US Patent 7764407 Flatbed image system having magnetically levitated carriage

The present invention provides an image system comprising providing magnetic transport rails, spacing magnetic flux rails from the magnetic transport rails, positioning a position gradient strip adjacent to the magnetic transport rails and securing a magnetically levitated carriage assembly to the magnetic transport rails, wherein securing the magnetically levitated carriage comprises securing a linear scanning array and light source to scan images during movement of the magnetically levitated carriage, positioning a position detection tab over the position gradient strip to detect and provide position information and controlling the movement of the magnetically levitated carriage using a motivator tab.