Abstract: A circuit for detecting the color of fruit on a plurality of conveyor paths by measuring the light reflected from the surface of the fruit at a viewing station at each path. The circuitry operates to develop a pair of signals at each of the conveyor paths which signals are provided by measurements of the amount of light reflected from the fruit within two distinct bands of wavelengths of light. These signals are routed, one pair at a time, through a pair of amplifiers and a pair of voltage comparators to develop appropriate discharge signals for each of the conveyor paths. A sequencer controls a pair of switching circuits which direct the signals, one at a time, to the amplifiers. The sequencer also directs any signals from the comparators to driver circuits which provide power to divert cull fruit from each conveyor path.

Abstract: A paddle mounted on a fruit sorter at the end of a fruit conveyor is connected to the plunger of a solenoid which normally is actuated to bias the paddle into the path of fruit being discharged from the conveyor toward a good-fruit discharge conveyor. A color sorter is positioned to scan the fruit leaving the conveyor, and means are provided to de-energize the solenoid upon the detection of a good fruit to allow the paddle to be moved from the path of the fruit so that the fruit will fall onto the discharge conveyor. Power to operate the solenoid is provided by a circuit which develops a relatively large value of current upon initial energization of the solenoid. This large current acts to quickly move the paddle into the path of any cull fruit or non-fruit leaving the conveyor to deflect such items from the discharge conveyor. The sorter circuitry provides a much smaller amount of current after the initial surge to retain the paddle in its deflecting mode until a good fruit is again scanned.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting the color of a fruit on a conveyor by measuring the light reflected from the surface of the fruit at a viewing station and for providing an appropriate discharge signal so that the fruit will be discharged to a particular discharge location at a position spaced downstream from the viewing station. The circuit includes .[.means .]. .Iadd.a light collecting device and filters .Iaddend.for separately measuring the amount of light reflected within two distinct bands of wavelengths of light, continuously computing the ratio of the same to derive an analog ratio signal, and comparing the ratio signal with a plurality of predetermined ratio signals in order to obtain said appropriate discharge signal. A memory circuit is included so that discharge signals for a plurality of fruit can be stored for an indeterminate period of time before any one of such fruit is directed to its discharge location.