Temperature controlled dispensing device

A flowable food dispenser for dispensing a flowable food product, comprising:

• first and second bays each configured for receiving a pouch that contains the food product and has a discharge tube for discharging the food product;
• and
• first and second peristaltic pumps disposed adjacent the first and second bays, respectively, for receiving the discharge tubes extending therefrom, each of the peristaltic pumps comprising:
• a motor-driven rotor, and
• a stator having a pumping position relative to the rotor for compressing the discharge tube therebetween and peristaltically pumping the food product within the discharge tube upon rotation of the rotor;
• wherein the stators of the fist and second pumps are movable to first and second loading positions, respectively, in which the stators are spaced from the respective rotor sufficiently to load and remove the discharge tube from therebetween;
• and
• wherein the loading positions overlap with each other, such that only one of the stators can occupy the first or second loading position at a time.

A flowable food dispenser for dispensing a flowable food product, comprising:

• at least two bays each configured for receiving a pouch that contains the food product and has a discharge tube for discharging the food product;
• and
• a peristaltic pump disposed adjacent the bays for receiving the discharge tube extending from one of the bays, the peristaltic pumps comprising:
• a driven rotor, and
• a stator having a pumping position relative to the rotor for compressing the discharge tube therebetween and peristaltically pumping the food product with the discharge tube upon rotation of the rotor, the stator defining a curved compression race configured for receiving and compressing the discharge tube against the rotating rotor, the race having an input end and an output end, and the rotor being operated for pumping the food product from the input end to the output end;
• wherein the stator is movable to a loading position in which the stator is spaced from the respective rotor sufficiently to load and remove the discharge tube from therebetween, and in at least one of the loading and pumping positions a line extending between the input and output ends of the stator is disposed diagonally with respect to the vertical.

A flowable food dispenser for dispensing flowable food product, comprising:

• a housing having first and second bays configured for receiving a pouch that contains the food product;
• at least one dispensing mechanism associated with the first and second bays for selectively dispensing the food from first and second discharge tubes from each pouch received in the first and second bays, respectively;
• and
• a dispensing guide disposed with respect to the dispensing mechanisms for aiming an exit opening of the discharge tubes, wherein the dispensing guide is reconfigurable for directing the food dispensed to locations at an adjustable distance from each other.

A flowable food dispenser for dispensing flowable food product, comprising:

• a housing having first and second bays;
• a plurality of cassettes removably receivable within the bays, each cassette configured for receiving a pouch containing the food product;
• first and second thermal exchange devices associated with the first and second bays, respectively, in heat-exchanging association with the cassettes received therein, wherein the bays have a plurality of sides, and the first and second thermal exchange devices extend on the two largest opposite sides of the bays for heating or cooling corresponding opposite sides of the cassettes and pouches therein;
• a temperature control system connected with the thermal exchange devices for controlling the thermal exchange devices independently for independently heating or cooling the cassettes in the bays and the food product disposed therein;
• and
• at least one dispensing mechanism associated with the first and second bays for selectively dispensing the food from the pouches that are in the cassettes received in the bays.

A flowable food dispenser for dispensing flowable food product, comprising:

• a housing having first and second bays;
• a plurality of cassettes removably receivable within the bays, each cassette configured for receiving a pouch containing the food product;
• first and second thermal exchange devices associated with the first and second bays, respectively, in heat-exchanging association with the cassettes received therein;
• a temperature control system connected with the thermal exchange devices for controlling the thermal exchange devices independently for independently heating or cooling the cassettes in the bays and the food product disposed therein;
• at least one dispensing mechanism associated with the first and second bays for selectively dispensing the food from the pouches that are in the cassettes received in the bays;
• and
• a third thermal exchange unit configured for circulating a fluid for heating or cooling the dispensing system and also at least one of the bays on one or more sides of the bay other than said opposite sides.

A flowable food dispenser for dispensing flowable food product, comprising:

• a housing having first and second bays;
• a plurality of cassettes removably receivable within the bays, each cassette configured for receiving a pouch containing the food product;
• first and second thermal exchange devices associated with the first and second bays, respectively, in heat-exchanging association with the cassettes received therein;
• a temperature control system connected with the thermal exchange devices for controlling the thermal exchange devices independently for independently heating or cooling the cassettes in the bays and the food product disposed therein;
• at least one dispensing mechanism associated with the first and second bays for selectively dispensing the food from the pouches that are in the cassettes received in the bays;
• and
• a temperature sensing member associated with at least one of the bays and configured for sensing the temperature of the pouch within the cassette received in the at least one bay, wherein at least one of the cassettes defines a temperature sensing opening configured for receiving the temperature sensing member therethrough to contact the pouch therein, the temperature control system being associated with the temperature sensing member for operating at least one of the thermal exchange devices depending on the sensed temperature.