Abstract: Fluidic conduits, which can be used in microarraying systems, dip pen nanolithography systems, fluidic circuits, and microfluidic systems, are disclosed that use channel spring probes that include at least one capillary channel. Formed from spring beams (e.g., stressy metal beams) that curve away from the substrate when released, channels can either be integrated into the spring beams or formed on the spring beams. Capillary forces produced by the narrow channels allow liquid to be gathered, held, and dispensed by the channel spring probes. Because the channel spring beams can be produced using conventional semiconductor processes, significant design flexibility and cost efficiencies can be achieved.

Abstract: A system for depositing a material is described. The system uses at least one cantilever, and more typically a plurality of cantilever to transfer small amounts of material from a source of material to a substrate surface. One application for the system is a printing system in which the material is an ink and the substrate is a sheet of paper. By repeating this process, the cantilever places many units of ink to form the pixels in an image.

Abstract: Fluidic conduits, which can be used in microarraying systems, dip pen nanolithography systems, fluidic circuits, and microfluidic systems, are disclosed that use channel spring probes that include at least one capillary channel. Formed from spring beams (e.g., stressy metal beams) that curve away from the substrate when released, channels can either be integrated into the spring beams or formed on the spring beams. Capillary forces produced by the narrow channels allow liquid to be gathered, held, and dispensed by the channel spring probes. Because the channel spring beams can be produced using conventional semiconductor processes, significant design flexibility and cost efficiencies can be achieved.

Abstract: A pin-in-capillary apparatus for depositing droplets of fluid onto a surface is described. The apparatus has an off-axis channel for supplying fluid to the capillary. In the capillary the fluid wets the tip of the pin and is delivered to the surface when the pin is extended from the capillary. The capillaries and pins are flexible, allowing spatial reformatting for fluid delivery. Methods of delivering fluid to a surface are also described.

Abstract: The present invention enables the accurate management of the total number of spotting counts for each spotting pin. An IC chip is installed on the spotting pin to allow the IC chip to accumulate spotting-count information, and during each spotting time the information is loaded up and displayed.

Abstract: Identically shaped spots can be formed sequentially and stably by a spotting pin comprising a bar-like plunger 20. Four projections each formed in the shape of a top portion of a quadrangular pyramid are formed on the head of the plunger 20. The apexes 21 of the quadrangular pyramids constituting the projections are located inside a virtual plane extending from the peripheral wall of the plunger.

Abstract: An ink density closed loop control system for an ink ribbon of an impact printer having a reservoir roller formed of an ink absorbent material with at least one or more channels within the reservoir roller fluidly connected to a pump and ink supply. A transfer roller can contact the reservoir roller for imparting ink to the ink ribbon. A sensor senses the relative amount of ink on the print ribbon and an electrical drive responsive to the sensor drives the pump for a flow of ink to the one or more channels. The sensor can sense ink on different segments of the ribbon and, with two or more channels in the reservoir roller can distribute ink to two or more segments of the reservoir roller depending upon the ink sensed at a particular segment of the ribbon. A further enhancement of this invention provides a multi-viscosity ink to compensate for changes in ambient temperature conditions.

Abstract: An impact printer with a hammerbank having print hammers retained by a permanent magnet for impacting a print ribbon, and a mechanical driver for moving the hammerbank across print media. First and second coils for each hammer are wrapped around first and second pole pieces, one of which is asymmetrical to the other pole piece. One of the pole pieces can have a generally elongated longitudinal form with the coil wound around the longitudinal form and the other can have a generally arcuate form, with the coil wrapped on a portion between the ends thereof. The coil wrapped around the arcuately formed pole piece is thicker than the coil wrapped around the longitudinal pole piece. The result is to provide pole pieces and coils for an impact printer having differing spatial relationships that can be staggered, or formed asymmetrically for more compact coil and pole piece placement to improve printer efficiency.