Abstract: A method of producing a microarray including: (A) ejecting a liquid sample from an outlet onto an inspection carrier to form inspection spots, inspecting the resultant inspection spots for their quality to determine whether the inspected spots are defective or successful, and detecting a defective discharge unit, if any; (B) making the detected defective discharge unit stop discharging the liquid sample to prevent formation of the defective sample spot; (C) forming successful sample spots on a carrier using successful discharge units to provide a successful microarray on which the successful spots are aligned in a predetermined pattern on the carrier; and (D) forming a successful spot to be formed originally on the successful microarray at the position of the defective spot where no spot is formed in step (B).

Abstract: An improved structure of a liquid drop emitter is provided which works to emit minute drops of liquid to deposit them in a dense array of dots on a substrate to produce a DNA chip, for example. The liquid drop emitter has a plurality of liquid inlets formed in rows in a staggered fashion, thereby allowing the liquid inlets to have a maximum possible area without any physical interference between adjacent two of them and also allowing outlet nozzles to be arranged in a dense array.

Abstract: A method of producing a microarray including: (A) ejecting a liquid sample from an outlet onto an inspection carrier to form inspection spots, inspecting the resultant inspection spots for their quality to determine whether the inspected spots are defective or successful, and detecting a defective discharge unit, if any; (B) making the detected defective discharge unit stop discharging the liquid sample to prevent formation of the defective sample spot; (C) forming successful sample spots on a carrier using successful discharge units to provide a successful microarray on which the successful spots are aligned in a predetermined pattern on the carrier; and (D) forming a successful spot to be formed originally on the successful microarray at the position of the defective spot where no spot is formed in step (B).

Abstract: An improved structure of a liquid drop emitter is provided which works to emit minute drops of liquid to deposit them in a dense array of dots on a substrate to produce a DNA chip, for example. The liquid drop emitter has a plurality of liquid inlets formed in rows in a staggered fashion, thereby allowing the liquid inlets to have a maximum possible area without any physical interference between adjacent two of them and also allowing outlet nozzles to be arranged in a dense array.

Abstract: A stamping punch of a punching apparatus including a grip member provided with crosspieces formed between long grooves on side walls of a rectangular parallelepiped, and a plurality of punch members which are formed integrally with the grip member. The respective punch members are arranged in parallel to one another. A plurality of holes are defined on a punch holder. A large amount of adhesive is contained in the gap between joining surfaces when the grip members of the stamping punches are inserted and secured into the respective holes. Accordingly, the positional accuracy of the punch member is improved, the accuracy of the hole defined through a workpiece is improved, and it is possible to eliminate any fear of occurrence of defect in shape. Further, the rigidity of the punch member can be improved, the stripper is prevented from application of unbalanced load, and the punch is easily exchangeable.

Abstract: A stamping punch of a punching apparatus for stamping comprises a grip member which is provided with crosspieces formed between long grooves on side walls of a rectangular parallelepiped, and a plurality of punch members which are formed integrally with the grip member. The respective punch members are arranged in parallel to one another. A plurality of long holes are defined on a punch holder. A large amount of adhesive is contained in the gap between joining surfaces when the grip members of the stamping punches are inserted and secured into the respective long holes. Accordingly, the positional accuracy of the punch member is improved, the accuracy of the hole defined through a workpiece is improved, and it is possible to eliminate any fear of occurrence of defect in shape. Further, the rigidity of the punch member can be improved, the stripper is prevented from application of unbalanced load, and the punch is easily exchangeable.

Abstract: A PCR product is prepared by PCR-amplifying a DNA fragment. The PCR product is then dried to prepare a DNA powder. The DNA powder is then charged into a sample-pouring port of each of the micropipettes of a dispenser. Subsequently, a buffer solution is poured from the sample-pouring port into a cavity to prepare a sample solution. After completion of the preparation of the sample solution in the cavity, an actuator section is driven to discharge and supply the sample solution onto a base plate.

Abstract: A sheet machining apparatus has a die for positioning a sheet to be machined. The die is mounted on a lower die base for movement and has a machining pattern for the sheet, a plurality of punches are mounted on an upper punch base for machining the sheet in coaction with the die in a predetermined number of machining cycles according to the individual machining pattern, and a feed mechanism horizontally moves the die to align a machining position on the sheet with the punches each time the sheet is machined by the die and the punches.

Abstract: A progressively feeding and machining apparatus has a die for placing a sheet material thereon, the die having a machining pattern for machining the sheet material, an upper punch base or a machining head movable toward and away from the die and having a plurality of punches for machining the sheet material in coaction with the die in a predetermined number of machining cycles according to the machining pattern, a feed mechanism for moving the die, with the sheet material placed thereon, and the punches relatively to each other to align a machining position on the sheet material with the punches each time the sheet material is machined by the die and the punches, a suction chamber communicating with the machining pattern, and a closure mechanism for isolating a machined region of the machining pattern from the suction chamber to maintain the suction chamber under a vacuum when the suction chamber is evacuated.