Patents by Inventor Michael Scot Jacko
Michael Scot Jacko 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: 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: 20200223085Abstract: Cutting wheels equipped with knife assemblies suitable for performing size reduction operations on products, methods of operating cutting wheels, knife holders for such knife assemblies, methods of manufacturing knife holders, and slicing machines capable of utilizing such cutting wheels. The knife assemblies each have a leading edge that faces a direction of rotation of the cutting wheel, a trailing edge oppositely disposed from the leading edge, and a cutting edge on the leading edge. Each knife assembly further has a knife holder having a first surface that faces the products advanced toward the cutting wheel in a feed direction and a registration surface formed in the first surface. The registration surface is defined by at least a first recessed planar surface that is recessed a distance relative to the first surface and defines with the first surface at least a first step therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Anthony A. McCracken, Michael Scot Jacko
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Publication number: 20200223084Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for cutting food products. The apparatus includes an annular-shaped cutting head having at least a first mounting frame surrounding a central axis of the cutting head and a plurality of cutting tools arranged around the central axis of the cutting head and pivotably coupled to the first mounting frame such that each cutting tool has a pivot axis. The method includes deflecting each cutting tool about its pivot axis by engaging first portions of the cutting tools in proximity to the first mounting frame to deflect the first portions a first radial deflection distance relative to the central axis and engaging second portions of the cutting tools to deflect the second portions a second radial deflection distance relative to the central axis. The first and second radial deflection distances can be adjusted individually or in unison.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Corey Everette Baxter, Michael Scot Jacko, Keith Alan Barber, Richard James Ruegg
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Patent number: 10611042Abstract: Cutting wheels equipped with knife assemblies suitable for performing size reduction operations on products, methods of operating cutting wheels, knife holders for such knife assemblies, methods of manufacturing knife holders, and slicing machines capable of utilizing such cutting wheels. The knife assemblies each have a leading edge that faces a direction of rotation of the cutting wheel, a trailing edge oppositely disposed from the leading edge, and a cutting edge on the leading edge. Each knife assembly further has a knife holder having a first surface that faces the products advanced toward the cutting wheel in a feed direction and a registration surface formed in the first surface. The registration surface is defined by at least a first recessed planar surface that is recessed a distance relative to the first surface and defines with the first surface at least a first step therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Anthony A. McCracken, Michael Scot Jacko
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Patent number: 10562203Abstract: A slicing machine having a cutting head and a knife assembly mounted thereto, and methods for clamping a knife of the knife assembly in the slicing machine. The knife assembly includes a knife holder having a support surface that supports the knife and a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the support surface of the knife holder and the clamp. A clamping rod is rotated from a release position to a clamping position to secure the clamp to the knife holder and clamp the knife therebetween. The clamping rod is eccentrically mounted to the cutting head and uses eccentricity to apply a clamping load to the clamp when rotated from the release position to the clamping position.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Michael Scot Jacko
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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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Patent number: 10442102Abstract: Machines and methods suitable for performing cutting operations on products to yield a reduced-size product, for example, slicing and strip-cutting elongate food products. Such a method includes simultaneously delivering products to annular-shaped cavities of a rotating impeller. The products are simultaneously delivered with a feed unit that has a feed chute extension that protrudes into an interior of the impeller. The feed chute extension defines feed chutes that are aligned with the annular-shaped cavities of the impeller and direct the products to circumferential series of pockets within the annular-shaped cavities. The products are held within the pockets by centrifugal force as the products are carried past a slicing knife to form a first longitudinal cut through each of the products during a rotation of the impeller and to produce therefrom a substantially longitudinally sliced product.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Luc Van Buynder, Nicholas Alan Underwood, Shawn Christopher Boylstein, Mark Allen Martin, James A. Fant, Michael Scot Jacko
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Patent number: 10406530Abstract: Machines and methods adapted to process, for example, to reduce the size of, disperse, or homogenize, a variety of materials and compositions. Such methods and machines are capable of reducing the size of a material and dispersing the material in a liquid by cutting the material with knives located along a perimeter of an annular-shaped cutting head, causing the cut material to flow radially outward from the cutting head through gaps between the knives, and flowing a liquid through passages in the cutting head that cause the liquid to cascade around the knives of the cutting head in an axial direction of the cutting head.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: James A. Fant, Michael Scot Jacko
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Publication number: 20190210239Abstract: Knife assemblies adapted for use in slicing machines. Such a knife assembly includes a knife holder having a support surface that defines a leading edge of the knife holder and a trailing end spaced from the leading edge, an insert disposed on the support surface so that a leading edge thereof projects beyond the leading edge of the knife holder and a trailing end thereof is secured to the knife holder, a knife clamped to the knife holder so that the insert is between the knife and the support surface. The trailing end of the insert is secured to the knife holder as a result of the trailing end being received in a slot defined in the trailing end of the support surface, or with posts protruding from the support surface that engage slots defined in the trailing end of the insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Corey Everette Baxter, Michael Scot Jacko, Ryan Andrew Rust
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Patent number: 10279495Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food product to produce food product slices. The apparatus includes a circular cutting head having an axis and at least one knife assembly on the circumference of the cutting head, and a knife extending axially inward and having a corrugated shape to produce a food product slice with a periodic shape characterized by peaks and valleys. At least one component securing the knife to the cutting head has a surface facing radially inward and a corrugated shape shaped differently than the corrugated shape of the knife to minimize surface contact between unsliced food products and the cutting head.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Michael Scot Jacko, Daniel Wade King
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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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Patent number: 10065334Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reducing food products. Such a method includes introducing a food product into an impeller rotating within a casing about an axis thereof. The impeller has paddles and pockets defined by and between adjacent pairs of the paddles. The paddles are circumferentially spaced so that each pocket is sequentially radially aligned with a circumferential opening of the casing as the impeller rotates. Each paddle has a relief slot defined in an outer radial edge of the paddle. Food products are expelled from the pockets and cut with a knife disposed at the circumferential opening of the casing as the impeller rotates and the pockets travel past the circumferential opening. The knife defines a cord of the casing, extends into the path of the paddles, and passes through the relief slots of the paddles.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Scott Alan Klockow, Michael Scot Jacko
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Patent number: 10059019Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing food products. The apparatus includes a casing, an impeller adapted for rotation within the casing, and a cutting device. The casing has axial and circumferential openings for product entering and exiting, respectively, the casing. The impeller includes a drum, paddles mounted to the drum, and pockets defined by and between adjacent pairs of paddles that are radially aligned with the circumferential opening of the casing as each pocket travels past the circumferential opening. The cutting device includes a knife disposed at the circumferential opening of the casing and oriented perpendicular to the axis of the impeller. The knife lies on a sector of the casing and has a cutting edge located within an interior of the casing so that the knife extends into the path of the paddles and passes through relief slots defined in the paddles as the impeller rotates.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Scott Alan Klockow, 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
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Publication number: 20180126581Abstract: A slicing machine having a cutting head and a knife assembly mounted thereto, and methods for clamping a knife of the knife assembly in the slicing machine. The knife assembly includes a knife holder having a support surface that supports the knife and a clamp overlying the knife holder so that the knife is between the support surface of the knife holder and the clamp. A clamping rod is rotated from a release position to a clamping position to secure the clamp to the knife holder and clamp the knife therebetween. The clamping rod is eccentrically mounted to the cutting head and uses eccentricity to apply a clamping load to the clamp when rotated from the release position to the clamping position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventor: Michael Scot Jacko
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Publication number: 20180071934Abstract: Methods and equipment for producing shaped food products having large amplitudes, for example, sliced, shredded, and/or strip-cut food products. The methods and equipment utilize a cutting apparatus having at least two sequential knives at different radial positions in reference to radial distances of the sequential knives in radial directions of the cutting apparatus. Each sequential knife has a corrugated shape comprising peaks and valleys, and the sequential knives are arranged to be in phase or out of phase alignment with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Daniel Wade King, Michael Scot Jacko, Thomas R. Mahaffey, II
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Publication number: 20180071936Abstract: Size-reduction machines equipped with cutting units suitable for performing size reduction operations on products, including but not limited to food products. The cutting unit includes a frame secured to the machine at an exit of a feed passage of the machine. The frame defines an opening aligned with the exit of the feed passage. The cutting unit further includes a pulley rotatably mounted to the mounting frame and driven by a spindle of the machine. A knife is coupled to the pulley so as to rotate therewith about its axis. The knife has a central axis that coincides with the axis of the pulley, an axial surface facing the feed passage, and at least one blade between the central axis and an outer perimeter of the knife.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventor: Michael Scot Jacko
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Patent number: 9902080Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food product to produce food product slices. The apparatus includes a rotatable cutting wheel having two or more knife assemblies. Each knife assembly includes a knife extending radially between a hub and rim of the cutting wheel. The knife has a leading edge facing a direction of rotation of the cutting wheel and a large-amplitude corrugated shape characterized by peaks and valleys. The knife is secured to the hub and rim with a knife holder, and a clamp secures the knife to a first surface of the knife holder. The knife holder and knife are configured to provide continuous and accurate alignment of an individual food product throughout the slicing thereof by the knife of each knife assembly to produce food product slices with a generally parallel-cut cross-section having a uniform thickness and a large-amplitude periodic shape with an amplitude of 0.1 inch or greater.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Enrique Michel, John Poole Hildebrand, Keith Alan Barber, Michael Scot Jacko, Daniel Wade King
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Patent number: 9862113Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for slicing products. Such an apparatus has an annular-shaped cutting head equipped with knife assemblies located at a circumference of the cutting head, and interior surfaces each located in a circumferential direction of the cutting head relative to one of the knife assemblies such that each interior surface leads one of the knife assemblies and trails a different one of the knife assemblies. Each knife assembly has a flat knife that extends radially inward to define a gate opening. Each interior surface has continuous flow paths defined therein that extend across at least a majority of the interior surface from adjacent a leading edge thereof through a trailing edge thereof and are fluidically connected to one of the gate openings between the interior surface and the knife that trails the interior surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Michael Scot Jacko
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Patent number: 9849600Abstract: Methods and equipment for producing shaped food products having large amplitudes, for example, sliced, shredded, and/or strip-cut food products. The methods and equipment utilize a cutting apparatus having at least two sequential knives at different radial positions in reference to radial distances of the sequential knives in radial directions of the cutting apparatus. Each sequential knife has a corrugated shape comprising peaks and valleys, and the sequential knives are arranged to be in phase or out of phase alignment with each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Wade King, Michael Scot Jacko, Thomas R. Mahaffey, II