Biomolecular micro-deposition system

• US 20040120859A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Wojcik, Timothy J., Kocher, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US10/326,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20040120859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/100
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0838 Capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0439 ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries

Abstract

A system for depositing molecular liquids on a receiver comprising: a printing station having one or more print heads spanning the width of a receiver to be printed on; a receiver transport mechanism for transporting a receiver through the printing station so that the one or more print heads can deposit molecular liquids in an array on the receiver; a maintenance and service station located in proximity to the printing station; and a printhead translation mechanism for moving a printhead to the maintenance and service station to receive maintenance and service.

Claims

1. A system for depositing molecular liquids on a receiver comprising:

a printing station having one or more print heads spanning the width of a receiver to be printed on;

a receiver transport mechanism for transporting a receiver through said printing station so that said one or more print heads can deposit molecular liquids in an array on said receiver;

a maintenance and service station located in proximity to said printing station; and

a printhead translation mechanism for moving a printhead to said maintenance and service station to receive maintenance and service.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more printheads are positioned in proximity to eachother in said printing station and wherein said maintenance and service station includes a maintenance element for each said printhead.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each said maintenance element is located proximal to its corresponding printhead and wherein said printhead translation mechanism translates a printhead from said printing station to said maintenance and service station and into engagement with said maintenance element.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said printhead translation mechanism moves a printhead between said stations in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of a receiver past said printheads.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said maintenance elements are spring biased into engagement with a corresponding printhead moved to said maintenance and service station.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said maintenance and service station carries out one or more of the following operations on a printhead;

wiping the printhead free of fluids;

vacuuming the printhead of excess fluids;

capping the printhead to prevent the printhead from drying out;

priming the printhead with fluid.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each said printhead includes a block of piezelectric material having a plurality of voids passing through said block;

and

first and second electrodes respectively coating said void and said block, such that application of a voltage between said electrodes produces a radial force to constrict said void and eject liquid contained in said void.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein in a first pass through said printing station said printheads deposit an array of subarrays of different molecular liquids and in a second pass through said printing station said printheads deposit a single molecular liquid over each subarray.