Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing tomato products to an established consistency standard by providing a concentrator having a tomato feedstock input means, means to circulate the material within the concentrator, output means with a valve for releasing the material from the concentrator, control means including first and second measuring means for measuring the initial precipitate weight ratio and the initial Brix level of the feedstock respectively, input means for receiving the respective measurements, first and second computing means for computing the expected precipitate weight ratio and the expected Brix level respectively of the tomato product, final measuring means for measuring the Brix level in the concentrator, comparer means for comparing the computed expected Brix level with the Brix level in the concentrator and means connecting the comparing means to the valve means of the concentrator output to control the valve means in response to the comparison made to effect release of tomato product from the concentrator.