Abstract: Apparatus is described comprising a treatment chamber, a pump, a condenser and a secondary chamber. The treatment chamber comprises an interior into which an article to be treated can be disposed. The condenser, the pump and the secondary chamber are is in fluid communication with the treatment chamber in a closed loop to form a vapor extraction part of the apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a controller to control the operation of the apparatus automatically.

Abstract: An internally threaded plastic closure in accordance with the present invention includes an array of axially extending, circumferentially spaced internal ribs which intersect the internal thread formation of the closure. By this arrangement, vent passages are defined between adjacent ones of the internal ribs, thus providing the closure with desirable gas venting characteristics, while avoiding the provision of vent grooves extending into the inside surface of the closure side wall, which can undesirably impair the strength of the side wall. By the present construction, the amount of polymeric material from which the closure is formed can be desirably reduced, while maintaining the desired dimensional characteristics of the closure, to facilitate use with existing containers and high-speed capping equipment.