A SORTING MACHINE UTILIZING AN IMPROVED LIGHT DETECTION SYSTEM

A sorting machine comprising a chute for moving a plurality of objects sequentially past a plurality of viewing zones which are spaced apart in the direction of movement of the objects so that the moving objects pass to an object separation zone in which relative separation is effected between desired and undesired objects. Light sources are on opposite sides of the moving object for directing beams of light to the viewing zones. Viewing devices view the objects passing through the viewing zones from opposite sides, respectively, of the moving objects. A discriminator, controlled by the output from the viewing devices, determines whether objects which have been so viewed are desired or undesired. An object separator controlled by the discriminator effects relative separation at the object separation zone between the desired and undesired objects. The viewing devices and light sources are so arranged that at least most of the light which is reflected by an object so as to be directed into a viewing device is derived from a light source disposed on the same side of the moving objects as the respective viewing devices.