Patent ID: 8434669

Claim:
A wedge wire bonder, comprising: a wedge that is operative to oscillate along a transducer axis so as to bond a wire onto a surface; a wire clamp comprising a pair of parallel clamping plates positioned and configured to clamp the wire, the clamping plates having clamping surfaces that are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the transducer axis; and first and second lateral wire guides arranged spaced from the wire clamp, wherein the first and second lateral wire guides comprise guiding surfaces that are oriented substantially perpendicular to the clamping surfaces of the wire clamp and are adjustable relative to each other so as to change a distance between the guiding surfaces of the first and second lateral wire guides, the first and second lateral wire guides being generally aligned parallel to the clamping surfaces of the clamping plates, and the guiding surfaces of the first and second lateral wire guides being configured to contact and guide the wire towards the wedge.