Wire tensioner

A wire tensioner used for a wire-bonding apparatus, the wire tensioner comprising:

• a main body;
• a compressed gas supply channel;
• a connection port, configured to connect the main body and the compressed gas supply channel;
• a tubular unit, through which a compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas supply channel via the connection port;
• and
• a wire passage, provided in the tubular unit, the wire passage constituting a passage through which the wire runs from a side of a wire spool to a side of a bonding tool, wherein
• the wire passage includes:
• an inlet, through which the compressed gas enters;
• a first outlet, through which the compressed gas within the wire passage is discharged to an atmosphere, the first outlet being provided on the side of the wire spool of the inlet;
• a first flow contraction portion, provided on the side of the wire spool of the inlet, and configured to narrow an area of the wire passage to make a flow of the compressed gas to the side of the wire spool contracted;
• a second flow contraction portion, provided on the side of the bonding tool of the inlet, and configured to narrow an area of the wire passage to make a flow of the compressed gas to the side of the bonding tool contracted;
• and
• a second outlet, through which the compressed gas within the wire passage is discharged to the atmosphere, the second outlet being provided on the side of the bonding tool of the second flow contraction portion.