A flexible automation scheme for the beverage blending industry

Abstract

A flexible automation scheme suitable for use in the beverage blending industry has been presented in this paper. The scheme suggests three main subsystems in the blending process namely, an upper beverage tank subsystem for fresh input of fresh fruit juices into the blending process; a lower beverage tank subsystem for taking measured quantities of fruit juices from the upper tank from which the blending process is fed. This helps to track the quantities of raw materials used in the blending process and to estimate the expected volume of output. Pilfering can thus be easily detected as workers make their returns at the end of a shift; and then the blending process subsystem for the actual blending. Flexibility is enhanced by the use of a GSM interface to pass blending ratios for fruit juices to the blending process, and to communicate feedback information to a remote location. Thus a new product can be realised without complicated changes in the blending process setup. The scheme is recommended especially for a nation like Nigeria, endowed with assorted fruits in every season of the year.