US 7,431,192 B2
Wire bonding apparatus
Richard Deward Sadler, Quakertown, Pa. (US)
Assigned to Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc., Fort Washington, Pa. (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/164,980.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/641362, filed on Jan. 04, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0163325 A1, Jul. 27, 2006
Int. Cl. B23K 37/00 (2006.01); B23K 31/00 (2006.01); B23K 31/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 228—4.5  [228/180.5] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wire bonding machine comprising:
a support structure for supporting a work piece, the support structure extending along a path of work pieces to a wire bonding station of the wire bonding machine; and
a pre-heat structure for supporting the work piece during a pre-heat operation, the pre-heat structure being moveable with respect to the support structure wherein the pre-heat structure is configured to be raised above the support structure such that another work piece, already wire bonded, may be returned along the support structure from (1) the wire bonding station of the wire bonding machine to (2) a magazine handler of the wire bonding machine.