Design and Fabrication of Automated Air Conveyor

Abstract

Abstract: An automated air conveyor system was developed for transporting objects. The air conveyor forms a thin film underneath the object for support and simultaneously generates a controlled airflow that results in viscous traction. It is potentially applicable in the manufacturing process for semiconductor wafer or flat foodstuffs, where mechanical contact is expected to be avoided during transportation of the products to minimize contamination. The air conveyor employs duplicated arrays of actuating cells that are square pockets with a surrounding dam. A simple model is proposed to characterize the viscous force. The theoretical analysis reveals that the total force is the composition of an actuating force generated in the pocket areas and the side areas and a drag force generated in the dam areas. Experimental investigations are conducted on the basic characteristics of the film pressure distribution and the viscous force. The results show that the air film pressure is symmetrically distributed in the width direction but non symmetrically distributed in the length direction. The viscous force increases if the suction flow rate is enlarged or the gap thickness is narrowed.. Amplitude of the actuating force is adjusted using a control valve to vary the suction flow rate. The simulated and the experimental results verify the feasibility of the air conveyor system and the control method.