Device for scanning an electromagnetically suspended information carrier

A device for scanning a disc-shaped information carrier which is provided, near a circumference, with a support element manufactured from a magnetizable material, which device is provided with an electromagnetic system for co-operating with the support element and with a scanning unit for scanning information present on the information carrier, said information carrier, by co-operation between the electromagnetic system and the support element, being positioned with respect to the scanning unit, rotating about an axis of rotation directed perpendicularly to the information carrier and displaced alone an X-axis directed perpendicularly to the axis of rotation, characterized in that the electromagnetic system is provided with a single pair of rows of electromagnets arranged along the X-axis, said rows of electromagnets, viewed in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, being arranged on either side of the information carrier, and with a first pair of electromagnets and a second pair of electromagnets which, viewed in a middle position of the information carrier along the X-axis and viewed in a direction parallel to a Y-axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation and the X-axis, are arranged substantially diametrically opposite each other, the electromagnets of each pair, viewed in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, being arranged on either side of the information carrier, and the magnetic poles of the electromagnets being at substantially the same distance from the X-axis and, in each position of the information carrier along the X-axis, on one side of a magnetic point of application of the support element wherein when the device scans a disc-shaped information carrier whose support element, the device as viewed in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation, has a width which varies in the circumferential direction between a minimum value and a maximum value, and a substantially constant pitch exists between successive positions where the width has said maximum value, in which device the magnetic poles of at least in each electromagnet of at least one of the two rows are mutually arranged in a substantially tangential direction with respect to the axis of rotation, a pitch which is substantially equal to said pitch of the support element being present between said magnetic poles.