CN111367153B

CN111367153B - Developer replenishing device

Info

Publication number: CN111367153B
Application number: CN202010310969.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吴宏照; 毛宏程; 其他发明人请求不公开姓名
Original assignee: Guangzhou Zhono Electronic Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Guangzhou Zhongnuo Microelectronics Co.,Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-04-20
Filing date: 2020-04-20
Publication date: 2022-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-20
Also published as: CN111367153A

Abstract

The invention discloses a developer cartridge comprising: the developer container comprises a container body and a plurality of pushing members, wherein a plurality of accommodating cavities are defined in the container body, a plurality of first discharge ports are arranged in the accommodating cavities, each pushing member sequentially slides from an initial position to a plurality of pushing positions, and each pushing member is constructed to push out the developer in the accommodating cavity section by section at the plurality of pushing positions; the developer cover is connected with the box body and is provided with a second outlet; the control component comprises a chip and a control switch for controlling the communication state of the chip and the printer to be switched on or off. Like this, let the impeller that is in a plurality of holding intracavity can promote respectively that the developer that the difference held the intracavity is from holding the discharge port injection of intracavity respectively to let developer replenishing device can let the material that the intracavity was held alone just can inject through the first discharge port that holds the intracavity that corresponds when carrying out the replenishment of developer, thereby let the more flexibility of replenishment of developer, can carry out reasonable replenishment according to the disappearance condition of developer.

Description

Developer replenishing device

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of imaging consumables, in particular to a developer replenishing device.

Background

In the prior art, image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, facsimile machines, or multifunction printers generally need to use developers such as toner or ink to perform printing or copying operations. In the prior art, some printers (such as HP1103 series printers) are configured to replenish the developer in the main unit with the developer via an external developer cartridge, and the external developer cartridge must be authenticated by the printer before replenishing the developer in the main unit. Referring to the following drawings, a switch is provided in the developing cartridge. After the outside developing box is verified by the printer, push the push rod to the end, the push rod can trigger the switch in the developing box, then the chip on the developing box sends the signal that the powder filling is finished and gives the printer, then it can to take out the developing box from the printer. The developing cartridge in the prior art can be used only once, and all cartridges of each new cartridge can be replenished with a predetermined capacity, which may be 0.5 times the maximum capacity of the printer. After the use, the powder box is either discarded or needs to be maintained by a professional and then used again. Discarding or repairing the compact can increase user costs and can also contaminate the environment.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to solving at least one of the problems of the prior art. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer replenishing device, which is to solve the technical problem that the powder box in the prior art cannot be used repeatedly.

A developer replenishing apparatus according to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention includes: a developer cartridge and a developer cover, the developer cartridge including: a cartridge and at least one pusher member,

the developer container comprises a box body, a plurality of accommodating cavities, a plurality of first discharge ports, a plurality of pushing members and a plurality of second discharge ports, wherein the box body is internally provided with a plurality of accommodating cavities, one end of the box body is provided with the first discharge ports which are communicated with the accommodating cavities in a one-to-one correspondence manner, each accommodating cavity is respectively provided with a plurality of pushing positions, each pushing member correspondingly extends into the corresponding accommodating cavity from the other end of the box body in a one-to-one correspondence manner so as to sequentially move from an initial position to the pushing positions, and each pushing member is constructed to push out developer in the accommodating cavity section by section at the plurality of pushing positions; and the developer cover is connected with the box body and is provided with a second discharge port communicated with the plurality of first discharge ports.

Therefore, at least one pushing piece is arranged in the accommodating cavity, each pushing piece can correspond to a plurality of pushing positions in the corresponding accommodating cavity, so that the pushing pieces can accurately supplement the developer according to the matching of the pushing pieces and different pushing positions, and meanwhile, the multiple accommodating cavities can be used for mixed injection, namely, materials in the independent accommodating cavities can be injected through the first discharge ports in the corresponding accommodating cavities, so that the developer can be supplemented more flexibly, and reasonable supplementation can be performed according to the lack condition of the developer.

In some embodiments, the pushing member includes a rod and a push plate connected to one end of the rod, the push plate is slidably engaged with the side wall of the accommodating chamber, and the pushing member is positioned and engaged with the box body at each pushing position.

In some embodiments, the pushing member further includes at least first limiting portions, each of the first limiting portions is detachably mounted on the rod body, a second limiting portion is formed in a hole of the box body through which the push rod passes, and the first limiting portions different in each pushing-out position are respectively in positioning fit with the second limiting portions.

In some embodiments, the second position-limiting part is a positioning hole formed at an end of the box body, and the maximum outer diameter of the first position-limiting part is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the second position-limiting part.

In some embodiments, the cross section of the accommodating cavity is semicircular, the push plate is semicircular, and the two first discharge ports are both arranged close to the central axis of the partition plate and the central axis of the box body.

In some embodiments, the cartridge comprises a barrel and an end cap connected to one end of the barrel, the end cap has a through hole for the pushing member to pass through, the pushing plate is located on the inner side of the end cap, and the end cap or one end of the barrel opposite to the end cap is provided with a filling port.

In some embodiments, the injection port is located on the end cap, the push plate has a through hole for injection, and a side of the push plate facing the first discharge port is provided with a valve sheet configured to close the through hole when the pushing member moves toward the push-out position and to open the through hole when injecting the material.

In some embodiments, the developer cover includes: the cylinder comprises a cylinder body, a first cover body, a second cover body and a third cover body, wherein the cylinder body is covered by the first cover body, a second discharge port is formed in the first cover body, the second cover body is detachably connected with the first cover body, one of a control switch and a chip is arranged on the first cover body, the other one of the control switch and the chip is arranged on the second cover body, and the third cover body is used for plugging the second discharge port.

In some embodiments, the first cover includes: first lid and first pipe portion, the second lid have second lid and second pipe portion, and the second lid cover is detained and is worn out the second pipe portion in first lid and first pipe portion, and the lateral wall of first lid is equipped with the switch mounting groove, and the lateral wall of second lid is equipped with the switch installing support, and in the switch installing support inserted the switch mounting groove, control switch installed between switch mounting groove and switch installing support.

In some embodiments, the side wall of the first tube portion is provided with a chip support table, the side wall of the second tube portion is provided with a chip mounting groove, the chip is mounted in the mounting groove and the back surface of the chip is supported on the chip support table.

Drawings

The above and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a developer replenishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a developer replenishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a developer replenishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is another schematic perspective view of a developer replenishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic perspective-exploded view of a developer cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a developer cartridge of an embodiment of the invention;

reference numerals:

a developer replenishing device 100, a developer cartridge 10, a cartridge body 11, a first discharge port 111, a second stopper 112, a cylinder body 113, an end cap 114, a through hole 115, a charging port 116, a partition plate 117,

a pushing member 12, a rod 121, a first limit 1211, a push plate 122,

developer cover 20, second discharge port 21, first cover 22, first cover 221, switch mounting groove 2211, first tube 222, second cover 23, second cover 231, switch mounting bracket 2311, second tube 232, chip mounting groove 2321, third cover 24,

chip 31, control switch 32, hold chamber q.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, the embodiments described with reference to the drawings being illustrative, and the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

A developer replenishing apparatus according to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention, including: a developer cartridge 10 and a developer cover 20, the developer cartridge 10 including: the developer container comprises a box body 11 and at least one pushing member 12, wherein a plurality of accommodating cavities q are defined in the box body 11, one end of the box body 11 is provided with a plurality of first discharge ports 111 which are communicated with the accommodating cavities q in a one-to-one correspondence manner, each pushing member 12 extends into the corresponding accommodating cavity q from the other end of the box body 11 in a one-to-one correspondence manner and can slide relative to the box body 11 so as to move from an initial position to a plurality of pushing positions which are closer to the first discharge ports 111 than the initial position in sequence, and each pushing member 12 is configured to push the developer in the accommodating cavity q section by section at the plurality of pushing positions; the developer cover 20 is connected to the cartridge body 11 and has a second discharge port 21 communicating with the plurality of first discharge ports 111; the control assembly comprises a chip 31 and a control switch 32 electrically connected with the chip 31, wherein the control switch 32 is used for controlling the on or off of the communication state of the chip 31 and the printer.

A plurality of accommodating cavities q are defined in the box body 11, one end of the box body is provided with a plurality of first discharge ports 111 which are communicated with the accommodating cavities q in a one-to-one correspondence manner, each accommodating cavity q is respectively provided with a plurality of push-out positions, each pushing member 12 correspondingly extends into the corresponding accommodating cavity q from the other end of the box body 11 in a one-to-one correspondence manner so as to sequentially move from an initial position to the push-out positions, and each pushing member 12 is constructed to push out the developer in the accommodating cavity q section by section at the plurality of push-out positions; the developer cover 20 is attached to the cartridge body 11 and has a second discharge port 21 communicating with the plurality of first discharge ports 111.

Therefore, at least one pushing member 12 is arranged in the accommodating cavity q, each pushing member 12 can correspond to a plurality of pushing positions in the corresponding accommodating cavity q, so that the pushing members 12 can accurately supplement the developer according to the matching of the pushing members and different pushing positions, and meanwhile, a plurality of accommodating cavities q can be used for mixed injection, namely, materials in the single accommodating cavity q can be injected through the first discharge port 111 in the corresponding accommodating cavity q, so that the developer can be supplemented more flexibly, and reasonable supplementation can be performed according to the lack condition of the developer.

In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 2, pusher 12 comprises a rod 121 and a push plate 122 attached to one end of rod 121, push plate 122 being in sliding engagement with the side wall of housing q, pusher 12 being in positioning engagement with magazine 11 in each pushed-out position.

Therefore, the pushing member 12 pushes the pushing plate 122 connected to the rod 121, and the pushing plate 122 can be completely matched with the accommodating cavity q to push the rod 121 to push the developer in the accommodating cavity q corresponding to the pushing length, so that the developer is discharged through the first discharge port 111, the developer in the accommodating cavity q is discharged more cleanly, and the residue in the accommodating cavity q is less.

In the specific example shown in fig. 1, the pushing member 12 further includes at least a first position-limiting portion 1211, each first position-limiting portion 1211 is detachably mounted on the rod body 121, a hole of the box body 11 through which the push rod passes is formed with a second position-limiting portion 112, and the first position-limiting portions 1211 different in each pushing position are respectively in positioning fit with the second position-limiting portions 112.

Wherein each first stopper 1211 is for controlling displacement of the pusher 12 toward the first discharge port 111. The first position-limiting portion 1211 closest to the push plate 122 is the first position-limiting portion 1211, the second position-limiting portion 1211 … … is the second position-limiting portion, and the farthest position is the Nth first position-limiting portion 1211. When the first position-limiting portion 1211 contacts the second position-limiting portion 112, the pushing member reaches the first pushing position. When the developer needs to be pushed continuously, the first position-limiting portion 1211 can be taken out from the rod body, the push rod is pushed continuously until the second first position-limiting portion 1211 contacts with the second position-limiting portion 112, the push member 12 reaches the second push-out position, and so on until the developer in the accommodating cavity q is pushed out completely. When the pushing member 12 reaches each pushing-out position, it is possible to push out the developer of N times the predetermined capacity from the accommodating chamber; n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1. When N is greater than 1, it is necessary to disconnect the chip 31 from the printer N-1 times each time the pusher 12 reaches a push-out position. The arrangement is to meet the requirement of the printer, because the printer is arranged to need one developer replenishing device 100 every time developer with one time of capacity is replenished, after the invention replenishes all the N times of developer capacity to the printer, the chip 31 and the printer are required to realize N times of communication, each time the communication needs to be disconnected, the printer considers that the developer passes through the N developer replenishing devices. Compared with the prior art, the invention has the advantage that the operation is simpler by replenishing multiple times of developer to the printer at one time.

It should be noted that the chip 31 may be disconnected from the printer by changing the contact position of the developer replenishing apparatus 100 with the printer so that the chip 31 does not contact the terminals of the printer, and then restoring the developer replenishing apparatus to a position where the developer can be replenished so that the chip 31 contacts the terminals of the printer again, and the chip 31 communicates with the printer. Or by providing a control switch on the developer replenishing apparatus 100, the chip 31 is controlled to be in contact with or disconnected from the terminals of the printer by the control switch. The chip 31 may prevent the printer from modifying the data within the chip 31. Since the printer changes the data on the developer amount in the chip 31 to zero when the developer replenishing apparatus 100 finishes replenishing the developer once, it indicates that the chip 31 has been used up and must be replaced. The chip 31 of the present invention stores a spare data, when the chip 31 receives an instruction for the printer to modify the developer volume, the chip 31 writes the instruction into the spare data, and returns the modified instruction to the printer using the spare data, and the printer will be deceived by the instruction returned by the spare data, and it is considered that the data of the chip 31 has been modified, and it is actually the data of the chip 31 in an unmodified state. When the chip 31 communicates with the printer again, the printer still determines that the chip is a new chip 31 and completes the authentication.

Therefore, the end of the accommodating cavity q close to the rod body 121 can be in the same plane when the rod body 121 is in the position-limiting position through the mutual matching of the first position-limiting part 1211 and the second position-limiting part 112, that is, the push rod is in a plane formed by the matching of the first position-limiting part 1211 and the second position-limiting part 112, so that the developer is prevented from leaking out through the gap where the first position-limiting part 1211 is matched with the second position-limiting part 112, the efficiency of developer injection is improved, and meanwhile, the plurality of detachable first position-limiting parts 1211 are used for assembling with the rod body 121, which not only facilitates the manufacture of the developer replenishing device 100 and reduces the assembly difficulty, but also enables users to assemble different numbers of the first position-limiting parts 1211 with the rod body 121 according to the needs when using the developer replenishing device 100, so that the users can use according to the needs, and the flexibility of the developer replenishing device 100 is increased.

Referring to fig. 4, the second position-limiting portion 112 is a positioning hole formed at an end of the case 11, and the maximum outer diameter of the first position-limiting portion 1211 is greater than the maximum outer diameter of the second position-limiting portion 112.

Therefore, the second position-limiting portion 112 can limit the position of the first position-limiting portion 1211, so that the first position-limiting portion 1211 is located in the box body 11, thereby allowing the developer between the first position-limiting portion 1211 and the box body 11 to be discharged through the through hole 115 under the driving of the pushing member 12, and increasing the safety of the developer replenishing device 100 when the second position-limiting portion 112 is used to limit the first position-limiting portion 1211.

In the specific example shown in fig. 5, the receiving chamber q has a semicircular cross section, the push plate 122 has a semicircular shape, and both of the first discharge ports 111 are disposed near the partition 117 and the central axis of the case 11.

Wherein, will hold chamber q evenly distributed for two semicircular chamber q that hold through being equipped with baffle 117 in the box body 11, different push rods can let the developer that the difference held the chamber q indoor obtain replenishing to let the replenishment of developer be the echelonment, replenish a part at every turn, adopt the form of replenishing many times, can guarantee like this that the developer avoids excessively replenishing the developer and cause the spilling of developer when replenishing.

Of course, the present invention is by no means limited thereto, and it is also possible to divide the containing chamber q equally into four by providing two partitions 117 in a cross shape, or to divide the containing chamber q equally by using more partitions 117. If the accommodating cavity q is subdivided into a plurality of cavities, the developer can be more finely filled because a plurality of accommodating cavities q are arranged during replenishing, the developer can be more finely filled because of the missing condition, and the developer replenishing device becomes more efficient.

Like this, through letting baffle 117 form the chamber q that holds of mutual symmetry to the impeller 12 position that holds to be equipped with in the chamber q and first discharge port 111 position all are symmetrical about the central axis of box body 11, with the inside chamber q that holds of box body 11 equipartition and the part of intracavity and structure symmetry each other, thereby when making box body 11 internal processing become more convenient, can let be to be the structure that appears in pairs and obtain simplifying with man-hour, and then become simple when maintenance or replacement part.

Referring to fig. 5, the cartridge 11 includes a cylinder 113 and an end cap 114 connected to one end of the cylinder 113, the end cap 114 has a through hole 115 for the pusher 12 to pass through, the push plate 122 is located inside the end cap 114, and the end of the end cap 114 or the cylinder 113 opposite to the end cap 114 is provided with a filling port 116.

Therefore, the pushing plate 122 located inside the end cover 114 can scrape off the developer adhered to the wall of the accommodating cavity q in the box body 11, and the end cover 114 located outside the pushing plate 122 can ensure that the developer remained in the gap between the pushing plate 122 and the cylinder wall cannot be scattered from the end cover 114, thereby avoiding environmental pollution.

In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 6, the injection port 116 is located on the end cap 114, the push plate 122 has a through hole for injection, and the side of the push plate 122 facing the first discharge port 111 is provided with a valve plate configured to close the through hole when the pushing member 12 moves toward the push-out position and to open the through hole when injecting. Like this, through establishing the check valve in sprue 116 below, let the material can pass through the check valve and get into and hold in the chamber q and avoided the material to spill from sprue 116 through the check valve, the polluted environment.

As shown in fig. 1, the developer cover 20 includes: the first cover 22 covers the cylinder 113, the second discharge port 21 is formed in the first cover 22, the second cover 23 is detachably connected to the first cover 22, one of the control switch 32 and the chip 31 is disposed on the first cover 22, and the other is disposed on the second cover 23, and the third cover 24 is used for blocking the second discharge port 21. Therefore, the developer cover 20 includes a first cover body 22, a second cover body 22, and a third cover body 24 for closing the discharge port, the first cover body 22 covering the housing, the discharge port being formed in the first cover body 22, an end portion of the discharge port being formed as the discharge port, the second cover body 23 being detachably connected to the first cover body 22. A control switch 32 is disposed on the second housing row, the control switch 32 is adapted to be in electrical communication with the chip 31, and the control switch 32 can be used to control the chip 31 to communicate or connect with the printer, so that the developer replenishing apparatus 100 can replenish the printer with developer. The third cover body 24 may be rotated to open or close the discharge port. When the developer replenishing apparatus 100 replenishes the printer with developer, the third cover 24 opens the discharge port by rotating by a predetermined angle. Of course, the third lid 24 may be rotated by an external force to open the discharge port, and the developer filling apparatus 100 may be reused by opening the developer lid 20 and filling the plurality of housing cavities q with the developer.

In the specific example shown in fig. 1 and 2, the first cover 22 includes: the first cover 221 and the first tube 222, the second cover 23 has the second cover 231 and the second tube 232, the second cover 231 is covered and buckled on the first cover 221, the first tube 222 penetrates out of the second tube 232, the side wall of the first cover 221 is provided with a switch mounting groove 2211, the side wall of the second cover 231 is provided with a switch mounting bracket 2311, the switch mounting bracket 2311 is inserted into the switch mounting groove 2211, and the control switch 32 is mounted between the switch mounting groove 2211 and the switch mounting bracket 2311.

The first cover 22 covers the cartridge 11, and the second cover 231 covers the outside of the first cover 221, so that the injection of the developer is guided by using a double-layer structure, thereby ensuring that the developer can be accurately injected and the quality of the developer can be ensured.

In some embodiments, the sidewall of the first tube part 222 is provided with a chip support table (not shown), the sidewall of the second tube part 232 is provided with a chip mounting groove 2321, the chip 31 is mounted in the mounting groove and the back surface of the chip 31 is supported on the chip support table.

Thus, the chip support platform can support the chip 31, so that the chip 31 can be better fixed on the replenishing device of the developing box. Meanwhile, the chip 31 is mounted in the chip mounting groove 2321, the chip 31 is fixed in position through the mounting groove, the chip 31 can be mounted conveniently through the chip mounting groove 2321, and the stability of the chip 31 in the interior of the replenishing device of the developing box is improved.

In the description herein, references to the description of the term "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an illustrative embodiment," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples" or the like mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A developer replenishing apparatus, comprising:

a developer cartridge, the developer cartridge comprising:

the box body is internally provided with a plurality of accommodating cavities, one end of the box body is provided with a plurality of first discharge ports which are communicated with the accommodating cavities in a one-to-one correspondence manner, and each accommodating cavity is respectively provided with a plurality of push-out positions; and the number of the first and second groups,

at least one pushing member, each of which protrudes into the corresponding accommodating chamber from the other end of the cartridge body in a one-to-one correspondence to move from an initial position to a push-out position in sequence, each of which is configured to push out the developer in the accommodating chamber section by section at a plurality of push-out positions; each time the pushing member reaches a pushing position, pushing N times of the developer with preset volume out of the accommodating cavity is completed, wherein N is a natural number greater than or equal to 1;

a developer cover connected to the cartridge body and having a second discharge port communicating with the plurality of first discharge ports.

2. The developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said urging member comprises a rod body and a push plate attached to an end of said rod body, said push plate being slidably fitted to a side wall of said accommodating chamber, said urging member being in positioning engagement with said cartridge body at each of said push-out positions.

3. The developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pushing member further comprises at least first position-limiting portions, each of the first position-limiting portions is detachably mounted to a rod body, a hole of the cartridge body through which the rod body passes is formed with a second position-limiting portion, and the first position-limiting portions different at each of the pushing-out positions are respectively in positioning engagement with the second position-limiting portions.

4. The developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second position-limiting portion is a positioning hole formed at an end of said cartridge body, and a maximum outer diameter of said first position-limiting portion is larger than a maximum outer diameter of said second position-limiting portion.

5. The developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a partition plate is provided in the cartridge body to equally distribute the accommodating chambers into two semicircular accommodating chambers, the accommodating chambers have a semicircular cross section, the push plate has a semicircular shape, and both of the first discharge ports are provided near a central axis of the partition plate and the cartridge body.

6. The developer replenishing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said cartridge body comprises a cylinder and an end cap attached to an end of said cylinder, said end cap having a through hole through which said pushing member passes, said end cap or an end of said cylinder opposite to said end cap being provided with a feed port.

7. The developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the injection port is provided on the end cap, the push plate has a passage hole for injection, a valve sheet is provided on a side of the push plate facing the first discharge port, the valve sheet being configured to close the passage hole when the pushing member moves toward the push-out position and to open the passage hole when injecting the developer.

8. The developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a control switch electrically connected to the chip, the developer cover comprising:

a first cover covering the cylinder, the second discharge port being formed in the first cover;

the second cover body is detachably connected with the first cover body, one of the control switch and the chip is arranged on the first cover body, and the other one of the control switch and the chip is arranged on the second cover body; and

and the third cover body is used for blocking the second discharge port.

9. The developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first cover body comprises: first lid and first pipe portion, the second lid has second lid and second pipe portion, the second lid cover detain in first lid just first pipe portion is worn out the second pipe portion, the lateral wall of first lid is equipped with the switch mounting groove, the lateral wall of second lid is equipped with the switch installing support, the switch installing support inserts in the switch mounting groove, control switch install in the switch mounting groove with between the switch installing support.

10. The developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a side wall of said first tube portion is provided with a chip supporting stage, a side wall of said second tube portion is provided with a chip mounting groove, said chip is mounted in said mounting groove and a back surface of said chip is supported on said chip supporting stage.