Systems and methods for transporting particles
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsArmin R. Völkel, David Biegelsen, Philip D. Floyd, Greg Anderson, Fred Endicott, Eric Peeters, Jaan Noolandi, Karen A. Moffat, Peter M. Kazmaier, Maria McDougall, Daniel G. Bobrow
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Abstract
Various particle transport systems and components for use in such systems are described. The systems utilize one or more traveling wave grids to selectively transport, distribute, separate, or mix different populations of particles. Numerous systems configured for use in two dimensional and three dimensional particle transport are described.
Claims20
A method for selectively directing a particulate sample along one or more branches of a multi-branch traveling wave grid assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a multi-branch traveling wave grid assembly including (i) a substrate, (ii) a common electrode region disposed on the substrate, (iii) a plurality of traveling wave electrode grid branches extending from the common electrode region, and (iv) at least one electronic controller in electrical communication with the common electrode region and the plurality of traveling wave electrode grid branches and adapted to induce traveling waves on the common electrode region and the plurality of traveling wave electrode grid branches;
- applying a particulate sample on at least one of the common electrode region and one or more branches of the plurality of traveling wave electrode grid branches;
- operating the at least one electronic controller to induce traveling waves upon selected regions of the common electrode region and one or more branches of the traveling wave electrode grid branches;
- whereby at least a portion of the particulate sample is selectively directed along one or more branches of the multi-branch traveling wave grid assembly.
A method for mixing different populations of particles in a multi-channel traveling wave grid assembly, the assembly including (i) a mixing region, (ii) a plurality of feed channels providing flow communication between a plurality of feed sources of different particle populations, each of the feed channels extending between the mixing region and a respective feed source and including a traveling wave grid, and (iii) an exit channel including a traveling wave grid, and (iv) an electronic controller in electrical communication with the traveling wave grids of the feed channel and the exit channel, the method comprising:
- introducing a first population of particles to a first feed channel;
- introducing a second population of particles to a second feed channel;
- operating the electronic controller to thereby induce (i) an electrostatic traveling wave along the traveling wave grid of the first feed channel, and (ii) an electrostatic traveling wave along the traveling wave grid of the second feed channel, to thereby transport the first population of particles and the second population of particles to the mixing region at which the first and second populations of particles are mixed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.