Smart indexing head for universal lead frame work station

摘要

Apparatus and a method for orienting individual bonding sites of a lead frame having a plurality of bonding sites includes a universal work station in a work holder. The work holder comprises a gripper mechanism which is mounted on a transverse rail or bar for grasping a lead frame at an edge portion thereof while exposed in a supply magazine. The jaws of the gripper mechanism are pivoted in a horizontal direction which permits the exposed edge of the lead frame to be aligned parallel to a reference plane in a theta orientation direction. While oriented in the theta orientation direction, the lead frame is moved precisely to the window of the work station of the work holder where it is clamped by the top plate and lower plate of the work station before being subsequently bonded. A modified feature of the invention permits the mechanically theta oriented bonding site to be viewed by a PRS system and reoriented in an X and Y position prior to being clamped in the work station to provide a very high degree of theta, X and Y location of individual bonding sites in the window of a work station prior to bonding.