Patents Assigned to GrainPro, Inc.
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Patent number: 11034123Abstract: A lower cost, light weight, hermetic system and method for storage of dry commodities outdoors for up to 1000 tonnes of commodity includes a multilayer joined material with a thickness of 0.2-0.3 mm, a weight of approximately 200 g/m2, a permeability to oxygen of less than 3 cc/m2/day and a permeability to water of less than 4 g/m2/day, a tensile strength of approximately 38 MPa, and insect penetration-resistance of approximately 1200 g/m2 (Dart test value).Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: GRAINPRO INC.Inventors: Tom De Bruin, Philippe Villers
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Patent number: 10006703Abstract: A solar drying tunnel having a low-profile and which is transportable includes a bottom portion, a cover, and externally controlled manually operated access mechanism for turning grain over. The tunnel may also include one or multiple ventilators at one end to keep the cover up and to provide air flow.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: GRAINPRO, INC.Inventors: Tom De Bruin, Lewis Donovan Strickland
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Patent number: 9032697Abstract: A method for storage and transport of a commodity is described. The method may include the steps of placing the commodity in a long-term storage container, hermetically sealing said long-term storage container, and placing the long-term storage container in an outer container. The long-term storage container may include an outer layer, an inner layer, and a middle layer. The middle layer may be made of an ultra-low permeability material. The placing may include providing a capability of storing for at least four months.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: GRAINPRO, INC.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom De Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Patent number: 9015956Abstract: A solar drying tunnel having a low-profile and which is transportable includes a bottom portion, a frame, a cover, and externally controlled rolling mechanism for turning grain over. The tunnel may also include a fan at one end and a chimney at another end to provide enhanced air flow.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Grainpro, Inc.Inventors: Tom de Bruin, Lewis Donovan Strickland
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Patent number: 8528305Abstract: A method for storage and transport of a commodity is described. The method may include the steps of placing the commodity in a long-term storage container, hermetically sealing said long-term storage container, and placing the long-term storage container in an outer container. The long-term storage container may include an outer layer, an inner layer, and a middle layer. The middle layer may be made of an ultra-low permeability material. The placing may include providing a capability of storing for at least four months.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: GrainPro, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom De Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Patent number: 8141328Abstract: A system and method for free-standing hermetic storage of bulk, boxed or bagged commodities including the use of a thin, lightweight ultra low permeability loadable sleeve, and optionally a UV-, wind- and rodent-resistant cover on top of the sleeve. For bagged or boxed commodities, loading may be done manually or with a forklift while the sleeve and/or cover is held open. For bulk commodities, the cover is used to prevent tearing of the sleeve during loading and as such, is placed over the sleeve prior to loading of the sleeve via a pneumatic grain conveyor or similar device.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: GrainPro, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom De Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Publication number: 20110209445Abstract: A method for storage and transport of a commodity is described. The method may include the steps of placing the commodity in a long-term storage container, hermetically sealing said long-term storage container, and placing the long-term storage container in an outer container. The long-term storage container may include an outer layer, an inner layer, and a middle layer. The middle layer may be made of an ultra-low permeability material. The placing may include providing a capability of storing for at least four months.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: GrainPro, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom de Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Patent number: 7938283Abstract: Systems and methods for protected transportation of agricultural commodities are provided. The protected transportation is accomplished through the use of a thin, lightweight hermetic liner inside a shipping container. The liner is sealed at a first end and open at a second end, and the liner is positioned within the shipping container with the sealed first end at a back end of the shipping container and the second open end at a front, open end of the shipping container. A top portion of the liner is held to the ceiling of the shipping container via an attachment mechanism or via inflation of the liner and/or ribs in the liner. The bagged or bulk commodity is introduced through the open end and into the liner. The liner is then hermetically sealed, and the container is closed. After shipping, the agricultural commodity may be removed by unsealing the liner.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2008Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Grainpro, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom de Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Publication number: 20100270297Abstract: Systems and methods for protected transportation of agricultural commodities to preserve quality and prevent moisture damage of the commodities due to increase in moisture content or to condensation during shipping in containers are provided. The protected transportation is accomplished through the use of a thin, lightweight hermetic liner inside a shipping container. The liner is sealed at a first end and open at a second end, and the liner is positioned within the shipping container with the sealed first end at a back end of the shipping container and the second open end at a front, open end of the shipping container. A top portion of the liner is held to the ceiling of the shipping container via an attachment mechanism or via inflation of the liner and/or ribs in the liner. The bagged or bulk commodity is introduced through the open end and into the liner. The liner is then hermetically sealed, and the container is closed. After shipping, the agricultural commodity may be removed by unsealing the liner.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2008Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: GrainPro, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom de Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Patent number: 7788968Abstract: A system to first verify an adequate degree of hermeticity of a hermetic container in providing safe storage of a commodity by retaining sufficient hermeticity in a closed container and if satisfactory, loading a commodity in the container to self-verify the continued safe storage of the commodity by retaining sufficient hermeticity to protect the commodity from the effects of at least one of oxygen, humidity, insects and microflora in a hermetic container on the commodity therein. The hermetic container has at least one self-verifying component for measuring a parameter internal to the container, during and after manufacture, before and after placement of a commodity therein, and for providing the measurement externally to the container.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: GrainPro, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom De Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Publication number: 20100192998Abstract: A system and method for free-standing hermetic storage of bulk, boxed or bagged commodities including the use of a thin, lightweight ultra low permeability loadable sleeve, and optionally a UV-, wind- and rodent-resistant cover on top of the sleeve. For bagged or boxed commodities, loading may be done manually or with a forklift while the sleeve and/or cover is held open. For bulk commodities, the cover is used to prevent tearing of the sleeve during loading and as such, is placed over the sleeve prior to loading of the sleeve via a pneumatic grain conveyor or similar device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: GRAINPRO, INC.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom De Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Publication number: 20080299272Abstract: A method to protect a high-moisture commodity during storage for later production of a product includes inserting the high-moisture commodity into a hermetic storage container having sufficiently low permeability, and storing the commodity in bag or in bulk for up to 9 months or more prior to producing the product. The method eliminates the need for drying prior to storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: GrainPro, Inc.Inventors: Shlomo Navarro, Philippe Villers, Tom de Bruin
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Publication number: 20060198861Abstract: A system and method for long-term storage of a commodity in a weight range of 10-2000 kilograms includes hermetic sealing of an ultra-low permeability, easily transportable, flexible long-term storage container. The long-term storage container may also be treated using non-toxic insect repellents of botanical origin or using a synthetic pyrethroid. The long-term storage container includes a triple layer co-extruded film having an outer layer, an inner layer, and a middle layer. The middle layer is comprised of ultra-low permeability material or materials. After hermetic sealing, the long-term storage container having the commodity therein is placed into an outer container for protection during transport.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Applicant: GrainPro, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Villers, Tom de Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Patent number: 6941727Abstract: A method and a system of transporting a commodity includes the step of placing the commodity in a flexible hermetic container. The commodity is stored in the flexible hermetic container for at least a specific time period. The commodity is then moved from the flexible hermetic container to a shipping container having an insect barrier liner. The commodity is transported in the shipping container. The specific time period is a sufficient time period to kill substantially all of the insects that have infested the commodity prior to placement in the flexible hermetic container. In one embodiment, a vacuum is drawn on the flexible hermetic container to reduce the specific time period and an optional small amount of pesticide can be injected into the flexible hermetic container to which a vacuum has been applied to further reduce the specific time period. An inert gas is used to reduce the specific time period.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2001Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignees: GrainPro, Inc., The State of Israel-Ministry of Agriculture & Rural DevelopmentInventors: Philippe Villers, Tom De Bruin, Shlomo Navarro
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Patent number: 6609354Abstract: A method for long term storage of a bulk commodity utilizes a flexible, low gas-permeability sheet material enclosure in which the bulk commodity is hermetically sealed. The atmosphere in the sealed flexible sheet material enclosure is substantially evacuated to establish a vacuum therein. The vacuum is maintained during at least a portion of the long term storage of the bulk commodity. At least a portion of the bulk commodity is removed from the flexible, low gas-permeability sheet material enclosure by opening a hermetic seal therein.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2000Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: GrainPro, Inc.Inventor: Philippe Villers
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Publication number: 20020124532Abstract: A method and system for storing of a bulk commodity utilizes a flexible, low air-permeable sheet material enclosure in which the bulk commodity is hermetically sealed. The atmosphere in the sealed flexible sheet material enclosure is evacuated to establish a vacuum therein. The vacuum is maintained during at least a portion of the storage of the commodity to ensure a significant reduction of the commodity. The temperature of the commodity is maintained sufficiently high to ensure substantial total kill of infesting insects within a desired time period. At least a portion of the commodity can be removed from the enclosure by opening a hermetic seal therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: GrainPro, Inc.Inventor: Philippe Villers