Food inputting apparatus and food inputting method

A food inputting apparatus comprising:

• a supply unit configured to discharge food downward;
• a chute unit comprising a chute body through which the food discharged from the supply unit passes while falling due to a self-weight;
• a shutter unit comprising a shutter body provided so as to be opened or closed in accordance with whether the food discharged from the chute unit is to be discharged into a packaging material, and, in a closed state, the shutter body is positioned between an upper side of an upwardly opened opening of the packaging material and a chute outlet provided at a lower end of the chute unit;
• and
• a suction unit configured to suction liquid collecting inside the shutter body in the closed state,
• wherein the suction unit comprises:
• a suction pipe having one end that is communicated with the inside of the shutter body in the closed state;
• a negative pressure supply module configured to supply a negative pressure to another end of the suction pipe so that the liquid is suctioned through the one end of the suction pipe, and
• a blower module configured to forcibly supply air to the other end of the suction pipe so as to push matter blocking the suction pipe to the outside through the one end of the suction pipe.