Review on Contactless Transport Using Pneumatic Levitation

doi:10.3901/JME.2018.20.040

Abstract

Abstract: Many industries, such as semiconductor, food and pharmaceuticals, require contactless transport of delicate or clean products during production process. The traditional contact method cannot accommodate the developing technology since it easily causes surface scratching and trace to the product, and also has some problems such as static electricity and contamination. The non-contact method shows great advantages in satisfying the requirements of precision, cleanness and reliability. Research progress of the non-contact levitation is reviewed, and comparisons of characteristics, applications, environment limitation and complexness are made among different implementations. The pneumatic levitation has several advantages such as clean, magnetic free, and generating little heat, and therefore comes to dominate in the non-contact conveying field. According to the principle, pneumatic levitation can be categorized into two types:vacuum suction and air cushion, and the research progress and its applications are emphasized. Based on this, completely contactless transport and positioning are analyzed in the aspects of implementation, research progress and existing problems. Furthermore, prospective of future research on contactless transport is analyzed, and the technology is expected to promote industrial upgrading in relevant fields.

Key words: air film, non-contact, pneumatic levitation, transport, viscous traction

CLC Number:

TH138

ZHONG Wei, GU Xiaoyu, LI Xin. Review on Contactless Transport Using Pneumatic Levitation[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2018, 54(20): 40-51.

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