| 主权项 |
1. A spotter comprising:
a plurality of spotting heads, each of the plurality of spotting heads being flexible and having a discharging portion at a tip portion, the plurality of spotting heads form an m×n array (at least m or n is greater than 1) with m spotting heads arranged lengthwise and n spotting heads arranged crosswise; and a pitch varying mechanism configured to vary an array pitch of the plurality of spotting heads in a lengthwise direction and an array pitch of the plurality of spotting heads in a crosswise direction, the pitch varying mechanism comprising: n first guiding members arranged in the crosswise direction, each of the n first guiding members having a first guiding hole, the m spotting heads arranged in the lengthwise direction being inserted into the first guiding hole, respectively, the first guiding hole extending in the lengthwise direction; and m second guiding members arranged in the lengthwise direction, each of the m second guiding members having a second guiding hole, the n spotting heads arranged in the crosswise direction being inserted into the second guiding hole, respectively, the second guiding hole extending in the crosswise direction; wherein each of the n first guiding members guides the m spotting heads in the lengthwise direction; each of the m second guiding members guides the n spotting heads in the crosswise direction; the n first guiding members are movably held in the crosswise direction, respectively; the m second guiding members are movably held in the length wise direction, respectively; and the m spotting heads which are inserted into one of the n first guiding members are inserted into intersection portions between the m second guiding members and the one of the n first guiding members, respectively, such that movements of the m spotting heads in the lengthwise and crosswise directions are restricted; wherein the pitch varying mechanism is capable of changing the pitch between the n first guiding members causes a variation of the array pitch of the plurality of spotting heads arranged in the crosswise direction; and changing the pitch between the m second guiding members causes a variation of the array pitch of the plurality of spotting heads arranged in the lengthwise direction, wherein a movement of the entire n first guiding members arranged in the crosswise direction causes a displacement of the entire plurality of the spotting heads arranged in the crosswise direction; and a movement of the entire m second guiding members arranged in the lengthwise direction causes a displacement of the entire plurality of the spotting heads arrayed in the lengthwise direction. |
