Fstsort tomato optical sorter: AI-powered sorting by size, shape, color, and surface defects. 1–4 lanes, up to 200 pcs/min per lane, 20 images per fruit. Detects cracks, rot, bacterial spot, and more. Used in China, Europe, and South America. Get quote.
What Makes an Optical Sorter Different？
Compared to traditional electronic size graders, the advanced optical sorter can not only automatically identify weight, but also accurately sort tomatoes by size, shape, color, and surface defects. It is the ideal tool for growers, packers, and processors where consistent quality is critical.
In addition to tomatoes, this technology can also be applied to potatoes, apples, citrus, and bell peppers – making it a versatile investment for packers who handle multiple crops.
✅ Optical sorting goes beyond weight – it sees what traditional graders miss.
How the Tomato Optical Sorter Works
The tomato optical sorter uses high-resolution industrial cameras and AI-powered visual recognition to analyze each tomato as it passes through the system.
Step | Process |
|---|---|
1 | Tomatoes are fed into the system (can be integrated with washing and air drying) |
2 | High-speed cameras capture up to 20 images per fruit from multiple angles |
3 | AI software analyzes each image for color, size, shape, and surface defects |
4 | Tomatoes are directed to the appropriate exit based on your preset grades |
Detectable defects include:
Color defects: greenback（green shoulders）, uneven red color, yellow shoulder
Surface defects: cracks, scars, zippering
Disease spots: bacterial spot, bacterial speck, bacterial canker
Rot: bacterial rot, fungal rot, sour rot
Environmental damage: sunscald, mechanical damage, fruitworm holes
✅ The result: consistent, export-grade quality – every time.
Technical Specifications
Parameter | Value / Customization |
|---|---|
Number of lanes | 1 – 4（customizable） |
Sorting speed | Up to 200 pcs/min per lane |
Images per fruit | Up to 20（multi-angle） |
Number of exits | Custom（e.g., 6, 10, 16+1） |
Capacity | Up to 4 tons per hour |
Sorting criteria | Weight, size, shape, color, surface defects |
Control system | Newly upgraded operating box and computer, high-definition camera device |
✅ We have 1 to 8 sorting channels for you to choose according to different tomato yields – contact us for a recommendation based on your volume.
Real-World Performance – Customer Case Studies
Gansu Province, China（September 2022）
We successfully shipped the first tomato optical sorting equipment to Gansu Province, China. After being put into use, the results were remarkable – not only significantly reducing labor costs, but also substantially increasing production capacity.
Europe & South America（December 2022）
As the influence of our technology and services continues to expand, our tomato color grader has also been recognized by customers in Europe and South America. It was successfully installed and put into use in December of the same year, and its operating performance is equally satisfactory.
Optical Sorter vs. Electronic Weight Sorter – Which Do You Need？
Feature | Electronic Weight Sorter | Optical Sorter |
|---|---|---|
Sorts by | Weight only | Weight, size, shape, color, defects |
Accuracy | ±2g | Visual detection + weight |
Best for | Uniform weight packing | Premium quality, defect removal, export |
Defect detection | ❌ Cannot see defects | ✅ Full surface inspection |
Typical capacity | 10k–30k pcs/h/lane | Up to 200 pcs/min/lane |
💡 From relatively simple size graders to weight graders to automated optical sorters, we can tailor-make it for you, giving you a variety of options to find the tomato processing machine that suits your business development.
👉 See our full range: Tomato Processing Machines – Drum Grader, Weight Sorter & Optical Sorter →
Complete Tomato Processing Line Integration
The optical sorter can be integrated into a complete tomato processing line:
Optional components:
Bin tipper for automatic bin emptying
Water flume feeding for gentle, bruise-free infeed
Weighing packaging stations