An inspection & sorting system of apple external quality has been developed according to the procedure of orientation first and image information capture followed. The system includes an orientation and conveyer set, a computer, a camera, a positioning sensor and apple image capturing and processing software. The orientation and conveyer set were used to realize the function of apple orientation while moving, and make different diameter apples rolling at the same revolution on rollers, so that more information and more accurate sorting results could be gotten. The mechanism adopts two cameras for apple image capture and apple quality will be inspected according to its one direct picture and four side pictures. The positioning sensor is used to inspect apple position and trigger the image capture card in time. The processing of images were carried out under Visual C++6.0 circumstance