Sorting system and apparatus

The method for sorting a quantity of discrete objects exhibiting classifiable dynamic response to vibrational phenomena comprising the steps of:

• introducing a quantity of said objects to the input of a sorting zone;
• transporting said objects in sequential, single file fashion upon a narrow conveyer surface moving in an given direction through said zone;
• simultaneously with said transporting, promoting a kinetic reaction of said objects by contact thereof with a surface disposed along said zone and oscillating at a predetermined frequency and at amplitudes increasing in value along said zone respectively from said input to the output thereof;
• receiving said objects of one class dynamically reacting to said contact by ejective movement transverse to said given direction;
• and
• receiving said objects of another class transported through said zone and existing from said output thereof.

The method for sorting tomatoes in accordance with the degree of ripeness thereof comprising the steps of:

• introducing a quantity of said tomatoes of a given cultivar to the input of a sorting zone;
• transporting said tomatoes in sequential, single file fashion upon a narrow conveyer surface moving in a given direction in said zone;
• simultaneously with said transporting, effecting the contact of said tomatoes to promote the kinetic reaction thereof with a surface disposed along said zone and oscillating at the frequency selected with respect to said cultivar within the range of about 0 to 100 Hertz and at an amplitude selected within the range of about 0 to 0.38 inch;
• receiving tomatoes dynamically reacting to said contact by ejective movement transverse to said given direction;
• and
• receiving tomatoes which have passed through said zone.

A system for sorting bulk quantities of tomatoes which may contain classes thereof designated as green, pink, firm ripe, soft ripe, and overripe to effect the segregation of select classes thereof, comprising:

• means for receiving said bulk quantity of tomatoes;
• first vibrational sorting stage means for transporting said tomatoes from said receiving means through a first sorting zone in contacting relationship with a surface oscillating about a curvilinear locus at a frequency selected between about 60 to 100 Hertz and at a maximum amplitude selected within the range of about 0.20 to 0.25 inch to vibrationally eject green designated tomatoes from said first zone for disposal, while transporting pink, overripe, firm ripe and soft ripe designated tomatoes therethrough;
• second vibrational sorting stage means for receiving said tomatoes transported through said first sorting zone and transporting said tomatoes through a second sorting zone in contacting relationship with a surface oscillating about a curvilinear locus at a frequency selected between about 25 to 30 Hertz and at a maximum amplitude selected as about 0.38 inch to vibrationally eject pink, firm ripe and soft ripe designated tomatoes therethrough;
• and
• means for receiving said ejected pink, firm ripe and soft ripe designated tomatoes.

In tomato harvesting apparatus of a variety wherein means are provided for mechanically removing tomato laden vines from their field situs of growth and transported to automatic means for separating substantially all said tomatoes from said vines and loading means for transporting said separated tomatoes to receiving means, the improvement comprising:

• means for introducing said separated tomatoes to the entrance of a first sorting zone situate upon said harvesting apparatus and extending to a zone exit;
• means defining an oscillatory surface within and extending along said zone;
• transporter means including at least one conveyer surface within said zone extending from said entrance in substantially parallel relationship with and adjacent to said oscillatory surface for sequentially moving said tomatoes within said zone toward said exit in orientations promoting the kinetic reaction thereof with said oscillatory surface;
• drive means including a dynamically balanced rotative drive member actuable to impart oscillation of frequency and amplitude characteristic to said oscillatory surface predetermined for effecting the ejection transversely from said zone of green designated tomatoes;
• means adjacent said sorting zone for effecting disposed of said transversely ejected green designated tomatoes upon said field;
• said loading means being configured for receiving tomatoes transported from said sorting zone exit by said transporter means.