Quick-change grippers for GAI MLE 661 HP
The GAI MLE 661 HP is a triblock: the rinser and the filler run in line on an auger, while the capper works with a star wheel and a single position. On this machine the capper star wheel was the only station that needed Bottleneck grippers, because the other two adjust through the distance between the auger and the back guide of the conveyor. That kept the cost to a single station.
What we built for the MLE 661 HP
Bottleneck bases
The base star wheel was designed by reverse engineering the geometry of the GAI machine, so that it goes on once and never comes off. The back guide of the star wheel was designed and built the same way.
One base, many bottles
The quick-change grippers are built to keep the centres of the machine. They click in and out by hand, just like a phone charger in a USB port. For every new bottle only the gripper is made, with no new trial and no new measurements. The same goes for the back guide.
Colour coding
Every gripper and guide set has its own colour, so the changeover is easy, done by anyone and without tools. The line was also handed over with a coding manual based on the customer's bottles, so the machine cannot be set up with the wrong parts.
Photographs from the installation
What changed on the line
The machine can now run every bottle type from 187 ml up to 2 L.
The customer added 2 new bottles to the range within 3 weeks.
From now on, adding a new one takes a phone call and 2 days of waiting. No visit and no measurements.
Of the three stations on the line only one changed. The two auger stations stayed as they were, and the staff were trained to set them correctly for any bottle they decide to run in the future.
GAI MLE 661 HP: common questions
I run a GAI MLE 661 HP with a different bottle. What do I need?
If the machine already carries a Bottleneck base, you only need new grippers for your bottle, in 3-5 working days. If not, we measure the station and design base and grippers together.
Does it fit other GAI models?
The base is per model, the grippers are per bottle. Send us the model and a photo of the head and we will tell you what applies to yours.
Do you run a GAI MLE 661 HP?
Send us a photo of the station and the bottle you want to run. We will tell you what is needed and what is not, with no commitment.