Abstract: Containers (such as metal, glass, plastic, fiber, but not limited thereto) are sterilized in a section of the apparatus having a helical or spiral belt conveyor within an insulated casing through which air above atmospheric pressure at up to about 500.degree. F. is circulated by means of a heater and blower, in a recirculation path. The containers then travel along a straightline encased conveyor where sterile air above atmospheric pressure prevents ingress of non-sterile ambient air. During part of the path through the straight-line conveyor, the containers are driven by a helical screw which forces the containers into close proximity (in fact the out-turned flanges of the containers preferably overlap). Pre-sterilized, preferably cooled, product is delivered into the containers preferably through a curtain, slit-type filler. Other fillers, such as rotary fillers, may be used. The speed of the containers is timed to deliver the desired product volume into the containers.

Abstract: In a hot air aseptic canning system, containers are sterilized by hot air in an adaptation of a commercially available machine. In accordance with the improvement of the present invention, hot air is blown into the tops of the containers to displace ambient air trapped therein and thus lower the time required to sterilize the containers. As the containers travel along a helical conveyor, inside an insulated housing, they pass under off-center nozzles having openings in their bottoms to cause swirling of air within the containers. The nozzles are connected by ducts to a source of sterilizing air. As the containers leave the conveyor, with their axes vertical, they travel side-by-side down a waterfall with their axes horizontal, then onto a rapidly moving horizontal conveyor which carries the containers away as rapidly as they reach the bottom of the waterfall, and then are turned to vertical position and directed into a filler.