METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE QUALITY OF FRUIT AND BERRIES AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING FRUIT AND BERRIES

• Main Authors: VAN DER SCHOOR, ROB, JALINK, HENDRIK, BINO, RAOUL JOHN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 13.01.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; OTHER SEPARATING BY DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL,e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; POSTAL SORTING; SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SEPERATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, ORSIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTEDPIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING; TESTING; TRANSPORTING

The invention relates to a method for determining the maturity and quality o f fruit and berries by measuring the quantity of chlorophyll fluorescence and to an apparatus for sorting fruit and berries. The method is based on determini ng the quantity of fluorescence by chlorophyll of fruit and berry. The inventio n comprises causing the chlorophyll molecule to fluoresce by irradiating the fruit and berries with electromagnetic radiation of a suitable wavelength an d measuring the degree of fluorescence. Advantages of the method are the very high sensitivity, its being completely non-destructive and the very high speed. These advantages of the invention make it possible to construct a sorter apparatus in which fruit and berries are selected on the basis of the quantity of chlorophyll. Because the intensity of the chlorophyll fluorescen ce is directly related to the quantity of chlorophyll, it will now be possible to sort fruit and berries as to the stage of ripening and quality.