Quick-change star wheels for Fimer Monoblock
The Fimer Monoblock (model SN-9-N2-FC8-S1) brings filling and capping together in one block. Its two star wheel stations work in a twin layout, so we designed one shared base that carries both star wheels together with the bottle guides between them. That way the bottle passes from one station to the next without losing its centring. Two bottle formats, two gripper colours.
What we built for the Fimer Monoblock
Green star wheels Φ75 mm
Grippers for a 75 mm diameter bottle. The diameter is engraved on the part, so the operator knows which set goes with which bottle without measuring anything.
Red star wheels E72
The second set, for the second format, with the code E72 engraved on every gripper. Colour and code together make a wrong changeover practically impossible.
Twin layout with guides
The shared base was designed by reverse engineering the Fimer geometry and goes on once. It carries the engraved logo and clamps with hand screws, so anything that needs undoing comes off by hand.
Spare set
A spare gripper set from industrial 3D printing was delivered too, and it waits at the plant before it is needed. If a gripper wears or breaks in the middle of a bottling run, the line does not stop until a new one arrives.
Photographs from the installation
What changed on the line
Two stations of the monoblock took Bottleneck star wheels, on a shared base with guides between them. A format change means swapping the gripper colour, with no machine adjustment and no technician.
Wear is limited to the grippers, the cheap replaceable part, and a spare set is already at the plant. For a new bottle the base stays as it is and only the new gripper set is made, in 3-5 working days.
Fimer Monoblock: common questions
I have a different version of the Fimer Monoblock. What do I need?
We measure the station on site, or we work from photographs and dimensions you send us. The base adapts to the geometry of your machine.
Can I keep spare sets?
Yes. Each set of grippers is manufactured in 3-5 working days and can be ordered as a spare before the first one wears out.
Do you run a Fimer Monoblock?
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.