Patent ID: 6974298

Claim:
A lens stocking apparatus for stocking a plurality of lenses comprising: a first stage and a second stage, each of which is capable of stacking a plurality of lens accommodating trays in a vertical direction; vertical movement mechanism portions which move the first and second stages in the vertical direction, respectively; and a tray transferring unit which transfers the trays from the first stage to the second stage, wherein the tray transferring unit includes a right hand and a left hand for holding the tray, each of which is capable of independently moving in a transverse direction wherein when the tray is to be transferred from the first stage to the second stage, the tray transferring unit moves the right and left hands in a mutually approaching direction to hold the tray, moves the right and left hands in a direction from the first stage to the second stage to transfer the held tray, and moves the first and second hands in a mutually departing direction to release the held tray.