Bonding method and apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for connecting a wire of aluminium or aluminium alloy to a component or terminal, comprising a wire holder including means for gripping the wire, means for receiving the component or terminal to which the wire is to be bonded, and ball-forming means, the ball-forming means comprising: a reusable electrode; means supporting said reusable electrode within a slotted housing; a supply circuit for applying between the wire and the electrode a voltage not exceeding 200 volts; driving means for effecting relative movement of the wire and electrode by displacing the slotted housing to permit temporary contact between the wire and the electrode through the slot, whereby a spark discharge is produced when said temporary contact is broken; a shielding gas inlet and means for conveying shielding gas from the inlet to the neighborhood of the wire end during the spark discharge; the apparatus further comprising means for effecting relative movement of the wire, on which a ball has been formed by the spark discharge process, and a component or terminal received in the apparatus to bring the ball into contact with the component or terminal for bonding.

Claim 3

Apparatus for connecting a wire of aluminium or aluminium alloy to a component or terminal, comprising a wire holder including means for gripping the wire, means for receiving the component or terminal to which the wire is to be bonded, the wire holder being mounted for movement towards and away from the receiving means, and ball-forming means, the ball-forming means comprising: an electrode arranged for movement towards and away from a wire in the wire holder and a supply circuit connected between the electrode and wire; a common driving means arranged for moving the electrode towards the wire to initiate a spark discharge between a tip of the electrode and the wire and thereafter moving the electrode away from the wire and moving the wire towards the component or terminal; a housing within which said electrode is accommodated and which is movable with the electrode, said housing having an open end adjacent said electrode tip; and means for conveying shielding gas to the interior of said movable housing and thereby to the neighborhood of the wire end during said spark discharge.

Claim 4

Apparatus for connecting a wire of aluminium or aluminium alloy to a component or terminal, comprising a wire holder including means for gripping the wire, means for receiving the component or terminal to which the wire is to be bonded, the wire holder being mounted for movement towards and away from the receiving means, and ball-forming means, the ball-forming means comprising: an electrode arranged for movement towards and away from a wire in the wire holder and a supply circuit connected between the electrode and wire; a common driving means arranged for moving the electrode towards the wire to initiate a spark discharge between a tip of the electrode and the wire and thereafter moving the electrode away from the wire and moving the wire towards the component or terminal; a housing within which said electrode is accommodated and which is movable with the electrode, said housing having an open end adjacent said electrode tip; and means for conveying shielding gas to the interior of said movable housing and thereby to the neighborhood of the wire end during said spark discharge.

Claim 5

Apparatus for connecting a wire of aluminum or aluminum alloy to a component or terminal, comprising a wire holder including means for gripping the wire, means for receiving the component or terminal to which the wire is to be bonded, and ball-forming means, the ball-forming means comprising: an open ended housing; a reusable electrode mounted within said housing with the tip of said electrode adjacent said open end; a supply circuit for applying between the wire and a tip of said reusable electrode a voltage not exceeding 200 volts; driving means operative to advance said electrode and housing towards the wire and to withdraw said electrode and electrode housing from the wire to cause temporary contact between the wire and the electrode tip adjacent said open end of said housing whereby spark discharge is produced when said temporary contact is broken; means for conveying shielding gas to the interior of said housing and thereby to the neighborhood of the wire end during said spark discharge; the apparatus further comprising means for effecting relative movement of the wire, on which a ball has been formed by the spark discharge process, and a component or terminal received in the apparatus, to bring the ball into contact with the component or terminal for bonding following withdrawal of said housing and electrode from the wire.

Claim 6

Apparatus for connecting a wire of aluminum or aluminum alloy to a component or terminal, comprising a wire holder including means for gripping the wire, means for receiving the component or terminal to which the wire is to be bonded, and ball-forming means, the ball-forming means comprising: an open ended housing; a reusable electrode mounted within said housing with the tip of said electrode adjacent said open end; a supply circuit for applying between the wire and a tip of said reusable electrode a voltage not exceeding 200 volts; driving means operative to advance said electrode and housing towards the wire and to withdraw said electrode and electrode housing from the wire to cause temporary contact between the wire and the electrode tip adjacent said open end of said housing whereby spark discharge is produced when said temporary contact is broken; means for conveying shielding gas to the interior of said housing and thereby to the neighborhood of the wire end during said spark discharge; the apparatus further comprising means for effecting relative movement of the wire, on which a ball has been formed by the spark discharge process, and a component or terminal received in the apparatus, to bring the ball into contact with the component or terminal for bonding following withdrawal of said housing and electrode from the wire.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the means for effecting relative movement of the wire and electrode displaces the said housing with the electrode along a path transverse to the direction of extension of the wire from the wire holder, and in which the end of the electrode which contacts the wire is sloped.