Abstract: A beverage sterilization method and a beverage sterilization apparatus for carrying out the method are provided, wherein a container hermetically sealed and filled with a beverage which generates a gas from itself when heated to a temperature required for sterilization is arranged in a pressurized chamber (20), the pressure of the pressurized chamber is increased in such a manner that the pressure difference (M2?M1) between the container pressure (M2) and the pressure (M1) of the pressurized chamber remains in a predetermined range while at the same time increasing the container temperature (L1) by increasing the internal temperature (L1) of the pressurized chamber to a predetermined level, the container in the pressurized chamber is held at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined length of time thereby to sterilize the beverage, and the pressure of the pressurized chamber is decreased so that the difference between the container pressure and the pressure of the pressurized chamber remains within a pr

Abstract: An air conveyer receives an uppermost container group elevated by a lift device and transporting the container group horizontally. A pushing device is provided for pushing the uppermost container group onto the adjacent airflow conveyer by contacting the container group at one side thereof and moving horizontally toward the other side. A forward-fall preventive device is provided to be switchable between a closed state for lying forwardly in a pushing direction of the container group, as the pushing device moves horizontally, to be capable of preventing a forward fall of containers, and an open state for opening a forward position in the pushing direction of the container group when the container group rides the airflow conveyer to enable a discharge of the container group. A speed varying mechanism is provided for varying a relative speed between a transport speed of the airflow conveyer and a pushing speed of the pushing device.

Abstract: An air conveyer 12 is provided for receiving an uppermost container group elevated by a lift device and transporting the container group horizontally. A pushing device 23 is provided for pushing the uppermost container group onto the adjacent airflow conveyer 12 by contacting the container group at one side thereof and moving horizontally toward the other side. A forward-fall preventive device 24 is provided to be switchable between a closed state for lying forwardly in a pushing direction of the container group, as the pushing device 23 moves horizontally, to be capable of preventing a forward fall of containers, and an open state for opening a forward position in the pushing direction of the container group when the container group rides the airflow conveyer 12 to enable a discharge of the container group. A speed varying mechanism 62 is provided for varying a relative speed between a transport speed of the airflow conveyer 12 and a pushing speed of the pushing device 23.