ES2625441T3 - Vent closure for a container and process for filling and sealing a container - Google Patents

Abstract

A ventilation closure (1A; 1B; 1C; 1D) for sealing a container, said ventilation closure comprises a shell (10) defining a housing (102), and a porous ventilation means (104) disposed within said housing (102), characterized in that it comprises a seal (103) other than the porous ventilation means (104) and positioned within said housing (102), and said ventilation closure can be mounted in a container (C) in at least two positions: a closed position, in which air (A) coming from outside the container into the container may pass through said porous ventilation means (104), and the air coming from inside the container is it can escape out of the container necessarily passing through said porous ventilation means (104), and a sealed position, in which the seal (103) is hermetically sealing the container.

Description

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

DESCRIPTION

Ventilation closure for a container and process for filling and sealing a container Technical field

The present invention relates to the sealing of containers in applications where ford can develop within the packages and, more particularly, can mechanically deform the packages or in which an overpressure can be formed within the packages and, more particularly, It can mechanically deform the containers. The invention is more especially useful for hermetically sealing containers in hot-fill applications, or for hermetically sealing containers that have been sterilized, primarily for performing a pasteurization process or a retort process. In this technical field, the invention relates to a new ventilation closure that is suitable for sealing a package and avoiding pressures (vacuum pressures or overpressures) inside the package and, in particular, pressures that could mechanically deform the package, and process to fill and seal a container.

Prior art

In a hot filling process, a container is filled with a product, such as a liquid, while the product is at an elevated temperature. For example, for liquids, such as juices, the temperature is typically between 68 ° C and 96 ° C and is usually around 85 ° C. When packaged in this way, the high temperature of the product also sterilizes the container at the time of filling. The container is not completely full, but the filling is generally carried out in such a way that a head space with air is maintained inside the container.

After hot filling, the container is capped and allowed to generally stand at the filling temperature for a few minutes and then actively cooled before transferring it to labeling, packaging and shipping operations.

When the product in the container is liquid or semi-liquid, this refrigeration reduces the volume of the product inside the container. This phenomenon of product retraction results in the creation of a vacuum inside the package. This void is even more important when there is a head space.

Plastic containers and, in particular, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) containers are now widely used to store various products and, in particular, food products, liquids, etc. In particular, manufacturers and packers, as well as consumers have recognized that PET containers are lightweight, economical, can be manufactured in large quantities and can be recycled.

When a deformable container, such as a plastic container and, more particularly, a PET container or the like, for example, a cardboard container, is filled hot, if the vacuum pressures generated inside the container are not controlled or adjusted. otherwise, these vacuum pressures can result in severe unwanted deformations of the package, which lead either to an aesthetically unacceptable container or to an unstable container. In addition, said vacuum pressures detrimentally increase the opening torque that is necessary to remove the closing lid and open the package.

It has been proposed in the prior art to adjust vacuum pressures in hot filled plastic containers incorporating deformable structures in the wall and / or in the base of the container.

Hot-filled plastic containers incorporating such deformable structures are described, for example, in the following publications: U. S. Patents 5,005,716; 5,503,283; 6,595,380; 6,896,147; 6,942,116; and 7,017,763, and in PCT application WO 2001/014759. In these publications, a deformable structure to at least partially compensate for the reduction in volume that occurs after covering it and during cooling of a hot filled product, is located at the base of the container. More particularly, in PCT application WO 2011/014759, the mobile base of the package includes a central thrust portion and is designed to move to adjust internal vacuum pressures.

Hot-filled plastic containers are also described, for example, in the following publications: European patent application EP 1 947 016 and U.S. patents. 5,222,615; 5,762,221; 6,044,996; 6,662,961; 6,830,158. In these publications, a deformable portion, to compensate at least partially for the reduction of the volume that occurs after the closure and during the cooling of a hot filled product, is located in the projecting part of the container.

Hot filled plastic containers are also described, for example, in the following publications: U.S. Pat. 5,092,475; 5,141,121; 5,178,289; 5,303,834; 5,704,504; 6,585,125; 6,698,606; 5,392,937; 5,407,086; 5,598,941; 5,971,184; 6,554,146; 6,796,450. In these publications, the deformable portion, to compensate the

2

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

less partially the reduction of the volume that occurs after the closure and during the cooling of a hot filled product, is located on the side wall of the main body of the container, and is commonly referred to as ford panels. In this case, the volume compensation can be advantageously increased.

The hot-filled process is acceptable for products that have a high acid content, but is generally not acceptable for products with a non-high acid content. For non-high acid products, pasteurization and retort are generally the preferred sterilization processes.

Pasteurization and retorting are both processes for baking or sterilizing the contents of a container after filling. Both processes include heating the contents of the container to a specified temperature, usually above about 70 ° C for a specified period of time (for example 20-60 minutes). The retort differs from pasteurization in that the retort uses higher temperatures to sterilize the container and cook its contents. The retort generally also applies elevated air pressure externally to the container to counteract the pressure inside the container.

In pasteurization and retort processes, if the container is tightly closed during the heating phase, an overpressure can form inside the container and can deform the container. Vacuum pressures can also develop within the plastic container during the cooling phase of the container, which can also result in unwanted deformations of the container.

A first solution to avoid the development of pressures (vacuum pressures or overpressures) inside a deformable container in hot filling applications or in pasteurization and retort processes is to perform the sealing of the container in two stages. In a first stage, once the container is filled with a hot product, a closing lid is positioned, for example, on the container, but the container is not sealed tightly, and air can freely enter from outside to inside, avoiding in this way the development of inner vacuum during the cooling phase of the product or the air can escape freely outside the container, thus avoiding the development of inner vacuum during the heating phase of the product. Once the product inside the package is sufficiently fno, the container is hermetically sealed by the closure cap.

In a second solution described in US Patent 7,748,525, it has been proposed to use a closure cap that is designed such that the volume of the head space is reduced. In this solution, outside air can still freely enter the container during the cooling phase.

An important problem with these first and second solutions is that the air entering the container during the cooling phase can carry pollutants, such as dust, bacteria and can contaminate the product stored in this container.

To solve this problem, it has been proposed, mainly in PCT application WO 2009/117328, a closure cap having a gas permeable hole with an integral sealing means that is externally activatable by a non-mechanical means to effect the hermetic sealing of the container after filling and cooling. More particularly, the gas-permeable orifice is a porous or fusible matrix or membrane and comprises a porous fusible material that can hermetically seal the non-fusible porous matrix when melted, for example using an electromagnetic induction source. The sealing of the container is carried out in two stages. In a first stage, once the container is filled with a hot product, the container is closed by said closure lid. During the cooling phase, the vacuum inside the package is replaced by outside air that enters the package through the matrix or non-fusible pore membrane that acts as a filter. Once the product inside the package is sufficiently fno, the porous fusible material is activated, for example by means of a source of electromagnetic induction, and melted in such a way that it seals the non-fusible porous matrix or membrane tightly, sealing it Hermetically sealed the container.

This technical solution of a closure cap having a heat-sealable gas-permeable vent hole involves the manufacture of a complex and expensive closure cap and involves the use of specific equipment to melt the porous fusible material. In addition, the presence of the porous fusible material in the closure lid may be detrimental to the recycling of the closure lid, especially if the porous fusible material comprises suitable energy absorbing material in the form of metal particles that can be heated by induction to melt. the porous fusible material.

Objective of the invention

An objective of the invention is to propose a new technical solution for sealing a container in applications where pressures (forward pressures or overpressures) can develop within the container and, in particular, can mechanically deform the container, whose solution prevents development of such internal pressures and, in addition, reduces the risk of contamination inside the container, and whose solution also avoids the use of special equipment for

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

heat seal a vent, as described in PCT application WO 2009/117328.

Another object of the invention is to propose a ventilation closure that can be easily recycled.

Summary of the invention

To achieve these objectives, a first object of the invention is a ventilation closure as defined in claim 1.

Another object of the invention is the container and the ventilation closure of claim 17.

Another object of the invention is the process for filling and sealing a container as defined in claim 25.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly after reading the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, whose detailed description is made by way of non-exhaustive and non-limiting examples, and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the longitudinal cross-section of a ventilation closure according to a first embodiment, cloned on the finish of the neck of a container, in a first closing position, in which the development of internal ford inside the container.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the vent in plane II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the longitudinal cross-section of the neck finish and the vent closure of Figure 1, in a sealing position, in which the package is hermetically sealed.

Figures 4, 6 and 8 are views of the longitudinal cross section of a ventilation closure, respectively, according to a second, third and fourth embodiment, placed on the finish of the neck of a container, in a first position of closure, in which the development of internal ford inside the container is prevented.

Figures 5, 7 and 9 are views of the longitudinal cross-section of the neck finish and the vent closure, respectively of Figures 4, 6 and 8 in a sealing position, in which the container is hermetically sealed.

Detailed description

Next, some preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail. Although specific exemplary embodiments are described, it should be understood that this is done only for purposes of illustration. A person skilled in the art will recognize that other packaging designs or package dimensions can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, a closure 1A of the invention is placed on a standard neck finish 2 of a deformable container C comprising an upper opening 20 (mouth of the container), such as a bottleneck finish. This upper opening 20 of the neck finish 2 is used as it is known to fill the container with a product and / or to pour the product out of the container. In this particular embodiment, the closure 1 is a screwed cap on the finish of the container neck 2. In another variant, the closure 1 could be elastically fitted on the finish of the container neck 2.

The material and shape of container C are not important. In particular, the package can be made of any material that makes the package deformable at room temperature under an internal pressure (ford pressure or overpressure) generated within the container C. In particular, the package C can be, for example, any container of plastic or any cardboard container. More particularly, the container is not glass.

The package can be, for example, a bottle-shaped container, a jar, a jug, a tube, a bag, a sack.

Within the scope of the invention, the deformable container C can be nested, semi-nigged or flexible. The container C can be of monolayer construction or of a multilayer construction.

When the container C is made of plastic, suitable thermoplastic materials can be used, such as a layer or part of one or more layers or in monolayer or multilayer packages, which include polyester and, in particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyolefins ( including, but not limited to polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE)), polyethersters, polyetheramide, polyurethanes, polyimides, polyureas, polyamidaimides, phenoxy resins, epoxy resins, polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl (including, but not limited to polyvinyl (PVC), polylactic acid (PLA),

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

polyethylene furanoate (PEF), homo or copolymers thereof, or combinations thereof.

Container C can be manufactured using any method known in the art, including but not limited to injection molding, injection blow molding (IBM), injection blow molding (ISBM), extrusion blow molding, thermo formation, rotational molding, folding.

The package may be a biaxial stretched plastic container that is heat resistant, for example thermostable ISBM container or a double blown ISBM container.

The closure 1A comprises a non-porous shell 10, in the form of a lid, which is an individual piece, made of any material that makes the shell 10 substantially impermeable.

In certain embodiments, the material of the closure shell 10 can be, for example, any known thermoplastic material that can be molded into a mold, and more particularly any known thermoplastic material that can be processed by injection or compression molding. Preferably, the closure shell 10 can be made of a polyolefin such as, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, homo or copolymer, or combinations thereof. A good candidate for the closure shell 10 is HDPE (high density polyethylene).

This shell 10 comprises an upper wall 100 surrounded by a flange 101. The upper wall 100 comprises an outer face 100b and an inner face 100a which is intended in use to be oriented inwards (IN) of the container C. The flange 101 extends transversely to the upper wall 100, and defines a housing 102 with the inner face 100a of the upper wall 100.

For example, but not necessarily, the upper wall 100 may form a disk and the flange 101 may be cylindrical.

In this particular example, the inner tasting 101a of this flange 101 comprises a screw thread 101b that can cooperate with a screw thread 21 of the neck finish 2 to secure the closure 1A on the neck finish 2.

The closure shell 10 also comprises a seal 103 positioned within the housing 102, and adapted to seal the upper opening 20 of the neck of the container 2 when the closure 1A is screwed into the container in the sealed position of Figure 3.

More particularly, in this example, the seal 103 is a deformable and annular sealing lip 103A formed on the inner face 101a of the upper wall 100.

This deformable sealing lip extends over the entire periphery of the upper wall 100.

According to the invention, the closure 1A also comprises a porous ventilation means 104 that is gas permeable. Said porous ventilation means 104 is different from seal 103.

Suitable materials for the porous ventilation medium 104 include any material that is gas permeable, but that provides an effective barrier to isolate against migration of solids and liquids through it, including, for example, bacteria, viruses, particles and other penetration. of such material.

Examples of porous ventilation medium 104 include, but are not limited to polymeric films or membranes, porous pads, papers, nonwovens and combinations thereof.

In certain embodiments, the porous ventilation means 104 may be made of a polymer such as a fluorinated polyolefin or polyolefin. A suitable polyolefin list includes, but is not limited to polyethylenes, polypropylenes, ethylene / propylene copolymers, polybutylenes, polymethylpentenes, their copolymers and combinations thereof. A particularly suitable fluorinated polyolefin is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), in particular microporous PTFE or expanded porous PTFE (ePTFE).

In certain other embodiments, the porous ventilation medium 104 may be manufactured from ethylene copolymers that include, but are not limited to ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene / vinyl alcohol copolymers and polyvinyl acetates as well as alloys, mixtures and combinations

The porosity of the porous ventilation medium 104 will depend on the size of the contaminants (dusts, particles, bacteria, etc.) that must be blocked by the porous ventilation medium 104 or trapped within the porous ventilation medium 104.

The smaller the pore size, the more reliable the barrier action. In certain embodiments, the

5

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

porous ventilation medium 104 may, for example, have a pore diameter range of 0.01pm to 350pm, with

0. 05 pm to 2.0 pm preferred and 0.10 pm to 0.20 pm more preferred.

In certain embodiments, the porous ventilation means 104 may be hydrophobic or hydrophilic. More particularly, with reference to Figure 1, this porous ventilation means 104 is positioned within the housing 102 defined by the shell 10 and thus protected by the shell 10 against deterioration.

In the particular example of Figures 1 to 3, the porous ventilation means 104 is surrounded by the seal 103, and the seal 103 is positioned on the outer side of the porous ventilation means 104 both in the closed position of Figure 1 as in the sealed position of figure 3.

More particularly, the porous ventilation means 104 is an additional porous ventilation means, more particularly of small thickness. An additional porous ventilation means 104 of greater thickness may also be used.

More particularly, in this example, the additional porous ventilation means 104 is fixed to the shell 10 by means of a support member 105.

In the variant of Figure 1, said support member 105 is part of the shell 10 and is formed more particularly from the inner face 10a of the upper wall 100.

More particularly, said support member 105 forms a sealing lip 105a around the entire periphery of the porous ventilation means 104.

More particularly, said support member 105 comprises air channels 105b (Figures 1 and 2) to allow air to pass through support member 105 and positioned on the outer side of the ventilation means 104, that is, in this variant between the upper wall 100 and the porous ventilation means 104. These air channels 105b are preferably distributed over the entire periphery of the porous ventilation means 104 (Figure 2).

When the closure 1A is screwed onto the container C in the closed position of Figure 1, the porous ventilation means 104 is positioned outside the container and closes the upper opening 20. Said upper opening 20 of the container is not hermetically sealed, but rather the air A coming from outside the container C can penetrate the container C by passing through these air channels 105b and then necessarily at least through said porous ventilation means 104.

In this particular variant, when the closure 1A is screwed onto the container C in the closed position of the figure

1, the sealing lip 105a, which is not permeable to gas, is in sealing contact with the inner face of the finish of the neck of the container 2 and the air coming from outside the container C is forced to pass in this way through of these two channels 105B and then necessarily at least through said porous ventilation means 104 before entering the container C.

In the closed position of Figure 1, the porous medium 104 acts as a filter for the air that comes from outside the container C and enters the container C.

In this closed position of Figure 1, the air can also escape out of the container C by passing through the porous ventilation means 104.

The closure 1A can be used to seal a deformable container in any application, in which vacuum can develop within the container and more particularly can deform the container. The closure 1A is more especially useful for sealing containers in hot fill applications, or for sealing containers that have been sterilized, mainly to perform a pasteurization process or retort process.

In a hot fill process, the container C is first filled hot with a product. In a pasteurization process or a retort process, container C is first filled with a product and the product inside the package is subsequently heated.

Then, in a hot filling process or in a pasteurization process or in a retort process, the closure 1A is placed on the container C in the closed position of Figure 1 and the container C and the product are cooled. During this cooling phase, the air A coming from outside the container C necessarily passes through the porous ventilation means 104 (Figure 1) and is filtered by the porous ventilation means 104 before entering the container in contact with the Product stored in the container. This inlet and filtering air advantageously prevents the development of vacuum pressures within the container C, while avoiding contamination of the interior of the container and the product.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

Additionally, in a pasteurization process or a retort process, during the heating phase of the product, the air can advantageously escape out of the container by passing through the porous ventilation means 104, thus avoiding the development of an overpressure within of the container

Once the container C and the product are sufficiently strong, the closure 1 is additionally twisted with sufficient torque to bring it to the final sealing position of Figure 3, where the seal 103 is in contact with the inner face of the finish of the neck of the container 2, mechanically deforms and seals the upper opening 20 of the container C.

In addition, since the development of vacuum pressures within the package has been avoided, the opening torque that is necessary to remove the closure 1 outside the package is advantageously less important, which makes the invention useful for sealing non-packaging containers. deformable by internal vacuum pressures.

Figures 4 and 5 show another variant of the closure 1B, in which the porous ventilation means 104 is in the form of a ring 104B and is positioned within the housing 102 of the closure shell 10 between the inner face 101a of a flange 101 and a retaining member 106. The seal 103 of the closure 1B is a deformable and annular sealing lip 103B formed on the inner face 100a of the upper wall 100. This annular sealing lip 103B is surrounded by the porous ventilation means 104 .

In use, when the closure 1B is in the closed position of Figure 4, the porous ventilation means 104 is in a low position in contact with the finish of the container neck 2. The upper opening 20 of the package is not hermetically sealed, but the air A coming from outside the container C can penetrate the container C necessarily passing through at least through the porous ventilation means 104. This inlet air A is filtered in this way by the porous ventilation means and prevents the development of vacuum pressures inside the container C. When the closure is moved to the sealed position of Figure 5, in this particular case, by sufficiently twisting the closure on the finish of the container neck 2, the porous ventilation means is pushed 104 and moves up to an upper position, in which there is no longer contact with the finish of the container neck 2, and the seal 103 hermetically seals the upper opening 20 of the container.

Figures 6 and 7 show another variant of the closure 1C, in which the closure comprises fixing means 101c and is adapted to elastically fit over the finish of the container neck 2 in two positions (closed position of Figure 6 before cooling and sealed position of figure 7 after cooling). In this variant, the porous ventilation means 104 is a disk 104C that is separated from the closing shell 10. The porous ventilation means 104 could also form a ring 104C.

Figures 8 and 9 show another variant of the closure 1D, in which the closure is adapted to elastically fit over a container neck finish 2 in two positions (closed position of Figure 8 before cooling and sealed position of Figure 9 after cooling). In this variant, the porous ventilation means 104 is a compressible pad or ring 104D or the like, which is fixed to the inner face 100a of the upper wall 100 of the closing shell 10. The seal 103 is a deformable sealing lip 103D which is a part of the container, and which is formed on the container, in particular on the upper wall of the neck finish 2. When the closure 1D moves to the sealing position of Figure 9, the porous ventilation means 104 is compressed.

As described above for closure 1A, closures 1B, 1C, and 1D can be used to seal a deformable container in any application where vacuum can develop within the container and can deform the container and more specifically for sealed containers hermetically in hot fill applications, or for hermetically sealed containers that have been sterilized, mainly to perform a pasteurization process or a retort process.

Claims (28)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 1. - A ventilation closure (1A; 1B; 1C; 1D) to seal a container, said ventilation closure comprises a shell (10) defining a housing (102), and a porous ventilation means (104) disposed within of said housing (102), characterized in that it comprises a seal (103) other than the porous ventilation means (104) and positioned within said housing (102), and said ventilation closure can be mounted in a container (C) in at least two positions: a closed position, in which air (A) that comes from outside the container into the container can pass through necessarily through said porous ventilation means (104), and the air coming from inside from the container, it can escape out of the container necessarily passing through said porous ventilation means (104), and a sealed position, in which the seal (103) is sealing the container tightly. 2. - The ventilation closure (1A; 1B; 1C; 1D) of claim 1, wherein the porous ventilation means (104) is surrounded by the seal (103). 3. - The ventilation closure (1B) of claim 1, wherein the seal (103) is surrounded by the porous ventilation means (104). 4. - The ventilation closure (1B) of claim 3, wherein the porous ventilation means (104) forms a ring. 5. - The ventilation closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the porous ventilation means (104) is fixed to the closing shell (10). 6. - The ventilation closure of claim 5, wherein the porous ventilation means (104) is fixed to the closing shell (10) by means of a support member (105) and wherein said member of support (105) comprises one or more air channels (105b) to allow air to pass through the support member (105) and positioned on the outer side of the porous ventilation means (104), and a sealing lip ( 105a) around the entire periphery of the porous ventilation medium (104). 7. - The vent closure of claim 6, wherein the member (105) is an integral part of the closure shell (10). 8. - The ventilation closure of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the porous ventilation means (104) is not fixed to the closing shell (10). 9. - The vent closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (3) is a deformable sealing lip (103A; 103B) which is an integral part of the closure shell (10). 10. - The ventilation closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (10) comprises an upper pair (100) surrounded by a flange (101). 11. - The ventilation closure of claims 9 and 10, wherein the sealing lip (103A; 103B) is formed on the inner face (100a) of the upper wall (100). 12. - The ventilation closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (10) is a plastic layer, and preferably a molded plastic lid. 13. - The ventilation closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (10) it comprises a thread (101b) to be screwed onto the neck finish (2) of a container in said closed position and in said sealing position, or fixing means (101c) to be elastically fitted over the neck finish (2) of a container in said closed position and in said sealing position. 14. - The ventilation closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation means Porous (104) has a pore diameter in the range of 0.01 pm to 350 pm. 15. - The ventilation closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation means Porous (104) has a pore diameter in the range of 0.05 pm to 2.0 pm, and more preferred in the range of 0.10 pm to 0.20 pm. 16. - The ventilation closure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the porous ventilation means (104) comprises a microporous polymer. 17. - A container (C) and a ventilation closure of any one of the preceding claims. 18.- The container and the ventilation closure of claim 17, wherein the package can be deformed by pressures 8 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five internal inside the container (C). 19. - The container and the ventilation closure of claim 17 or 18, wherein the package is made of plastic. 20. - The container and the ventilation closure of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the container is not glass. 21. - The package and the ventilation closure (1D) of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the seal (103) is an integral part of the package. 22. - The container and the ventilation closure of any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the porous ventilation means (104) is not compressed by the shell in the closed position or in the sealing position. 23. - The container and the ventilation closure of any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the porous ventilation means (104) is compressed by the shell in the sealing position. 24. - The container and the ventilation closure (1A; 1B; 1C; 1D) of any one of claims 17 to 23, wherein at least in the closed position of the ventilation closure, and preferably also in the position sealing, the porous ventilation means (104) is positioned outside the container. 25. - A process for filling and sealing a container, comprising the following sequential stages: (i) hot fill the container (C) with a hot product or fill the container (C) with a product and heat the product, (ii) close the container with a closure comprising a seal (103) and a porous ventilation means (104), such that the air (A) coming from outside the container can enter the container necessarily passing to the less through said porous ventilation means (104), or the air coming from inside the container can escape out of the container necessarily passing through said porous ventilation means (104), (iii) cool the container and the product, (iv) once the container and the product are sufficiently secure, move the closure to a position, in which the seal (103) of the ventilation closure is sealing the container. 26. - The process of claim 25, wherein the package and the ventilation closure are defined in any one of claims 17 to 24. 27. - The process of any one of claims 25 to 26, wherein the container (C) is hot filled during step (i) with a hot product at a temperature above 60 ° C, and preferably above 80 ° C. 28. - The process of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the product is heated during step (i) to sterilize or pasteurize the product.