be balanced either manually or straight through a banking program when a payment has taken place. These transactions can be transferred straight to external book-keeping systems etc. or be printed out as verifications on paper. The distribution is such that a remedied deposit against obtained deposit by a provider Ia may be separate from the remedy for the handling. The system can immediately provide an answer to questions regarding the profit of the whole handling of empty bottles . A handling fee is not added until a consignment note and an invoice for the selling of empty bottles are ready. The information can be sent electronically to the buyer, i.e. to the provider Ia or, for example, to a branch organization taking care of the handling of recoverable material 4b, and they can be settled in accordance with an agreement. Favorably, the central processor takes care of such functions as credit entries, invoicing, as well as balancing of purchases and sales. A remedy menu includes possibilities to alter handling fees, deposits, etc. Different kinds of reports are suitably obtained here, such as, e.g., the total sale, sale pro provider Ia etc., different types of bottles, cans etc., as well as their portion of the total amount, and other such statistic information.

A settings module favorably has a menu regarding company information including information regarding the company having the main responsibility for the handling of empty bottles, as well as information regarding the central computer 12. This information is suitably locked so that a change requires special authorization, and it is favorably included as basic information on the invoices.

A settings menu favorably includes the control of such properties as language, tax rates etc., as well as the distribution of recoverable material 4b between the providers Ia. The handheld unit favorably has visible buttons for registering completely assembled units, so that only such bottles, cans and boxes accepted by the automatic machine can be programmed here. A user menu defines which persons have access to which information, where the logging into the system suitably is effected by means of an electronic ID.

By means of the present invention the invoicing, book-keeping and logistics are made easier while, at the same time, the loss is reduced.

Above some embodiments have been disclosed, as an example, in connection mainly to the handling of empty bottles within the brewery industry, but for the expert it is clear that the same or similar functions also can be utilized in the other drink industry, including the handling of such recoverable material like aluminium cans and non-returnable vessels of, e.g., plastics, which material cannot be re-used as entities. The method and the arrangement according to the present invention can also, with certain modifications, be adapted to other handling of returnable material which can be defined in units, such as embaled recycled paper, packaging material and other such returnable material, for which the handling suitably is centralized and where a value, tangible or fictive, can be defined for a respective unit of returned material.

Claims

1. A method for handling recoverable material in a logistic chain having handling nodes (Ia, Ib, Ic, Id) including at least a provider (Ia) , a first intermediary (Ib) and an end user (Ic) , wherein a product (2) as well as recoverable material (4, 4b) for which a deposit is set is conveyed, as a first step (A) of the logistic chain, from said provider via said first intermediary to said end user, that via an inter¬ mediary party (Id) in a second logistic step (B) returns said recoverable material (4b) back to said provider, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that said first (A) and second step (B) of the logistic chain are subdivided into partial steps (A^;K^, B1/B2) where each transfer (6^, 6₂, 8±, 82) of recoverable material (4, 4b) between two respective handling nodes (Ia;Ib, lb;lc, lc;ld, Id;Ia) is effected as transactions including said transfer (6]_, 62r 8±, 82) as well as an active paying function (7^, 72, 9±, 92) corresponding to said transfer, whereby a supervising system (11) connected to the inter¬ mediating party keeps stockbook for at least the recoverable material (4b) which is returned by the end user (Ic) and supervises and controls the transactions in connection to the returning and further transportation of returned recoverable , material (4b) .

2. A method as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the supervising system keeps book over the trans¬ actions in real-time, suitably in or by means of inter¬ mediation from the respective handling node (Ia, Ib, Ic, Id) to a central computer (12) which favorably at the same time is connected to a multitude of providers (Ia) , intermediaries and, respectively, intermediating parties (Id) .

3. A method as defined in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that said intermediating party (Id) is constituted by said first intermediary (Ib) or by a separate logistic function acting in connection thereto, favorably an arrangement (10) for automatic reception of returned recoverable material (4b) by the piece from the end user (Ic) .

4. A method as defined in one of claims 1 to 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that further recoverable material (5) is included as a part of the logistic chain at least between said provider (Ia) and said first intermediary (Ib) and, respectively, said intermediating party (Id) , suitably material for facilitating the structuring and/or transportation of recoverable material (4, 4c) including or without any associated product (2) .

5. A method as defined in one of claims 1 to 4, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that payments (7]_, 72, 9χ, 92) f°^r the recoverable material (4, 4b) is effected in real-time, suitably as a transferal of accounts receivable, receipts which entitle to purchases or payments, or in the shape of cash, favorably so that essentially all such individual steps which constitute a part of an essentially simultaneous unbroken entity of partial steps are combined to constitute a larger entity.

6. An arrangement for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the arrangement comprises one or several modules (11, 12) for automatic processing of data relating to the individual transactions (6]_;7]_, 62/72, 8i;9j_, 82/92) ^anc^ f°^r controlling the process as an entity.

7. An arrangement as defined in claim 6, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that said arrangement (11) is, primarily, con¬ nected to said intermediating party (Id) .

8. An arrangement as defined in claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that one and the same arrangement (11, 12) is connected to a multitude of intermediating parties (Id) in different logistic chains comprising a multitude of different providers -(Ia) and a multitude of separate intermediaries (Ib) .

9. An arrangement as defined in one of claims 6 to 8, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the arrangement includes means for reporting the situation in real-time to at least one respective handling node (Ia, Ib, Id) .

10. An arrangement as defined in one of claims 6 to 9, c ^'h a - r a c t e r i z e d in that the arrangement includes a central computer (12) with a software which centrally controls the functions of the logistic chain at least with respect to the recoverable material (4, 4b) as well as the respective deposit (3_a2i, 3_a22, 3^₄₁, ³b42) ^set thereon.