Patent ID: 7635016

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a chamber into which a resin-based board having a connection site is to be supplied; a gas introduction device for supplying, into said chamber, oxygen gas and a gas containing at least one of water vapor and alcohol vapor; a board cleaning apparatus having a plasma generator system for generating plasma in said chamber so as to dry-clean the connection site of the board, said board cleaning apparatus having a cover; a placing apparatus for placing an IC chip on the board, said placing apparatus having a cover; a conveyor for transferring the board between said board cleaning apparatus and said placing apparatus while exposing the connection site to a nitrogen gas atmosphere; a loader for loading the board onto said conveyor; an unloader for unloading the board from said conveyor; a duct for making a connection between said cover of said board cleaning apparatus and said cover of said placing apparatus; and internal air isolation mechanisms for utilizing a nitrogen gas flow, said internal air isolation mechanisms being provided between said loader and said board cleaning apparatus and between said placing apparatus and said unloader so as to provide the nitrogen atmosphere inside said cover of said board cleaning apparatus and said cover of said placing apparatus.