SORTING APPARATUS

PURPOSE:To automatically and continuously remove foreign matter from a sample by judging the quality of the sample by a light projecting device, a sensor probe, a sample detection sensor and a color sensor and operating a solenoid valve when the sample is judged to be foreign matter. CONSTITUTION:Samples A are distributed and transferred by an electromagnetic feeder 2 and light is projected on the samples A on the electromagnetic feeder 2 by a light projecting device 4. A sensor probe 5 receives each of the reflected lights from the samples in order to send a light signal to a color sensor 6 converting the light signal to an electric signal. Further, it is confirmed that each of the samples is positioned within the visual field of the sensor probe 5 by a sample detection sensor 9. The electric signal from the color sensor 6 is taken in an operational control apparatus 7 to judge the quality of each sample and outputs a signal operating a solenoid valve 8a when the sample is judged to be foreign matter. Further, the moment the foreign matter falls from a flow path, the foreign matter is removed to the outside of a regular flow path in a foreign matter removing apparatus 8 by the operation of the solenoid valve 8a.