# US 2016/0365331 A1 · Wire tensioner

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2016/0365331 A1
- Document ID: US20160365331A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/245,193
- Filed: 2016-08-24
- Published: 2016-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-24
- Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
- Applicants: Shinkawa Ltd.
- Inventors: Yoshitaka TAKAGI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160365331A1

## CPC

- B23K 20/004: {Wire welding}
- H10W 72/0711: {Apparatus therefor}
- H10W 72/07141: {Means for applying energy, e.g. ovens or lasers}
- H10W 72/07168: {Means for storing or moving the material for the connector}
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

A wire tensioner has a wire passage through which a wire is inserted. The wire passage include: an inlet through which a compressed gas enters; a first outlet through which the compressed gas is discharged and is provided on an upper side of the inlet; a first flow contraction portion provided on the upper side of the inlet, and for contracting an area of the wire passage; a second flow contraction portion provided on a lower side of the inlet, and for contracting the area of the wire passage; a third flow contraction portion provided on a side of a bonding tool of the second flow contraction portion, and for making the flow of the compressed gas to the side of the bonding tool contracted; and a second outlet through which the compressed gas is discharged and is provided on the lower side of the second flow contraction portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wire tensioner according to claim 1, further comprising:
a third flow contraction portion, provided on the side of the bonding tool of the second flow contraction portion, and configured to narrow an area of the wire passage to make the flow of the compressed gas to the side of the bonding tool contracted.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The wire tensioner according to claim 2, wherein
an area of the wire passage between the second flow contraction portion and the third flow contraction portion is greater than either of areas of the second flow contraction portion and the third flow contraction portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wire tensioner according to claim 1, wherein
the wire tensioner is provided between the bonding tool and the wire spool for supplying a wire to the bonding tool.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wire tensioner according to claim 1, wherein
the wire tensioner is disposed above an oxidation protection unit configured to prevent oxidation of a surface of a free air ball formed near a tip of the bonding tool.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wire tensioner according to claim 1, wherein
an area of the first flow contraction portion is smaller than an area of the first outlet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The wire tensioner according to claim 2, wherein
an area of the third flow contraction portion is smaller than an area of the second outlet.