APPARATUS FOR SORTING FRUIT ACCORDING TO COLOR

An apparatus for sorting fruit according to its color comprising a conveyor including a plurality of individual conveyor lines, a first viewer associated with each conveyor line and positioned to observe one side of the fruit carried by the associated conveyor line, a second viewer associated with each conveyor line, said second viewer located downstream from the first viewer and positioned to observe the other side of the fruit carried by the associated conveyor line, and control means. Each viewer produces an electronic signal indicative of the color of the side of the fruit observed. The control means receives the electronic signals as they are produced, storing the signal from the first viewer until the signal from the second viewer is received for a given individual fruit, and evaluates both signals in order to classify the individual fruit according to color. The classifications are stored and available for processing by conventional sorting discharge means not a part of the present invention.