Patent ID: 7500338

Claim:
A method of heat-shrinking overwrappings of heat-shrink plastic material of a succession of products ( 2 ); the method comprising the steps of: conveying, by means of conveying means, an orderly succession of products ( 2 ), each having an overwrapping of heat-shrink plastic material; subjecting each product ( 2 ) to a first heat-shrink operation along the conveying means and by means of a first heat-shrink device ( 45 ); and subjecting each product ( 2 ) to a second heat-shrink operation along the conveying means and by means of a second heat-shrink device ( 46 ) separate and at a distance from the first heat-shrink device ( 45 ); wherein the conveying means comprises a first conveyor ( 6 ) connected to the first heat-shrink device ( 45 ), and which feeds the products ( 2 ) in a first direction ( 8 ), and a downstream second conveyor ( 10 ) connected to the second heat-shrink device ( 46 ), and which feeds the products ( 2 ) in a second direction ( 11 ); and the method comprising the further steps of: feeding the products ( 2 ) along the first conveyor ( 6 ) in a first position with respect to the first direction ( 8 ); changing the position of the products ( 2 ) by means of a transfer device ( 17 ) interposed between the first conveyor ( 6 ) and the second conveyor ( 10 ), and which transfers the products ( 2 ) from the first conveyor ( 6 ) to the second conveyor ( 10 ); and feeding the products ( 2 ) along the second conveyor ( 10 ) in a second position, different from the first position, with respect to the second direction ( 11 ).