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.

Abstract: A print head for depositing molecular liquids on a substrate comprising: a block of prezoelectic material including at least one void passing through the block and first and second electrodes respectively coating the void and the block, such that application of a voltage between the electrodes produces a radial force to constrict the void and eject liquid contained in the void.

Abstract: A method of detecting an unknown biological target sample comprising: providing a microarray receiver including (a) a substrate having coated thereon a biologically active region with a composition including a first set of microspheres modified with a biological probe and containing an optical bar code generated from at least one colorant associated with the microspheres, and (b) a calibration region associated with the substrate, the region being outside the biologically active region and having an area containing the optical bar code color; contacting the biologically active region of the receiver with at least one unknown biological target sample having nonselectively labeled fluorescent/chemiluminescent dyes; first reading the calibration region and storing data on the area containing the optical bar code color; second reading the biologically active region to detect and store the fluorescent/chemiluminescent color of any microsphere that has been hybridized by the biological target sample and storing dat

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a colored microsphere molecular biological/chemical random microarray system, comprising: randomly dispersing on a support a composition including a first set of microspheres modified with a biological/chemical probe and containing an optical bar code generated from at least one colorant associated with the microspheres to produce a biologically/chemically active region on the support; scanning the biologically/chemically active region with a high-resolution color scanner to produce a color map of the locations of the randomly dispersed first set of microspheres; creating a digital file of the color map; and linking the digital file of the color map with the support.

Abstract: Apparatus calibrates a micro-array receiver. The apparatus includes a micro-array receiver including a substrate having coated a biologically active region with a composition including a first set of micro-spheres modified with a biological probe and containing an optical bar code generated from at least one colorant associated with the micro-spheres; and a calibration region associated with the substrate, the region being outside the biologically active region and having an area containing the optical bar code color.

Abstract: A biological analysis system comprising: a microarray receiver including a substrate coated with a composition including a population of biological probe modified micro-spheres immobilized in a coating containing a gelling agent or precursor to a gelling agent, at least a sub-population of the population of micro-spheres containing an optical bar code generated from at least one colorant associated with the micro-spheres and including a biological probe, and a microtiter plate having a plurality of wells open at first and second ends in liquid sealing contact with the microarray receiver at the first open ends, each of the wells adapted to receive a fluorescently/chemiluminescently labeled biological target sample which interacts fluorescently/chemiluminescently with the biological probe.

Abstract: Micro-array receiver apparatus comprising: a micro-array receiver including a substrate and at least a first set of sites of a first biological probe which is adapted to interact with a first biological target sample, the first set of sites formed on the substrate; and an identifier associated with the micro-array receiver for identifying the at least first biological probe.

Abstract: Apparatus for calibrating a micro-array receiver comprising; a micro-array receiver including a substrate having coated a biologically active region with a composition including a first set of micro-spheres modified with a biological probe and containing an optical bar code generated from at least one colorant associated with the micro-spheres; and a calibration region associated with the substrate, the region being outside the biologically active region and having an area containing the optical bar code color.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method of the steps: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with ink-receptive substrates; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition of from about 30 to about 90% by weight of water, from about 0.5 to about 30% by weight of a pigment, from about 0.125 to about 7.5% by weight of an anionic dispersant, from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight of an ethoxylated trimethylnonanol, and from about 10 to about 50% by weight of a humectant of a polyhydric alcohol; and D) printing on an ink-receptive substrate using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing foam from an ink container of a printer including a nozzle disposed within the ink container such that the nozzle floats upon a surface of the ink located within the container. The nozzle contains a plurality of inlet channels located therein and an outlet communicating with the inlet channels. A vacuum source is coupled with the outlet of the nozzle to create a suction force within the inlet channels of the nozzle to remove foam located on the surface of the ink. As the level of the ink is depleted or added to the container, the nozzle remains on the surface of the ink and the foam is actively removed from the surface through the inlet channels.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of inhibiting inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet and method of assembling same. The imaging apparatus comprises a print head transducer including a pair of sidewalls defining a chamber therebetween, the channel having the ink body disposed therein. The transducer is in fluid communication with the ink body for inducing a first pressure wave in the ink body in order to eject an ink droplet. A waveform generator is connected to the transducer for supplying voltage waveforms to the transducer, so that the transducer induces pressure waves in the ink body. However, the first pressure wave has a reflected portion formed by the first pressure wave reflecting from the sidewalls. The reflected portion is sufficient to otherwise inadvertently eject unintended satellite ink droplets. Thus, a sensor is in fluid communication with the ink body for sensing the reflected portion and is connected to the transducer for inducing a second pressure wave in the ink body.

Abstract: An ink jet ink composition comprising from about 30 to about 90% by weight of water, from about 0.5 to about 30% by weight of a pigment, from about 0.125 to about 7.5% by weight of an anionic dispersant, from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight of an ethoxylated trimethylnonanol, and from about 10 to about 50% by weight of a humectant comprising a polyhydric alcohol.

Abstract: Pagewidth image forming system and method. The system features a plurality of mechanically isolated transducers capable of pressurizing an ink body associated with each of plural nozzle so that an ink meniscus extends from the ink body. The transducers are operated such that the ink bodies are uniformily intermittently pressurized. An ink droplet separator is also provided for lowering surface tension of the meniscus. In this regard, the droplet separator lowers the surface tension of the meniscus at a selected nozzle as the meniscus extends from the ink body, so that the meniscus forms a neck portion thereof. The extended meniscus severs from the ink body at the neck portion as the droplet separator lowers the surface tension to a predetermined value so as to form an ink droplet.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of suppressing inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet and method of assembling the apparatus. The imaging apparatus comprises a print head transducer including a pair of sidewalls defining a chamber therebetween, the channel having an ink body disposed therein. The transducer is capable of inducing a first pressure wave in the ink body in order to eject an intended ink droplet. A waveform generator is connected to the transducer for supplying a voltage waveform to the transducer, so that the transducer induces pressure waves in the ink body to eject the ink droplet. However, the first pressure wave has a reflected portion formed by the first pressure wave reflecting from the sidewalls. The reflected portion is sufficient to inadvertently eject unintended satellite ink droplets following ejection of the intended ink droplet. To avoid formation of satellite ink droplets, a sensor is in fluid communication with the ink body for sensing the reflected portion.

Abstract: Printhead container and method. The container comprises an enclosure surrounding a printhead body having an ink channel terminating in a nozzle orifice. The ink channel has ink therein. The enclosure is capable of being pressurized to a predetermined internal pressure. The internal pressure acts on the ink to retain the ink in the channel, so that the ink is prevented from flowing along the channel and through the orifice. A one-way valve is in communication with the interior of the enclosure for ingress of a pressurizing medium into the interior of the enclosure, while avoiding reverse flow through the valve in order to allow sustained pressurization of the enclosure. Moreover, a support frame disposed in the enclosure may be provided, the frame defining a well sized to matingly receive the printhead body for constraining movement of the printhead body during transport of the enclosure.

Abstract: In a photothermographic laser imaging system including a laser printer for exposing photothermographic media to digital data, a thermal processor for thermally developing the exposed photothermographic media to render a visual image of the digital data and a densitometer for reading the density of the visual image, a method for establishing calibration of the system comprising the steps of: reading optimum thermal processing parameters including processor temperature from a bar code associated with unexposed photothermographic media; setting the thermal processor to operate at the read parameters; exposing a calibration media by the laser printer, the calibration media including a multiple step gray scale pattern including a minimum density step, D.sub.min, and an upper density step, D.sub.

Abstract: In a photothermographic laser imaging system including a laser printer for exposing photothermographic media to digital data, a thermal processor for thermally developing the exposed media to render a visual image of the digital data, and a densitometer for reading the density of the visual image; a method for maintaining calibration of the system comprising the steps of: exposing by means of the laser printer successful photothermographic media with digital data and simultaneously with the digital data, density patches on an edge of the media representing minimum density, D.sub.min, and mid density, D.sub.mid ; reading with the densitometer the D.sub.min and D.sub.mid density patches of successive media developed by the thermal processor for a predetermined number of media or over a predetermined interval; averaging the read D.sub.min and D.sub.mid values to obtain average D.sub.min and D.sub.mid values; comparing the averaged D.sub.min and D.sub.mid values with preferred D.sub.min and D.sub.

Abstract: A laser film scanner scans film as it is translated in a substantially horizonally plane past a diffuse light collector. The light collector includes an elongated housing enclosing a collection cavity having a slot at its top through which light enters. The cavity has diffuse reflective surfaces to diffusely reflect light to a photodetector communicating with the cavity. Positioned opposite the slot is a slanted face from which light entering the cavity is directly reflected. The slanted face avoids streak artifacts in a detected image by permitting dirt particles falling through the slot to roll down to a lower region in the cavity. The slaned face may be formed from a removable insert of low adhesion fluorocarbon material to permit cleaning without disassembling the collector.