Abstract: Bead transporter chucks for selective pick up and discharging of polymer beads for chemical synthesis or analysis, whereby repulsive field conductors are arranged around bead electrodes used for selectively attracting and retaining beads. Problems of bead control are addressed by adding repulsive fields to help guide and direct beads to desired or designated bead collection zones. The repulsive electrodes create non-uniform electric fields that control, focus, and deflect charged beads in the vicinity of the bead collection zone, helping prevent multiple bead retention at intended bead collection zones. For better bead control, and allowing manipulation of beads with higher charge/mass ratios, dielectric material may be positioned around the bead electrode and between the bead electrode and the repulsive field conductor. Multiple bead electrodes may be provided to form two or more bead collection zones, and these may selectively addressed and controlled (e.

Abstract: Bead manipulating chucks for selective pick up and discharge of polymer beads for chemical synthesis or analysis, whereby bead collection zones are recessed from bead contact surfaces. The strong dependence of the electrostatic image force on bead overall diameters provides a mechanism that sharply selects bead sizes that are successfully attracted and retained by the bead manipulating chuck. In this way, the bead manipulating chuck acts as an electrical analog to a low pass filter, only attracting and retaining beads of an overall diameter lower than a selected value.