FIELD: sorting of tomatoes in harvesting machines and postharvest stations. SUBSTANCE: method involves examining each pair of tomatoes to determine class of each fruit; determining distance between tomatoes in each pair of tomatoes; determining reference distance between tomatoes of given pair; comparing the distance with reference value; removing tomato in case it is referred to other class or distance between tomatoes is less than reference value for given pair by means of additional actuating mechanism; sorting first tomato of given pair of tomatoes by main actuating mechanism in accordance with its quality. If distance between tomatoes of pair having differently colored tomatoes exceeds reference value for given pair, additional actuating mechanism does not operate, and sorting is effectuated by main actuating mechanism. If both tomatoes may be referred to single class, additional actuating mechanism does not operate and main actuating mechanism is in the position that it was during sorting of first tomato. EFFECT: increased efficiency, improved sorting out of fruits and enhanced reliability in operation. 3 cl, 2 dwg
