Patent ID: 8173971

Claim:
A sample transfer unit comprising: a load port for opening and closing a SMIF pod in an environment having predetermined cleanliness; a stocker for storing a plurality of samples in an environment having predetermined cleanliness; and a transfer robot for transferring a sample between said stocker and said SMIF pod retained by said load port in an environment having predetermined cleanliness wherein said stocker has a storage slot including a plurality of stacked storage units, and one sample is stored in each of said storage units; wherein said storage slot includes a top plate, a bottom plate, a plurality of shafts which connect said top plate and said bottom plate, and a plurality of column supports through which said shafts are passed respectively so that a plurality of spaces are formed between said top plate and said bottom plate and each of said storage units is disposed in each of the spaces; and wherein said stocker is detachably fixed with fixing device.