Patent Publication Number: US-2021162470-A1

Title: Self-cleaning wire bonding machine

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to wire bonding machines, and more particularly to a self-cleaning wire bonding machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, a main function of a wire bonding machine is to bond wafers and circuit boards through metal wires (such as gold wires, copper wires and aluminum wires) under a certain temperature, pressure, and power, so as to realize transmission of electronic signals. However, the metal wires are prone to contamination due to the long-term exposure to the air, and pollutants are likely to cause the wire to become stuck in an outlet path, which may cause the wires to break. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of embodiments, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled, schematic view of an embodiment of a self-cleaning wire bonding machine. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a cleaning tank of the self-cleaning wire bonding machine in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the cleaning tank in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a pressing rod of the cleaning tank. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Additionally, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other word that “substantially” modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a self-cleaning wire bonding machine  100  (hereinafter “the wire bonding machine  100 ”). The wire bonding machine  100  includes a spool  10 , a cleaning tank  20 , a drying element  40 , a tensioner  50 , a wire clamp  60 , and a nozzle  70  sequentially arranged. The wire bonding machine  100  is used for soldering a product (not shown) to be processed. The product to be processed may be a circuit board. 
     The spool  10  includes a substantially cylindrical rotating body  101  and a metal wire  102  wound around the rotating body  101 . The rotating body  101  is located on a support base  11  and rotates on the support base  11 . Rotation of the rotating body  101  enables the metal wire  102  to be wound on the spool  10 . The metal wire  102  may be a gold wire, a copper wire, or an aluminum wire. In one embodiment, the metal wire  102  is a gold wire. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cleaning tank  20  includes a tank body  21 , a pressing rod  22 , and a fixing rod  23 . A surface of the tank body  21  is recessed inward to form a groove  30 , and the groove  30  is filled with a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may be one or two of water and ethanol. In one embodiment, the cleaning solution is ethanol. In other embodiments, the cleaning solution may be any other liquid capable of removing contaminants on a surface of the metal wire  102 . A material of the tank body  21  may be metal. Specifically, the metal may be copper, iron, or the like. In one embodiment, the tank body  21  includes a first side  211  and a second side  212  opposite to the first side  211 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the pressing rod  22  is engaged between the first side  211  and the second side  212 . In one embodiment, the pressing rod  22  includes a clip  221  and a rod body  222 , and the clip  221  is fixed to one end of the rod body  222 . The clip  221  is engaged with the first side  211  of the tank body  21 , the rod body  222  is located in the groove  30 , and another end of the rod body  222  is fixed to the second side  212  of the tank body  21 . The pressing rod  22  is in contact with the cleaning solution. In one embodiment, the pressing rod  22  is located below the liquid surface of the cleaning solution. In other embodiments, the pressing rod  22  may be flush with the liquid surface of the cleaning solution. In one embodiment, the clip  221  is substantially U-shaped and includes a first buckle arm  2211  and a second buckle arm  2212  which are oppositely disposed. The first buckle arm  2211  is located outside the groove  30 , and the second buckle arm  2212  is located inside the groove  30 . A screw  2111  is connected to the first buckle arm  2211 , and the screw  2111  passes through the first buckle arm  2211  and through the first side  211 , so that the clip  221  is fixed on the first side  211 . Correspondingly, the first side  211  has a screw hole (not shown), and the screw hole cooperates with the screw  2111  for the screw  2111  to pass through. As such, during operation, the metal wire  102  passes under the rod body  222 , so that the metal wire  102  is completely immersed in the cleaning solution to remove contaminants on the surface of the metal wire  102 . In another embodiment, the clip  221  may be engaged with the second side  212  of the tank body  21 , so that the rod body  222  is located in the groove  30 , and another end of the rod body  222  is fixed to the first side  211  of the tank body  21 . 
     In one embodiment, one end of the fixing rod  23  is connected to the tank body  21 , and another end of the fixing rod  23  is connected to the drying element  40  so that the cleaning tank  20  is connected to the drying element  40 . 
     In one embodiment, a dryer (not shown) is provided in the drying element  40 , and the dryer quickly blows the cleaning solution off the surface of the metal wire  102 . 
     The tensioner  50  is configured to make the metal wire  102  have a proper tension, so that the metal wire  102  can pass through the wire clamp  60  and the nozzle  70  smoothly. In one embodiment, the tensioner  50  is an air tensioner. 
     The wire clamp  60  is configured to control a speed at which the metal wire  102  exits. 
     A heater (not shown) is provided in the nozzle  70 , and the heater heats the metal wire  102  passing through the nozzle  70  to melt the metal wire  102 . During operation, the metal wire  102  on the rotating body  101  passes through the cleaning tank  20 , the drying element  40 , the tensioner  50 , and the wire clamp  60  in sequence, and is ejected from the nozzle  70 , thereby soldering the product to be processed. In one embodiment, the nozzle  70  is a steel nozzle. 
     The wire bonding machine  100  provided by the present disclosure includes the cleaning tank  20  to remove pollutants from the surface of the metal wire  102 , thereby preventing accumulation of pollutants, preventing breakage of the metal wire  102 , and improving a working efficiency of the wire bonding machine  100 . 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.