Self-aligning fine wire clamp

摘要

A low mass self-aligning wire clamp jaw assembly is provided which may be employed as a replaceable wire clamp jaw assembly or as a complete integrated wire clamp assembly with an actuator. The novel self-aligning wire clamp jaw assembly comprises a wire clamp jaw mounting arm which is adapted to be connected to a bonding head support. The wire clamp jaw mounting arm serves as a fixed lever to which is attached a first fixed flat surface clamping jaw and also serves as a mount to which a second and pivotal jaw is positioned juxtaposed the first jaw. A force mounting spring is also mounted on the mounting arm for applying a unidirectional force to one end of the second pivotal jaw to bias the pivotal jaw in a normally open or normally closed position. A force adjusting screw is further mounted on the mounting jaw which cooperates with the force spring for setting a predetermined bias jaw force on the second jaw which is mounted for effecting a rocking motion along an edge of the first jaw so that when the second jaw pivots along the line edge of the first jaw, it forms a plane defining a wedge parallel to the first jaw which is self-aligning.