Abstract: A sterilization device for processing a pluraity of containers disposed on support devices therefor, includes a housing provided with a passage for receiving and discharging a succession of the support devices, a preheating arrangement for preheating the containers to a first predetermined temperature within the housing, a heating arrangement for heating the containers to a predetermined sterilization temperature within the housing upon the containers having been heated to the predetermined temperature, and a cooling mechanism for cooling the containers to a second predetermined temperature following sterilization of the containers by the heating arrangement.

Abstract: A sterilization apparatus includes a housing adapted for receiving a removable rack with open shelves supporting containers with the substance to be sterilized, a fan arranged at the top of the housing, and a cooling device for subsequent cooling of the sterilizing fluid introduced into the housing. To increase the uniformity of whirling of the fluid around the containers on different levels of the rack and thus to increase the heat transfer to, and the subsequent heat removal from the containers, a timing-and flow-controlling device is provided for cyclically changing the flow of the sterilizing fluid through the rack during the heating-up and cooling-down of the sterilization cycle, either by alternating the direction of the flow, or by distributing periodically partial streams through different shelves of the rack.