Patent ID: 6984097

Claim:
An attaching and removing unit of a lid for a wafer carrier comprising: a lid holding plate that can move forward and backward relative to a lid for a wafer carrier provided with a lock unit having a keyhole exposed outside the lid for a wafer carrier; a driver for causing the lid holding plate to move forward and backward; a key element protruding from the lid holding plate on a side of the lid in a pivotable manner, the key element disposed opposite the keyhole in a direction of the forward and backward movement; a lid-detecting unit provided at the lid holding plate, for detecting whether the lid holding plate is holding the lid or not; and a pushing member for giving a driving force to the lid in a direction of moving the lid away from the lid holding plate against the engagement of the key element and the keyhole, wherein the lock unit is adapted to be locked and unlocked by the key element pivoting in the keyhole.