Preform sterilizing method and content filling method and system

An inner content filling method comprising the steps of, while continuously conveying preforms:

• sterilizing at least an inner surface of each preform:
• heating the sterilized preform to a temperature suitable for molding the preform:
• forming a container by blow-molding the preform in a blow-molding mold that is also continuously travelled:
• filing the molded container with an inner content:
• and then sealing the container with a lid, wherein the sterilization of the preform is performed by blasting superheated steam having a temperature of 200° C. to 500° C. and a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is blasted to at least an inner surface of an entire surface of a preform including a mouth portion thereof.

An inner content filling apparatus, comprising:

• a conveying path on which preforms and containers are continuously travelled till each preform is formed into a container, an inner content fills each container, and the container is sealed with a lid;
• sterilizing means that sterilizes the preform;
• a heater that heats the sterilized preform to a temperature suitable for a subsequent blow-molding treatment;
• a mold that blow-molds the heated preform into the container:
• a filler that fill the inner content into the blow-molded container:
• and a capper that seals the container filled up with the inner content, the sterilizing means, the heater, the mold, the filler and the capper being arranged along the conveying path, wherein the sterilizing means is provided with a superheated steam generator that generates the superheated steam having a temperature of 200° C. to 500° C. and a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure by heating water passing through a coil-shaped conductive pipe by induction heating, and a nozzle that blasts the thus generated superheated steam to at least an inner surface of an entire surface of the preform including a mouth portion thereof.