Magnetic handling equipment

An apparatus for handling devices consisting in part of a ferromagnetic material comprising:

• sliding means for guiding said devices;
• a first magnet arrangement producing a first steady inhomogeneous magnetic field whose intensity has a maximum value along the sliding means in the transporting direction and whose lines of force penetrate said sliding means generally vertically in relation to a surface of said sliding means, wherein the magnetic field of said first magnet arrangement first increases in the transporting direction of the devices and then decreases after having passed a maximum value at the end of said sliding means so that the devices will collect at one end of said sliding means;
• a switch;
• and
• at least one geometrically firmly arranged transporting electromagnet controlled by said switch and producing a second inhomogeneous magnetic field which overlaps said first magnetic field of said first magnet arrangement, said electromagnet capable of being switched in relation to time in such a way that said devices, when correspondingly dimensioning the magnet field and subsequent to their insertion on said sliding means, can be geometrically affected by said transporting electromagnet and wherein by weakening said second inhomogeneous magnetic field below a value necessary for pulling off additional devices, at least one device can be pulled off said end of said sliding means.