Patent ID: 7603829

Claim:
A method for sterilizing containers ( 2 ) made of a plastic material and for filling the containers with liquid substances comprising the steps of: feeding said containers ( 2 ) in a succession along a feeding path (P), so as to bring the containers ( 2 ) into a covering structure (S) defining a closed aseptic environment containing a one-block apparatus for sterilizing and filling the containers; sterilizing said containers ( 2 ) in a first portion ( 6 ) of said one-block apparatus ( 1 ), situated along a first section (T) of said path (P), said sterilizing step including: providing a plurality of work stations ( 9 ), each of said work stations ( 9 ) including plier means ( 10 ) for holding and overturning the containers ( 2 ) and for bringing each container from a position with an opening turned upwards to a position in which the opening is turned downwards, and vice-versa, nozzle means ( 11 ) connected to said plier means ( 10 ); using said plier means to hold and overturn each container for positioning the container so that the opening is turned downwards, the nozzle means entering said opening of said container ( 2 ); discharging a fluid through the nozzle means inside of the container, to sterilize an inside of said container while the container is held and transported by said plier means, thereby diffusing a sterilized substance inside each container ( 2 ) fed along a first part (T 1 ) of said first section (T); diffusing pressurized steam inside each container ( 2 ), while moving the container along a second part (T 2 ) of said first section (T) located after said first part (T 1 ); and drying the inside of the container ( 2 ) by feeding filtered sterile air through an opening of the container while moving the container forward along a third part (T 3 ) of said section (T); weighed filling of said sterilized containers ( 2 ) with said liquid substance; and, subsequently closing each filled and weighed container with a pre-sterilized plug/cap, in a second portion ( 12 ) of said one-block apparatus ( 1 ), situated along a second section (TR) of said path (P), located after the first section (T).