Seleção de tomates ‘Débora’ por escovas rotativas helicoidais.

Abstract

Tomatoes are very sensible products and can suffer injuries in all stages in its production. Selection of defect fruits after harvest is a very important way for preventing losses. It was evaluated in this research the efficiency of manual sorting of tomatoes ‘Débora’ using a transport System through rotating brushes of helical bristles (Nylon 0,15 mm), of step 150 mm. The tomatoes had been placed manual and individually in the system and two people located in the entrance and exit, in opposing sides of the brushes, selected fruits with defects. It was observed that, at 70 rpm rotation, the brushes had carried the tomatoes in an adequate speed for sorting tomatoes, with 96,67% rightness.