Wire bonding apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for removing a bonded wire from the bond thereof comprising: a support; an arm shiftably mounted on the support for movement from a first position spaced from the wire to a second position adjacent to the wire and return; torch means carried by the arm for cutting the wire at a location spaced from the bond when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position, whereby the wire is separated into two portions with one of the portions projecting outwardly from the bond; means carried by the arm adjacent to and below said cutting means for gripping said one portion and for moving the same outwardly of the bond thereof as the arm moves toward said first position; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 3

Apparatus for removing a bonded wire from the bond thereof comprising: a support; an arm shiftably mounted on the support for pivotal movement in a first direction from a first position spaced from the wire to a second position adjacent to the wire and return; means carried by the arm and movable relative thereto in a second direction transverse to the first direction for Releasably gripping the wire and moving the same outwardly of the bond thereof as the arm moves toward said first position; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 4

Apparatus for removing a bonded wire from the bond thereof comprising: a support; an arm shiftably mounted on the support for pivotal movement in a first direction from a first position spaced from the wire to a second position adjacent to the wire and return; means carried by the arm and movable relative thereto in a second direction transverse to the first direction for Releasably gripping the wire and moving the same outwardly of the bond thereof as the arm moves toward said first position; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 5

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an assembly including a wire clamp and a wire cutting torch; means coupled with the assembly and adapted to be coupled to a wire bonding machine for mounting the assembly thereon for movement toward and away from a location to be occupied by wire bonded by said machine, said torch being disposed to cause its flame to cut the wire at a region spaced from the bond thereof when the assembly is adjacent to said location to thereby form a wire extension projecting outwardly from the bond, said wire clamp being substantially on opposite sides of the wire when the latter is cut and being movable into gripping relationship with respect to said extension, said mounting means being movable away from said location after said extension has been gripped whereby said extension can be carried away from said location by the wire clamp; and means coupled to the assembly for moving the same toward and away from said location.

Claim 6

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an assembly including a wire clamp and a wire cutting torch; means coupled with the assembly and adapted to be coupled to a wire bonding machine for mounting the assembly thereon for movement toward and away from a location to be occupied by wire bonded by said machine, said torch being disposed to cause its flame to cut the wire at a region spaced from the bond thereof when the assembly is adjacent to said location to thereby form a wire extension projecting outwardly from the bond, said wire clamp being substantially on opposite sides of the wire when the latter is cut and being movable into gripping relationship with respect to said extension, said mounting means being movable away from said location after said extension has been gripped whereby said extension can be carried away from said location by the wire clamp; and means coupled to the assembly for moving the same toward and away from said location.

Claim 7

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be mounted on the wire bonding machine for movement relative thereto from a first position spaced from a location occupied by a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said location and return; an actuatable wire clamp carried by the arm and having a pair of relatively shiftable jaws adapted to embrace a wire at said location and to grip the same when the wire clamp is actuated; means carried by the arm for actuating the wire clamp when said jaws embrace the wire; means carried by the arm adjacent to said wire clamp for cutting the wire at a region spaced from the bond thereof when the jaws substantially embrace the wire; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from said first position to said second position and return.

Claim 8

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be mounted on the wire bonding machine for movement relative thereto from a first position spaced from a location occupied by a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said location and return; an actuatable wire clamp carried by the arm and having a pair of relatively shiftable jaws adapted to embrace a wire at said location and to grip the same when the wire clamp is actuated; means carried by the arm for actuating the wire clamp when said jaws embrace the wire; means carried by the arm adjacent to said wire clamp for cutting the wire at a region spaced from the bond thereof when the jaws substantially embrace the wire; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from said first position to said second position and return.

Claim 9

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be shiftably mounted on the machine for movement along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; means mounted on the arm for cutting a wire at a location spaced from the bond thereof when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position to thereby form a wire extension projecting outwardly from the bond; actuatable means carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means for gripping the wire extension, said gripping means being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternately approaches and moves away from said second position; means carried by the arm for actuating the gripping means when the same is adjacent to the outer end of said second path; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 10

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be shiftably mounted on the machine for movement along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; means mounted on the arm for cutting a wire at a location spaced from the bond thereof when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position to thereby form a wire extension projecting outwardly from the bond; actuatable means carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means for gripping the wire extension, said gripping means being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternately approaches and moves away from said second position; means carried by the arm for actuating the gripping means when the same is adjacent to the outer end of said second path; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 11

Apparatus for removing a bonded wire from the bond thereof comprising: a support; an arm shiftably mounted on the support for movement from a first position spaced from the wire to a second position adjacent to the wire and return; means carried by the arm for releasably gripping the wire and moving the same outwardly of the bond thereof as the arm moves toward said first position, said gripping and moving means being movable along a first path generally parallel with the path of the arm during a first portion of the movement of the arm toward said second position and along a second path transverse to the first path during a second portion of the movement of the arm, said gripping and moving means being movable into gripping relationship to the wire when the last-mentioned means is at least adjacent to the outer end of said second path; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same.

Claim 12

Apparatus for removing a bonded wire from the bond thereof comprising: a support; an arm shiftably mounted on the support for movement from a first position spaced from the wire to a second position adjacent to the wire and return; means carried by the arm for releasably gripping the wire and moving the same outwardly of the bond thereof as the arm moves toward said first position, said gripping and moving means being movable along a first path generally parallel with the path of the arm during a first portion of the movement of the arm toward said second position and along a second path transverse to the first path during a second portion of the movement of the arm, said gripping and moving means being movable into gripping relationship to the wire when the last-mentioned means is at least adjacent to the outer end of said second path; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same.

Claim 13

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm aDapted to be mounted on the wire bonding machine for rotation relative thereto in a generally horizontal plane from a first position spaced from a location occupied by a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said location and return; an actuatable wire clamp shiftably mounted on said arm for movement transversely of the movement of the arm when the latter alternately approaches and moves away from said second position, said wire clamp adapted to move onto a wire at said location and to grip the same when the wire clamp is actuated; means carried by the arm for actuating the wire clamp when the same is disposed on the wire; a torch carried by the arm adjacent to said wire clamp for cutting the wire at a region spaced from the bond thereof; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from said first position to said second position and return.

Claim 14

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm aDapted to be mounted on the wire bonding machine for rotation relative thereto in a generally horizontal plane from a first position spaced from a location occupied by a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said location and return; an actuatable wire clamp shiftably mounted on said arm for movement transversely of the movement of the arm when the latter alternately approaches and moves away from said second position, said wire clamp adapted to move onto a wire at said location and to grip the same when the wire clamp is actuated; means carried by the arm for actuating the wire clamp when the same is disposed on the wire; a torch carried by the arm adjacent to said wire clamp for cutting the wire at a region spaced from the bond thereof; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from said first position to said second position and return.

Claim 15

A wire handling unit as set forth in claim 7, wherein said actuating means includes a power device, and means for energizing the power device after said wire clamp has moved transversely of said arm movement.

Claim 16

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be mounted on the wire bonding machine for movement relative thereto from a first position spaced from a location occupied by a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said location and return; an actuatable wire clamp carried by the arm and including a pair of relatively shiftable jaws adapted to move onto opposite sides of a wire at said location and to grip the same when the wire clamp is actuated; means carried by the arm for actuating the wire clamp when the same is disposed on the wire; a torch having a tip from which a flame can emanate, said torch being carried by the arm adjacent to said wire clamp for cutting the wire at a region spaced from the bond thereof, said jaws being below the tip of the torch; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from said first position to said second position and return.

Claim 17

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be mounted on the wire bonding machine for movement relative thereto from a first position spaced from a location occupied by a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said location and return; an actuatable wire clamp carried by the arm and including a pair of relatively shiftable jaws adapted to move onto opposite sides of a wire at said location and to grip the same when the wire clamp is actuated; means carried by the arm for actuating the wire clamp when the same is disposed on the wire; a torch having a tip from which a flame can emanate, said torch being carried by the arm adjacent to said wire clamp for cutting the wire at a region spaced from the bond thereof, said jaws being below the tip of the torch; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from said first position to said second position and return.

Claim 18

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be shiftably mounted on the machine for movement along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; means mounted on the arm for cutting a wire when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position; actuatable means carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means for gripping the wire, said gripping means being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternately approaches and moves away from said second position and in response to the movement of the arm along said first path; means carried by the arm for actuating the gripping means when the same is adjacent to the outer end of said second path; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 19

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be shiftably mounted on the machine for movement along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; means mounted on the arm for cutting a wire when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position; actuatable means carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means for gripping the wire, said gripping means being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternately approaches and moves away from said second position and in response to the movement of the arm along said first path; means carried by the arm for actuating the gripping means when the same is adjacent to the outer end of said second path; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 20

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: and arm adapted to be rotatably mounted on the machine for movement about a generally vertical axis along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; a torch; means coupled with the torch for shiftably mounting the same on said arm, said torch being adapted for cutting a wire when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position; means coupled with the torch mounting means for stopping the movement thereof as said arm approaches and is spaced from said second position; actuatable means carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means for gripping the wire, said gripping means being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternately approaches and moves away from said second position; means carried by the arm for actuating the gripping means when the same is adjacent to the outer end of said second path; and means coupled with the arm for moving the sAme from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 21

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: and arm adapted to be rotatably mounted on the machine for movement about a generally vertical axis along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; a torch; means coupled with the torch for shiftably mounting the same on said arm, said torch being adapted for cutting a wire when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position; means coupled with the torch mounting means for stopping the movement thereof as said arm approaches and is spaced from said second position; actuatable means carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means for gripping the wire, said gripping means being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternately approaches and moves away from said second position; means carried by the arm for actuating the gripping means when the same is adjacent to the outer end of said second path; and means coupled with the arm for moving the sAme from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 22

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be shiftably mounted on the machine for movement along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; means mounted on the arm for cutting a wire when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position; an actuatable wire clamp carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means and having a pair of relatively shiftable jaws adapted to embrace and grip a wire, said wire clamp being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternatively approaches and moves away from said second position; an operable power device moving one of the jaws relative to and toward the other jaw for clamping a wire therebetween when the wire clamp is adjacent to the outer end of said second path; a programmed means for operating the power device as the arm moves along a portion of said first path and away from said second position; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 23

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be shiftably mounted on the machine for movement along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; means mounted on the arm for cutting a wire when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position; an actuatable wire clamp carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means and having a pair of relatively shiftable jaws adapted to embrace and grip a wire, said wire clamp being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternatively approaches and moves away from said second position; an operable power device moving one of the jaws relative to and toward the other jaw for clamping a wire therebetween when the wire clamp is adjacent to the outer end of said second path; a programmed means for operating the power device as the arm moves along a portion of said first path and away from said second position; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 24

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be shiftably mounted on the machine for movement along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; means mounted on the arm for cutting a wire when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position to form a wire extension projecting outwardly from the bond; actuatable means carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means for gripping the wire extension, said gripping means being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternately approaches and moves away from said second position; means carried by the arm for actuating the gripping means when the same is adjacent to the outer end of said second path, whereby the wire extension is gripped and can be pulled away from the bond; suction means adjacent to said first path for collecting the wire extension after it has been pulled away from the bond and released by said gripping means; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.

Claim 25

A wire handling unit for a wire bonding machine comprising: an arm adapted to be shiftably mounted on the machine for movement along a first path from a first position spaced from a wire bonded by the machine to a second position adjacent to said wire and return; means mounted on the arm for cutting a wire when the arm is at least adjacent to said second position to form a wire extension projecting outwardly from the bond; actuatable means carried by said arm adjacent to said cutting means for gripping the wire extension, said gripping means being movable relative to the arm along a second path transversely of the arm movement as the arm alternately approaches and moves away from said second position; means carried by the arm for actuating the gripping means when the same is adjacent to the outer end of said second path, whereby the wire extension is gripped and can be pulled away from the bond; suction means adjacent to said first path for collecting the wire extension after it has been pulled away from the bond and released by said gripping means; and means coupled with the arm for moving the same from the first position to the second position and return.