Patent ID: 6297719
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A device for changing the orientation of planar magnet sets from a substantially vertical stack to a substantially horizontal line of adjacent sets comprising:(a) each set comprising four flat and substantially identical magnets having lateral sides and magnetic poles on top and bottom sides, the magnets arranged adjacently to their lateral sides such that immediately adjacent magnets have opposite magnetic polarities at their top and bottom poles;(b) a plenum defining a chute with an axis and having a cross section adapted to laterally engage sets of plenum-axially supported sets, the plenum further defining a top and bottom opening of the chute and containing at least one set at just above the bottom opening;(c) a plate defining a slot on an upper surface, the slot being about a width of the chute and a depth greater than a thickness of a set, whereupon the plenum is attached whereby the bottom opening is aligned to the slot such that a set at the bottom opening may drop into a bottom set space in the slot without disturbing plenum-axial alignment or the adjacency of the magnets of the set into the slot;(d) a first extension of the slot and a straddling edge of a bottom edge of the plenum define a first opening adapted to permit slideable movement of the set in the bottom set space into a further extension of the slot such that the set at the bottom opening may drop into the bottom set space; and(e) means for moving a set in the bottom set space through the first opening.