Patents by Inventor Dustin Joseph Gereg
Dustin Joseph Gereg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11590671Abstract: A knife holder has a base and a knife support portion extending from the base. The knife support portion includes a distal edge and a knife support surface for supporting a knife. The knife support surface includes a shaped portion and a relieved surface. The shaped portion has a wavy shape and is located adjacent the distal edge. The relieved surface does not have a wavy shape and is located on the knife support surface so that at least part of the shaped portion is between the relieved surface and the distal edge. An abutment surface is between the base and the relieved surface and is defined by the relieved surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Jeffrey S. Radinsky
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Patent number: 11364650Abstract: Tools for replacing knives in cutting machines. The tools include a clamping body having a base, bracket, clamp, and knife support tab(s). The bracket has a flange portion spaced apart from an upper surface of the base. The clamp is coupled to the base for translating in translation directions transverse to a longitudinal axis of the base. The clamp has a lift tab on the same side of the base as a rear surface thereof, and a handle is secured to the flange portion of the bracket and located on the same side of the base as the lift tab. The support tab projects from the front surface of the base, and the clamp is biased toward the support tab so that the clamp and support tab create a knife gripping mechanism for clamping an edge of a knife against the tab.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Scott Alan Klockow
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Publication number: 20220009118Abstract: A knife holder has a base and a knife support portion extending from the base. The knife support portion includes a distal edge and a knife support surface for supporting a knife. The knife support surface includes a shaped portion and a relieved surface. The shaped portion has a wavy shape and is located adjacent the distal edge. The relieved surface does not have a wavy shape and is located on the knife support surface so that at least part of the shaped portion is between the relieved surface and the distal edge. An abutment surface is between the base and the relieved surface and is defined by the relieved surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Jeffrey S. Radinsky
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Publication number: 20210347084Abstract: Tools for replacing knives in cutting machines. The tools include a clamping body having a base, bracket, clamp, and knife support tab(s). The bracket has a flange portion spaced apart from an upper surface of the base. The clamp is coupled to the base for translating in translation directions transverse to a longitudinal axis of the base. The clamp has a lift tab on the same side of the base as a rear surface thereof, and a handle is secured to the flange portion of the bracket and located on the same side of the base as the lift tab. The support tab projects from the front surface of the base, and the clamp is biased toward the support tab so that the clamp and support tab create a knife gripping mechanism for clamping an edge of a knife against the tab.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Scott Alan Klockow
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Patent number: 11117285Abstract: Tools for replacing knives in cutting machines. The tools include a clamping body having a base, bracket, clamp, and knife support tab(s). The bracket has a flange portion spaced apart from an upper surface of the base. The clamp is coupled to the base for translating in translation directions transverse to a longitudinal axis of the base. The clamp has a lift tab on the same side of the base as a rear surface thereof, and a handle is secured to the flange portion of the bracket and located on the same side of the base as the lift tab. The support tab projects from the front surface of the base, and the clamp is biased toward the support tab so that the clamp and support tab create a knife gripping mechanism for clamping an edge of a knife against the tab.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Scott Alan Klockow
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Patent number: 11027450Abstract: Cutting heads and machines equipped therewith. The cutting heads include axially-spaced annular-shaped structural members and circumferentially-spaced support segments between the structural members. Each support segment has a leading edge and a trailing edge, a knife support surface defined on an inner surface region adjacent the leading edge of the support segment, and a gate located adjacent the trailing edge of the support segment. A knife assembly is located adjacent the leading edge of each support segment. Each knife assembly includes a holder opposing one of the knife support surfaces of the support segments and adapted to clamp a knife between the holder and knife support surface. The cutting head may further have camming units that secure the support segments between the structural members, camming units that clamp the knives to the knife support surfaces, and/or adjustment pins that deflect the gates of the support segments.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Dustin Joseph Gereg
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Patent number: 10933552Abstract: Knives and knife assemblies for slicing machines and centrifugal-type slicing machines equipped therewith. Such a knife includes a cutting edge and an opposing edge oppositely disposed from the cutting edge. The cutting and opposing edges extend along a longitudinal length of the knife, and the knife has a handle at a longitudinal end of the knife. A transition region is between the cutting edge and the handle, and the transition region has a minimum lateral width of roughly one half of a lateral width between the cutting and opposing edges of the knife, with the result that a portion of the knife that laterally extends beyond the transition region is up to roughly half of a lateral width of the knife between the cutting and opposing edges.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignees: Urschel Laboratories, Inc., Crescent Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Corey Everette Baxter, Dustin Joseph Gereg, Steven Eugene Dudley
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Patent number: 10843363Abstract: Knife assemblies and cutting apparatuses adapted for producing strip-cut products, for example, a strip-cut food product. The knife assemblies include a slicing knife having a leading edge configured to produce a slice product from a product, at least one tab that extends outward from the slicing knife and configured to cut the slice product into strips, a knife holder for securing the slicing knife and fixing a proximal end of the tab to a position adjacent to the slicing knife, and a tab support assembly configured to clamp onto a distal end of the tab and optionally pull the tab in a direction away from the knife holder along a longitudinal axis of the tab to apply tension to the tab.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Dustin Joseph Gereg
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Patent number: 10807268Abstract: A modular unit configured for mounting to a cutting head of a slicing machine and for securing a knife to the cutting head, and slicing machines equipped with one or more of such modular units. The modular unit includes mounting blocks adapted to be spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head, and a clamping assembly assembled with the mounting blocks so as to be between the mounting blocks. The clamping assembly is configured to secure a knife to the cutting head, and at least portions of the clamping assembly may be removable from the cutting head by disassembling the clamping assembly from the mounting blocks without removing the mounting blocks from the cutting head.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Michael Scot Jacko
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Patent number: 10786922Abstract: Modular units with clamping assemblies for securing knives to slicing machines, and a slicing machine having a cutting head equipped with one or more modular units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. Such a clamping assembly includes a knife holder, a knife supported by the knife holder, a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the knife holder and the clamp, and a cam rod that secures the clamp to the knife holder and clamps the knife therebetween. The cam rod has oppositely-disposed ends rotatably coupled with the mounting blocks and a camming portion between the oppositely-disposed ends and arranged for contacting the clamp. The clamping assembly further includes complementary features for inhibiting deflection of the camming portion away from the knife holder when the cam rod is in a clamping position.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Michael Scot Jacko
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Patent number: 10780602Abstract: Slicing machines having a cutting head equipped with one or more cutting units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. The cutting head has structural members spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head and circumferentially-spaced cutting units between the structural members. Each cutting unit includes a knife holder adapted for supporting a knife, a clamp overlying the knife holder and arranged to apply a clamping force to a knife disposed between the knife holder and clamp, and a cam rod adapted to apply a clamping force to the clamp. The clamp has upstanding flanges, each having a hole therethrough and a slot that engages a pivot, and the clamp, slots, cam rod, and pivots are arranged so that the clamp both pivots and translates relative to the pivots as the cam rod rotates between clamping and release positions.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Michael Scot Jacko
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Publication number: 20200262095Abstract: Tools for replacing knives in cutting machines. The tools include a clamping body having a base, bracket, clamp, and knife support tab(s). The bracket has a flange portion spaced apart from an upper surface of the base. The clamp is coupled to the base for translating in translation directions transverse to a longitudinal axis of the base. The clamp has a lift tab on the same side of the base as a rear surface thereof, and a handle is secured to the flange portion of the bracket and located on the same side of the base as the lift tab. The support tab projects from the front surface of the base, and the clamp is biased toward the support tab so that the clamp and support tab create a knife gripping mechanism for clamping an edge of a knife against the tab.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Scott Alan Klockow
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Publication number: 20200206964Abstract: Cutting heads and machines equipped therewith. The cutting heads include axially-spaced annular-shaped structural members and circumferentially-spaced support segments between the structural members. Each support segment has a leading edge and a trailing edge, a knife support surface defined on an inner surface region adjacent the leading edge of the support segment, and a gate located adjacent the trailing edge of the support segment. A knife assembly is located adjacent the leading edge of each support segment. Each knife assembly includes a holder opposing one of the knife support surfaces of the support segments and adapted to clamp a knife between the holder and knife support surface. The cutting head may further have camming units that secure the support segments between the structural members, camming units that clamp the knives to the knife support surfaces, and/or adjustment pins that deflect the gates of the support segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventor: Dustin Joseph Gereg
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Publication number: 20190375126Abstract: Knives and knife assemblies for slicing machines and centrifugal-type slicing machines equipped therewith. Such a knife includes a cutting edge and an opposing edge oppositely disposed from the cutting edge. The cutting and opposing edges extend along a longitudinal length of the knife, and the knife has a handle at a longitudinal end of the knife. A transition region is between the cutting edge and the handle, and the transition region has a minimum lateral width of roughly one half of a lateral width between the cutting and opposing edges of the knife, with the result that a portion of the knife that laterally extends beyond the transition region is up to roughly half of a lateral width of the knife between the cutting and opposing edges.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Corey Everette Baxter, Dustin Joseph Gereg, Steven Eugene Dudley
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Publication number: 20190329437Abstract: Slicing machines having a cutting head equipped with one or more cutting units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. The cutting head has structural members spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head and circumferentially-spaced cutting units between the structural members. Each cutting unit includes a knife holder adapted for supporting a knife, a clamp overlying the knife holder and arranged to apply a clamping force to a knife disposed between the knife holder and clamp, and a cam rod adapted to apply a clamping force to the clamp. The clamp has upstanding flanges, each having a hole therethrough and a slot that engages a pivot, and the clamp, slots, cam rod, and pivots are arranged so that the clamp both pivots and translates relative to the pivots as the cam rod rotates between clamping and release positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Michael Scot Jacko
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Publication number: 20190143554Abstract: Knife assemblies and cutting apparatuses adapted for producing strip-cut products, for example, a strip-cut food product. The knife assemblies include a slicing knife having a leading edge configured to produce a slice product from a product, at least one tab that extends outward from the slicing knife and configured to cut the slice product into strips, a knife holder for securing the slicing knife and fixing a proximal end of the tab to a position adjacent to the slicing knife, and a tab support assembly configured to clamp onto a distal end of the tab and optionally pull the tab in a direction away from the knife holder along a longitudinal axis of the tab to apply tension to the tab.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventor: Dustin Joseph Gereg
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Publication number: 20180333886Abstract: Modular units with clamping assemblies for securing knives to slicing machines, and a slicing machine having a cutting head equipped with one or more modular units mounted thereto for securing knives to the cutting head. Such a clamping assembly includes a knife holder, a knife supported by the knife holder, a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the knife holder and the clamp, and a cam rod that secures the clamp to the knife holder and clamps the knife therebetween. The cam rod has oppositely-disposed ends rotatably coupled with the mounting blocks and a camming portion between the oppositely-disposed ends and arranged for contacting the clamp. The clamping assembly further includes complementary features for inhibiting deflection of the camming portion away from the knife holder when the cam rod is in a clamping position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Michael Scot Jacko
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Publication number: 20180229390Abstract: A modular unit configured for mounting to a cutting head of a slicing machine and for securing a knife to the cutting head, and slicing machines equipped with one or more of such modular units. The modular unit includes mounting blocks adapted to be spaced apart in an axial direction of the cutting head, and a clamping assembly assembled with the mounting blocks so as to be between the mounting blocks. The clamping assembly is configured to secure a knife to the cutting head, and at least portions of the clamping assembly may be removable from the cutting head by disassembling the clamping assembly from the mounting blocks without removing the mounting blocks from the cutting head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Dustin Joseph Gereg, Michael Scot Jacko