Apparatus for attaching bar codes to reticle cases

An apparatus for attaching a bar code to a reticle case comprising:

• at least one elevating base which is movable up and down with the reticle case placed thereon, the reticle case containing therein a reticle so as to be taken in and taken out through an outlet on a side of said reticle case;
• at least one opening means for opening the outlet of the reticle case which is positioned in a predetermined position;
• at least one transfer device;
• at least one take-in/takeout device, said at least one take-in/takeout device for lifting the reticle while the outlet is open and for transferring the reticle between an inside of the reticle case and said at least one transfer device outside the reticle case;
• a reading means;
• a carrying base for receiving the reticle held by said at least one transfer device and moving the reticle to and from a position in from of said reading means for reading a mark which is marked on the reticle for identifying the reticle;
• means for converting a signal of said mark from said reading means to a bar code image corresponding to said mark;
• means for printing said bar code image on a label;
• and
• label attaching means for attaching to the reticle case the label on which the bar code image has been printed.