Food input device and food input method
By combining a supply unit, a chute unit, a gate unit, and a suction unit, the problem of liquid food leakage is solved, enabling leak-free food input and ensuring the sealing and cleanliness of packaging materials.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CJ CHEILJEDANG CORP
- Filing Date
- 2021-07-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-10
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, liquid materials are prone to leakage during food input, resulting in poor sealing of packaging materials. Furthermore, the rubber O-rings may be corroded or torn, mixing into the product and affecting food quality.
The device employs a combination of a supply unit, a chute unit, a gate unit, and a suction unit. The gate unit controls the discharge of food and the suction of liquid, ensuring that food does not leak into the packaging material.
It enables leak-free input of liquid food, improves the sealing of packaging materials and the cleanliness of food, and avoids corrosion and contamination of rubber parts.
Smart Images
Figure CN116670036B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a food input device and a food input method. Background Technology
[0002] Equipment for producing food that includes both solid and liquid materials can produce the food through a process of sealing the final produced food in packaging material. In kimchi, as an example, a process must be performed in which kimchi, mixed with spices (which are solid materials), and kimchi fluid (which is liquid material), are inserted into a pre-prepared packaging material.
[0003] This insertion process can be carried out in such a way that a portion of the packaging material is opened and food is allowed to fall into the opened portion. For this drop-in food insertion, a method primarily uses an O-ring made of rubber material to guide the food through a chute and fix the chute. However, in this case, there is a problem of liquid material leaking from the gaps in the chute, making the seal of the packaging material defective. Another major problem is that when the O-ring is continuously exposed to liquid material, it may corrode and break, and thus may be mixed into the product inside the packaging material.
[0004] To prevent such leakage of liquid materials, a method of covering the chute with a sheet of vinyl resin can be used. However, this can cause another problem: during repeated feeding processes, the thin sheet of vinyl resin can be stretched or torn, and thus mixed into the product like an O-ring. Therefore, a safer food feeding device and method are needed. Summary of the Invention
[0005] Technical issues
[0006] The present invention is designed to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for feeding food so as to feed food, including liquid materials, into packaging materials without leakage.
[0007] Technical solution
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a food input device includes: a supply unit configured to discharge food downwards; a chute unit including a chute body through which the food discharged from the supply unit passes as it falls due to its own weight; a gate unit including a gate body configured to open or close depending on whether the food discharged from the chute unit will be discharged into packaging material, and in the closed state, the gate body is located between an upwardly opening of the packaging material and a chute outlet located at the lower end of the chute unit; and a suction unit configured to suction liquid accumulated inside the gate body in the closed state.
[0009] A food feeding method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: preparing a packaging material having an upper end in which an opening is defined; opening a gate body to contact an inner side surface of the packaging material; inserting a chute body into the gate body; feeding food downward into the chute body such that the food is fed into the packaging material due to its own weight; closing the gate body; and using a suction unit to suction and remove liquid accumulated inside the gate body.
[0010] Beneficial effects
[0011] Therefore, food products, including liquid materials, can be introduced into packaging materials with minimal leakage. Attached Figure Description
[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the state in which the discharge guide 13 is not shown.
[0013] Figure 2 This is a conceptual diagram showing the closed state of the gate body of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 3 This is a conceptual diagram showing the open state of the gate body of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] Figure 4 This is a conceptual diagram showing the inclined chute body of a food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a protrusion disposed inside the inclined chute body.
[0016] Figure 5 This is a conceptual diagram showing the gate body of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed state when it is lowered.
[0017] Figure 6 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the state in which the gate body of the food input device changes to the open state when the packaging material is opened according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] Figure 7 This is a conceptual diagram showing the state in which the chute body of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention descends to insert into the opening of the packaging material.
[0019] Figure 8 This is a conceptual diagram showing the state in which the gate body and the chute body of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention are raised and suction is performed.
[0020] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating a food input method using a food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0021] In the following description, some embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same components are indicated by the same reference numerals wherever possible in the drawings, even if they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the invention, detailed descriptions of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the invention.
[0022] Terms such as “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” “(a),” and “(b)” may be used to describe elements according to embodiments of the invention. However, since these terms are used only to distinguish an element from another element, the nature, order, and sequence of the elements are not limited by them. When describing an element as “connected to,” “engaged with,” or “connected to” another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly connected to or attached to the other element, but the other element may be “connected to,” “engaged with,” or “connected to” another element between them.
[0023] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the state in which the discharge guide 13 is not shown. Figure 2 This is a conceptual diagram showing the closed state of the gate body 32 of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a conceptual diagram showing the open state of the gate body 32 of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a conceptual diagram showing the inclined chute body 22 of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention and the protrusion 221 disposed inside the inclined chute body 22.
[0024] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a supply unit 10, a chute unit 20, and a gate unit 30. A food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a suction unit. The food processed in the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be kimchi, but the type of food is not limited to this. In this specification, upward and downward directions, forward and backward directions, and left and right directions are terms used for ease of explanation and may be directions that intersect each other perpendicularly.
[0025] Supply Unit 10
[0026] The supply unit 10 is provided as a component for discharging food downwards. The supply unit 10 can be connected to a food processing device to receive and discharge food. The supply unit 10 may include a conveying member 11 connected to the food processing device and a discharge member 12 for discharging food conveyed by the conveying member 11 downwards.
[0027] Food can be conveyed to the discharge member 12 via the conveying member 11 in a direction different from the upward and downward directions. As the discharge member 12 is controlled, the food arriving at the discharge member 12 can be selectively discharged downwards. In order to enable this selective discharge, the discharge member 12 may be defined with orifices opening in the upward and downward directions, and a switch member (not shown) that can selectively open and close the orifices may be provided.
[0028] The supply unit 10 may further include a discharge guide 13. The discharge guide 13 may have a vertically extending shape and may be provided with a vertically penetrating shape, allowing food to pass vertically through the discharge guide 13. The discharge guide 13 may be coupled to the discharge member 12. Therefore, food discharged downwards from the discharge member 12 can be guided to a predetermined position via the discharge guide 13 while falling. The discharge guide 13 may have a lower portion in which the cross-sectional area cut along a plane perpendicular to the upward and downward directions gradually decreases downwards. Therefore, the discharge guide 13 can prevent food discharged from the discharge member 12 from spreading out. An outlet provided at the lower end of the discharge guide 13 may communicate with the chute body 22 of the chute unit 20.
[0029] Inclined slot unit 20
[0030] The chute unit 20 may include a chute body 22 and a chute frame 21, through which food discharged from the supply unit 10 passes as it falls due to its own weight. The chute frame 21 is connected to the chute body 22 to fix or move the chute body 22.
[0031] In the shape of the inclined chute body 22, the cross-sectional area taken along the plane perpendicular to the upward and downward directions can gradually decrease downwards. Food discharged from the supply unit 10 can be introduced downwards into the inlet provided at the upper end of the inclined chute body 22, and can fall through the inclined chute outlet provided at the lower end of the inclined chute body 22.
[0032] Multiple protrusions 221 can be unevenly arranged inside the inclined chute body 22, so that the food fed into the inclined chute body 22 will not be adsorbed onto the inner side surface of the inclined chute body 22 and will be easily guided downward. The shape and size of the protrusions 221 can be applied differently and can be changed according to the size of the food to be fed and whether the food to be fed is a liquid phase or a mixed phase.
[0033] Because the chute body 22 is provided with the shape described above, the lower portion of the discharge guide 13 can be smoothly inserted into the chute body 22. Additionally, food can be guided through the chute body 22 to the gate body 32.
[0034] When the chute body 22 descends with the gate body 32 open, the lower portion of the chute body 22 can be surrounded by the gate body 32. The chute body 22 can be positioned above the gate body 32 and inserted into the center of the gate body 32 to be surrounded during descent. When the lower portion of the chute body 22 is surrounded by the gate body 32, the gate body 32 can be inserted into the opened packaging material P (see...). Figure 5 The food discharged from the supply unit 10 can be guided through the chute body 22 to the opening of the packaging material P. On the other hand, when the chute body 22 rises, the lower part of the discharge guide 13 can be inserted into the upper part of the chute body 22.
[0035] The inclined chute body 22 may be height-adjustable. The inclined chute body 22 may be connected to the inclined chute frame 21. The inclined chute frame 21 may include an inclined chute fixing member 211 and an inclined chute moving member 212. The inclined chute fixing member 211 may serve as a frame fixed to the ground, etc. The inclined chute moving member 212 may extend from the inclined chute fixing member 211 in a direction intersecting the upward-downward direction and may be height-adjustable connected to the inclined chute fixing member 211, and has one end connected to the inclined chute body 22 such that when the inclined chute moving member 212 moves relative to the inclined chute fixing member 211, the inclined chute body 22 interlocks to be height-adjustable together. The inclined chute moving member 212 and the inclined chute fixing member 211 may be configured such that the inclined chute moving member 212 and the inclined chute fixing member 211 are connected to each other by means of a linear motion (LM) guide, a lead screw, etc., to achieve linear motion of the inclined chute moving member 212. However, the inclined groove moving component 212 and the inclined groove fixing component 211 can also be configured to perform rotation and lifting together by using a rocker arm structure or the like, and the connection method is not limited to this.
[0036] Multiple chute bodies can be configured. These multiple chute bodies can form a multi-layered structure. A multi-layered structure can mean that multiple chute bodies are arranged vertically, allowing food to pass through each of the chute bodies as it falls. Each of the multiple chute bodies can have a lower end, which is arranged to be perpendicularly spaced apart from each other. The corresponding chute bodies can be arranged to be perpendicularly spaced apart from each other. Here, chute bodies that are perpendicularly adjacent to each other can each have portions that overlap when viewed horizontally. Therefore, food can fall stably through the multi-layered chute body structure without leakage or splashing.
[0037] Gate unit 30
[0038] The gate unit 30 may include a gate body 32 and a gate frame 31 for controlling the position and orientation of the gate body 32. The gate body 32 is configured to open and close depending on whether the food discharged from the chute unit 20 will be discharged into the packaging material P. The gate body 32 may have a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, the gate body 32 may block at least a portion of the chute outlet of the chute body 22, and in the open state, the gate body 32 may open the chute outlet of the chute body 22. In the closed state, the gate body 32 may be positioned between the upper side of the opening of the packaging material P and the chute outlet positioned at the lower end of the chute unit 20, with the opening of the packaging material P in a state where it is opened upwards by the clamping unit 40. In the open state, the chute body 22 may be inserted into the gate body 32. When the chute body 22 is inserted into the gate body 32 in the open state, the lower end of the chute body 22 may be positioned below the lower end of the gate body 32. The inclined groove body 22 can be deeply inserted into the opening of the packaging material P, so that food fed into the packaging material P through the inclined groove body 22 will not contaminate the seal formed around the opening of the packaging material P.
[0039] In the closed state, the gate body 32 can completely block the inclined channel outlet, but it may not completely block it. Therefore, a micro-opening, acting as a small orifice, can be maintained at the center of the gate body 32 in the closed state. The lower end of the gate tube 33, which will be described later, can be positioned adjacent to the micro-opening. Therefore, food residues and liquids discharged downward from the interior of the gate body 32 in the closed state through the micro-opening can be sucked through the lower end of the gate tube 33 by the operation of the suction unit.
[0040] The gate body 32 may have multiple gate components 321. In embodiments of the invention, the gate components 321 are described as being provided in two, but the number is not limited thereto. Each gate component 321 can move individually to present a closed state or an open state. When multiple gate components 321 are clustered together, they block the chute outlet, resulting in a closed state. When multiple gate components 321 are moved away from each other, they open the chute outlet, resulting in an open state. When the chute outlet is open, food falling through the chute body 22 can be fed into the opening of the packaging material P due to its own weight.
[0041] The gate body 32, in the closed state, may have at least a partial shape of a three-dimensional side surface, the cross-sectional area of which gradually decreases downward along a plane perpendicular to the upward and downward directions. The gate body 32, in the closed state, may also have at least a partial shape of a downwardly projecting cone-shaped side surface. In embodiments of the invention, the gate body 32 and gate member 321 are described as having the gate member 321 positioned on the left and right sides respectively, by obtaining the cone-shaped side surfaces along a plane perpendicular to the left and right directions. However, this shape is not limited to this; other shapes are also possible as long as they can be easily inserted into the opening in the closed state (where the gate members 321 are clustered together) and the opening can be fixed by changing from the closed state to the open state (where the gate members 321 are separated from each other in the open state). Furthermore, the direction along the plane cut by the gate body 32 may also be appropriately changed.
[0042] To secure the opening of the packaging material P in the open state, the gate body 32 can be configured such that it inserts into the opening of the packaging material P to contact the inner side surface of the packaging material P. Conversely, in the closed state, the gate body 32 can be positioned separate from the opening of the packaging material P. Therefore, in the closed state, the gate body 32 can selectively have a state where it is raised to separate upwards from the opening, and a state where it is lowered to insert into the opening. When the gate members 321 are separated from each other in the state where the gate body 32 is lowered to insert into the opening, the gate members 321 can contact the inner side surface of the packaging material P to secure the opening. However, alternatively, the gate body 32 in the closed state can be positioned above the opening and operated in such a way that when the gate body 32 is switched to the open state, each of the gate members 321 rotates to insert into the opening and contacts the inner side surface of the packaging material P to secure the opening.
[0043] In order to be positioned at the location described above in each of the closed and open states, the gate body 32 can rotate about an axis passing through the upper portion in the front and rear directions, such that when the gate body 32 changes from the closed state to the open state, the lower ends of the gate body 32 move away from each other.
[0044] Since the gate body 32 has a closed state and an open state as described above, and must transition from one state to the other, the gate frame 31 can move each of the gate components 321. The gate body 32 can be connected to the gate frame 31. The gate frame 31 may include a gate fixing member 311 and a gate moving member 312. The gate fixing member 311 can be used as a frame fixed to the ground, etc. Multiple gate moving members 312 can be provided, and each can have one end connected to the gate fixing member 311 and the other end connected to each of the gate components 321. As shown, the gate moving member 312 can be configured to rotate relative to the gate fixing member 311 when connected to the gate component 321, such that the gate moving member 312 rotates the gate component 321 by rotating relative to the gate fixing member 311. However, the gate moving member 312 can be configured as a hydraulic cylinder, which applies linear external force only to other positions of the gate member 321 while the other link rotatably fixes a portion of the gate member 321, causing the gate member 321 to rotate. Additionally, the gate moving member 312 can be configured not only to be height-adjustable but also to rotate relative to the gate fixing member 311.
[0045] When the gate moving member 312 has relative movement with respect to the gate fixing member 311, the gate member 321 can operate together with the gate moving member 312 to move together. The gate moving member 312 and the gate fixing member 311 can be configured such that the gate moving member 312 and the gate fixing member 311 are connected to each other by means of a linear motion (LM) guide, a guide screw, etc., to achieve linear movement of the gate moving member 312. However, the gate moving member 312 and the gate fixing member 311 can also be configured to perform rotation and lifting together by means of a rocker arm structure, etc., and the connection method is not limited to this.
[0046] The gate unit 30 may include a gate tube 33. The gate tube 33 is a tubular assembly disposed outside the gate body 32, and has one end adjacent to the lower end of the gate body 32 and communicating with the interior of the gate body 32, and another end communicating with the suction tube 34, which will be described later. The gate tube 33 may be configured to be in close contact with the outer side surface of the gate body 32. The number of gate tubes 33 may correspond to the number of gate members 321 to be disposed on each of the gate members 321.
[0047] Suction unit
[0048] The suction unit is an assembly provided to suction liquid accumulated inside the gate body 32 in the closed state. As in embodiments of the invention, when the gate body 32 is provided with a downwardly projecting conical shape in the closed state, liquid can naturally accumulate inside the gate body 32, adjacent to the top of the gate body 32. If this liquid is not removed during food feeding, the seal of the packaging material P may be defective. In embodiments of the invention, the suction unit can remove this liquid to prevent defects in the seal of the packaging material P. Additionally, the cleanliness of the food feeding device can be improved. Here, "inside the gate body 32" refers to the portion surrounded by the gate body 32 on its upper side.
[0049] The suction unit may include a suction tube 34 and a negative pressure supply module (not shown). The suction tube 34 may be connected to the other end of the gate tube 33. The suction tube 34 may have one end that is connected to the interior of the gate body 32 in the closed state via the gate tube 33. Therefore, this end of the suction tube 34 may be connected to the interior of the gate body 32 via the lower end of the gate body 32.
[0050] The suction tube 34 may have another end that is connected to the negative pressure supply module and receives negative pressure from the negative pressure supply module, such that one end of the suction tube 34 draws in liquid. The negative pressure supply module may include a device for generating negative pressure (such as a pump), but the device capable of generating negative pressure is not limited thereto.
[0051] The suction unit may also include a blower module (not shown). The blower module is provided to force air to the other end of the suction pipe 34, thereby pushing material obstructing the suction pipe 34 to the outside through one end of the suction pipe 34. When the blower module forces air to the suction pipe 34, foreign objects present in the suction pipe 34 or the gate tube 33, or foreign objects obstructing the inlet of the gate tube 33, can be pushed into the interior of the gate member 321 by the air. Such foreign objects may remain in the suction pipe 34 or the gate tube 33 if suction is not performed correctly during the suction process. Here, the blower module can remove the foreign objects by using compressed air to blow in the direction opposite to the direction of suction. Therefore, the suction operation is performed smoothly.
[0052] The blower module may include devices such as pumps to force air into the suction pipe 34, but the devices for forcibly supplying air are not limited thereto.
[0053] Clamping unit 40
[0054] The food feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a clamping unit 40. The clamping unit 40 can clamp packaging material P. The packaging material P can be clamped by the clamping unit 40 with an opening on its upper side facing upwards. When filling of the packaging material P is complete, the clamping unit 40 can move the filled packaging material P and can place the empty packaging material P at a position for packaging. The clamping unit 40 may be located below the gate body 32 in the closed state.
[0055] Figure 5 This is a conceptual diagram showing the gate body 32 of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed state with its lowered state. Figure 6 This is a conceptual diagram showing the state in which the packaging material P is opened and the gate body 32 of the food input device changes to the open state according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a conceptual diagram showing the state in which the inclined chute body 22 of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is lowered to insert into the opening of the packaging material P. Figure 8 This is a conceptual diagram showing the state in which the gate body 32 and the chute body 22 of the food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention are raised and suction is performed. Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating a food input method using a food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0056] Reference Figures 5 to 9 A food input method using a food input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is described. Packaging material P can be prepared, having an upper end in which an opening is defined (S10). A clamping unit 40 can clamp the packaging material P, and the opening can be fixed to have a predetermined area. Here, the predetermined area may be the area in which a portion of the gate body 32 in the closed state can be inserted, but the inclined groove body 22 cannot be inserted.
[0057] like Figure 5 As shown, the gate body 32, in its closed state, can be inserted into the opening of the packaging material P (S20). Thereafter, as... Figure 6 As shown, the gate body 32 is opened to allow the gate pieces 321 to move away from each other, such that the gate body 32 contacts the inner side surface of the packaging material P. Therefore, the opening in the packaging material P can be fixed to have another predetermined area.
[0058] like Figure 7As shown, forced air supply can be performed to push material blocking the suction tube 34 to the outside. Forced air supply can be performed simultaneously with inserting the gate body 32 into the opening of the packaging material P (S20), or it can be performed after the gate body 32 is opened. The material blocking the suction tube 34 can be pushed by the forced air supply and fall into the packaging material P.
[0059] like Figure 7 As shown, the chute body 22 can be lowered to insert into the gate body 32 (S30). The opening can be inserted into the lower part of the chute body 22. Thereafter, the supply unit 10 can be controlled to feed food downward into the chute body 22, so that the food is fed into the packaging material P due to its own weight (S40). The food fed into the chute body 22 can be guided through the chute body 22 to the opening of the packaging material P, so that the food falls to be contained in the packaging material P.
[0060] like Figure 8 As shown, after the food is fed in, the chute body 22 can be raised. Then, the gate body 32 can be closed (S50). After the chute body 22 rises, the gate body 32 can also rise. Liquid accumulated inside the gate body 32 can be sucked and removed using a suction unit (S60). Therefore, it is possible to prevent liquid or small pieces of food from falling out. Liquid removal using the suction unit can be performed when the gate body 32 rises, or when the gate body 32 is closed. The gate body 32 can be closed simultaneously with the gate body 32 rising (S50), either before or after it rises. Afterward, the clamping unit 40 can transfer the filled packaging material P to the subsequent sealing process and place the empty packaging material P back below the chute body 22. The food feeding method can then be repeated from the described first process.
[0061] Although all components constituting embodiments of the invention are described as operating as a single unit or in combination thereof, the invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. That is, within the scope of the invention, all components may be selectively combined to one or more of them to operate as a combination. Terms such as “comprising,” “configured,” or “having” designate the presence of a component, unless there is a clearly different meaning in this disclosure, but do not exclude its presence and should be construed as including other components. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It will also be understood that terms (such as those defined in a general dictionary) should be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formalized sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0062] The description of this invention is intended to be illustrative, and various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments set forth herein are intended to describe the technical spirit of the invention, not to limit it. The scope of the technical spirit of the invention is not limited by the embodiments. Furthermore, the scope of protection of this invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all technical concepts within the equivalent scope of this application should be interpreted as falling within the scope of the claims of this application.
Claims
1. A food input device, comprising: The feeding unit is configured to discharge food downwards; The chute unit includes a chute body through which the food discharged from the supply unit passes as it falls due to its own weight; A gate unit includes a gate body, the gate body being configured to open or close depending on whether the food discharged from the chute unit will be discharged into packaging material, and in the closed state, the gate body is located above an upwardly opening of the packaging material and between a chute outlet located at the lower end of the chute unit. as well as The suction unit is configured to suction liquid accumulated inside the gate body when it is in the closed state. The suction unit includes: A suction tube, connected to the outer side surface of the gate body, and having one end communicating with the interior of the gate body in the closed state; and A negative pressure supply module is configured to supply negative pressure to the other end of the suction tube, so that the liquid is drawn through the one end of the suction tube.
2. The food input device according to claim 1, wherein, The suction unit further includes a blower module configured to force air to the other end of the suction tube so as to push material blocking the suction tube to the outside through the other end of the suction tube.
3. The food input device according to claim 1, wherein, The gate unit further includes a gate tube, which is disposed on the outer side surface of the gate body and has one end at the lower end of the gate body communicating with the interior of the gate body. One end of the suction tube is connected to the other end of the gate tube.
4. The food input device according to claim 1, wherein, The gate body has multiple gate components. In the closed state, the plurality of gate components are clustered together to block the inclined channel outlet, and In the open state, the plurality of gate components are moved away from each other to open the inclined slot outlet, allowing the food to be fed into the opening due to its own weight.
5. The food input device according to claim 4, wherein, The gate body has at least a portion of the shape of a three-dimensional side surface in the closed state, and the cross-sectional area of the side surface of the three-dimensional shape gradually decreases downward along a plane perpendicular to the upward and downward directions.
6. The food input device according to claim 5, wherein, The gate body has at least a portion of the shape of a downwardly projecting cone-shaped side surface in the closed state.
7. The food input device according to claim 1, wherein, The gate body is configured such that it is inserted into the opening of the packaging material to contact the inner side surface of the packaging material, so as to secure the opening of the packaging material in the open state.
8. The food input device according to claim 1, wherein, A protrusion is provided on the inner side surface of the inclined chute body to guide the input food downward.
9. The food input device according to claim 1, wherein, In the shape of the inclined groove body, the cross-sectional area taken along the plane that intersects perpendicularly with the upward and downward directions gradually decreases downward.
10. The food input device according to claim 1, wherein, When the gate body descends in the open state, the inclined groove body is configured to be surrounded by the gate body.
11. A food feeding device, comprising: The feeding unit is configured to discharge food downwards; The chute unit includes a chute body through which the food discharged from the supply unit falls due to its own weight; as well as A gate unit includes a gate body configured to open or close depending on whether the food discharged from the chute unit will be discharged into an opening located on the upper side of the packaging material. The inclined chute body is movable relative to the gate body in a vertical direction, is configured to be inserted into and surrounded by the gate body, and when the gate body falls in the open state, the inclined chute body is inserted into the opening of the packaging material, so that the food discharged from the supply unit is guided to the opening of the packaging material.
12. The food feeding device according to claim 11, wherein, The inclined chute body is configured in multiple ways. Each of the plurality of inclined groove bodies has a lower end, and the lower ends are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward directions.
13. Methods of food input, including: Prepare packaging material having an upper end in which an opening is defined; Open the gate body to contact the inner side surface of the packaging material; Insert the inclined groove body into the gate body; The food is fed downwards into the inclined chute body, so that the food is fed into the packaging material due to its own weight; Close the main body of the gate; as well as By using a suction unit, liquid accumulated inside the gate body is suctioned and removed. After the gate body is closed, the liquid is suctioned and removed.
14. The food input method according to claim 13, further comprising: Air is forced into the suction tube to push material present inside the suction tube, which is included in the suction unit, to the outside.
15. The food input method according to claim 13, further comprising: The chute body is allowed to rise before the gate body is closed.
16. The food input method according to claim 13, further comprising: Before opening the gate body, the gate body, which is in the closed state, is inserted into the opening.