Patent ID: 7214347
Filing Date: 2007-05-08
Classification: B01L,B41J,G01N

Abstract:
1. A liquid dispensing system for dispensing liquid drops on the order of nanoliter quantities with a number of dispensers arranged in parallel for dispensing liquid on a surface at the same time, the dispensing system including a printhead for holding the liquid dispensers, a bracket for removable connection to the printhead, and a semi-kinematic mounting system between the printhead and the bracket, wherein the mounting system includes three hardened ball mounts rigidly mounted on one or both of the bracket and printhead, wherein each of the ball mounts contacts two linear hardened dowel pins to constrain the printhead with respect to the bracket in six degrees of freedom, such that if the ball mount is on one of the bracket or printhead, the dowel pins fit in dowel pin holes in the other of the printhead or the bracket, wherein one set of the dowel pins is substantially orthogonal to at least one of the other two sets of dowel pins, wherein, after initial placement on the bracket, the printhead can be removed and replaced without requiring further calibration.