Non-Contact Level on Air Levitation Table with Porous Chamber Array

This paper presents an applicable basic design that can configure non-contact levitation table for conveying a large sheet of glass. The suggested air levitation table consists of a series of air chambers with porous pads and fans as the conveyor system. The air supply chambers are arrayed to supply an adequately strong upward airflow for supporting the glass. Levitation is controlled by the size and discharge velocity, of the chamber arrays, as well as the glass supporting height. After pre-evaluation of the glass rigidity and the filer functional performance, a one-way fluid structure interface (FSI) analysis is performed for predicting pressure and deflection working of the 8G glass in the transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively. After comparing calculated levels of flatness of the glass, it determines the chamber array for the linear non-contact conveying motion.