Heat-shrinkable packaging

A method for packaging containers (2) by a shrinkable packaging (1) intended for wrapping a series of containers (2), comprising:

• a lower portion (3) corresponding to a base,
• an upper portion (4), opposite said lower portion (3) and corresponding to a covering of said containers (2) which are arranged in parallel rows with respect to each other, said upper portion (4) comprising a central area (5) and a peripheral area (6),
• lateral portions (7) connecting the lower portion (3) to the upper portion (4),
• a reinforcement strip (8) arranged transversely to the parallel rows of containers (2), and at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) which, in the central area (5) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of the reinforcement strip (8), and which, in the peripheral area (6) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), each of the at least two perforation lines progressively diverges from the reinforcement strip (8);
• wherein the method comprises:
• feeding a shrinkable film (15) onto at least one conveyor belt (16) along a determined direction of movement,
• arranging said containers (2) on said at least one conveyor belt (16) provided with said shrinkable film (15), said containers (2) being arranged in rows in parallel to one another, said rows being arranged perpendicularly to said direction of movement of the film,
• shrink wrapping (17) said containers (2) with said shrinkable film (15) forming a shrinkable film packaging (15) around said containers (2),
• heat-shrinking (18) said shrinkable film (15) containing said containers (2), to hold said containers (2) tightly together,
• positioning a reinforcement strip (8) on said shrinkable film (15), in parallel to said film feeding direction of movement, and
• incising in said shrinkable film (15) at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) which, in the central area (5) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), are arranged in parallel to each other, on both sides of the reinforcement strip (8) and which, in the peripheral area (6) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), each progressively diverge from the reinforcement strip (8).