Patent ID: 7316322

Claim:
A quality evaluation apparatus for fruits and vegetables comprising a light emitting section which emits light to fruits or vegetables acting as one or more measured objects placed in a position for measurement, a light receiving section which receives transmitted light or reflected light from the measured object at a photo-detective sensor of charge storage type to obtain photo-detective information for quality evaluation, a transporting device for transporting the measured object via the position for measurement, and a control device which obtains inner quality information of the measured object based on the photo-detective information from the light receiving section and for controlling operation of the respective sections, wherein the control device repeatedly executes a charge storage discharge process for allowing the photo-detective sensor to store charges until a predetermined charge storage time elapses from start of charge storage and then releasing the charges stored in the photo-detective sensor until lapse of a predetermined discharge time when the measured object is not present in the position for measurement or when the photo-detective information for quality evaluation has already been obtained even if the measured object is present in the position for measurement, and wherein the control device allows the photo-detective sensor to release the charges stored therein until the predetermined discharge time elapses when the measured object transported by the transporting device reaches the position for measurement, and then executes a measurement charge storage process for storing charges in the photo-detective sensor to be used as the photo-detective information for quality evaluation until lapse of a predetermined measurement time.