Patent ID: 6896849

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: (i) a carriage configured to carry a first array and adapted for movement along a first, generally horizontal, axis from and to a neutral position whereat the first array and a corresponding second array are substantially axially aligned, wherein the first array is one of a discharge-conduit array and a receiving array, and the second array is the other of a discharge-conduit array and a receiving array, and wherein the discharge conduit array comprises discharge conduits and the receiving array comprises receiving wells or receiving holes; (ii) a vertical positioning assembly configured for supporting the first array for movement along a second, generally vertical, axis between (a) a first position whereat the discharge conduits of the discharge conduit array clear the receiving wells or receiving holes of the receiving array, (b) a second position whereat the discharge conduits extend down into the receiving wells or receiving holes of the corresponding receiving array, and (c) a touch-off position intermediate the first and second positions whereat pendent drops hanging from the discharge conduits contact respective inner sidewalls of respective receiving wells or receiving holes of the receiving array upon the movement of the carriage along the first axis; and (iii) a manually-operable handle connected to the carriage and the vertical positioning assembly and configured such that a movement of the handle moves the carriage along the first axis, and a second movement of handle moves the vertical positioning assembly along the second axis.