Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a viscous food dispensing system comprising: a frame, an inlet tube for a pump device, a connector coupled to the inlet tube, a container containing a viscous food product, the container including an outlet at a bottom of the container configured to couple with the connector and a dispensing device comprising: a roller slideably attached to the frame that applies pressure against the container wherein the roller is initially in contact with a top of the container and slides towards the outlet as the viscous food product is expelled.

The invention provides a system for dispensing viscous food products from a container. The viscous food dispensing system includes a detachable door defining at least one elongated aperture along a vertical axis of the detachable door and attachable to a frame of the viscous food dispensing system by at least one hinge. The viscous food dispensing system also includes an inlet tube connected with a pump device. The viscous food dispensing system also includes a friction-fit connector coupled to the inlet tube. The viscous food dispensing system also includes a container detachably connected to the detachable door, the container containing a viscous food product, the container including an outlet at a bottom of the container configured to couple with the friction-fit connector of the inlet tube via friction fit. The viscous food dispensing system also includes a dispensing device including a roller slideably attached to the frame that applies pressure against the container and the detachable door where the roller is initially in contact with a top of the container and slides towards the outlet as the food product is expelled and a level indicator coupled with the roller that protrudes through the at least one elongated aperture when the detachable door is closed such that the level indicator is visible from an exterior of the detachable door, when the container is disposed between the dispensing device and the detachable door.

One general aspect, not part of the invention, includes a cassette for supplying a viscous food product. The cassette is reusable and attachable with a pump device. The cassette includes a container detachably connected with the cassette, the container containing a viscous food product, the container including an outlet which is at a bottom of the container configured to couple with the pump device via a friction-fit connector. The cassette also includes a dispensing device including a roller slideably attached to the cassette at each end of the roller and slideably coupled to an exterior of the container to apply pressure against the container against a door of the cassette, wherein as the dispensing device is initially coupled to a top of the container and slides towards the outlet as the food product is expelled. The cassette additionally includes a level indicator coupled with the roller that protrudes through at least one aperture of the cassette when a door of the cassette is closed to provide a level indication of the food product within the container.

One general aspect, not part of the invention, includes a method of dispensing a viscous food. The method includes raising a roller of a food dispensing system to an upper position of a frame. The method also includes installing a container containing a viscous food product. The method also includes inserting a friction-fit connector of an inlet tube of a pump device of the food dispensing system into an outlet of the container. The method also includes closing a door connected with the frame to position the container between the roller and the door to apply pressure on the container and dispense the food product through the inlet tube.

Embodiments and techniques described herein are directed to systems and methods for dispensing viscous food products, such as pizza sauce, from a container using a dispensing device equipped with a cassette for holding and applying force against the container to remove the food product from the container. Viscous food products are food products that have a tendency to adhere to an interior surface of a container. The apparatus for dispensing viscous food products may, for example, be used to dispense pizza sauce onto a prepared crust of a pizza. The embodiments and techniques described herein provide for easy installation of replaceable food product containers, simple operation, and greater removal of food product from the container resulting in less food waste. Other such food and viscous fluid dispensers including condiment dispensers and the like may include systems and components as described herein.

For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments; and that the embodiments may be practiced without the specific details.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of an apparatus <NUM> for on-demand distribution of a viscous food product, according to at least one embodiment. The apparatus <NUM> includes a base frame <NUM> constructed in an open tube-frame fashion. The apparatus <NUM> can have a depth of <NUM> inches, which is a standard kitchen counter top depth. The apparatus <NUM> includes a pump device <NUM> and a cassette device <NUM>. The cassette device <NUM> supplies concentrated liquid (e.g. viscous) food product in a unique form. The cassette device <NUM> has several advantages as it requires minimal cleaning, can use pre-packaged concentrated liquid food product in a container as shipped from a factory, includes an indicator showing the level of the concentrated liquid food product remaining in the container, and is configured to couple to one or more different apparatuses. Other devices require concentrated liquid food product to be poured into a container before use. More than one, for example two or more, cassette devices <NUM> may be used on one apparatus <NUM>. Similarly, one cassette device may be used with more than one, for example two or more, apparatuses at different times. In addition, the cassette device <NUM> can be re-loaded using pliable food containers without pouring or transferring the food product.

The apparatus <NUM> includes a table top section <NUM>. The table top section <NUM> may be formed from a thermo-vacuum formed plastic, molded plastic, and/or sheet metal sections which are welded or bolted together. The table top section <NUM> also includes a control panel for electronic interaction with the apparatus <NUM> by a user. A turntable is integrated and rotationally attached to the table top section <NUM>. A round pan holding a dough-based food product (e.g. pizza crust) is intended to sit on top of the turntable. The turntable rotates the pan for even distribution of a viscous food-product onto the dough-based food product.

A control box is attached to an internal shelf within the apparatus <NUM>. The control box houses control electronics and a fluid interface for connecting to the pump device <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> also includes a linear arm <NUM> which distributes viscous food-product out of a nozzle in an even and smooth manner onto the dough-based food product. The linear arm <NUM> is actuated by a linear actuator integrated within the table top section <NUM> The linear arm <NUM> may be stationary in some examples and connected with the table top section <NUM>. The linear arm <NUM> is intended to move over and across a radius of the turntable at varying speed, as the outer radius of the turntable will naturally have a higher angular speed than the inner radius at a constant angular speed. The linear arm <NUM> is also fluidly connected to the pump device <NUM>, which supplies viscous food-product to the linear arm <NUM>.

The pump device <NUM> includes a pump assembly including an electric stepper motor and lead screw. The lead screw actuates a piston, which draws in (by vacuum) the viscous food product into a cylinder from an inlet, as illustrated in <FIG>. , the piston also pressurizes the cylinder through a second piston actuation and forces out the viscous food-product through an outlet and to the linear arm <NUM>. The pump device <NUM> may also include a pump board which houses electronics for controlling the pump assembly and interfacing with the control box. In some examples, the pump device <NUM> may be controlled by electronics within the control box. The pump board is in turn controlled by the control box. In some examples, an optional home sensor and limit sensor may be included in the pump device <NUM> for setting an initial pump position and limiting the travel of the pump, respectively.

In use, a user of the apparatus <NUM> will first place a container in the cassette device <NUM> or check to make sure the cassette device <NUM> includes the viscous food product. The level of the viscous food product included in the cassette device <NUM> may be determined based on a position of the handles <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) as visible from an exterior of the cassette device <NUM>.

The user may place a predetermined sized pan (e.g. personal, small, medium, large, extra-large), with a respective sized dough based food-product, onto the turntable. The user then interfaces with the control panel to select pan size and desired sauce depth (e.g. dough type). The turntable rotates and viscous food-product emerges from the linear arm in an even and consistent manner. The linear arm moves along a radius of the turntable, at a varying rate to ensure that the viscous food-product is evenly spread over the surface of the dough based food-product. The linear arm stops dispensing after the viscous food-product has been distributed to a desired consistency. Examples of gripping mechanisms are also shown in co-assigned patents: <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

In some examples, the pump device <NUM> may dilute concentrated liquid food-product stored in cassette device <NUM>. By using a concentrated liquid food-product, the apparatus <NUM> needs to be refilled less often. Additionally, the apparatus <NUM>, may adjust the mixing ratio of the dispensed sauce by regulating water intake. For example some pizzas require a thicker sauce while others require a thinner sauce. By using a concentrated liquid food-product, thickness changes may occur on-demand by changing and/or controlling a water valve to control a flow of water into the apparatus <NUM>. Previous apparatuses required changing of the entire sauce supply in order to implement a different sauce thickness.

<FIG> shows an exploded view of a cassette device <NUM> of the apparatus of <FIG>, according to at least one embodiment. The cassette device <NUM> is structured in form of a case, with a door <NUM> connected by a removable hinge including a first component <NUM> and a second component <NUM> to a frame <NUM>. The first component <NUM> may protrude from a bottom of the door <NUM>. For example, the first component <NUM> may include a pair of protrusions extending from opposite ends of the bottom of the door <NUM>. The second component <NUM> may be coupled to a bottom of the frame <NUM> that mates with the bottom of the door <NUM>. For example, the second component <NUM> may include a pair of hooks coupled to opposite ends of the bottom of the frame <NUM>, and configured to receive the pair of protrusions extending from the bottom of the door <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> may further include a dispensing device <NUM>. The dispensing device <NUM> includes a roller <NUM>, guide shafts <NUM>, locking devices <NUM>, and sliding blocks <NUM>. The roller <NUM> is connected to sliding blocks <NUM> which are slidably attached to respective guide shafts <NUM> extending along the vertical sides of the cassette device <NUM>. The dispensing device <NUM> is configured to enable the roller <NUM> to freely slide down the guide shafts <NUM>. The roller <NUM> is of significant weight, and preferably weighs <NUM>-<NUM> kgs (<NUM>-<NUM> lbs) such that the roller <NUM> descends under its own weight due to gravity to dispense (e.g. squeeze out) the viscous food product from a container. The roller <NUM> may be weighted with dense materials and/or the roller <NUM> may be formed of a combination of materials including a high density plastic, a metal, or other such rigid and dense materials. According to some embodiments, the roller <NUM> may rotate along a horizontal axis extending between the two opposite sliding blocks <NUM>. Alternatively, the roller <NUM> may be static with respect to the sliding blocks <NUM>.

On each of the sliding blocks <NUM>, handles <NUM> or protruding elements (illustrated in <FIG>) may be connected that enable easy movement of the roller <NUM> by a user, for example to raise the roller <NUM> to install a new food container in the cassette device <NUM>. The handles <NUM>, shown in <FIG> may be configured to protrude through the door <NUM> to provide a visual indication of the height of the roller <NUM> within the cassette to provide a fast and easy way to evaluate level marker for the user to visualize and know when the food container must be replaced. The door <NUM> includes one or more elongated apertures <NUM>, one per each handle <NUM>, or other protrusions from the sliding blocks <NUM> to protrude when the door <NUM> is closed and thereby provide the visual level indication without opening the cassette device <NUM>. When the container coupled to the door <NUM> is full, the roller <NUM>, and the handles <NUM>, will be closer to a top end <NUM> of the door <NUM>. When the container starts to empty out its contents, the roller <NUM>, and the handles <NUM>, will slide down to gradually get closer to a bottom end <NUM> of the door <NUM>.

The door <NUM> of the cassette device <NUM> also includes hanging devices <NUM> for connecting to a removable food container and enabling quick connection and replacement of the food container. For example, the hanging devices <NUM> may include clips, clamps, threaded connections, and other such releasable securements.

The cassette device <NUM> also includes a pair of locking devices <NUM> that sit adjacent each of the guide shafts <NUM>. The locking devices <NUM> serve as retainers configured to release and retain the sliding blocks and therefore interface with the sliding blocks <NUM> to releasably secure the roller <NUM> in an upper position closer to the top end <NUM> of the door <NUM>, for example while replacing the food container. The locking devices <NUM> may include a latch mechanism that is spring-actuated to support the sliding block <NUM> when in contact. The locking devices <NUM> are actuated to release the roller <NUM> and the sliding blocks <NUM> to descend along the guide shafts <NUM>. The locking devices <NUM> may be actuated manually by the user depressing the latch or may be actuated by closing the door <NUM>. As the door <NUM> is shut, the door depresses the latch of the locking device <NUM> and releases the sliding block <NUM>. Other hardware shown in <FIG> is for mounting of various devices to the frame <NUM> and securing the frame <NUM> to the apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a portion of the apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> showing the cassette device <NUM> installed with a door <NUM> thereof open, according to at least one embodiment. <FIG> shows the cassette device <NUM> in use. While <FIG> shows the cassette device <NUM> in an open position for illustrative reasons only, normally the cassette device <NUM> is used in a closed position. In addition to the components described above with respect to <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates an inlet <NUM> for the pump device <NUM> including a friction-fit connector shown in <FIG>.

In operation a container, such as a pliable food container bag, is secured to the inside of the door <NUM> using the hanging devices <NUM>, such as a clip or other securing device at or near a top of the door <NUM>. The roller <NUM> is raised to the top of the guide shafts <NUM> and retained in position by the locking devices <NUM>. The roller <NUM> may be raised by grasping the handles <NUM> and lifting (e.g. sliding) the roller <NUM> to the top of the guide shafts <NUM>. The inlet <NUM> is connected to an outlet of the container, positioned at or near the bottom of the container. The inlet <NUM> may be connected to the outlet of the container using the friction-fit connector <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>. The outlet may be an elastic outlet that stretches to accommodate the friction-fit connector <NUM> and retain the connection by friction after insertion. The door <NUM> is then shut and held closed by a door latch or other similar device. When the door <NUM> is shut, the container is positioned between the roller <NUM> and the inner surface of the door <NUM>. The roller <NUM> and the door <NUM> apply a force against the container (e.g. sandwich the container therebetween). As the door <NUM> is shut, the locking devices <NUM> is released to allow the sliding blocks <NUM> to move freely along the guide shafts <NUM>. The roller <NUM> may then descend under the force of gravity due to its own weight, applying pressure against the container and pushing the contents of the container toward the outlet of the container. As the roller <NUM> descends and the container is emptied, the roller <NUM> forces food product that may adhere to the sides of the interior of the container to descend due to the contact between the roller <NUM> and the door <NUM> forcing the food product towards the outlet.

<FIG> show the cassette device <NUM> with the door <NUM> in a closed position and handles <NUM> extending through the elongated apertures <NUM> of the door <NUM> to provide a visual level indication of the food product within the container. As illustrated in <FIG>, as the container is emptied, due to use of the apparatus <NUM> and the pump device <NUM> generates a low-pressure region at the pump device <NUM> and draws food product from the container 152A/B, the roller <NUM> descends, forcing the food product towards the exit and ensuring the viscous food product is not left to adhere to the sides of the container and not be drawn out by the pump device <NUM>. The pump device <NUM> may generate the low-pressure region by pumping food product away from the container 152A/B. While the roller <NUM> descends, the handles <NUM>, which may also be simple level markers or other visual indicators, descend and provide an indication of the level of food product left within the container. Because the container may be pliable and the food product may be viscous and adhering to the sides of the container, typical level indicator devices may not function to provide a consistent and accurate level determination. In contrast, the roller <NUM> will descend and apply pressure to the pliable sides of the container and will provide a consistent level reading as food product will be forced downwards by the roller.

<FIG> shows an interior of the apparatus of <FIG> illustrating a container 152A/B connected to the pump device <NUM> with the roller <NUM> applying pressure against the container 152A/B and the door, according to at least one embodiment. The container 152A/B is attached to the door <NUM>. The container 152A/B is constructed from a pliable material, such as plastic. The container 152A/B may have a funnel shape as shown in <FIG>, from an upper end of the container 152A/B to the bottom of the container 152A/B to guide food product to the outlet <NUM>. The container 152A/B may be a pliable plastic bag. The container 152A/B is attached to securements at the uppermost portion of the container 152A/B and the door <NUM>. The container 152A/B is also placed (e.g. sandwiched) between the roller <NUM> and the door <NUM>. The portion 152A of container 152A/B above the roller <NUM> is empty of food product while the remainder 152B of container 152A/B below the roller <NUM> contains food product. The container 152A/B includes an outlet <NUM> which attaches to the inlet <NUM> and the pump device <NUM> via the friction-fit strainer connector. The container 152A/B contains a concentrated food product that has the tendency to adhere to the interior of the container 152A/B. The concentrated food product is generally very thick and viscous, and will clump unless removed by external force. Thus the weight of the concentrated food product is insufficient to overcome its tendency to clump and will not completely self-expel from the container 152A/B without the pump device <NUM> and the roller <NUM>. The container 152A/B is connected to the pump device <NUM> through the inlet <NUM> that includes a friction-fit connector as shown with respect to <FIG>. The inlet <NUM> and/or the outlet <NUM> may be formed of an elastic material such that the outlet <NUM> and inlet <NUM> may interface with a friction-fit connector <NUM> and prevent disconnection of the inlet <NUM>. The friction-fit connector <NUM> may be connected to the inlet <NUM> with a semi-permanent connection, such as using pipe clamp <NUM> to provide a force to clamp the inlet <NUM> to a barbed connection <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the friction-fit connector <NUM>. The friction-fit connector <NUM> includes a cylindrical tube <NUM> (see <FIG>) that extends toward the interior of the container 152A/B through the outlet <NUM>. The friction-fit of the friction-fit connector <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> may result from an unstretched inner diameter of the outlet <NUM> being smaller than an outer diameter of the friction-fit connector <NUM> such that when friction-fit connector <NUM> is inserted into the outlet <NUM>, the outlet <NUM> stretches to accommodate the friction-fit connector <NUM> and forms a friction-fit between the two.

The container 152A/B includes seams <NUM> that form a funnel shape at the bottommost end of the container 152A/B. The seams <NUM> cause the container to reduce in area at the bottom end of the container 152A/B and ensure that food products is directed towards the outlet <NUM> rather than potentially becoming trapped in the bottommost corners of the container 152A/B. The seams <NUM> may be formed in the container by heat sealing the container 152A/B. In some examples, the cassette device <NUM> may include a funnel-shaped structure at the bottom of the door <NUM> into which the container 152A/B fits that similarly serves to prevent food product from being trapped in the corners of the container 152A/B.

<FIG> shows the container <NUM> of <FIG> having an interior funnel shape and connected to the friction-fit connector <NUM> of <FIG>, according to at least one embodiment. The container <NUM> is a pliable container having interior seams <NUM> that form the interior funnel shape to direct the viscous food product towards the outlet <NUM> as the roller <NUM> descends.

<FIG> show the locking devices <NUM> for securing the roller <NUM> during installation of a new container, according to at least one embodiment. As described above, the locking devices <NUM> include a latch mechanism that engages with the sliding blocks <NUM>. The locking devices <NUM> retain the roller <NUM> in an uppermost position, each of the locking devices <NUM> retains a corresponding sliding block <NUM> until released, either by actuating the locking devices <NUM> manually or by shutting door <NUM>, as described above. Door <NUM> may include tabs or protrusions to depress the latch of locking device <NUM> and cause the locking devices <NUM> to disengage from the sliding blocks <NUM> so the roller <NUM> may slide down guide shafts <NUM> under its own weight.

<FIG> shows a friction-fit connector <NUM> (e.g. friction-fit strainer connector) for connecting an inlet <NUM> of the pump device <NUM> of <FIG> to the container 152A/B through outlet <NUM>, according to at least one embodiment. The friction-fit connector <NUM> may be referred to as an inlet suction strainer. The friction-fit connector <NUM> may be part of the inlet <NUM> in some examples, such as with an integrally formed connector that is part of inlet <NUM>. The friction-fit connector <NUM> includes a barbed connection <NUM> (e.g. a first portion), a stop plate <NUM>, a cylindrical tube <NUM> (e.g. a second portion), and defines a first opening <NUM> and a second plurality of openings <NUM>. The barbed connection <NUM> connects the inlet <NUM> to a tube coupled to the pump device <NUM>. In some examples the barbed connection may be any other type of tube connection including threaded connections, adhesive connections, friction-fit connections, and the like. The stop plate <NUM> prevents over insertion of the inlet <NUM> into the outlet <NUM> of the container 152A/B. The stop plate <NUM> also provides a stop position for the tube to connect to the barbed connection <NUM>. The cylindrical tube <NUM> provides a conduit from the second plurality of openings <NUM> and the first opening <NUM> and the tube connected to the barbed connection <NUM>. The first opening <NUM> may be the primary opening and the second plurality of openings <NUM> may be secondary openings for funneling the food product from the container toward the pump tube. The secondary openings increase the open surface area in the cylindrical tube <NUM> and may increase an amount of food product extracted from container 152A/B. The cylindrical tube includes the second plurality of openings <NUM> in a lateral wall, perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical tube <NUM>. The first opening <NUM> is at an end of the cylindrical tube <NUM>. The first opening <NUM> may provide a passage for food product to exit the container 152A/B. The second plurality of openings <NUM> may serve to increase a flow rate of food product and/or an amount of food product that may flow through the friction-fit connector <NUM> by providing a greater open surface area into the inlet <NUM>. Since the pump creates a negative pressure, the cylindrical tube <NUM> is "sucked" further into the container and reinforces the connection between the friction-fit connector <NUM> and the container 152A/B. The second plurality of openings <NUM> are positioned on the lateral wall such that food product that adheres to the interior sides of the container 152A/B may enter inlet <NUM> through the second plurality of openings <NUM> which are positioned adjacent the internal walls of the container 152A/B surrounding outlet <NUM>. As food product is funneled towards outlet <NUM>, the food product near or adhering to the inner walls may travel through the second plurality of openings <NUM> while food product from a central portion of the container 152A/B may enter through the first opening <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart of a method <NUM> for dispensing a viscous food product, not part of the present invention. The method <NUM> may be performed using embodiment and examples described herein, including the apparatus <NUM>, the cassette device <NUM>, and other embodiments and examples described herein.

At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes raising a roller of a food dispensing system to an upper position. The roller may be the roller <NUM> that is raised, along guide shafts <NUM> of the dispensing device <NUM> to an upper position where the locking devices <NUM> retain the sliding blocks <NUM> and support the weight of the roller <NUM>.

At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes installing a container containing a food product that has a tendency to adhere to an interior surface of the container on a door of the food dispensing system. The container may be the container 152A/B that is pliable and may be flexed and/or compressed to aid in removal of the food product. The container 152A/B is installed by connecting the container 152A/B to the hanging devices <NUM>, for example by clipping the upper edges of the container 152A/B into clips of the hanging devices <NUM> or otherwise securing the container 152A/B to the door <NUM>.

At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes inserting a friction-fit connector of an inlet tube of a pump device of the food dispensing system into an outlet of the container. The friction-fit connector may be the friction-fit connector <NUM> that fits into outlet <NUM> through a friction-fit as the friction-fit connector <NUM> stretches the diameter of the outlet <NUM> due to the friction-fit connector <NUM> having a larger diameter than an inner diameter of the outlet <NUM>. The friction-fit connector <NUM> is inserted into the container 152A/B such that openings of the friction-fit connector strain the food product into the inlet <NUM>.

At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes closing the door <NUM> of the cassette device <NUM> to position the container between the roller <NUM> and the door <NUM> to apply pressure on the container 152A/B and dispense the food product through the inlet <NUM>. Closing the door <NUM> may actuate a latch of the locking devices <NUM> that releases the sliding blocks <NUM> and enables to roller <NUM> to descend under its own weight due to gravity. The locking devices <NUM> are released by the door <NUM>, the roller <NUM> does not press against the door <NUM> and descend until released from the upper position where it is held in place by the locking devices <NUM>. The door <NUM> may be secured in a closed position with a latch or detent such that the force of the roller <NUM> applying pressure against the container 152A/B and the door <NUM> does not cause the door <NUM> to open.

The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosed embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The term "connected" is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A viscous food dispensing system, comprising:
a detachable door (<NUM>) defining at least one elongated aperture (<NUM>) along a vertical axis of the detachable door (<NUM>) and attachable to a frame (<NUM>) of the viscous food dispensing system by at least one hinge;
an inlet (<NUM>) tube for a pump device (<NUM>);
a friction-fit connector (<NUM>) coupled to the inlet (<NUM>) tube of the pump device (<NUM>);
a container (152A/B) detachably connected to the detachable door (<NUM>), the container (152A/B) containing a viscous food product, the container (152A/B) including an outlet (<NUM>) at a bottom of the container (152A/B) configured to couple with the friction-fit connector (<NUM>) of the inlet (<NUM>) tube via friction fit; and
a dispensing device (<NUM>) comprising:
a roller (<NUM>) slideably attached to the frame (<NUM>) that applies pressure against the container (152A/B) and the detachable door (<NUM>) wherein the roller (<NUM>) is initially in contact with a top of the container (152A/B) and slides towards the outlet (<NUM>) as the viscous food product is expelled; and
a level indicator coupled with the roller (<NUM>) that protrudes through the at least one elongated aperture (<NUM>) when the detachable door (<NUM>) is closed such that the level indicator is visible from an exterior of the detachable door (<NUM>), when the container (152A/B) is disposed between the dispensing device (<NUM>) and the detachable door (<NUM>).