Patent Publication Number: US-2021186063-A1

Title: Food processor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0171764, filed in the Republic of Korea on Dec. 20, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to a food processor, and more particularly to a food processor so as to store the food ingredients for a long time by grinding and drying the same. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     When food is cooked at home or in restaurants, portions of some ingredients may be cut off and left in small quantities. Such leftover food ingredients may be stored separately and used later. However, if food ingredients are exposed to external air or water, the storage period thereof is shortened. In other words, if peeled or shelled food ingredients are exposed to the external environment, they spoil faster than unprocessed materials, and thus the storage period thereof is shortened. 
     If leftover food ingredients are not used within a short period, they are difficult to reuse and are thrown out as food waste. In a household in which food is not often cooked, leftover food ingredients are therefore frequently thrown out as food waste. 
     An apparatus for grinding or dehydrating leftover food ingredients to store the same is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0475461. However, if leftover food ingredients are not completely dried, it is still difficult to store the same for a long time. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a food processor for treating leftover food ingredients so as to store the food ingredients for an extended period of time. 
     It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a food processor capable of performing various treatment processes for securing a storage period of food ingredients and of performing the treatment processes sequentially. 
     It is still another object of the present disclosure to provide a food processor for transforming leftover food ingredients into a form that is convenient to use, for example, a powder form. 
     However, the objects to be accomplished by the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. 
     A food processor in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure for accomplishing the above and other objects may include a main body, a grinding container mounted in a portion of the main body and forming a space therein, a grinder rotatably disposed in the grinding container, a grinding motor configured to rotate the grinder, a drying container mounted under the grinding container inside the main body and forming a space therein, a heating device configured to supply heated air to the drying container, and a discharge container detachably mounted under the drying container inside the main body and forming a space therein. The grinding container may be configured such that a surface thereof facing the drying container is openable toward the drying container, and the drying container may include one side surface formed so as to be openable toward the discharge container, thereby delivering a ground and dried object to the discharge container. 
     The grinding container may include a grinding container lower plate, on which the grinder and the grinding motor are disposed, and a grinding container side plate extending vertically in an upward direction from the outer circumference of the grinding container lower plate and forming an internal space in the grinding container. 
     The grinding container lower plate may be rotatably coupled to a portion of the grinding container side plate. The grinding container lower plate may be disposed so as to be perpendicular to the grinding container side plate, or may be rotated downwards toward the drying container. The grinding container may store an object to be ground therein, or may deliver the object to the drying container disposed thereunder. 
     The grinding container lower plate may be provided at both (i.e., two) ends thereof with grinding container gears, and the grinding container gears may be disposed on an imaginary rotation axis, about which the grinding container lower plate is rotated, so as to be rotated together with the grinding container lower plate. The main body may be provided with first body gears, which are configured to mesh with the grinding container gears when the grinding container is mounted in the main body, and a first body gear motor configured to rotate the first body gears. Thus, when the grinding container is mounted in the main body, the grinding container lower plate may be rotated. 
     The grinding container may be provided with leaf springs configured to restrict rotation of the grinding container gears in one direction. Thus, when the grinding container is drawn out of the main body, the grinding container lower plate may be maintained in a fixed state. 
     The food processor may further include an inner container having a hollow cylindrical shape and disposed inside the grinding container so that the object is effectively ground by the grinder. 
     The drying container may include a drying container lower plate having a mesh-type structure and a drying container side plate extending vertically in the upward direction from the outer circumference of the drying container lower plate. The drying container lower plate may be rotatably coupled to the drying container side plate so that an object to be dried is placed in the drying container or is delivered to the discharge container. 
     The drying container may include first drying container gears secured to one end or both (i.e., two) ends of the drying container lower plate on a rotation axis of the drying container lower plate. The drying container lower plate may be rotated by the first drying container gears. 
     The drying container side plate may include a first surface disposed inside the main body when the drying container is mounted in the main body and a second surface exposed to the outside of the main body. The second surface may have a discharge hole formed in an upper portion thereof so as to discharge air supplied from the heating device to the outside. Thus, the heated air supplied to the drying container may circulate in the drying container, and may be discharged through the discharge hole. 
     A protruding rib may be formed on the inner side of the second surface in order to limit the range within which the drying container lower plate is rotated upwards. Thus, it is possible to limit the rotation of the drying container lower plate and to prevent the dried object in the drying container from entering the heating device. 
     The first surface may include an upper fixed surface fixedly disposed at a position spaced upwards apart from the drying container lower plate and a lower rotary surface disposed under the upper fixed surface and rotatably coupled to the upper fixed surface. Thus, the drying container may be open toward the discharge container. 
     Second drying container gears may be disposed at both side ends of the lower rotary surface. The second drying container gears may be rotated in engagement with the first drying container gears in order to rotate the lower rotary surface. Thus, the drying container lower plate and the lower rotary surface may be operated in an interlocked manner. 
     When the drying container lower plate is rotated into a space defined by the drying container side plate, the second drying container gears may be rotated in engagement with the first drying container gears, and the lower rotary surface may be rotated to the outside of the drying container. Thus, the drying container may be open toward the discharge container. 
     Second body gears, configured to mesh with the second drying container gears when the drying container is mounted in the main body, and a second body gear motor, configured to rotate the second body gears, may be disposed in the main body. Thus, when the drying container is mounted in the main body, the drying container may be open toward the discharge container. 
     The heating device may include a heater configured to heat air, a blower fan configured to blow air heated by the heater to the drying container, and a blower motor configured to rotate the blower fan. 
     The food processor may further include a seasoning storage unit configured to store seasoning to be added to an object ground in the grinding container and dried in the drying container. Thus, it is possible to add the seasoning to the object that has passed through the grinding container and the drying container. 
     The seasoning storage unit may include a plurality of storage containers, which are formed so as to be isolated from each other and to store plural kinds of seasoning, and a drawer, to which the plurality of storage containers is mounted and which is configured to insert or withdraw the plurality of storage containers into or out of the main body. Thus, plural kinds of seasoning may be stored. 
     Each of the plurality of storage containers may include a storage container lower plate having therein a plurality of openings spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction. The drawer may include an opening cover disposed at a lower side thereof in order to open and close the openings in the plurality of storage containers. Thus, the seasoning stored in the plurality of storage containers may be delivered to the discharge container. 
     The opening cover may include a plurality of covers, which cover the openings formed in the storage container lower plate so as to be spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of holes, which expose the openings. The plurality of covers and the plurality of holes may be alternately disposed. 
     The opening cover may be disposed at a lower side of the drawer so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. Thus, the seasoning stored in the storage containers may be delivered to the discharge container through the plurality of holes. 
     Details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a food processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the food processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the food processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a grinding container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the grinding container and first body gears according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  is a view showing the state in which the grinding container cover of  FIG. 5A  is open. 
         FIG. 5C  is a view showing the state in which the grinding container lower plate of the  FIG. 5A  is open. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a drying container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the drying container and second body gears according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7B  is a view showing the state in which the drying container lower plate and the lower rotary surface of  FIG. 7A  are moved. 
         FIG. 7C  is a view for explaining the direction in which an object is moved by rotation of a blower fan in the drying container of  FIG. 7B . 
         FIG. 8A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a seasoning storage unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8B  is a view showing the state in which the storage container cover of  FIG. 8A  is open. 
         FIG. 8C  is a view showing the state in which the opening cover of  FIG. 8A  is open. 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing the opened and closed states of a storage container lower plate of the seasoning storage unit in accordance with operation of the opening cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods for achieving them will be made clear from embodiments described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. The present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims. The same reference numerals used throughout the specification refer to the same constituent elements. 
     Hereinafter, a food processor according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Overall Configuration 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a food processor  1  of the present disclosure includes a grinding unit  20  (i.e., grinder) configured to grind an object, a drying unit  40  (i.e., dryer) configured to dry the ground object, and a discharge unit  100  (i.e., discharge assembly) configured to accommodate the ground and dried object and to be capable of being withdrawn to the outside. 
     Here, the object may be a food ingredient that is put into the grinding unit  20  by the user so as to be ground and dried by the food processor. The food ingredient may be an unused food ingredient or a food ingredient left over after cooking. 
     The food processor of the present disclosure may further include a seasoning storage unit  80  configured to store seasoning so as to add the seasoning to the ground and dried object. 
     The food processor  1  of the present disclosure includes a main body  10  accommodating the grinding unit  20 , the drying unit  40 , and the discharge unit  100 . The grinding unit  20  is disposed above the drying unit  40  inside the main body  10 . A drying container  42 , which is one of the components of the drying unit  40 , is disposed above the discharge unit  100  inside the main body  10 . 
     The main body  10  forms therein a mounting space in which a grinding container  22  of the grinding unit  20  and the drying container  42  of the drying unit  40  are mounted. 
     The food processor  1  of the present disclosure includes an input unit  110  configured as, for example, a button so that the user operates the food processor  1  using the same and a controller (i.e., CPU, processor) configured to control the operation of the grinding unit  20  or the drying unit  40  in response to a user command received from the input unit  110 . 
     The input unit  110  is disposed on one side of the main body  10  so that the user operates the food processor  1 . 
     Grinding Unit 
     Hereinafter, the grinding unit  20  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5C . 
     The grinding unit  20  includes a grinding container  22 , which forms a space for accommodating an object, a grinder  34 , which is rotatably disposed in the grinding container  22  and rotates to grind the object, and a grinding motor  36 , which rotates the grinder  34 . 
     The grinding container  22  has a shape having an open upper side. The grinding unit  20  may further include a grinding container cover  32 , which opens and closes the open upper side of the grinding container  22 . The grinding container  22  includes a grinding container lower plate  24 , on which the grinder  34  and the grinding motor  36  are disposed, and a grinding container side plate  28 , which extends vertically in an upward direction from the outer circumference of the grinding container lower plate  24  and forms an internal space in the grinding container  22 . 
     The grinder  34  is rotatably disposed on the grinding container lower plate  24 . The grinding motor  36 , which is connected to the grinder  34 , is disposed inside the grinding container lower plate  24 . The grinding motor  36  is secured to the inner side of the grinding container lower plate  24 . 
     The grinding container lower plate  24  may be rotatably coupled to the grinding container side plate  28 . The grinding container lower plate  24  may be hinged to the grinding container side plate  28 . The grinding container lower plate  24  may be provided with a hinge shaft, and grinding container gears  26  may be disposed at both end portions of the hinge shaft so as to rotate together with the grinding container lower plate  24 . Leaf springs may be connected to the grinding container gears  26  so as to restrict the rotation of the grinding container gears  26  in one direction. 
     When no external force is applied to the grinding container gears  26 , the grinding container lower plate  24  is in close contact with the lower side of the grinding container side plate  28  due to the elastic force of the leaf springs applied to the grinding container gears  26 . Therefore, when no external force is applied to the grinding container gears  26 , the grinding container lower plate  24  may close the lower portion of the internal space defined by the grinding container side plate  28 . That is, when no external force is applied to the grinding container gears  26 , the object may be kept in the grinding container  22 . 
     The portion of the grinding container lower plate  24  that is rotatably coupled to the grinding container side plate  28  may form a straight surface, and the remaining portion thereof may form a substantially semicircular-shaped surface. 
     The grinding container side plate  28  forms a columnar shape that is open in an upward-downward direction. The grinding container side plate  28  forms a surface extending upwards along the circumference of the grinding container lower plate  24  so as to contact the edge portion of the grinding container lower plate  24 . 
     The grinding unit  20  may further include an inner container  30 , which has a cylindrical shape and is disposed inside the grinding container  22 . The inner container is disposed around the grinder  34  and forms a space in which the object is ground. 
     The inner container  30  has a cylindrical shape that is open in the upward-downward direction. The inner container  30  is disposed inside the grinding container  22  such that the grinder  34  is disposed at the center of the circular cross-section thereof. The inner container  30  may form a surface that is disposed around the grinder  34  while being spaced at a constant interval apart therefrom so that the object is evenly ground by the grinder  34 . 
     The grinding unit  20  further includes a grinding container cover  32 , which is disposed on the grinding container  22  and opens and closes the open upper side of the grinding container  22 . The grinding container cover  32  may be hinged to the upper side of the grinding container  22 . 
     First body gears  12 , which mesh with the grinding container gears  26  when the grinding container  22  is mounted in the main body  10 , and a first body gear motor  14  for rotating the first body gears  12  are disposed in the main body  10 . The first body gears  12  and the first body gear motor  14  are secured to the inner side of the main body  10 . 
     Therefore, the lower side of the grinding container  22  may be opened or closed in accordance with the rotation of the first body gear motor  14 . 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the grinding unit  20  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5A to 5C . 
     The user may put an object into the grinding container  22 , and may insert the grinding container  22  into the main body  10 . When the grinding container  22  is inserted into the main body  10 , the grinding container lower plate  24  may be maintained in contact with the grinding container side plate  28 , and the object may be located in the grinding container  22 . Specifically, the user may put the object into the inner container  30 . 
     In the state in which the grinding container lower plate  24  is in contact with the grinding container side plate  28 , the grinder  34  may rotate to grind the object. The grinder  34  may be rotated by the grinding motor  36 . 
     When the grinding motor  36  is stopped, the rotation of the grinder may be stopped. Thereafter, the grinding container lower plate  24  may be rotated. When the first body gears  12  mounted in the main body  10  are rotated, the grinding container gears  26  may be rotated such that the grinding container lower plate  24  is rotated downwards, as shown in  FIG. 5C . That is, the grinding container lower plate  24  may be rotated toward the drying container so that the object in the grinding container  22  moves to the drying container  42 . Thereafter, the grinding container lower plate  24  may be rotated in the reverse direction when the first body gears  12  are rotated in the reverse direction by the first body gear motor  14 , or may be rotated in the reverse direction by the restoring force of the leaf springs. At this time, the grinding container lower plate  24  may be brought into contact with the grinding container side plate  28 , and may close the lower side of the grinding container  22 . 
     Drying Unit 
     Hereinafter, the drying unit  40  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 to 7C . 
     The drying unit  40  includes a drying container  42 , which is disposed under the grinding container  22  and forms a space for accommodating the object, and a heating device  66 , which is disposed under the drying container  42  and supplies heated air to the drying container  42 . 
     The drying container  42  has a columnar shape having an open upper side. The drying container  42  has a lower surface that has a mesh-type structure so as to communicate with a space formed under the drying container  42 . 
     The drying container  42  includes a drying container lower plate  44 , which has a mesh-type structure so that the object is loaded thereon, and a drying container side plate  48 , which extends vertically in the upward direction from the outer circumference of the drying container lower plate  44 . The drying container lower plate  44  may be rotatably coupled to the drying container side plate  48 . The drying container lower plate  44  may have a structure that is openable so that the object in the drying container  42  moves to a discharge container  102 . 
     The drying container lower plate  44  may be hinged to the rear-lower-end portion of the drying container side plate  48 . The drying container lower plate  44  may have a mesh structure so as to allow the space thereabove and the space thereunder to communicate with each other. Therefore, the heated air supplied from the heating device  66 , which is disposed under the drying container  42 , may enter the drying container  42 . 
     The drying container lower plate  44  may be provided with a hinge shaft, and the drying container  42  may include first drying container gears  46 , which are secured to one end or both ends of the hinge shaft. The first drying container gears  46  may be disposed at a portion of the drying container side plate  48 , and may be rotated together with the drying container lower plate  44 . Leaf springs may be mounted to the first drying container gears  46  so as to limit the movement of the drying container lower plate  44 . That is, when no external force is applied to the first drying container gears  46 , the drying container lower plate  44  may be disposed so as to be perpendicular to the drying container side plate  48 , whereby the object may be stably located in the internal space in the drying container. 
     The drying container lower plate  44  may be disposed so as to be rotated into the drying container  42 . When a separate external force is applied thereto, the drying container lower plate  44  may be rotated into the space defined by the drying container side plate  48 . 
     The drying container side plate  48  may include a first surface  50  (i.e., first wall), which is disposed inside the main body  10  when the drying container  42  is mounted in the main body  10 , and a second surface  58  (i.e., second wall), which is exposed to the outside of the main body  10 . The drying container side plate  48  has a discharge hole  60  formed in a portion thereof so as to discharge the air supplied from the heating device  66  to the outside. The discharge hole  60  is formed in the upper portion of the second surface  58 . 
     The second surface  58  is exposed to the outside when the drying container  42  is mounted in the main body  10 . The second surface  58  may have a curved shape. A protruding rib  64  is formed on the inner side of the second surface  58  in order to limit the range within which the drying container lower plate  44  is rotated upwards. In the state in which the drying container lower plate  44  is rotated upwards, the outer circumference of the drying container lower plate  44  is in contact with the protruding rib  64 . In the state in which the drying container lower plate  44  is in contact with the protruding rib  64 , the protruding rib  64  may block the gap between the drying container lower plate  44  and the second surface  58 . 
     The first surface  50  may be formed as a flat surface. The first surface  50  is hinged to the drying container lower plate  44 . The first surface  50  may include an upper fixed surface  52  (i.e., upper fixed wall), which is fixedly disposed at a position spaced upwards apart from the drying container lower plate  44 , and a lower rotary surface  54  (i.e., lower rotary wall), which is disposed under the upper fixed surface  52  and is rotatably coupled to the upper fixed surface  52 . The upper fixed surface  52  and the second surface  58  are disposed in a fixed manner. 
     The lower rotary surface  54  has a structure that is rotated in a manner in which it is interlocked with the drying container lower plate  44 . Second drying container gears  56 , which are engaged with the first drying container gears  46 , are disposed at both side ends of the lower rotary surface  54 . The lower rotary surface  54  is rotated in a direction opposite the direction in which the drying container lower plate  44  is rotated. 
     Therefore, when the drying container lower plate  44  is rotated into the space defined by the drying container side plate  48 , the second drying container gears  56  are rotated in engagement with the first drying container gears  46 , and the lower rotary surface  54  is rotated to the outside of the drying container  42 . 
     Second body gears  16 , which mesh with the second drying container gears  56  when the drying container  42  is mounted in the main body  10 , and a second body gear motor  18  for rotating the second body gears  16  are disposed in the main body  10 . The second body gears  16  and the second body gear motor  18  are secured to the inner side of the main body  10 . 
     When the second body gear motor  18  is rotated, the second drying container gears  56  are rotated, and the lower rotary surface  54  is therefore rotated to the outside of the drying container  42 . The first drying container gears  46  are rotated by the operation of the second body gear motor  18 , and the drying container lower plate  44  is therefore rotated upwards. 
     The heating device  66  is disposed under the drying container  42  and supplies heated air to the drying container  42 . The heating device  66  includes a heater  70  for heating air, a blower fan  68  for blowing the air heated by the heater  70  to the drying container  42 , and a blower motor  69  for rotating the blower fan  68 . The heating device  66  is disposed in the internal space in the main body  10 , which is disposed under the drying container  42 . A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater may be used as the heater  70 . 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the drying unit  40  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7A to 7C . 
     In the state in which the drying container  42  is mounted in the main body  10 , the object in the grinding container  22  may be moved to the drying container  42 . In the state in which the drying container  42  is mounted in the main body  10 , the drying container lower plate  44  may be disposed so as to be perpendicular to the drying container side plate  48 . In the state in which the drying container  42  is mounted in the main body  10 , the lower rotary surface  54  may be disposed in alignment with the upper fixed surface  52 . 
     In the state in which the object is placed in the drying container  42 , the heating device  66  is operated to dry the object placed in the drying container  42 . Here, the heating device  66  may be operated such that the heater  70  is operated to heat air and the blower motor  69  is operated to rotate the blower fan  68 . 
     The air heated by the operation of the heating device  66  may be introduced into the drying container  42 , and may dry the object. The heated air introduced into the drying container  42  by the operation of the heating device  66  may be discharged to the outside through the discharge hole  60  formed in the drying container  42  via the drying container  42 . 
     When the object is completely dried, the operation of the heating device  66  is stopped, and the second body gear motor  18  is operated. The second body gears  16 , the second drying container gears  56  engaged with the second body gears  16 , and the first drying container gears  46  engaged with the second drying container gears  56  are rotated by the operation of the second body gear motor  18 . 
     Therefore, the drying container lower plate  44  is rotated to the inside of the drying container  42 , and the lower rotary surface  54  of the drying container side plate  48  is rotated to the outside of the drying container  42 . That is, the drying container  42  is open toward the discharge container  102 . 
     The drying container lower plate  44  is brought into contact with the protruding rib  64  formed on the inner side of the drying container side plate  48 . The drying container lower plate  44  forms an inclined surface that is inclined downwards toward the discharge container  102 . The drying container lower plate  44  and the lower rotary surface  54  may be disposed substantially parallel to each other. 
     In the state in which the drying container  42  is open toward the discharge container  102 , the blower motor  69  of the heating device  66  may be operated. Thereby, the blower fan  68  may be rotated, and an object placed in the drying container  42  may therefore be smoothly moved to the discharge container  102 . 
     Thereafter, the drying container lower plate  44  may be rotated in the reverse direction when the second body gears  16  are rotated in the reverse direction by the second body gear motor  18 , or may be rotated in the reverse direction by the restoring force of the leaf springs. At this time, the portion of the drying container  42  that is open to the discharge container  102  may be closed. The drying container lower plate  44  and the lower rotary surface  54  may be disposed so as to be perpendicular to each other. 
     Seasoning Storage Unit 
     Hereinafter, the seasoning storage unit  80  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 8A to 9 . 
     The seasoning storage unit  80  includes a plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e , which are formed so as to be isolated from each other and to store plural kinds of seasoning. The plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  is arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. The plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  has a structure in which the upper sides thereof are open, and is arranged in the horizontal direction so as to be in surface contact with each other. 
     Each of the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  includes a storage container lower plate  84 , which has therein a plurality of openings  86  spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the seasoning stored in each of the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  may be discharged downwards through the openings  86  in the storage container lower plate  84 . 
     The seasoning storage unit  80  may include a drawer  88 , to which the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  is mounted and which is used to put or pull the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  into or out of the main body  10 . The drawer  88  may enable insertion or withdrawal of the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  into or out of the main body  10 . 
     A storage container cover  83  may be disposed at the upper side of the drawer  88  in order to open and close the upper sides of the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e . An opening cover  90  may be disposed at the lower side of the drawer  88  in order to open and close the openings  86  in the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e.    
     The opening cover  90  includes a plurality of covers  92   b  for covering the openings  86 , which are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of holes  92   a  for exposing the openings  86 . The plurality of covers  92   b  and the plurality of holes  92   a  are alternately disposed. The opening cover  90  is disposed at the lower side of the drawer  88  so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. 
     A rack-gear-type structure  93   a  may be formed on one side of the opening cover  90 , and a pinion gear  93   b , which is engaged with the rack gear in order to move the opening cover  90  in the horizontal direction, may be disposed in the drawer  88 . The pinion gear may be rotated by a drawer motor, which is secured to one side of the drawer  88 . 
     When the drawer motor is operated, the opening cover  90  is moved in the horizontal direction so as to open or close the lower sides of the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e.    
     The seasoning storage unit  80  may include a connection pipe  98 , through which the seasoning discharged downwards from the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  is delivered to the discharge container  102 , and a guide pipe  94 , through which the seasoning discharged from the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  is delivered to the connection pipe  98 . 
     The connection pipe  98  forms a passage, which extends in the upward-downward direction, above the discharge container  102 . The guide pipe  94  may include an inclined surface  96  in order to guide the seasoning, which is discharged downwards from the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  disposed horizontally, to the connection pipe  98 . 
     The plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e , the guide pipe  94 , and the connection pipe  98  are disposed above the discharge container  102 . The connection pipe  98 , the guide pipe  94 , and the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  are sequentially disposed from the bottom upwards. 
     The operation of the seasoning storage unit  80  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 8A to 9 . The user may store seasoning in at least one of the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  according to his/her preference. When an object is placed in the discharge container  102 , the drawer motor of the drawer  88  is operated to move the opening cover  90  in the horizontal direction. 
     At this time, the plurality of holes  92   a  of the opening cover  90  are disposed under the openings  86  in the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e , and the seasoning stored in the plurality of storage containers  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  is discharged to the guide pipe  94 . The seasoning discharged to the guide pipe  94  may be moved to the discharge container  102  through the connection pipe  98 . 
     Discharge Container 
     The discharge container  102  has therein an opening that faces upwards, and forms a space in which the ground and dried object is placed. The discharge container  102  is formed so as to be inserted into or drawn out of the main body  10 . The discharge container  102  mounted in the main body  10  is disposed under the seasoning storage unit  80 . The discharge container  102  mounted in the main body  10  is disposed at a lower position than the drying container  42 . 
     The discharge container  102  mounted in the main body  10  is disposed under the space formed outside the first surface  50  of the drying container  42 . 
     As is apparent from the above description, a food processor according to the present disclosure has one or more effects as follows. 
     First, it is possible to perform grinding, drying and seasoning on food ingredients so as to store the food ingredients for a long time and to use the same later. Since leftover food ingredients are processed into a state enabling subsequent use thereof, it is possible to minimize the amount of food ingredients that are thrown out as food waste. 
     Second, since a grinding container, a drying container, and a discharge container are connected to each other, various processes for treating food ingredients are performed sequentially, and thus it is possible to shorten the time taken to treat food ingredients. 
     Third, since a seasoning storage unit for adding seasoning to ground and dried food ingredients is provided, it is possible to add value to leftover food ingredients. 
     However, the effects achievable through the disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the above description. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments shown in the drawings, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present description is not limited to those exemplary embodiments and is embodied in many forms without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, which is described in the following claims. These modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or scope of the present disclosure.