METHOD FOR STERILIZING A PRODUCT THAT IS PACKAGED IN A PACKAGING MATERIAL

摘要

Disclosed are a method and a device for sterilizing a product that is packag ed in a packaging material. The package (1) comprising the product and the packaging material is subjected to thermal treatment at a defined temperatur e for a given period of time. The following steps are carried out in order to protect packages (1) which would generally not resist the conditions prevailing in an autoclave: - at least one package (1) is introduced into a protective covering (2 ); - the space between the protecting covering (2 ) a nd the package (1) is evacuated; - the protective covering (2) is sealed; and - the protective covering (2 ) and the package (1) are autoclaved in an autoclave. The corresponding inventive device comprises a repackaging unit, an evacuating unit, an autoclaving unit, and an optional unpacking unit, each o f which tops the filling machine.