U.S. patent application number 10/293051 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-29 for spool gripper, spool handling unit with spool gripper, and method of handling spool using same.
This patent application is currently assigned to W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Back, Jung Woo.
Application Number | 20030098385 10/293051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19716371 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030098385 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Back, Jung Woo |
May 29, 2003 |
Spool gripper, spool handling unit with spool gripper, and method
of handling spool using same
Abstract
A spool gripper is coupled to any one of the flanges provided at
both sides of a spool wound with a semiconductor device bonding
wire thereon. The spool gripper has an inner diameter portion for
receiving a spool holder when the spool is fitted to the spool
holder, a coupling portion coupled to the circumference of the
flange while bearing a diameter larger than the inner diameter
portion, and an outer diameter portion with a diameter larger than
the coupling portion. The worker grips the outer diameter portion
to handle the spool. The handling of the spool can be made without
directly touching the spool. The wire bonding operation is made
while the gripper is coupled to the flange. Therefore, it is not
necessary to decouple the gripper from the flange to make the wire
bonding operation. Accordingly, the durability of the gripper and
the reliability in the spool holding can be maintained without
deterioration while preventing separation of the spool from the
gripper. Irrespective of the length of the spool holder or the
presence of the spool fixation member, the spool handling unit can
be used with any type spool holder.
Inventors: |
Back, Jung Woo; (Incheon,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Klaus P. Stoffel ESQ
Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen
1180 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036-8403
US
|
Assignee: |
W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co.
KG
|
Family ID: |
19716371 |
Appl. No.: |
10/293051 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/597 ;
242/614 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2924/01074
20130101; B65H 2701/361 20130101; H01L 2924/01078 20130101; H01L
2224/786 20130101; H01L 2924/01005 20130101; B65H 75/141 20130101;
H01L 2224/45015 20130101; H01L 2224/851 20130101; H01L 2924/00014
20130101; H01L 2924/01013 20130101; H01L 2924/01004 20130101; H01L
2924/01082 20130101; H01L 2924/01006 20130101; H01L 2924/01033
20130101; B65H 67/065 20130101; B65H 2402/414 20130101; H01L 24/45
20130101; B65H 49/38 20130101; H01L 24/78 20130101; H01L 2224/45124
20130101; H01L 2924/00014 20130101; H01L 2224/48 20130101; H01L
2224/45124 20130101; H01L 2924/00015 20130101; H01L 2224/45015
20130101; H01L 2924/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/597 ;
242/614 |
International
Class: |
B65H 016/04; B65H
075/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 27, 2001 |
KR |
74394/2001 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A spool gripper for coupling to flanges provided at both sides
of a spool wound with a semiconductor device bonding wire thereon,
the spool gripper comprising: an inner diameter portion configured
to receive a spool holder when the spool is fitted to the spool
holder; a coupling portion configured to be couplable to a
circumference of the flange and having a diameter larger than the
inner diameter portion; and an outer diameter portion with a
diameter larger than the coupling portion, the outer diameter
portion being grippable for handling the spool.
2. The spool gripper of claim 1, wherein at least two coupling
protrusions are formed at the coupling portion so as to protrude
inwardly in a radial manner.
3. The spool gripper of claim 2, wherein the coupling protrusions
are positioned at a periphery of the coupling portion.
4. The spool gripper of claim 2, wherein the coupling protrusions
are positioned at a center of the coupling portion.
5. The spool gripper of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of
prominent portions arranged to form a space for receiving an end
portion of the conductive wire fitted to the flange.
6. The spool gripper of claim 1, wherein a pair of knobs are formed
at the outer diameter portion so as to face each other.
7. The spool gripper of claim 1, further comprising a cutting plane
through the inner diameter portion, the coupling portion and the
outer diameeter portion so that the gripper is compressable to
deform the inner diameter.
8. The spool gripper of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of
prominent portions arranged to form a space for receiving an end
portion of the conductive wire fitted to the flange.
9. A spool handling unit, comprising: a spool gripper having an
inner diameter portion configured to receive a spool holder when
the spool is fitted to the spool holder, a coupling portion
configured to be couplable to a circumference of the flange and
having a diameter larger than the inner diameter portion, and an
outer diameter portion with a diameter larger than the coupling
portion, the outer diameter portion being grippable for handling
the spool; and a spool case for storing the spool, the spool case
having a base for mounting the spool, and a cover coupled to the
base to prevent foreign materials from being introduced into the
case.
10. The spool handling unit of claim 9, wherein the base has a
bottom portion, a sidewall protruded from the bottom portion, and a
protrusion formed at the bottom portion internal to the sidewall so
as to be insertable into an inner diameter portion of the spool,
the cover having a protrusion insertable into the inner diameter
portion of the spool fitted to the base to maintain a central axis
of the spool in a horizontal direction, and a stopper configured so
as to hold the central axis of the spool in the horizontal
direction.
11. A method of handling a spool with a spool handling unit having
a spool gripper with an inner diameter portion configured to
receive a spool holder when the spool is fitted to the spool
holder, a coupling portion configured to be couplable to a
circumference of the flange and having a diameter larger than the
inner diameter portion, and an outer diameter portion with a
diameter larger than the coupling portion, the outer diameter
portion being grippable for handling the spool, and a spool case
for storing the spool, the spool case having a base for mounting
the spool and a cover coupled to the base to prevent foreign
materials from being introduced into the case, wherein the base has
a bottom portion, a sidewall protruded from the bottom portion, and
a protrusion formed at the bottom portion internal to the sidewall
so as to be insertable into an inner diameter portion of the spool,
the cover having a protrusion insertable into the inner diameter
portion of the spool fitted to the base to maintain a central axis
of the spool in a horizontal direction, and a stopper configured so
as to hold the central axis of the spool in the horizontal
direction, the method comprising the steps of: coupling the spool
gripper to the flange of the spool; mounting the spool to the spool
case; storing and carrying the spool so that the central axis of
the spool is maintained to be in the horizontal direction; gripping
the spool gripper coupled to the spool; fitting the spool to the
spool holder; and performing a wiring bonding operation while the
gripper is coupled to the spool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a wire bonding assembly for
processing a semiconductor chip package and, more particularly, to
a spool gripper detachably fitted to a spool flange. The invention
further relates to a method of handling a spool with the spool
gripper which effectively prevents a bonding wire from being
contaminated and damaged due to the carelessness of a worker.
[0003] (b) Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, a wire bonding assembly is a device for
electrically connecting a lead of a lead frame to a bonding pad of
a semiconductor chip bearing an electrical characteristic by way of
a conductive wire such as a high purity platinum Pt wire or an
aluminum wire.
[0005] The wire bonding assembly is usually provided with a spool,
a spool holder, a wire feed guider, a wire clamp, and a capillary.
A conductive wire is wound on the spool, and the spool is fitted to
the spool holder. The conductive wire is fused by way of the
capillary and the torch bar, and welded to the bonding pad of the
semiconductor chip and the lead.
[0006] In order to prevent the conductive wire from being separated
from the spool while making the worker hold the spool and fit it to
the spool holder, a flange is formed at both sides of the spool
such that it protrudes from the spool by 4-5 mm in a radial manner.
Various kinds of spool cases may be used to handle the spool. The
handling of the spool may be storage and carriage thereof.
[0007] For instance, Japanese Utility Model Publication Number Sho
54-103747 discloses a spool case having a base with a protrusion
onto which a cylindrical spool is inserted, and a cover coupled to
the base to prevent a foreign material such as dust from being
introduced therein. The cover is provided with a depressed portion
for receiving the spool in correspondence with the protrusion of
the base.
[0008] With the above-structured spool case, the worker grips the
flange of the spool by hand to remove the spool from the spool
case, and at that state, fits it to the spool holder.
[0009] However, as the spool flange is radially protruded from the
spool at most by 4-5 mm, the wire wound on the spool becomes placed
over the outermost circumference of the flange. Accordingly, with
the handling of the spool, the fingers of the worker contact the
surface of the conductive wire. In this case, the wire is
contaminated or damaged, and this induces serious device failures
during the wire bonding process.
[0010] Korean Utility Model Publication No. 97-52837 discloses a
spool having a one-sided flange with a first diameter, and an
opposite-sided flange with a second diameter. The second diameter
is established to be significantly larger than the first diameter.
The worker grips the large diameter flange to fit the spool to the
spool holder.
[0011] Japanese Patent Publication Laid-open No. 2000-012599
discloses a bonding wire spool case with a base. The base has an
interfacial coupling member externally fitted around the spool
flange to hold the spool, and a knob externally protruded to
receive a spool holder. The base is established to be capable of
being elastically transformed. In order to decouple the spool from
the base, the worker grips the knob, and elastically transforms the
base.
[0012] However, such a spool with a large diameter flange involves
several problems.
[0013] The spool used in the wire bonding assembly may be
differentiated in structure per the respective semiconduct.sup.oor
chip package manufacturing companies. For instance, it is possible
that the A company uses a spool where only the one-sided flange is
formed with a large diameter, whereas the B company uses a spool
where all of the both-sided flanges are formed with a small
diameter (4-5 mm). With this situation, in order to supply the
correct spools to both of the A company and the B company, the
spool manufacturing company should make a facility for producing
the former-type flange and a facility for producing the latter-type
flange in a separate manner. This inevitably causes increased
production cost.
[0014] Meanwhile, with the spool case disclosed in Japanese Patent
Publication Laid-open No. 2000-012599, the base with the
interfacial coupling member is formed with a material capable of
being elastically transformed such that the spool can be decoupled
from the base by way of the interfacial coupling member.
[0015] In case the base repeatedly suffers the elastic
transformation in coupling or decoupling the spool, stress is made
at a predetermined region of the base due to the elastic
transformation. Consequently, the base is stress-damaged while
being deteriorated in its durability.
[0016] The interfacial coupling member, which is connected to the
base in a body to substantially hold the spool, is formed with an
elastic plastic material. With the repeated uses, the interfacial
coupling member becomes worn out or blunt, and this deteriorates
reliability in the spool holding operation.
[0017] Furthermore, with the handling of the spool, the worker
picks out the cover from the base, and grips the base to fit the
spool to the spool holder of the bonding assembly. At this time,
the worker may inattentively grip both sides of the base. In this
case, the spool holding operation by way of the interfacial
coupling member is released, and as a result, the spool is
decoupled from the base. Consequently, the bonding wire is
contaminated, and damaged.
[0018] Furthermore, in case the spool holder is longer than the sum
in length of the spool and the knob, the spool is incompletely
fitted to the spool holder so that the spool coupling and
decoupling operation by way of the base cannot be easily made. In
case the spool holder has a holder knob at its end portion, the
holder knob is internally caught by the knob of the base so that
the spool coupling and decoupling operation using the base becomes
impossible while delimiting the usable range of the spool case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
gripper capable of being coupled to or decoupled from a spool
flange, and a unit and a method of handling a spool with the
gripper.
[0020] This and other objects may be achieved by a spool gripper
and a spool handling unit with the following features.
[0021] A spool gripper is coupled to any one of flanges provided at
both sides of a spool wound with a semiconductor device bonding
wire thereon. The spool gripper has an inner diameter portion for
receiving a spool holder when the spool is fitted to the spool
holder, a coupling portion coupled to the circumference of the
flange while bearing a diameter larger than the inner diameter
portion, and an outer diameter portion with a diameter larger than
the coupling portion.
[0022] With the spool gripper, the facility cost is not increased
while satisfying the requirements of the package manufacturing
company. In case spools are delivered to the package manufacturing
company where the desired spool has a large diameter flange, the
delivery is made with the gripper being coupled to the flange of
the spool. Therefore, an additional facility for making a large
diameter flange is not needed.
[0023] Furthermore, the distance between the bonding wire wound on
the spool and the outer diameter portion of the gripper becomes
enlarged to be greater than that related to the conventional small
diameter flange. Therefore, the handling of the spool can be made
without directly touching the spool. The coupling state of the
gripper to the spool is not released unless the gripper is
intentionally separated from the flange. As the wire bonding
operation is made while the gripper is coupled to the flange, it is
not needed that the gripper should be decoupled from the flange to
make the wire bonding operation. Accordingly, the durability of the
gripper and the reliability in the spool holding can be maintained
without deterioration while preventing separation of the spool from
the gripper.
[0024] At least two coupling protrusions are formed at the coupling
portion while protruding inwardly in a radial manner. The coupling
protrusion may be positioned at the periphery of the coupling
portion, or at the center thereof.
[0025] The coupling protrusion should be formed at the same height
as the thickness of the flange to fit the gripper to the flange.
With the placing of the coupling protrusion at the middle of the
coupling portion, the thickness of the outer diameter portion is
enlarged by a predetermined degree. Accordingly, when the worker
grips the gripper, the fingers of the worker do not touch the
conductive wire W.
[0026] A plurality of prominent portions are formed at the gripper
to make a space for receiving the end of the conductive wire W
fastened to the outer surface of the spool flange by way of a tape.
When the gripper is coupled to the spool flange, the end of the
conductive wire W is placed within the space, and hence, possible
damage thereof can be prevented.
[0027] The gripper may be formed with a metallic plate ring, or a
plastic plate ring. In the latter case, it is preferable that
cutting planes are formed at the gripper. When the worker grips the
gripper, the gripper can be transformed while compressing the inner
diameter portion, due to the presence of the cutting planes.
Accordingly, with the gripping of the gripper, the spool can be
securely coupled to the gripper without separation.
[0028] A spool handling unit with the gripper includes a spool case
for storing the spool. The spool case has a base for mounting the
spool, and a cover coupled to the base to prevent foreign materials
such as dust from being introduced. The base has a bottom portion,
a sidewall protruded from the bottom portion, and a protrusion
formed at the bottom portion internal to the sidewall while being
inserted into the inner diameter portion of the spool. The cover
has a protrusion inserted into the inner diameter portion of the
spool fitted to the base to hold the central axis of the spool in
the horizontal direction.
[0029] The central axis of the spool is placed at a horizontal
plane in a stable manner. Accordingly, the bonding wire W wound on
the spool deals well with its own load, vibration in its movement
and other impacts over its entire length while effectively
preventing the unintended winding or releasing thereof.
[0030] A stopper may be formed at the cover to make the central
axis of the spool be kept to be in the horizontal direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of
the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the
same or the similar components, wherein:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spool gripper according to
a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the spool gripper taken
along the A-A line of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the spool gripper taken
along the A-A line of FIG. 1, illustrating a variation thereof;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spool gripper according to
another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a spool handling
unit with the spool gripper; and
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates the process of handing a spool with the
spool gripper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Preferred embodiments of this invention will be explained
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spool gripper according to
a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a
cross sectional view of the spool gripper taken along the A-A line
of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a spool
handling unit with the spool gripper.
[0040] The spool 10, well known in the art, is wound with a bonding
wire W thereon. As shown in the drawings, the spool 10 is formed
with a cylinder portion (not shown) for winding the bonding wire W
thereon, and a pair of small diameter flanges 12 provided at both
ends of the cylinder portion. A notch 14 is formed at the one-sided
small diameter flange 12 to hold the end portion of the bonding
wire W. The end of the bonding wire W passed the notch 14 is
fastened to the outer surface of the flange 12 by way of a tape
16.
[0041] A spool gripper 20 is coupled to one of the flanges 12 such
that it can be decoupled from the flange 12. The spool gripper 20
is formed from a plastic material while bearing a plate ring shape.
The spool gripper 20 has an inner diameter portion 22 bearing a
diameter identical to or lager than the inner diameter portion 18
of the spool 10, a coupling portion 24 coupled to the circumference
of the flange 12 while bearing a diameter larger than the inner
diameter portion 22, and an outer diameter portion 26 bearing a
diameter lager than the coupling portion 24. With the handling of
the spool 10, the worker grips the outer diameter portion 26 of the
spool gripper 20.
[0042] At least two coupling protrusions 24', preferably three
coupling protrusions 24' are equidistantly formed at the coupling
portion 24 to hold the flange 12 while being inwardly protruded in
a radial manner. The coupling protrusions 24' are positioned at the
periphery of the coupling portion 24 while bearing a height
corresponding to the thickness of the flange 12.
[0043] A plurality of prominent portions 28' are formed at the
gripper 20 to make a space 28 for receiving the end of the
conductive wire W fastened to the outer surface of the spool flange
12 by way of a tape. When the gripper 20 is coupled to the spool
flange 12, the end of the conductive wire W is placed within the
space 28, and hence, possible damage thereof can be prevented.
[0044] Meanwhile, the gripper 20 bears cutting planes 28". When the
worker grips the gripper 20, the gripper 20 can be transformed
while compressing the inner diameter portion 22, due to the
presence of the cutting planes 28".
[0045] Accordingly, with the gripping of the gripper 20, the spool
10 can be securely coupled to the gripper 20 without
separation.
[0046] A pair of knobs 26' are formed at the outer diameter portion
26 while facing each other. It is preferable that the knobs 26
should be spaced apart from the cutting planes 28" by the same
distance.
[0047] With the knobs 26', the contamination and damage of the
conductive wire can be further effectively prevented.
[0048] When the gripper 20 is coupled to the spool flange 12, the
distance of the bonding wire wound on the spool 10 to the outer
diameter portion 26 of the gripper 20 becomes enlarged by a
predetermined dimension W1, compared to the small diameter flange
12. Furthermore, the handling of the spool 10 can be made without
directly touching the spool 10 due to the knobs 26'. In this way,
the contamination and damage of the conductive wire W due to the
touching of the worker's fingers thereon can be prevented.
Furthermore, the coupling state of the gripper 20 is not released
unless the gripper 20 is intentionally decoupled from the flange
12. The insertion of the spool holder 40 is made through the inner
diameter portion 22 of the gripper 20 so that the wire bonding
operation can be performed with the coupling of the gripper 20 to
the flange 12. Consequently, it is not needed to decouple the
gripper 20 from the flange 12. In this way, the durability of the
gripper 20 is enhanced. Particularly, abrasion of the coupling
protrusions 24' is prohibited as much as possible while securing
the reliability of the spool holding.
[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates a variation of the gripper where the
coupling protrusion 24' is formed at the center of the coupling
portion 24. Other components and structures of the gripper are the
same as those of the gripper shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0050] The coupling protrusion 24' should be formed at the same
height h as the thickness t of the flange 12 to fit the gripper 20
to the flange 12. With the placing of the coupling protrusion 24'
at the middle of the coupling portion 24, the thickness of the
outer diameter portion 26 is enlarged by a predetermined degree t2.
Accordingly, when the worker grips the gripper 20, the fingers of
the worker do not touch the conductive wire W.
[0051] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spool gripper 20a
according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The gripper is formed with a metallic material. As the metallic
material-based gripper cannot be inwardly transformed in a radial
manner, it is formed with a plate ring having no cutting plane (as
indicated by 28" in FIG. 1).
[0052] A unit for handling a spool and a method of handling the
spool will be now explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0053] The spool handling unit with the above-structured gripper 20
has a spool case 30 for storing and carrying the spool 10.
[0054] The spool case 30 is formed with synthetic resin based on
acryl, polyolefin, or styrene. The spool case 30 has a base 32, and
a cover 34 coupled to the base 32.
[0055] The base 32 is formed with a bottom portion 32a, a sidewall
32b protruded from the bottom portion 32a, and a protrusion 32c
protruded from the bottom portion 32a internal to the sidewall 32b.
The inner diameter portion 18 of the spool 10 is inserted onto the
protrusion 32c.
[0056] The cover 34 is fitted to the outer surface of the sidewall
32b from the top of the base 32 to prevent the bonding wire W of
the spool 10 from being contaminated due to a foreign material such
as dust. The cover 34 has a protrusion 34b inserted into the inner
diameter portion 18 of the spool 10 to maintain the central axis of
the spool 10 in the horizontal direction, corresponding to the
protrusion 32c of the base 32.
[0057] The protrusion 32c of the base 32 and the protrusion 34b of
the cover 34 are formed with a circular plane shape such that the
diameter thereof is identical to or smaller than the inner diameter
of the spool 10. The length of the protrusions 32c and 34b is
established to be 30% of the length of the spool 10.
[0058] The sidewall 34c bent from the top portion 34a of the cover
34 is formed with a cone shape, which is tapered toward the top
portion 34a. A stopper 34d is formed at the sidewall 34c of the
cover 34 to make the central axis of the spool 10 be maintained to
be in the horizontal direction.
[0059] The spool case may be differently structured with suitable
modifications.
[0060] With the use of the spool handling unit, the spool 10 wound
with the bonding wire W thereon is fitted to the bottom 32a of the
base 32 in an erect posture such that the gripper 20 is positioned
at the top side (the cover side). The cover 34 is coupled to the
base 32 from the top side of the base 32 such that the protrusion
34b of the cover 34 is inserted into the inner diameter portion 18
of the spool 10.
[0061] In this state, the spool case 30 is put on a table (not
shown) such that the stopper 34d is directed toward the bottom.
[0062] As the central axis of the spool 10 is maintained to be in
the horizontal direction, the bonding wire W wound on the spool 10
uniformly distributes its own weight, its vibration in the movement
or handling thereof and other impacts over its entire length so
that the undesirable winding or releasing of the wire can be
effectively prohibited, and the rolling of the spool case 30 can be
avoided.
[0063] In case the spool 10 is fitted to the spool holder 40 of the
wire bonding assembly (not shown), the worker grips the base 32 by
one hand and, in that state, grips the sidewall of the cover 34 by
the other hand. Thereafter, the cover 34 is lifted upward to
thereby decouple the cover 34 from the base 32.
[0064] With the gripping of the knob 26' of the gripper 20, the
spool 10 is fitted to the spool holder 40 while being moved in the
arrow direction. At this time, the end portion 42 of the spool
holder 40 passes the inner diameter portion of the spool 10 and the
gripper 20. In this way, irrespective of the length of the spool
holder 40, the coupling or decoupling of the spool 10 can be made.
Furthermore, in the case of the spool holder with a holder knob at
its end portion 42, the coupling or decoupling of the spool 10 can
be made irrespective of the presence of the knob 26' of the gripper
20.
[0065] In this way, the spool 10 is fixedly fitted to the spool
holder 40 by way of a spool fixation member 44 and/or a holder knob
(not shown). In the wire bonding operation, the gripper 20 is
constantly fitted to the flange 12 of the spool 10.
[0066] When the spool 10 is separated from the spool holder 40 to
exchange it, the knob 26' of the gripper 20 fitted to the flange 12
of the spool 10 is gripped, and the spool 10 is drawn in the
direction opposite to the arrow direction, thereby completing the
separation of the spool 10.
[0067] As with the conventional spool having a large diameter
flange, in the inventive structure, the distance between the
bonding wire wound on the spool and the outer diameter portion of
the gripper becomes enlarged to be greater than that related to the
conventional small diameter flange.
[0068] Therefore, the handling of the spool can be made without
directly touching the spool. Furthermore, as a knob is formed at
the outer diameter portion of the gripper, the possible
contamination and damage of the conductive wire due to the finger
touching can be prevented.
[0069] Furthermore, the coupling state of the gripper to the spool
is not released unless the gripper is intentionally separated from
the flange. As the wire bonding operation is made with the gripper
being coupled to the flange, it is not needed that the gripper
should be decoupled from the flange to make the wire bonding
operation. Accordingly, the durability of the gripper and the
reliability in the spool holding can be maintained without
deterioration while preventing separation of the spool from the
gripper.
[0070] As the gripper involves a space for receiving the end
portion of the conductive wire, the possible damage to the
conductive wire due to the gripper can be prevented.
[0071] As the conventional spool or spool case is used without any
modification, the production cost can be reduced. The central axis
of the spool is placed at a horizontal plane in a stable manner.
Accordingly, the bonding wire W wound on the spool deals well with
its own load, vibration in its movement and other impacts over its
entire length while effectively preventing the unintended winding
or releasing thereof.
[0072] With the inventive gripper, the facility cost is not
increased while satisfying the requirements of the package
manufacturing company. In case spools are delivered to the package
manufacturing company where the desired spool has a large diameter
flange, the delivery is made with the gripper being coupled to the
flange of the spool. Therefore, an additional facility for making a
large diameter flange is not needed.
[0073] With the inventive spool handling unit, the spool is fitted
to the spool holder using a gripper. Therefore, irrespective of the
length of the spool holder or the presence of the spool fixation
member, the spool handling unit can be used with any type spool
holder. As the spool handling process is similar to that related to
the conventional spool, any confusion is not made to the
worker.
[0074] While the present invention has been described in detail
with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions
can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
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