A drain valve of a food processor and food processor thereof

Abstract

The utility model relates to life electric appliance technical field, especially a kind of drain valve of food processor and food processor thereof, first drain port and second drain port are provided with staggered on valve core, when valve core actuation to first drain port is towards communication port, first drain port is communicated with communication port;Valve core actuation to second drain port is towards communication port, second drain port is staggered with communication port, and part of second drain port forms filter gap communicated with communication port;Valve core actuation to the outer wall of valve core between first drain port and second drain port is towards communication port, and communication port is closed. The scheme of the utility model can filter and separate the mixture of rice and water, effectively solve the problem that existing drain valve with filter screen hole is easily blocked and cannot continue to filter, even the problem that cleaning is not clean, and the drain valve for filtering by controlling the size of drain inlet opening will also cause the problem of disorder of drain inlet opening size due to inaccurate control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a drain valve for a food processing machine and the food processing machine thereof. Background Technology

[0002] The applicant's self-developed hand-washing food processing machine can automatically make beverages, automatically drain slurry, and automatically clean itself. For example, the applicant previously filed a utility model patent entitled "An Automatic Draining Food Processing Machine," patent number CN202220941328.3. This patent discloses a valve core with a slurry discharge inlet and a waste discharge inlet. The valve core drives the drain pipe to move. When the valve core moves to the slurry discharge inlet and connects with the slurry preparation chamber, the drain pipe drains slurry towards the receiving cup. When the valve core moves to the waste discharge inlet and connects with the slurry preparation chamber, the drain pipe moves with the valve core to drain slurry towards the wastewater box. This patent effectively solves the problem of automatically switching the drain pipe between the slurry discharge position and the waste discharge position after the food processing machine has finished automatic cleaning. This allows for automatic waste discharge without requiring the consumer to manually replace the wastewater box, greatly reducing the hassle of consumer operation and significantly improving the automation and intelligence level of the hand-washing food processing machine.

[0003] As consumers increasingly use hands-free food processors, the existing functions are becoming less and less adequate to meet their needs. Some consumers also hope that hands-free food processors can automatically clean materials and make filterable soy milk, reducing the hassle of manual filtering. Based on this, several improvements to hands-free products have been proposed, such as patents CN201820266581.7, CN202123045442.2, CN202020655751.8, CN202110386110.6, CN202120755481.2, and CN202120755067.1, which disclose the use of filter mesh on the discharge valve to filter out wastewater from cleaning materials in the pulping chamber, or to filter out pulp residue from the finished soy milk. These patents do indeed solve the problem of achieving automatic filtration in food processors without consumer intervention. However, filtration inevitably leads to clogging of the filter mesh and makes it difficult to clean. To address this issue, the applicant has proposed an automatic cleaning method (CN202310639408.2) specifically for cleaning such filter mesh drain valves. However, this automatic cleaning method only works during the cleaning of the pulping chamber. If the filter mesh becomes clogged during filtration, the entire pulping process cannot continue. Furthermore, when rice-like particles become stuck in the filter mesh, causing blockage, it is difficult to completely remove them using this cleaning method.

[0004] Based on its ongoing research aimed at solving the aforementioned technical problems, the applicant discovered that excessively fine filter mesh was the primary cause of the filtration process failing to continue. To address this, the applicant's subsidiary subsequently proposed a self-cleaning food processing machine capable of separating materials and water, along with its pulping method (CN202310266566.8). This patent discloses a valve core with a drain inlet that can move in three different positions. The first position is a fully open state where the drain inlet and outlet are completely connected, allowing both the cleaning wastewater from the pulping chamber and the produced pulp to be discharged into different receiving containers. The second position is a partially open state where the drain inlet is partially connected to the outlet, allowing wastewater from soaking or cleaning materials within the pulping chamber to be discharged into a wastewater cup, while the materials remain within the pulping chamber. By cleverly utilizing the opening degree of the drain inlet, the separation of solid materials from liquids is achieved. Because the valve core in this design has only one drain inlet, with the first position being the drain inlet at its maximum opening and the second position being the drain inlet partially open, when the magnetic signal triggers the detection element to detect the first and second positions, the small distance the drain inlet moves between them makes it difficult for the detection element to distinguish between the first and second positions. Alternatively, the detection elements used to detect both positions may receive signals. This inaccurate detection can lead to difficulties in controlling the opening of the drain inlet. For example, when the valve core is between the first and second positions, the detection element at the first position senses the magnetic signal on the valve core, but simultaneously, because the second position is closer to the first, the detection element at the second position also senses the magnetic signal. In this case, the control system receives two signals simultaneously, causing signal confusion and making it impossible to determine the valve core's exact position, thus preventing proper draining. Alternatively, it can cause the drain inlet opening to become disordered, preventing the drain valve from properly separating the material from the water. Therefore, this solution requires particularly high detection accuracy from the detection element, which leads to a significant increase in manufacturing costs. Moreover, the width of the drain inlet disclosed in this solution is generally selected as 2mm to 10mm, which is more suitable for making bean-based beverages, but it is difficult to adapt to the filtration of rice-based materials with a width of less than 2mm. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a drain valve for a food processing machine and the food processing machine thereof, in order to solve the problems that existing food processing machines often encounter problems such as filter screen blockage and inability to continue filtering or even incomplete cleaning when using a drain valve to filter or separate rice-like materials and water, and the inaccurate control of the valve core to control the opening of the drain inlet when separating materials and water, resulting in disordered opening of the drain inlet.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a drain valve for a food processing machine, installed on the outer wall of the processing container of the food processing machine, for draining liquid from the processing container. The drain valve includes a valve seat, a valve core disposed within the valve seat, and a drain channel. The valve seat has a connecting port communicating with the processing container. The valve core is controlled to move so that the processing container can communicate with and be shut off from the drain channel through the connecting port. The valve core is characterized by having a first drain port and a second drain port arranged in a staggered manner. Both the first and second drain ports are connected to the upstream of the drain channel. The connecting port is selectively connected to the drain channel through either the first or second drain port. When the valve core moves to the position where the first drain port faces the connecting port, the first drain port is connected to the connecting port. When the valve core moves to the position where the second drain port faces the connecting port, the second drain port is misaligned with the connecting port, and a portion of the second drain port forms a filter slit communicating with the connecting port. When the valve core moves to the position where the outer wall of the valve core between the first and second drain ports faces the connecting port, the connecting port is in a closed state.

[0007] Furthermore, the valve core is a cylindrical valve core that rotates within the valve seat, and the drain channel is disposed within the valve core. The first drain port and the second drain port are staggered along the circumference of the valve core, and the first drain port and the second drain port are misaligned axially within the valve core.

[0008] Furthermore, the first drain port and the second drain port partially overlap in the upward direction of the valve core axis;

[0009] Alternatively, a unique magnet is provided on the end face of the valve core, and the valve seat is provided with a first detection element for detecting the connection between the first drain port and the connecting port, a second detection element for detecting the connection between the filter slit and the connecting port, and a third detection element for detecting that the connecting port is in a closed state, corresponding to the magnet. The first detection element, the second detection element, and the third detection element are arranged around the rotation axis of the valve core. When the valve core moves to the position where the first drain port faces the connecting port, the magnet faces the first detection element; when the valve core moves to the position where the second drain port faces the connecting port, the magnet faces the second detection element; when the valve core moves to the position where the outer wall of the valve core between the first drain port and the second drain port faces the connecting port, the magnet faces the third detection element.

[0010] Furthermore, the valve core is vertically disposed within the valve seat, the second drain port is lower than the first drain port and the connecting port, and when the valve core is rotated to face the connecting port, the filter slit is formed by the upper edge of the second drain port and the lower edge of the connecting port.

[0011] Furthermore, a third drain port, higher than the second drain port, is provided on the same side of the valve core. The third drain port is connected to the drain channel. When the valve core rotates to the point where the second drain port faces the connecting port, the third drain port is simultaneously connected to the connecting port.

[0012] Furthermore, the valve seat includes a valve body and a sealing ring, the valve core is disposed inside the valve body, the valve body has an opening, the sealing ring is installed at the opening, the connecting port is disposed through the sealing ring, when the valve core moves to the second drain port facing the connecting port, the sealing ring partially blocks the second drain port, and the filter slit is formed at the second drain port not blocked by the sealing ring.

[0013] Furthermore, the valve seat also includes a valve sleeve fitted onto the outside of the valve core, the valve sleeve being integrally formed with the sealing ring.

[0014] Furthermore, the width of the filter slit does not exceed 1.9 mm;

[0015] Alternatively, the connecting port and the second drain port may be rectangular or square;

[0016] Alternatively, the filter slit formed by the misalignment of the second drain port and the connecting port is strip-shaped.

[0017] Furthermore, the valve core is a long strip-shaped valve core that translates within the valve seat, and the drain channel is disposed within the valve core. The first drain port and the second drain port are located on the same side of the valve core and are staggered along the translational direction of the valve core.

[0018] Alternatively, the drain channel is located inside the valve seat, and the valve core rotates within the valve seat. The first drain port and the second drain port are two different notches located on the valve core. The first drain port and the second drain port are staggered along the rotation direction of the valve core, and the first drain port and the second drain port are misaligned in the rotation axis of the valve core.

[0019] Meanwhile, this utility model also provides a food processing machine, including a processing container, characterized in that: the processing container is provided with a liquid outlet, and a drain valve as described above is installed at the liquid outlet.

[0020] This invention features a drain valve capable of separating material and water. The drain valve is a non-filterable valve. The valve core has a first drain port and a second drain port arranged in a staggered manner. When the valve core moves to the position where the first drain port faces the connecting port on the valve seat, the first drain port connects with the outlet on the processing container and the connecting port on the valve seat. The slurry in the processing container or the cleaning wastewater from cleaning the processing container can be discharged through the drain valve's drain channel. When the valve core moves to the position where the second drain port faces the connecting port, the second drain port is misaligned relative to the connecting port, and a portion of the second drain port forms a filter gap due to this misalignment. This filter gap connects with the outlet and the connecting port, allowing wastewater from soaking or cleaning materials in the processing container to be discharged through the filter gap and the drain channel. When the valve core moves to the position where the outer wall of the valve core between the first and second drain ports faces the connecting port, the connecting port is in a state of closing the drain channel from the processing container.

[0021] For existing food processing machines with filter mesh on the drain valve, such as those in patents CN201820266581.7, CN202123045442.2, CN202020655751.8, CN202110386110.6, CN202120755481.2, and CN202120755067.1, the filtration process cannot continue when rice-like particles become stuck in the filter mesh. Even if the valve core is moved during filtration, the problem of filter mesh blockage cannot be completely solved. Furthermore, subsequent cleaning may not be able to remove the rice-like particles stuck in the filter mesh. However, the drain valve of this invention has no filter mesh structure. When the second drain port moves towards the connecting port, a portion of the second drain port forms a filter gap due to misalignment between the second drain port and the connecting port. This filter gap and the liquid outlet... The filter slit and the connecting port are connected. At this time, the wastewater soaking or washing materials in the processing container can enter the drainage channel through the filter slit and be discharged. The filter slit is not a fixed structure compared to the traditional dense filter mesh. Therefore, even if rice-like particles are stuck in the filter slit, the rice-like particles are held by the edge of the connecting port and the edge of the second drainage port. During operation, the program only needs to be set to repeatedly move the valve core during the filtration process. When the valve core moves to the outlet in the closed state, the rice-like particles that were originally stuck at the edge of the connecting port and the edge of the second drainage port will move with the valve core into the drainage channel. When the rice-like particles are in the drainage channel, they will no longer be held by the edge of the connecting port. Under the impact of gravity and the liquid in the processing container, they will be discharged along the drainage channel. Therefore, the drainage valve of this utility model will not cause the problem of the filtration operation being unable to continue due to rice-like particles blocking the filter slit. Meanwhile, compared to existing drain valves with filter mesh, the filter slits will not even get clogged, resulting in higher filtration efficiency, easier cleaning, and a simpler structure. It can even separate rice from water without any problem.

[0022] Meanwhile, for existing filter drain valves that control the opening of the drain inlet using valve core actuation (such as patent CN202310266566.8), there is only one drain inlet, which needs to serve as both the inlet for draining slurry and cleaning wastewater, and the inlet for material-water separation. Because the detection elements for these two functions are located close to each other, the signals received by the control system can become distorted, making it impossible to determine the actual position of the valve core and thus preventing the draining action from being completed correctly. Alternatively, it can cause distorted drain inlet opening, preventing the drain valve from properly separating material and water. Therefore, this solution requires extremely high detection accuracy from the detection elements, leading to a significant increase in manufacturing costs. Moreover, the width of the drain inlet disclosed in this solution is generally chosen to be 2mm~10mm, which is more suitable for making bean-based beverages with larger particles, but difficult to adapt to filtering rice-based materials with a width of less than 2mm. The drain valve of this invention has two independent drain ports, which are staggered on the valve core. These two drain ports have clearly defined functions: the first drain port is used to drain the slurry and cleaning wastewater from the processing container, while the second drain port is used to drain the wastewater from soaking or cleaning materials in the processing container. Therefore, the control of the valve core is simpler and more accurate for the two independent drain ports, eliminating any problem of inconsistent drain inlet opening. Furthermore, compared to existing technology (CN202310266566.8), this invention separates material and water through a filter slit formed by the staggered alignment of the connecting port and the second drain port. The size of the filter slit can be ensured simply by designing the degree of misalignment between the connecting port and the second drain port, without requiring special control of the filter slit. Compared to drain valves that adjust the drain inlet opening, this design is simpler to control and has lower manufacturing costs. Moreover, for the food processing machine of this invention, it can achieve the filtration and separation of rice-like particles smaller than 2mm. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a hand-wash-free food processing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged structural diagram at point A;

[0026] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the drain valve installed on the pulverizing cup;

[0027] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the medium-sized grinding cup;

[0028] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the valve core structure of the drain valve;

[0029] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the state and structure of the drain valve when discharging slurry or cleaning wastewater;

[0030] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the state and structure of the drain valve during intermediate feed water separation;

[0031] Figure 8 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the drain valve in the closed state;

[0032] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of making rice paste / rice porridge according to Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0033] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drain valve in Embodiment 2 of this utility model;

[0034] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the valve core structure of the drain valve;

[0035] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the state structure of the drain valve when draining slurry or cleaning wastewater in Embodiment 3 of this utility model;

[0036] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the state structure of the drain valve during material-water separation in Embodiment 3 of this utility model;

[0037] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drain valve in the closed state in Embodiment 3 of this utility model;

[0038] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drain valve in Embodiment 4 of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this utility model, a detailed description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that while many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model, it can also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0040] The main purpose of this invention is to address the technical problems encountered when using a drain valve to filter and separate materials and water. These problems include the potential for small rice grains to clog the filter mesh, disrupting the filtration process during beverage preparation and making the clogging difficult to clean; and the difficulty in controlling the drain inlet opening using a valve core, leading to uncontrolled and erratic opening adjustments that prevent filtration from being completed. Furthermore, this invention is incapable of filtering and separating rice grains smaller than 2mm. This invention aims to solve these problems by providing an improved solution, as illustrated in the following embodiments. The inventors have discovered that the solutions described in this invention can produce low-sugar rice pastes and porridges, providing products and functions suitable for diabetic patients.

[0041] The specific implementation scheme of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0042] Implementation 1:

[0043] like Figures 1 to 8 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the first embodiment of this utility model. A hands-free food processing machine includes a body 1, a grinding cup 2 disposed within the body 1, a lid 3 sealed and mounted on the grinding cup 2, a receiving cup 7, and a wastewater box 8. The grinding cup 2 and the lid 3 together form a processing container 20. A motor 4 is located at the bottom of the grinding cup 2. A rotating shaft (not marked in the diagram) driven by the motor 4 penetrates the bottom wall of the grinding cup 2 and extends into the grinding cup 2. A stirring device 5 is disposed inside the grinding cup 2 and mounted on the rotating shaft. A liquid outlet 21 is provided on the bottom side wall of the grinding cup 2. Figure 5As shown, the outlet 21 in this embodiment has a rectangular or square structure, and a drain valve 6 is fixed on the outside of the outlet 21. The drain valve 6 includes a valve seat 61, a valve core 62 disposed in the valve seat 61, and a drive motor (not marked in the figure) for driving the valve core 62. The valve seat 61 has a communication port 610 installed opposite to the outlet 21, that is, the communication port 610 is normally connected to the outlet 21. Therefore, in this embodiment, the shape of the communication port 610 corresponds to the shape of the outlet 21, and is also rectangular or square. A drain channel 620 is provided in the valve core 62, and a first drain port 621 and a second drain port 622 are provided on the side wall of the valve core 62, which are arranged in a staggered manner. The first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 are both connected to the upstream of the drain channel 620, and the downstream of the drain channel 620 drains liquid towards the receiving cup 7 or the wastewater box 8 through a drain pipe (not marked in the figure). In this embodiment, the operation of the control valve core 62 allows the processing container 20 to connect to and disconnect from the drainage channel 620 via the outlet 21 and the connecting port 610. During the operation of the valve core 62, either the outlet 21 or the connecting port 610 connects to the drainage channel 620 via the first drainage port 621 and the second drainage port 622.

[0044] In this embodiment, the valve core 62 is a cylindrical valve core that rotates within the valve seat 61, and the valve core 62 is vertically disposed within the valve seat 61. The first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 are staggered along the circumference of the valve core 62, and the first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 are misaligned in the rotation axis of the valve core 62. The first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 partially overlap in the axial direction of the valve core 62, and the second drain port 622 is lower than the first drain port 621 and the connecting port 610.

[0045] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the valve seat 61 includes a valve shell 63, a valve sleeve 64 fitted outside the valve core 62, and a sealing ring 65 installed outside the liquid outlet 21 to seal the installation gap between the valve shell 63 and the pulverizing cup 2. The valve sleeve 64 and the sealing ring 65 are integrally formed. In this embodiment, the valve shell 63 is provided with an opening (not marked in the figure) facing the liquid outlet 21. The sealing ring 65 is fitted into the opening, and the connecting port 610 is provided through the sealing ring 65. The lower edge of the connecting port 610 is flush with the lower edge of the liquid outlet 21 to avoid the lower edge of the connecting port 610 being too high and blocking the liquid in the pulverizing cup 2 from being discharged.

[0046] In this embodiment, different drainage functions are achieved by controlling the valve core 62 to rotate to different positions. Specifically, when the valve core 62 is actuated to the position where the first drainage port 621 faces the connecting port 610, the first drainage port 621 is connected to the connecting port 610 and the outlet 21, allowing the prepared slurry in the processing container 20 or the cleaning wastewater from cleaning the processing container 20 to be discharged into a designated receiving container through the drainage channel 620. When the valve core 62 is actuated to the position where the second drainage port 622 faces the connecting port 610, the second drainage port 622 is axially misaligned with the connecting port 610, and the second drainage... A portion of the liquid outlet 622 forms a filter slit 6220 that communicates with the connecting port 610 and the liquid outlet 21. Wastewater from soaking or cleaning materials in the processing container 20 can be discharged into a designated receiving container through the filter slit 6220 and the drain channel 622. When the valve core 62 is activated such that the outer wall of the valve core 62 between the first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 faces the connecting port 610, the connecting port 610 is in a closed state, and the processing container 20 is not connected to the drain channel 622.

[0047] In this embodiment, when the valve core 62 rotates to face the second drain port 622 toward the connecting port 610, the sealing ring 65 blocks part of the second drain port 622, and the filter slit 6220 is formed on the part of the second drain port 622 that is not blocked by the sealing ring 65. The filter slit 6220 is an elongated structure formed by the upper edge of the second drain port 622 and the lower edge of the connecting port 610.

[0048] In addition, in this embodiment, a unique magnet 625 is provided on one end face of the valve core 62, and the side of the valve seat 61 corresponding to the magnet 625 is respectively provided with a first detection element 661 for detecting the connection between the first drain port 621 and the connecting port 610 and the outlet port 21, a second detection element 662 for detecting the connection between the filter gap 6220 and the connecting port 610 and the outlet port 21, and a third detection element 663 for detecting that the connecting port 610 is in a closed state. The first detection element 661 and the second detection element 662 The third detection element 663 is arranged around the rotation axis of the valve core 62. When the valve core 62 moves to the position where the first drain port 621 faces the connection port 610, the magnet 625 faces the first detection element 661; when the valve core 62 moves to the position where the second drain port 622 faces the connection port 610, the magnet 625 faces the second detection element 662; when the valve core 62 moves to the position where the outer wall of the valve core 62 between the first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 faces the connection port 610, the magnet 625 faces the third detection element 663.

[0049] In this embodiment, the axial width H of the filter slit 6220 does not exceed 2 mm, and for this embodiment, it does not exceed 1.9 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Because the width H of the filter slit 6220 in this embodiment is relatively small, it can separate rice grains from water, thus enabling the production of low-sugar rice paste / porridge.

[0050] The control method for making low-sugar rice paste / porridge using the hands-free food processor in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 9 The flowchart shown includes the following production steps:

[0051] Pretreatment stage: Add rice and water to the processing container and heat the mixture of rice and water to pretreat it, so as to precipitate the sugar and starch in the rice into the water to form rice water.

[0052] Rice water draining stage: The control valve core is rotated so that the second drain port faces the connecting port. A part of the second drain port will form a filter gap and connect with the outlet due to the misalignment of the second drain port and the connecting port. The rice water in the processing container is discharged to the wastewater box through the filter gap and drain channel. The pre-treated rice material is retained in the processing container.

[0053] Rice paste / porridge preparation stage: Water is added to the processing container, and the pre-treated rice and water mixture is heated and stirred to obtain rice paste / porridge.

[0054] Rice paste / porridge discharge stage: The control valve core is rotated so that the first drain port faces the connecting port. The first drain port is connected to the outlet port. The rice paste / porridge in the processing container is discharged to the receiving cup through the first drain port and the drain channel.

[0055] Cleaning stage: After the rice paste / porridge is drained, water is added to the processing container and the container is stirred and cleaned.

[0056] Waste discharge stage: After cleaning is completed, the control valve core is rotated to connect the first drain port with the outlet, and the cleaning wastewater in the processing container is discharged into the wastewater box.

[0057] In this embodiment, the reason why low-sugar rice paste / porridge can be made is mainly because during the pretreatment process, as much sugary starch as possible can be extracted from the rice and discharged outside the processing container through a filterable drain valve, thus achieving material-water separation. The rice that has been pretreated and is retained in the processing container has a significantly reduced sugar content. Further processing of the pretreated rice results in rice paste / porridge with a more obvious low-sugar effect, making it very suitable for diabetic patients or people on a low-sugar diet.

[0058] The hands-free food processing machine of this embodiment has a drain valve that enables material-water separation, and the drain valve is a drain valve without a filter screen. The valve core of the drain valve has a first drain port and a second drain port arranged in a staggered manner. When the valve core moves to the position where the first drain port faces the connecting port on the valve seat, the first drain port is connected to the connecting port and the outlet, allowing the slurry in the processing container or the cleaning wastewater from cleaning the processing container to be discharged through the drain valve's drain channel. When the valve core moves to the position where the second drain port faces the connecting port, the second drain port is misaligned relative to the connecting port, and a portion of the second drain port forms a filter gap due to this misalignment. This filter gap is connected to the connecting port and the outlet, allowing wastewater from soaking or cleaning materials in the processing container to be discharged through the filter gap and the drain channel. When the valve core moves to the position where the outer wall of the valve core between the first and second drain ports faces the connecting port, the connecting port is in a state of closing the drain channel from the processing container.

[0059] When performing filtration operations on existing food processing machines with filter mesh on the drain valve, such as those in patents CN201820266581.7, CN202123045442.2, CN202020655751.8, CN202110386110.6, CN202120755481.2, and CN202120755067.1, if rice grains or similar particles become stuck in the filter mesh, then... This can cause the filtration process to be interrupted. Even if the valve core is operated during filtration, the problem of clogged filter mesh cannot be completely solved. Furthermore, subsequent cleaning may not be able to remove rice-like particles stuck in the filter mesh. In the hands-free food processor of this embodiment, the drain valve has no filter mesh structure. When the second drain port moves towards the connecting port, a portion of the second drain port will form a filter gap due to the misalignment between the second drain port and the connecting port. The connecting port and the liquid outlet are connected. At this time, the wastewater from soaking or washing materials in the processing container can enter the drainage channel through the filter slit and be discharged. This filter slit is not a fixed structure compared to the traditional dense filter mesh. Therefore, even if rice-like particles are stuck in the filter slit, the rice-like particles are held by the edge of the connecting port and the edge of the second liquid outlet. During operation, the program only needs to be set to repeatedly move the valve core during the filtration process. When the valve core moves to the liquid outlet in the closed state, the rice-like particles that were originally stuck on the edge of the connecting port and the edge of the second liquid outlet will move with the valve core into the drainage channel. When the rice-like particles are in the drainage channel, they will no longer be held by the edge of the connecting port, and under their own weight and the impact of the liquid in the processing container, they will be discharged along the drainage channel. Therefore, the food processing machine in this embodiment will not have the problem of the filtration operation being unable to continue due to rice-like particles blocking the filter slit. Meanwhile, compared to existing food processing machines with filter mesh and drain valves, the filter slits will not even get clogged, resulting in higher filtration efficiency, easier cleaning, and a simpler structure. It can even easily separate rice from water.

[0060] Meanwhile, for existing filter drain valves that control the opening of the drain inlet using valve core actuation (such as patent CN202310266566.8), there is only one drain inlet, which needs to serve as both the inlet for draining slurry and cleaning wastewater, and the inlet for material-water separation. Because the detection elements used to detect these two functions are close together, the signals received by the control system can become distorted, making it impossible to determine the actual position of the valve core and thus preventing the draining action from being completed correctly. Alternatively, it can cause distorted drain inlet opening, preventing the drain valve from properly separating material and water. Therefore, this solution requires particularly high detection accuracy from the detection elements, leading to a significant increase in manufacturing costs. Moreover, the width of the drain inlet opening in this solution is generally chosen to be 2mm~10mm, which is more suitable for making bean-based beverages with larger particles, but difficult to adapt to filtering rice-based materials with a width of less than 2mm. The food processing machine in this embodiment has two independent drain ports, which are staggered on the valve core. These two drain ports have clearly defined functions: the first drain port is used to discharge slurry and cleaning wastewater from the processing container, while the second drain port is used to discharge wastewater from soaking or cleaning materials within the processing container. Therefore, the valve core control is simpler and more accurate for these two independent drain ports, eliminating any problem of inconsistent drain inlet opening. Furthermore, compared to existing technology (CN202310266566.8), this embodiment separates material and water through a filter slit formed by the misalignment of the connecting port and the second drain port. The size of the filter slit can be ensured simply by designing the degree of misalignment between the connecting port and the second drain port, without requiring special control of the filter slit. Compared to adjusting the drain inlet opening, this method is simpler, has lower manufacturing costs, and can even achieve the filtration and separation of rice-like particles smaller than 2mm.

[0061] In addition, this embodiment also provides a control method for making low-sugar rice paste / porridge using a hands-free food processor. After pre-treating the rice by heating, the rice water is filtered out using a drain valve. The pre-treated rice is retained in the processing container, where the rice paste / porridge is then made. Using this control method, a large amount of sugary starch can be precipitated into the rice water before making the rice paste / porridge, and the rice water can be drained, significantly reducing the sugar content in the rice paste / porridge and providing a healthier diet for diabetic patients.

[0062] Therefore, it can be seen that, compared with existing hands-free food processing machines, this embodiment of the hands-free food processing machine, in addition to the original automatic cleaning or soaking of materials, automatic pulping, automatic pulp discharge, automatic cleaning, and automatic waste discharge, also innovatively realizes the automatic production of low-sugar rice paste / porridge, which greatly enhances the functions of the hands-free food processing machine and provides consumers with more choices.

[0063] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the second drain port is located below the connecting port, and the upper part of the second drain port is partially connected to both the connecting port and the outlet. Since the liquid flows more easily downwards under gravity during drainage, this arrangement is more conducive to draining the liquid used for soaking or cleaning materials during material-water separation. Of course, if the second drain port is designed to be higher than the connecting port, it can also filter some liquid; however, some residual liquid will not be completely separated from the processing container. Therefore, when the first and second drain ports are vertically arranged on the valve core, it is preferable that the second drain port is lower than the first drain port, and even lower than the connecting port.

[0064] It should also be noted that in this embodiment, the filter slit is formed by the lower edge of the connecting port formed on the sealing ring and the upper edge of the second drain port. Of course, the second drain port can also be set higher than the connecting port, and the filter slit can be formed by the upper edge of the connecting port formed on the sealing ring and the lower edge of the second drain port. Furthermore, when the valve seat structure formed by the sealing ring, valve sleeve, and valve body is integrated, the filter slit can also be directly formed by the edge of the connecting port on the valve seat and the edge of the second drain port.

[0065] In this embodiment, when the valve core moves to the position where the first drain port faces the connecting port, the first drain port, the connecting port, and the outlet are in a fully connected state with their diameters completely overlapping. Of course, it is also possible for the first drain port to be designed to partially connect with the outlet; even if the diameter of the first drain port is smaller or larger than the diameter of the outlet, or if there is a partial misalignment between the first drain port and the connecting port, these are all applicable to the food processing machine of this embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the first drain port and the second drain port do not overlap in the rotational axis of the valve core, as long as the functions of the first and second drain ports are achieved, they all fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0066] It should also be noted that in this embodiment, the first drain port and the second drain port are separate drain ports independently set on the valve core, and do not belong to the structure of adjusting the opening size. Therefore, the detection method of detecting the connection state and the closed state of the first drain port and the second drain port respectively has higher detection reliability and is less likely to cause problems such as control system detection failure or confusion.

[0067] Of course, it should also be noted that in this embodiment, the liquid outlet is located on the bottom side wall of the grinding cup, and the valve core is vertically located on the outside of the side wall of the grinding cup. If the liquid outlet is located on the bottom wall of the grinding cup, the drain valve in this embodiment can also be located on the bottom wall of the grinding cup, and the valve core is horizontally positioned in this case. This structure is also applicable to the food processing machine of this embodiment.

[0068] In this embodiment, the shapes of the outlet and the connecting port are generally the same and are usually set. However, the shapes of the first and second drain ports located in the valve seat are not limited to being exactly the same as the outlet and the connecting port. In this embodiment, the second drain port is also rectangular or square. With this design, when the valve core moves to the position where the second drain port faces the connecting port, the rectangular or square structure can achieve a strip-shaped filter slit formed by the edges of the connecting port and the second drain port. The strip-shaped structure is beneficial for material-water separation. The inventors have found that the average width of rice is generally 2mm to 3mm. Therefore, for the filter slit in this embodiment, the width is generally designed to not exceed 1.9mm. This allows most of the rice grains to remain in the processing container during material-water separation. Thus, the food processor of this embodiment not only has the function of making low-sugar rice paste / porridge, but also has the function of washing and soaking rice for filtration.

[0069] Additionally, it should be noted that when using the control method of this embodiment to make low-sugar rice paste / porridge, during the rice water discharge stage after pretreatment, the rice water can be discharged into a separate receiving container. Since the rice water is rich in sugars and starches, which are nutrients, consumers can reuse it or drink it directly. Designers can design a third type of receiving cup to collect the rice water according to different design requirements, or integrate a chamber for collecting the rice water into the receiving cup or wastewater box.

[0070] It should be noted that the changes in the structure and selection of parameters described in this embodiment can also be selectively applied to other embodiments of this utility model.

[0071] Example 2:

[0072] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the second embodiment of this utility model. This embodiment is a further improvement based on the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment lies in the structure of the valve core 62. The valve core 62 has a third drain port 623 located on the same side as the second drain port 622, which is higher than the second drain port 622. The third drain port 623 is connected to the drain channel 620. When the valve core 62 rotates to the position where the second drain port 622 faces the connecting port 610, the third drain port 623 is simultaneously connected to the outlet port 21.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower edge of the connecting port 610 is slightly lower than the lower edge of the liquid outlet 21, so that the liquid can be more easily discharged from the processing container.

[0074] This embodiment achieves the same technical effects as the embodiments described above, and will not be repeated here. It should be noted that providing a third drain outlet on the same side as the second drain outlet can accelerate the discharge of rice water during the preparation of low-sugar rice paste / porridge. This is because the pre-treated rice water has a certain viscosity, and the width of the filter slit formed in this embodiment is relatively small. If there is only one filter slit, the discharge time of the rice water may be prolonged. Therefore, providing an independent drain outlet on the same side as the second drain outlet helps to accelerate the discharge of the rice water. Of course, in this embodiment, to prevent rice from being discharged from the third drain outlet during the rice water discharge process, the size of the third drain outlet also needs to be designed with reference to the size of the filter slit.

[0075] It should also be noted that the third drain outlet can also be designed with a staggered structure, similar to the second drain outlet and the connecting outlet, so that the third drain outlet and the connecting outlet are staggered to form another filter slit.

[0076] Example 3:

[0077] like Figures 12 to 14 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the third embodiment of this utility model. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiments in the structure of the drain valve. The drain valve in this embodiment includes a valve seat 61, an elongated valve core 62 disposed within the valve seat 61, and a drive motor (not shown) for driving the valve core 62. The valve core 62 has a drain channel 620, and the lower end of the valve seat 61 has an opening in the drain channel 620 for discharging liquid. In this embodiment, the valve core 62 moves vertically within the valve seat 61. The valve seat 61 has a connecting port 610 installed opposite to the outlet 21 on the processing container 20, and the outlet 21 and the connecting port 610 are normally connected. A first drain port 621 and a second drain port 622 are provided on the same side of the valve core 62 facing the connecting port 610, and the first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 are staggered along the translational direction of the valve core 62.

[0078] like Figure 12 As shown, when the valve core 62 moves to the point where the first drain port 621 is directly opposite the connecting port 610, the slurry in the processing container 20 or the cleaning wastewater from cleaning the processing container 20 is discharged through the drain channel 620. Figure 13 As shown, when the valve core 62 moves to the point where the second drain port 622 and the connecting port 610 are misaligned to form a filter gap 6220, the wastewater from soaking or cleaning materials in the processing container 20 is discharged through the filter gap 6220 and the drain channel 620, while the materials remain inside the processing container 20. Figure 14As shown, when the valve core 62 is moved to the position between the first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622, and the outer wall of the valve core 62 faces the communication port 610, the drain channel 620 is not connected to the processing container 20.

[0079] The size requirements for forming the filter slit in this embodiment are the same as in Embodiment 1. This embodiment also has the technical effects of Embodiments 1 and 2, which will not be repeated here. It should be noted that the drain valve in this embodiment can also be installed on the outside of the bottom wall of the processing container. In this case, the valve core can move horizontally.

[0080] Example 4:

[0081] like Figure 15 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the fourth embodiment of this utility model. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiments in that the structure of the drain valve is different. In this embodiment, the drain valve includes a valve seat 61, a valve core 62 rotatably disposed within the valve seat 61, and a drive motor (not marked in the figure) for driving the valve core 62 to rotate. The valve seat 61 is provided with a drain channel 620, and the valve seat 61 is provided with a connecting port 610 installed opposite to the outlet 21 on the bottom side wall of the processing container 20. The outlet 21 and the connecting port 610 are normally connected. The valve core 62 is a sealing head located between the connecting port 610 and the drain channel 620. The outer wall of the valve core 62 is provided with two notches, forming a first drain port 621 and a second drain port 622, respectively. The first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 are offset along the circumference of the valve core 62, and the second drain port 622 is offset upward relative to the first drain port 621 along the rotation axis of the valve core 62, so that the upper edge of the second drain port 622 is lower than the upper edge of the first drain port 621.

[0082] When the valve core 62 rotates to face the first drain port 621 toward the connecting port 610, the processing container 20 discharges the slurry and cleaning wastewater from the processing container 20 through the outlet 21, the connecting port 610, the first drain port 621, and the drain channel 620. When the valve core 62 rotates to face the second drain port 622 toward the connecting port 610, the upper edge of the second drain port 622 and the lower edge of the connecting port 610 will form a filter slit 6220 due to the misalignment of the second drain port 622 relative to the connecting port 610. Thus, the wastewater from soaking or cleaning materials in the processing container 20 can be discharged from the processing container 20 through the outlet 21, the connecting port 610, the filter slit 622, and the drain channel 620. When the valve core 62 rotates to the point where the outer wall of the valve core 62 between the first drain port 621 and the second drain port 622 faces the connecting port 610, the valve core 62 disconnects the connecting port 610 from the drain channel 620, and the processing container 20 is no longer connected to the drain channel 620.

[0083] This embodiment has the same beneficial effects as the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0084] Additionally, it should be noted that this food processing machine can be used to make beverages such as soy milk that require pulverizing ingredients; therefore, the stirring device can be a pulverizing blade. Of course, this food processing machine can also make beverages such as rice paste and rice porridge that do not require pulverization; therefore, the stirring device can simply have a stirring function without a pulverizing function to avoid the problem of sticky residue and difficulty in cleaning when making rice paste or rice porridge. Alternatively, the stirring device can also be a pulverizing blade; it is only necessary to control the pulverizing blade at a low speed when making rice paste or rice porridge to avoid excessively pulverizing the rice and affecting the texture. Furthermore, this food processing machine can even be a cooking appliance without a pulverizing or stirring device, such as a rice cooker or pressure cooker. By incorporating the drain valve structure without a filter mesh of this invention into the processing container of the cooking appliance, low-sugar rice can also be made. Before making low-sugar rice, and after pre-treating the rice by heating, the drain valve of this invention can be used to filter out the rice water, and then the rice remaining in the cooking appliance can be used to make low-sugar rice.

[0085] Those skilled in the art will understand that this utility model includes, but is not limited to, the content described in the accompanying drawings and the specific embodiments above. Any modifications that do not depart from the functional and structural principles of this utility model will be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A drain valve for a food processing machine, installed on the outer wall of the processing container of the food processing machine, for draining liquid from the processing container, the drain valve comprising a valve seat, a valve core disposed within the valve seat, and a drain channel, the valve seat having a communication port communicating with the processing container, controlling the valve core to actuate, thereby enabling the processing container to communicate with and shut off from the drain channel through the communication port, characterized in that: The valve core is provided with a first drain port and a second drain port arranged in a staggered manner. Both the first drain port and the second drain port are connected to the upstream of the drain channel. The connecting port is selectively connected to the drain channel through the first drain port and the second drain port. When the valve core is actuated to the position where the first drain port faces the connecting port, the first drain port is connected to the connecting port. When the valve core is actuated to the position where the second drain port faces the connecting port, the second drain port is misaligned with the connecting port, and a part of the second drain port forms a filter slit connected to the connecting port. When the valve core is actuated to the position where the outer wall of the valve core between the first drain port and the second drain port faces the connecting port, the connecting port is in a closed state.

2. The drain valve of the food processing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve core is a cylindrical valve core that rotates inside the valve seat, and the drain channel is set inside the valve core. The first drain port and the second drain port are staggered along the circumference of the valve core, and the first drain port and the second drain port are misaligned in the axial direction of the valve core.

3. The drain valve of the food processing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first drain port and the second drain port partially overlap in the upward axis of the valve core. Alternatively, a unique magnet is provided on the end face of the valve core, and the valve seat is provided with a first detection element for detecting the connection between the first drain port and the connecting port, a second detection element for detecting the connection between the filter slit and the connecting port, and a third detection element for detecting that the connecting port is in a closed state, corresponding to the magnet. The first detection element, the second detection element, and the third detection element are arranged around the rotation axis of the valve core. When the valve core moves to the position where the first drain port faces the connecting port, the magnet faces the first detection element; when the valve core moves to the position where the second drain port faces the connecting port, the magnet faces the second detection element; when the valve core moves to the position where the outer wall of the valve core between the first drain port and the second drain port faces the connecting port, the magnet faces the third detection element.

4. The drain valve of the food processing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The valve core is vertically disposed inside the valve seat. The second drain port is lower than the first drain port and the connecting port. When the valve core is rotated to face the connecting port, the filter slit is formed by the upper edge of the second drain port and the lower edge of the connecting port.

5. The drain valve of the food processing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The valve core is located on the same side as the second drain port and is also provided with a third drain port that is higher than the second drain port. The third drain port is connected to the drain channel. When the valve core is rotated so that the second drain port faces the connecting port, the third drain port is simultaneously connected to the connecting port.

6. The drain valve of the food processing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve seat includes a valve body and a sealing ring. The valve core is disposed inside the valve body. The valve body has an opening. The sealing ring is installed at the opening. The connecting port passes through the sealing ring. When the valve core moves to the second drain port facing the connecting port, the sealing ring partially blocks the second drain port, and the filter slit is formed at the second drain port that is not blocked by the sealing ring.

7. The drain valve of the food processing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The valve seat also includes a valve sleeve fitted onto the outside of the valve core, and the valve sleeve is integrally formed with the sealing ring.

8. The drain valve of the food processing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The width of the filter slit does not exceed 1.9 mm; Alternatively, the connecting port and the second drain port may be rectangular or square; Alternatively, the filter slit formed by the misalignment of the second drain port and the connecting port is strip-shaped.

9. The drain valve of the food processing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve core is a long strip-shaped valve core that moves within the valve seat, and the drain channel is located inside the valve core. The first drain port and the second drain port are located on the same side of the valve core and are staggered along the translational direction of the valve core. Alternatively, the drain channel is located inside the valve seat, and the valve core rotates within the valve seat. The first drain port and the second drain port are two different notches located on the valve core. The first drain port and the second drain port are staggered along the rotation direction of the valve core, and the first drain port and the second drain port are misaligned in the rotation axis of the valve core.

10. A food processing machine, comprising a processing container, characterized in that: The processing container is provided with a liquid outlet, and a drain valve of the food processing machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 is installed at the liquid outlet.

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