In-field selection and clarification of harvested processor tomatoes

The method of clarifying, in the field, a harvested shaken raw stream of tomatoes of various colors, especially red and green, accompanied by debris and detritus derived from the mechanical separation of tomatoes from their vines, to produce a collection of tomatoes from the raw stream which meet pre-established discrimination criteria such as color and to discard said debris, detritus and tomatoes of different characteristics, said method comprising:

• a. receiving from the field said shaken raw stream and depositing it on a first conveyor;
• b. while on said first conveyor, subjecting said raw stream to observation by a first discriminator, said first discriminator having the capability of individually recognizing and removing from said stream a substantial portion of articles which do not comply with said pre-established criteria;
• c. on said first conveyor, moving said raw stream toward said first discriminator, said discriminator including a plurality of channels of observation of said raw stream, and in at least some of said channels, a diverter adapted on command to physically pass or to divert product in its channel whereby to pass acceptable product to a third conveyor along a first trajectory path, or to deflect unacceptable material to a second conveyor along a second trajectory path, there being a gap between said first and third conveyors through which lighter components of said stream can fall away;
• d. said third conveyor carrying passed product away from said gap.
• e. a second discriminator adjacent to said third conveyor including a plurality of channels of observation of the stream passed by said first discriminator, and in at least some of said channels a deflector adapted on command to physically pass tomatoes or to divert material other than the ultimately desired tomatoes, and to pass acceptable tomatoes to a place of collection.