LIFTING APPARATUS

摘要

A lifting apparatus comprises an upper unit (1) comprising a plurality of spaced-apart permanent magnets (5) having pole pieces (6) disposed between them, a lower unit (2) comprising a plurality of poles (7) arranged to be positioned at the ends of the pole pieces (6) between the permanent magnets (5) of the upper unit, so as to form a magnetic circuit for lifting a load (3), and means (9) for displacing the lower unit (2) away from the upper unit (1) in order to break the magnetic circuit in order to release the load (3).