Automatic fruit sorting machine - determines size and colour to separate fruit into several classes each of which are further divided into sub-classes

摘要

The machine uses at least two different criteria, e.g. the colour and the quality of the fruit. It has an initial stage for sorting the fruit into different classes according to one of these criteria and the same number of subsequent identical sorting stages as the number of initial classes for dividing the fruit into sub-classes according to the second criteria. The fruit may be sorted initially according to weight, the output signal of an electric weighing gauge controlling a set of deflectors for dividing the fruit between respective weight groups. The fruit is subsequently divided into two sub-groups for colour by a common colour sensor receiving each weight group in turn.