Mechanical grapple for high-pressure processing containers and method for handling high-pressure processing containers using said mechanical grapple

A mechanical grapple for high pressure processing containers intended to be coupled to a manipulator (27) and to handle and open HPP (High Pressure Processing) containers that are equipped with a body (28) and a lid (29) that closes or opens said body (28), comprising:

• a support structure (1) equipped with:
• a holding plate (2) comprising a first end (3) and a second end (4);
• intended to be coupled to the body (28) of the HPP container, and
• an adapter (5) that starts from the holding plate (2) and is intended to be coupled to the manipulator (27),
• a control unit (6), and
• a gripping mechanism (7) linked to the control unit (6), associated with the support structure (1) and which is intended to immobilise the body (28) of the container when receiving commands from the control unit (6);
• characterised in that it additionally comprises:
• an opening mechanism (8) associated with the support structure (1), linked to the control unit (6), the movement of which is articulated with respect to said support structure (1) and which is intended to open the HPP container by separating the lid (29) from the body (28) when it receives a command from the control unit (6).