Apparatus and process for applying contact dots

摘要

A process and apparatus are provided for applying gold contacts to a metal member by engaging the end of a hard gold wire with the metal member, welding the end of the wire to the member, heating the gold wire to establish a difference in its temper along a boundary in the region of the weld, and breaking away the gold wire along the boundary in the region of the weld. The apparatus comprises a first welding electrode having opposing jaws for receiving a gold wire, the jaws are actuatibly disposed on a yoke member which is pivotally mounted in an opposing relationship with a second welding electrode. The jaws clamp the wire and urge its end against the metal member during electrical welding of the wire end to the member. The opposing jaws are then released and retracted a first distance along the gold wire and then reclamp the wire. The yoke completes its pivotal travel pulling on the wire. The wire is deformed along the temper boundary in the region of the weld and then broken. The welded gold contact may then be coined to provide a contact of desired configuration.