Patent Publication Number: US-2018029067-A1

Title: Dispensing System, Packaging System, Package, Dispensing Assembly, And Method Of Dispensing A Product

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a dispensing system for dispensing a packaged product; a packaging system that includes a container and a flexible package; a package with a frangible seal; a dispensing assembly; a dispensing gun system; a method of making a package; and a method of dispensing a product. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In food service, and in particular in the field of high volume fast food service, it is frequently desired that food be supplemented by condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and the like. It has recently become customary in retail fast service chain food outlets to use a wide variety of devices to dispense a measured quantity of flowable product. For example, a trigger-activated dispensing gun assembly has commonly been used in “back of the restaurant” operations for discharging one or more condiments or sauces. The gun assembly dispenses a quantity of a condiment with each pull of a gun trigger. The gun assembly includes a cylindrical container that houses the condiment and cooperates with a trigger in a gun to dispense the condiment out of a nozzle. However, the gun, cylindrical container, and nozzle are typically disassembled and/or cleaned each time the container is emptied and/or refilled In addition, the gun assembly typically can be messy, as condiment can drip from the nozzle between uses; conventional systems can be labor intensive; and the container can sometimes become damaged and not insert properly into the gun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect, a dispensing system comprises a packaging system comprising a container comprising first and second openings and an interior, a package positioned within the container interior, the package comprising a pouch comprising a first and second panel with an aperture, an internal fitment disposed in the aperture, the internal fitment comprising a membrane, and a flowable product disposed in the pouch. The dispensing system may also include a dispensing assembly optionally comprising a piercing component configured to pierce the membrane. Alternatively, the membrane may include a frangible seal. The dispensing system may also include a dispensing gun into which the packaging system is disposed. 
     In a second aspect, a packaging system comprises a container comprising first and second openings and an interior, a package positioned within the container interior, the package comprising a pouch comprising a first and second panel with an aperture, an internal fitment disposed in the aperture, the internal fitment comprising a membrane, and a flowable product disposed in the pouch. The packaging system may also include a dispensing assembly optionally comprising a piercing component configured to pierce the membrane. Alternatively, the membrane may include a frangible seal. 
     In a third aspect, a package comprises a pouch comprising a first and second panel with an aperture, an internal fitment disposed in the aperture, the internal fitment comprising a membrane, and a flowable product disposed in the pouch. The membrane may include a frangible seal. 
     In a fourth aspect, a dispensing assembly comprises a valve, a housing, a connecting portion that is configured to functionally cooperate with and engage a container or pouch fitment, and one of either a frangible membrane on the fitment and a piercing component to puncture a membrane on the fitment. 
     In a fifth aspect, a method of dispensing a product comprises providing a packaging system comprising a container comprising a first and second end, first and second openings and an interior; a package positioned within the container interior, the package comprising a pouch comprising a first and second panel with an internal fitment comprising a membrane, and a flowable product disposed in the pouch; and a dispensing assembly. The method further comprising the steps of providing a dispensing gun configured to house the packaging system, installing the packaging system into the dispensing gun, initiating linear movement of a pusher plate through the interior of the container to cause the flowable product to be dispensed through the dispensing assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated in various embodiments by reference to the following drawing figures wherein: 
         FIG. 1 a    is a side elevational view of a dispensing system; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a package in a container. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a pouch. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic fragmentary view of a pouch with a fitment. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded schematic view of a dispensing assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a dispensing assembly as it is being installed on a pouch disposed in a container. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a packaging system. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a packaging system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Definitions 
     “A”, “an”, and “the” as used herein do not limit to the singular unless expressly so stated. Thus, for example, reference to “a package” can include a plurality of such packages, and so forth. 
     “Abuse layer” and the like herein refers to an outer film layer and/or an inner film layer, so long as the film layer serves to resist abrasion, puncture, and other potential causes of reduction of package integrity, as well as potential causes of reduction of package appearance quality. Abuse layers can comprise any polymer, so long as the polymer contributes to achieving an integrity goal and/or an appearance goal. In some embodiments, the abuse layer can comprise polyamide, ethylene/propylene copolymer, and/or combinations thereof. 
     “Condiment” and the like herein refers to (but is not limited to) ketchup, mustard, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, nacho cheese, taco sauce, barbecue sauce, tartar sauce, mayonnaise, jams, jellies, spices, and the like. In some embodiments, the term “condiment” can include any and all additives that a user can choose to add to any food item for any purpose, e.g. for organoleptic, processing, or preservative purposes. 
     “Container” and the like herein refers to tubes, bottles, jars, tubs, cylinders, vessels, flasks, chambers, and the like, whether pliable or rigid. 
     “Exterior” refers to the outside portion of an article. 
     “Filled” and the like herein, with respect to a pouch, refers to a pouch that has been filled with a product in a manner consistent with a commercial filling operation. Thus, a pouch may or may not be 100% filled. 
     “Film” and the like herein refers to a laminate, sheet, web, coating, or the like, that can be used to package a product. The film can be a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible product. In some embodiments, the film is produced as a fully coextruded film, i.e., all layers of the film emerging from a single die at the same time. In some embodiments, the film is made using a flat cast film production process or a round cast film production process. Alternatively, the film can be made using a blown film process, double bubble process, triple bubble process, or adhesive or extrusion coating lamination. 
     “Flexible” and the like herein refers to materials that are pliable and easily deform in the presence of external forces. 
     “Frangible seal” and the like herein refer to a seal that is sufficiently durable to allow normal handling and storage, but ruptures or substantially ruptures under applied pressure. In some embodiments, suitable frangible seals will have a peel strength of from 0.5 to less than 5 pounds/inch as measured by ASTM F88. 
     “Heat seal” and the like herein refers to any seal of a first region of a film surface to a second region of a film surface, wherein the seal is formed by heating the regions to at least their respective seal initiation temperatures. Heat-sealing is the process of joining two or more thermoplastic films or sheets by heating areas in contact with each other to the temperature at which fusion occurs, usually aided by pressure. In some embodiments, heat-sealing can be inclusive of thermal sealing, melt-bead sealing, impulse sealing, dielectric sealing, and/or ultrasonic sealing. The heating can be performed by any one or more of a wide variety of means, such as (but not limited to) a heated bar, hot wire, hot air, infrared radiation, ultrasonic sealing, and the like. 
     “Interior” and the like herein refers to the inside portion of an article. 
     “Multilayer film” and the like herein refers to a thermoplastic film having one or more layers formed from polymeric or other materials that are bonded together by any conventional or suitable method, including one or more of the following methods: coextrusion, extrusion coating, lamination, vapor deposition coating, solvent coating, emulsion coating, or suspension coating. 
     “Outlet” and the like herein refers to an aperture, orifice, opening, chute, passage, or similar channel through which a product can exit the disclosed packaging system. 
     “Panel” and the like herein refers to a wall or major section of a pouch. A first and second panel can be derived from two pieces of film joined together by any suitable means, such as heat sealing. Alternatively, a single web of film can be folded into a tubular configuration, and longitudinally and transversely sealed to create a pouch exhibiting a first and second panel. 
     “Pouch” and the like herein refers to any of a wide variety of containers known in the art, including (but not limited to) bags, packets, packages, and the like. 
     “Product” and the like herein refers to any of a wide variety of food or non-food items that can be packaged in the disclosed systems. In some embodiments, the product is a condiment, and/or a flowable product. 
     “Seal” and the like herein refers to any seal of a first region of a film surface to a second region of a film or substrate surface. In some embodiments, the seal can be formed by heating the regions to at least their respective seal initiation temperatures using a heated bar, hot air, infrared radiation, ultrasonic sealing, and the like. In some embodiments, the seal can be formed by an adhesive. Alternatively or in addition, in some embodiments the seal can be formed using a UV or e-beam curable adhesive seal. 
     “Seal layer” and the like herein refers to an outermost film layer or layers involved in heat sealing of the film to itself, to another film layer of the same or another film, and/or another article that is not a film. “Outermost” layer herein includes a layer found on the outside of a film, i.e. a layer not bounded on both major surfaces by another film layer. Layers involved in heat sealing can include a second layer, adjacent an outermost layer, that assists in or substantially affects or influences the overall strength of the heat seal. Heat sealing can be performed by any one or more of a wide variety of manners known to those of ordinary skill in art, including using heat seal technique (e.g., melt-bead sealing, thermal sealing, impulse sealing, ultrasonic sealing, hot air, hot wire, infrared radiation, and the like), adhesive sealing, UV-curable adhesive sealing, and the like. 
     “Tie layer” and the like herein refers to an internal film layer having the primary purpose of adhering two layers to one another. In some embodiments, a tie layer can comprise any nonpolar polymer having a polar group grafted thereon, such that the polymer is capable of covalent bonding to polar polymers such as polyamide and ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer. In some embodiments, the tie layers can comprise modified polyolefin, modified ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, and/or homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. 
     “Transparent” and the like herein refers to the ability of a material to transmit incident light with negligible scattering and little absorption, enabling objects to be seen clearly through the material under typical unaided viewing conditions, i.e. the expected use conditions of the material, as measured in accordance with ASTM D1746. 
     “Valve” and the like herein refers to any device by which the flow of material can be started, stopped, rerouted or regulated by a movable part that opens, closes, or partially obstructs a passageway through which the material flows. In some embodiments, a suitable valve can comprise any of an umbrella valve, duckbill valve, reed valve, ball valve, flapper valve, poppet valve, Gott valve, check valve, or any suitable combination thereof. 
     All compositional percentages used herein are presented on a “by weight” basis, unless designated otherwise. 
     The definitions and disclosure of the present application control over any inconsistent definition or disclosure present in an incorporated reference. 
     II. Dispensing System  10   
     The present invention provides a dispensing system  10  and method for dispensing a product onto one or more areas (one or more spots of mustard dispensed on a hamburger bun, for example). In one embodiment, the dispensing system includes a packaging system  20  that cooperates with a dispensing device (such as a dispensing gun  30 ) to dispense a dose of product. 
     As illustrated in the Figures, packaging system  20  comprises outer container  40  with first and second ends  42 ,  44 , and package  50  positioned within the container interior  43 . Package  50  includes a pouch  60  that houses product  80 , which in some embodiments can be a condiment. Pouch  60  includes an internal fitment  63  that accommodates dispensing assembly  100 , including a valve  112 , housing  120 , diffuser  126 , piercing component  115 , and connecting portion  122 . When the dispensing assembly is coupled to the pouch fitment  63 , membrane  67  of the pouch fitment is pierced, and valve  112  enables product  80  to exit the pouch interior, via the passageway in pouch fitment  63 , up through the plenum of housing  120 , through valve  112 , and through diffuser  126 . The diffuser can have one or more outlets to distribute product flow. 
     III. Packaging System  20   
     III.A. Generally 
     As illustrated in the Figures, packaging system  20  comprises container  40 , package  50 , and dispensing assembly  100 . 
     III.B. Container  40   
     Container  40  includes tubular sidewall with open second end  44  sized to house package  50  and accommodate pusher plate  90  within the interior  43  of the container. The container further includes mouth positioned at first end  42 , which accommodates fitment  63 . The container in some embodiments can include a neck to which connecting portion  122  can be attached. Alternatively, connecting portion can attach to the exterior portion of fitment  63 . Methods of attaching the dispensing assembly include a screw thread, location fit, press fit, twist lock, tab, slot, and/or snap fit arrangements. 
     Container  40  can be constructed from any of a variety of rigid or semi-rigid materials known in the art, e.g. plastic, metal, wood, cardboard, chipboard, stiff paper, foamed plastics, recycled materials, compostable materials, heavy foil, and/or combinations thereof; such as foamed or solid polystyrene, crystallized polystyrene (CPS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, polyethylene, or combinations thereof. Such materials are typically suitable for forming, yet stiff or rigid enough to resist buckling, folding, crumbling or collapsing due to compression, handling, and shipping. 
     In some embodiments, container  40  can be constructed from a material that provides a barrier to the passage of oxygen, e.g., vinylidene chloride copolymer, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, and the like. In some embodiments, the material(s) from which the container is constructed can comprise an oxygen scavenging material, e.g. Amisorb®. Alternatively or in addition, container  40  can comprise a substantially gas-impermeable sealant film laminated or otherwise bonded to the inner or outer surface thereof. In some embodiments, the material from which the container is made exhibits an oxygen transmission rate of no more than about 50 cc/m 2 /24 hr. at 25° C., 0% RH, 1 atm (in accordance with ASTM D 3985), such as no more than 10 cc/m 2 /24 hr. at 25° C., 0% RH, 1 atm. 
     Container  40  can be constructed using any conventional process known in the art, such as rotational molding, blow molding, reheat stretch blow molding, injection molding, casting, roll forming, stamping, and the like. 
     Container  40  is not limited to the cylindrical shape illustrated in the figures, and can have a rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal or square or other cross-sectional shape, including a combination of any of these shapes. The container be formed as any suitable receptacle with an interior  43  for housing a pouch, e.g. a carton, can, jar, or bottle, and can have different dimensions and volume capacities. 
     Optionally, container  10  includes one or more vent holes in the upper part of the container, e.g. in the shoulder  46  of the container. Such vent holes can expedite manual removal of a spent package from the container interior after product  80  has been dispensed. 
     III.C. Package  50   
     Package  50  includes sealed pouch  60 , with product  80  disposed therein. Pouch  60  can be any of a variety of pouches known in the art, including e.g. a stand-up pouch, a gusseted stand-up pouch, a lay-flat pouch, a pouch comprising at least one longitudinal seal, and the like. In some embodiments, pouch  60  can comprise a pair of films joined together along a pair of opposing sides and a bottom bridging the sides. Alternatively, in some embodiments, pouch  60  can be formed from a single film that has been center folded at one edge, or a pouch that includes one or more lap seals, fin seals, and/or edge seals. In another embodiment, pouch  60  can comprise a continuous tubular material with no longitudinal seal, but with transverse seals as disclosed herein. The description of the pouch herein as having “first and second panels” should be understood to describe a pouch that when filled with product and laid on a surface, will display a major first surface, wall or panel, and, on the opposite side of the pouch, a second major surface, wall, or panel. 
     Pouch  60  as illustrated includes an aperture  65  disposed towards a dispensing end of the package  50 . The aperture  65  is sized to accommodate fitment  63 . The fitment  63  passes through the aperture  65  so that membrane  67  is disposed at or beyond the outer perimeter of the pouch  60 . The fitment  63  is secured to the inside of the pouch  60  using a suitable bonding technique, such as heat sealing. 
     Pouch  60  can comprise first and second panels. 
     Pouch  60  and membrane  67  can be constructed from any of a wide variety of polymeric materials known in the art, including in some embodiments food safe materials and/or a base film having a food safe material coated thereon. 
     A film used to construct the disclosed pouch and/or membrane can be multilayer or monolayer. Typically, the films employed will have two or more layers to incorporate a variety of properties, such as, for example, sealability, gas impermeability, and toughness into a single film. Thus, in some embodiments, the films can comprise a total of from 1 to 20 layers, such as from 4 to 12, or from 5 to 9 layers. The films can comprise more than 20 layers e.g. in embodiments wherein the films comprise microlayering technology. 
     The films used to construct pouch  60  and/or the disclosed membrane  67  can include one or more barrier layers, bulk layers, tie layers, abuse layers, and/or sealant layers, e.g., at least one barrier layer such that the pouch has an oxygen transmission rate of no more than about 50 cc/m 2 /24 hr. at 25° C., 0% RH, 1 atm (in accordance with ASTM D 3985). 
     The polymer components used to fabricate the films can also comprise appropriate amounts of other additives normally included in such compositions. For example, slip agents (such as talc), antioxidants, fillers, dyes, pigments and dyes, radiation stabilizers, antistatic agents, elastomers, and the like can be added to the disclosed films. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,205,040; 7,160,378; 7,160,604; 6,472,081; 6,222,261; 6,221,470; 5,591,520; and 5,061,534, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In some embodiments, pouch  60  and membrane  67  can be constructed from a food grade material, as would be well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The films used to construct pouch  60  and membrane  67  can have any total thickness so long as they provide the desired properties for the particular packaging operation in which they are to be used. Nevertheless, in some embodiments the disclosed films have a total thickness of from 0.1 mils to 20 mils, such as from 0.2 mils to 10 mils; 0.3 mils to about 5.0 mils; and from 1.0 mils to 3.0 mils. The films can be provided in sheet or film form and can be any of the films commonly used for the disclosed type of packaging, and can be constructed by any suitable process including e.g. coextrusion, lamination, extrusion coating, and combinations thereof. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,227, the content of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     In some embodiments, the films can be transparent (at least in any non-printed regions) such that the packaged product is at least partially visible through the films. The transparency of the films can be at least about any of the following values: 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, and 95%. 
     In some embodiments the films used to construct pouch  60  or membrane  67  can be pigmented, tinted, or printed. Printing can be employed at any time prior to use of the pouch. In some embodiments, pouch  60  can be ink jet or thermal transfer printed using a device mounted on a packaging machine that forms and seals the pouch. 
     III.D. Product  80   
     System  20  can be used to house any of a wide variety of food and non-food products. For example, product  80  can include any of a wide variety of condiments, including (but not limited to) mustard, ketchup, salsa, guacamole, cheese sauce, sour cream, taco sauce, mayonnaise, tartar sauce, syrup, gravy, hot fudge, caramel, butterscotch toppings, flowable margarine and butter, horseradish, creamers, cream, yogurt, jelly, peanut butter, and the like. Liquids (such as water, milk, lemonade, and the like) can also be packaged in accordance with the present invention. 
     III.E. Method of Making a Package  50   
     Package  50  can be made by any suitable process, include a vertical form/fill/seal (VFFS) process. VFFS packaging systems are generally well known to those of skill in the art, and described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,247 (Tsuruta et al), U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,818 (Shimoyama et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,411 (Su), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,010 (Vogan), all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     Packages  50  can alternatively be made using horizontal form/fill/seal (HFFS) packaging systems, such as those available from Bossar, KHS-Bartelt, Mespack, Laudenberg, and other suppliers; and can also be made using rotary FFS systems such as those marketed by R A Jones, Cloud, etc. 
     III.F. Dispensing Assembly  100   
     As illustrated in the drawings, dispensing assembly  100  comprises a valve  112 , a housing  120 , a connecting portion  122  that is configured to functionally cooperate with and engage with fitment  63  and/or container  40 , and a piercing component  115 . 
     Connecting portion  122  can in some embodiments include a fastening device such as inner housing threads, for mating with the external surface of fitment  63  and/or container  40 . Alternatively, connecting portion  122  can include any other suitable mechanism (such as location fit, press fit, twist lock, tab, slot, and/or snap fit arrangements) to cooperate with the fitment  63  and/or container  40 . In some embodiments, the exterior of housing  120  includes a fastening device such as outer threads or a location fit, press fit, twist lock, tab, slot, and/or snap fit arrangement) that allow coupling with diffuser  126 . 
     Valve  112  can be of any suitable variety known in the art, and can have at least one cut to form arms that move in response to increased pressure, such as from the advancement of the pusher plate  90 , to form at least one passageway. Product  80  can travel from the interior of package  50 , through fitment  63  and valve  112 , to be dispensed on an item such as a food product, either directly, or indirectly by first entering and then exiting diffuser  126 . Once pressure ceases, valve  112  closes. Valve  112  may fully close after pressure ceases, or alternatively remain slightly open (i.e., about 1-10% open), partially open (i.e., about 11-30% open), or somewhat open (i.e., about 31-50% open). Valve  112  can be constructed in any suitable shape, e.g. circular, square, oval, and the like. Although depicted as X-shaped in the figures, the valve arms can be also be constructed using any suitably shaped cut, e.g. slits, star, etc. 
     Housing  120 , connecting portion  122 , and piercing component  115  can be constructed from any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art, such as metal, wood, rubber, plastic, and the like; from polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonates, or combinations thereof. Although depicted as circular in shape in the drawings, the housing can be formed in any desired shape, e.g. oval, circular, square, rectangular, and the like. 
     Valve  112  can be constructed from an appropriately flexible material, e.g. polymeric, rubber, silicone, polyester, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, and the like, including polymeric films that include these materials. In some embodiments, the materials used to form the valve and the shape of the valve cuts can be selected based on the product viscosity, as would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, products that include particulates (like tartar sauce) can be used with a flexible valve with large cuts to allow the particulates to pass through. 
     Valve  112  can be of any suitable type, such as an umbrella valve, duckbill valve, reed valve, ball valve, flapper valve, poppet valve, Gott valve, check valve, or any suitable combination thereof. 
     Valve  112  can be retained or seated in the housing  120  or diffuser  126  in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, a retainer, such as a retaining ring, is adapted to secure the valve within the housing or diffuser. A retaining clip, or a flange or flanges molded into the housing or diffuser, so as to retain the valve  112 , can alternatively be used. 
     In some embodiments, a dispensing assembly comprises a diffuser comprising an outlet, a valve in juxtaposed relation to the outlet, a housing, a connecting portion that is configured to functionally cooperate with and engage a container, and a piercing component  115 . 
     In one embodiment, the diffuser  126  is connected to the housing by a snap fit. This snap fit can be installed on the housing so as to render it not removable from the housing in normal use, i.e. is permanently installed on the housing. This particular feature of the invention can be beneficial when the use includes use of the combined housing/diffuser such that when desired, both are discarded as a unit. In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly does not include a diffuser; i.e. the overall packaging assembly, and the overall dispensing system, does not in every instance require a diffuser. 
     In some embodiments, the diffuser  126  can further include one or more conduits (not shown) or the like that extends through the interior of the space defined by the housing and the diffuser. 
     Diffuser  126  includes one or more outlets, that can be of any suitable size, shape, distribution and number, these choices dictated at least in part by the properties, e.g. viscosity or particulate content of the product being dispensed. 
     In one embodiment, a single disc of a thermoplastic and/or elastomeric material can be installed inside the diffuser  126 , with a valve  112  positioned in each portion of disc  114  that is juxtaposed to and in communication with each respective outlet. For example, a diffuser  126  with three outlets can be underlain by a thermoplastic and/or elastomeric disc with a reed valve  112  positioned in each portion of disc  114  that underlies a respective outlet. The single disc can have a geometry suitable for fitting inside and suitably attaching to the interior (pouch side) of diffuser  126 . 
     Alternatively, an individual disc bearing a valve  112  can be separately placed adjacent each outlet, such that e.g. three individual discs each bearing a valve  112 , are present, but such an arrangement may be less convenient and more difficult to install than the embodiment employing a single disc. 
     Diffuser  126  with the underlain juxtaposed disc bearing valves  112  can be connected, integrally or as a discrete, attached component, to a housing  120 . Diffuser  126  can be permanently attached to housing  120 , or alternatively releasably attached thereto (for example, for purposes of cleaning between uses). Housing  120  provides a plenum for product  80  flowing out of package  50  to be directed to diffuser  126  and out through the individual valves  112  and outlets. 
     Diffuser  126  can be constructed from any suitable material, such as metal, wood, rubber, polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonates, and combinations thereof. Although depicted as circular in shape in the drawings, the diffuser  126  and/or outlets  123  can be formed in any desired shape known in the art, e.g. oval, circular, square, rectangular, and the like. 
     Piercing component  115  can be made with any suitable geometry, provided it functions to pierce membrane  67  when the dispensing assembly is affixed to the package. Piercing can be accomplished by any suitable methodology, such as a twist of the dispensing assembly that, in combination with a steeply flighted screw thread, results in a downward thrust of piercing component  115 , that results in piercing or puncture of membrane  67  to open the package, and enable flow of the flowable product  80  out of the package. 
     Pusher Plate  90   
     In one embodiment, packaging system  20  comprises pusher plate  90 , configured to cooperate with piston  34  of a dispensing gun. The pusher plate is sized and shaped to be closely received within the container interior at second end  44  to help ensure that the package  50  is fully retained within the container  40  during dispensing. In some embodiments, pusher plate  90  can be configured to define a mating relationship with the interior surface  48  of container  40  when in contact. The pusher plate  90  is slidable within the interior of the container to ultimately allow product  80  to be dispensed from the package. When pressure is exerted on pusher plate  90  from a dispensing gun, the pusher plate reacts by slidably moving from container second end  44  towards container first end  42 . As a result, pouch  60  is compressed, thereby increasing pressure on the package to dispense product  80 . 
     In some embodiments, pusher plate  90  can be slightly undersized in relation to the inner diameter of container  40  allowing it (in conjunction with package  50 ) to wipe product as it transverses the length of the container, pushing toward the outlet. The package binds to the pusher plate  90  as it is retracted, thereby permitting easy removal of the used pouch. 
     The pusher plate can be a component of a dispensing gun instead of, or in addition to, a component of packaging system  20 . 
     Suitable materials for use in constructing pusher plate  90  include (but are not limited to) plastic, wood, metal, rubber, and the like. In some embodiments, pusher plate  90  is configured as part of a dispensing gun. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the pusher plate can be configured as part of packaging system  20 . 
     IV. Dispensing Gun  30   
     Dispensing gun  30  can comprise any apparatus that comprises a component of the disclosed dispensing system  10 , and/or functions in cooperation with the disclosed packaging system  20 , to dispense a product; as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,524; 5,211,311; 5,242,115; 5,462,204; 5,589,226; 5,812,355; and 5,875,922, the entire contents of which patents are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Dispensing gun  30  will typically comprise a mechanical device that can accommodate a packaging system as described herein, and can effect movement of a flowable product, contained in a flexible package, out of the package, through a dispensing valve, and onto an area. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the dispensing gun in one embodiment includes a trigger  32  to activate the dispensing system  10 ; a piston  34  to drive pusher plate  90  through the container  40  and thus push the flexible package  50  toward the first end  42  of the container; a barrel  36  to house packaging system  20 ; and a wall  38  against which the container  40  of packaging system  20  can abut. 
     The cylindrical pusher plate  90 , is configured, when advanced by the piston into the container, to fit within the container in close proximity to the interior surface of the container. In one embodiment, the space between the annular outside edge of the pusher plate and the interior surface of the container, as the pusher plate passes through the interior of the container, is less than three times the thickness of the film thickness of the package; such as less than two times the film thickness of the package. 
     V. Assembly of Packaging System  20   
     As a first step, package  50 , including a sealed pouch  60  containing product  80 , can be inserted into the interior of container  40  through second end  44  such that the pouch fitment  63  is positioned in an opening in container  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Dispensing assembly  120  is then seated flush atop the pouch fitment  63 , in some embodiments with a twisting action or other activating step to pierce membrane  67  with piercing component  115 . 
     It should be appreciated that the methods used to assemble packaging system  20  disclosed above are not limited and can performed in any suitable order. In some embodiments, the packaging system can be partially or fully pre-assembled such that a user need not perform all of the steps described herein. 
     VI. Methods of Using Dispensing System  10   
     After assembly, packaging system  20  can be inserted into a dispensing gun  30 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, dispensing gun  30  can be of the type that dispenses a portion of the contents of pouch  60  upon each actuation. To this end, dispensing gun  30  can include trigger  32  that forms part of an actuating structure. Specifically, trigger  32  can be coupled to piston  34  that is movable within the interior of container  40  via contact with pusher plate  90 . The actuating structure functions such that upon each movement of trigger  32 , the piston  34  moves towards first end  42  of the container  40 , and a bias spring returns the trigger to its original position. In some embodiments, dispensing gun  30  includes wall  38  that is configured to abut against the front end of system  20  (i.e. the first end  42  of container  40 ) so that pressure applied by the trigger  32  is effective to dispense product  80 . Packaging system  20  can be used with any of a variety of dispensing guns known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,370; 3,945,569; 4,681,524; 5,462,204; 5,812,355; 5,875,922; 6,286,718; 6,454,138; 6,533,187; 6,691,899; and 7,011,238, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     To dispense product  80  disposed within pouch  60 , a user can initiate trigger  32  on the dispensing gun  30 . When trigger  32  is pulled, piston  34  advances pusher plate  90  within the interior of container  40  toward first end  42 . Such movement reduces the volume of pouch  60 , thereby collapsing the pouch and increasing the pouch internal pressure. Product  80  exits the pouch through pouch fitment  63  and valve  112  of housing  120 . Product then passes through diffuser  126 , if present, and out of system  20 . Once the trigger has been pulled, a metered dose of product is dispensed and the valve prevents any substantial leakage of product. 
     Piston  34  will continue to move towards the second end  44  of container  40  with continued application of pressure (i.e., each pull of trigger  32 ), thereby dispensing product  80 . When pusher plate  90  has reached an abutting position with container shoulders  46 , the mating relationship ensures that a maximum amount of product housed within pouch  60  has been dispensed. System  20  can then be removed from dispensing gun  30  and replaced with a new system. As set forth above, in some embodiments, container  40 , dispensing assembly  100 , and/or pusher plate  90  can be used repeatedly such that only pouch  60  is replaced. 
     VII. Advantages of the Present Invention 
     In some embodiments, the invention lowers costs associated with materials and assembly and with sufficient ruggedness to survive filling, closing, packing and shipping. 
     System  20  and/or pouch  60  can also be economically disposed of after a single use, or after the pouch contents have been dispensed. 
     The pouch is flexible, reducing storage space needed to house the pouch prior to use. Similarly, the space needed to ship the pouch is less than other alternatives. Further, the flexible pouch requires less space (in trash and in landfills) at the time of disposal. 
     In addition, pouch  60  is constructed to be substantially free of voids and to have suitable mechanical integrity and flexibility. As a result, the pouch can withstand high pressure treatment, such as can be used to reduce unwanted microorganisms in the packaged product. 
     The package further allows the dispensing of multiple doses of product in each dispensing application. For example, a package that includes a diffuser with five outlets will allow five spots of product to be dispensed with each pull of the dispensing gun trigger. 
     VIII. Alternative Embodiment of the Invention 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , fitment  63  may include a membrane  167  that is constructed as or with a frangible seal. A frangible seal may be constructed from multiple layers using a heat seal, ultrasonic seal, static seal, RF seal, adhesive, or a combination thereof. Frangible seals are known to those of ordinary skill in the packaging art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,839 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0093765, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, a frangible seal of the type disclosed in commonly assigned PCT application PCT/US2015/041539 filed 22 Jul. 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, may be used. In any case, membrane  167  with a frangible seal may open upon exerting pressure on the product  80  within the pouch  60 . The frangible seal may be broken before or after inserting the pouch into the container  40 . In the latter case, pressure can be exerted on pusher plate  90  from a dispensing gun piston  34  and the pusher plate  90  reacts by slidably moving from container second end  44  towards container first end  42 . As a result, pouch  60  is compressed, thereby increasing pressure on the package to compress product  80 . The compressive force applied to the product  80  then acts to break the frangible seal of membrane  167 . Notably, a fitment  63  that includes a membrane  167  with a frangible seal can still be used with a dispensing assembly with a piercing component  115 . In other words, the frangible seal can either be forced open under pressure or pierced. 
     IX. Statement of Embodiments of the Invention 
     The present application is directed in various embodiments to the subject matter described in the following paragraphs. These are alternative embodiments of any of the first (dispensing system), second (packaging system), third (package), fourth (dispensing assembly), and fifth (method of dispensing a product) aspects of the invention as described hereinabove in the Summary of the Invention. For each aspect, these features can be incorporated alone or in any suitable combination of these features: 
     a) a pusher plate is positioned either within the container interior, or in the dispensing gun, and adapted to movably close the first opening and effect dispensing of product. 
     b) the container comprises a rigid cylindrical container. 
     c) the container comprises a neck portion adapted to connect to a dispensing assembly. 
     d) the container comprises a neck portion adapted to house an exterior fastening member. 
     e) the fastening member of d) is selected from the group comprising: a location fit, a press fit, a screw thread, a twist lock, a tab, a slot, a snap fit, or combinations thereof. 
     f) the pouch comprises a flexible, thermoplastic pouch. 
     g) the pouch has an oxygen transmission rate of no more than 50 cc/m 2 /24 hr. at 25° C., 0% RH, 1 atm in accordance with ASTM D 3985. 
     h) the flowable product comprises a condiment. 
     i) the valve is selected from the group comprising an umbrella valve, a duckbill valve, a reed valve, a ball valve, a flapper valve, a poppet valve, a Gott valve, a check valve, and combinations thereof. 
     j) the valve comprises four arms defined by a cross-cut in a central portion of the valve. 
     k) the dispensing assembly comprises a retainer adapted to secure the valve within the housing or diffuser. 
     l) the retainer is selected from a retaining ring, a retaining clip. or a flange. 
     m) the housing comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, at least one of which comprises a fastening member selected from the group comprising a location fit, a press fit, a screw thread, a twist lock, a tab, a slot, a snap fit, or combinations thereof. 
     o) the diffuser is connected to the housing with a snap fit. 
     p) the diffuser comprises two or more outlets. 
     q) a product is positioned within the interior of the pouch, wherein the product is a flowable food product. 
     r) the diffuser comprises an interior comprising a fastening member selected from the group comprising: a location fit, a press fit, a screw thread, a twist lock, a tab, a slot, a snap fit, or combinations thereof. 
     s) movement of the pusher plate is accomplished by pulling a dispensing gun trigger. 
     t) a metered volume of product is dispensed. 
     u) the dispensing gun comprises a barrel having a substantially hemispheric cross section. 
     v) the dispensing gun comprises a piston and a trigger. 
     w) the cylindrical pusher plate is configured, when advanced by the piston into the container, to fit within the container in close proximity to the interior surface of the container, with a gap between the outside diameter of the pusher plate and the interior surface of the container, of between 0.05 mm and 1 mm. 
     x) the cylindrical pusher plate comprises a first and second planar surface, the first and second planar surfaces substantially parallel to one another, 
     a circumferential edge having a thickness “T”, the circumferential edge normal to and joining the first and second planar surfaces, and a circumferential bevel located on the first planar surface and joining the first planar surface to the circumferential edge. 
     y) movement of the pusher plate is accomplished by pulling a dispensing gun trigger. 
     z) the container comprises an interior surface having a low COF. 
     aa) the container comprises an interior surface that exhibits a COF of between 0.05 and 0.5. 
     bb) the film comprises an exterior surface having a low COF. 
     cc) the film comprises an exterior surface that exhibits a COF of between 0.05 and 0.5. 
     dd) in a dispensing assembly, a valve in juxtaposed relation to an outlet of the diffuser; 
     ee) in a dispensing assembly, a single disc, juxtaposed adjacent the diffuser, bears a valve. 
     ff) in a dispensing assembly, a single disc, juxtaposed adjacent the diffuser, bears a plurality of valves, each valve positioned adjacent a respective outlet.