Dynamic response prediction of air-floating large-size sheet with mode superposition

Abstract

Non-contact air support and high-precision feeding for large-size sheet are crucial for inkjet printing (IJP) of displays. Modeling and predicting the dynamic response of the flexible sheet is vital in system design, as the continuous deformations and vibrations during the handling of the large sheet lead to reduced precision and quality in the final products. This paper presents a computationally efficient algorithm for analyzing and predicting the dynamic behavior of an air-floating large-size sheet. A modal expression of the coupled system consisting of air film and flexible sheet is developed based on a distributed-parameter model. The proposed predictive algorithm allows for fast computation and analysis of the sheet’s dynamic behavior by superimposing finite-order air-sheet modes. The solutions have been numerically verified against those obtained from a fluid–structure interaction (FSI) model using finite element analysis (FEA). In the experimental section, a parameter identification method based on the dynamic model is introduced. Subsequently, experiments were conducted on IJP equipment for thin film encapsulation (TFE) with a cantilevered glass sheet supported by four porous air-bearing guides. The theoretical calculations were validated by comparing them with the experimental findings. This model provides a quick and effective approach for the dynamic modeling of air-floating systems and can assist in their design and parameter optimization.