Abstract: A gripping device for shells that includes a pair of jaws intended to clamp a shell, each jaw being able to pivot towards a closed position obtained by applying the top end of each jaw to the shell. A locking means links the top ends of the jaws and includes two connecting rods and a central segment linking these connecting rods. The connecting rods are articulated relative to the jaws by a first articulation and by a second articulation to the central segment. A spring links each first articulation to a central point of the segment. A movable stop situated above the locking means is capable of pushing the locking means downwards until it is below an unstable equilibrium position of the locking means.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes a holder, a gripping roller, and a lever. The gripping roller is housed within the holder and grips an object between the roller and an inner surface of the holder. The lever releases gripping of the object by pushing the gripping roller upward. Preferably, the holder includes two plate sections which support a weight of the gripping roller. An opening is located between the two plate sections. The opening receives insertion of the object. One of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A gripping device includes a bag-shaped gripping body, a plurality of elastic portions, and a shape holding portion. The gripping body includes a palm portion, and a plurality of finger portions protruding from a periphery of the palm portion and configured to fall toward the palm portion by deforming the palm portion in a thickness direction. The plurality of elastic portions is respectively provided in the plurality of finger portions, each of the plurality of elastic portions having a shape of each of the plurality of finger portions. The shape holding portion is provided in the gripping body to prevent contraction of an outer periphery of the palm portion. The shape holding portion includes a guide bore for receiving the palm portion when being deformed, and a curved portion provided on an outer side of a distal end of the shape holding portion in an axial direction of the guide bore. The distal end faces the plurality of finger portions.