Method and apparatus for simultaneously bonding a plurality of lead frames to a plurality of planar articles

Apparatus for concurrently bonding the leads of a plurality of lead frames to respective bonding sites on the first faces of a corresponding plurality of substantially planar articles, each of said articles having a second face opposite said first face, said apparatus comprising:

• a. a plurality of independently movable bonding tips, one for each lead frame, positioned in a predetermined array of bonding tips and adapted to engage the leads of the associated lead frames;
• b. a thermode adapted to simultaneously engage the second faces of all of said plurality of articles and to be heated to bonding temperature;
• and
• c. operating means adapted to concurrently and independently move each of the associated bonding tips, lead frames, and planar articles in a first direction to engage the second face of each of the plurality of planar articles with the thermode and apply a substantially uniform bonding pressure through said bonding tips concurrently to all of said lead frames and bonding sites.

Apparatus for simultaneously bonding a plurality of lead frames to respective bonding sites on a first face of each of a plurality of substantially planar articles, said articles having a second face opposite said first face, said apparatus comprising:

• a. a plurality of independently movable bonding tips, one for each lead frame, positioned in a predetermined array of bonding tips and adapted to engage the leads of the associated lead frames;
• b. a plurality of independently movable pistons, adapted to mount a separate one of said plurality of bonding tips in one end thereof;
• c. registration means for registering each of the lead frames with the associated bonding tip and the bonding sites on the respective planar article;
• d. a thermode adapted to simultaneously engage the second face of said plurality of articles and to be heated to bonding temperature;
• and
• e. operating means adapted to concurrently and independently move all of said plurality of pistons, and in turn, said plurality of registered bonding tips, lead frames and planar articles, in a first direction to engage the second face of each of the plurality of planar articles with said thermode and apply a substantially uniform bonding pressure through said pistons and bonding tips concurrently to all of said plurality of lead frames and bonding sites.