Patent ID: 7893383

Claim:
A bonding apparatus provided with a bonding tool inserted with a wire to be bonded to a work, the bonding apparatus comprising: a plasma generating section including a plasma torch with a plasma nozzle thereof directed to a tip of the bonding tool located at a cleaning position, said plasma generating section ejecting plasma state gas from the plasma nozzle and cleaning the tip of the bonding tool; and a cleaning case for cleaning therein the tip of the bonding tool, the cleaning case having therein the plasma nozzle and being provided with an opening for allowing the tip of the bonding tool to enter the cleaning case there through and an exhaust port for allowing after-cleaning gas to be exhausted there through, wherein the plasma generating section is a capacitive coupling type microplasma generating, section comprised of a cylindrical outer electrode installed concentrically with a central axis of the plasma torch and an inner electrode installed on the central axis of the plasma torch, and the plasma generating section, upon receipt of a supply of electric power ejects gas having been converted to a plasma state in the plasma torch from the plasma nozzle provided at a distal end of the plasma torch so that the plasma state gas is directed to from below a tip portion of the bonding tool to an outer surface of the tip of the bonding tool.