Passive data cartridge pass-through

Abstract

Data storage device pass-through devices, systems incorporating data storage device pass-though devices and methods of using data storage device pass-through devices are described. Extensible storage device holders are capable of passing data storage device into and out of a data storage device library storage unit. The described extensible storage device holder comprises a pass-through housing and one or more extensible supports. The extensible storage device holder vertically passes storage device held within the pass-through housing. Thus, the extensible storage device holder may pass storage device from a first (source) library to a second (target) library. The extensible storage device holder does not require a guide or track connecting the first library and the second library.

1 . An extensible storage device holder for moving a storage device, the storage device holder comprising: 
 a pass-through housing configured to hold one or more storage devices;    at least one extensible support coupled to the pass-through housing; wherein the extensible support is configured to translate between a collapsed configuration corresponding to a first position of the pass-through housing and an extended configuration corresponding to a second position of the pass-through housing; and    wherein the extensible support limits lateral motion of the pass-through housing during translation between the first position and the second position.    
     
     
         2 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  further comprising a chassis to which the extensible support is coupled.  
     
     
         3 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  wherein the first position of the pass through housing and the second position of the pass-through housing define an axis that is perpendicular to a bottom support region of the pass-through housing.  
     
     
         4 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  wherein the first position of the pass through housing is located vertically to the second position of the pass-through housing.  
     
     
         5 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  wherein the extensible support comprises a scissor-lift.  
     
     
         6 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  wherein the extensible support comprises a telescoping member.  
     
     
         7 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  comprising three extensible supports.  
     
     
         8 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  further comprising an actuator configured to translate the pass-through housing between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         9 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 8  wherein the actuator is a z-translator.  
     
     
         10 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  further comprising a biasing member for altering a force threshold representing the force required to translate the pass-through housing between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         11 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  further comprising a releasable lock configured to secure the pass-through housing in the second position.  
     
     
         12 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 11  wherein the lock is further configured to secure the pass-through housing in the first position.  
     
     
         13 . The extensible storage device holder of  claim 1  wherein the pass-through housing couples only to extensible supports.  
     
     
         14 . An extensible storage device holder for moving a storage device vertically, comprising: 
 a pass-through housing configured to hold one or more storage devices;    three extensible scissor-lift support members coupled to the pass-through housing; wherein the scissor-lift support members are configured to translate between a collapsed configuration corresponding to a first position of the pass-through housing and an extended configuration corresponding to a second position of the pass-through housing that is vertical to the first position; and    wherein the extensible supports limit lateral motion of the pass-through housing during translation between the first position and the second position.    
     
     
         15 . A library storage unit for passing and accepting storage devices comprising: 
 a first storage device library unit including a first library cavity;    an extensible storage device holder located substantially within the first library cavity configured to move at least one storage device vertically in or out of the first library cavity comprising: 
 a pass-through housing configured to hold one or more storage devices;  
 at least one extensible support coupled to the pass-through housing; wherein the extensible support is configured to translate between a collapsed configuration corresponding to a first position of the pass-through housing and an extended configuration corresponding to a second position of the pass-through housing; and  
 wherein the extensible support substantially limits lateral motion of the pass-through housing during translation between the first position and the second position;  
   wherein the first storage device library unit is configured to stack with a second storage device library unit so that storage devices may be passed between the first and second storage device library cavities by the extensible storage device holder.    
     
     
         16 . The library storage unit of  claim 15  further comprising at least one sensor configured to indicate the location of a pass-through housing.  
     
     
         17 . The library storage unit of  claim 15  wherein the extensible storage device holder comprises three extensible supports.  
     
     
         18 . The library storage unit of  claim 16  wherein the extensible supports are scissor-lift supports.  
     
     
         19 . A storage device storage system for use with more than one storage device storage unit comprising: 
 a first storage device library and a second storage device library, each storage device library including a library cavity; wherein the first storage device library is located vertically relative to the second storage device library;    an extensible storage device holder located substantially within the first storage device library cavity, comprising: 
 a pass-through housing configured to hold one or more storage devices;  
 at least one extensible support coupled to the pass-through housing; wherein the extensible support is configured to translate between a collapsed configuration corresponding to a first position of the pass-through housing within the first storage device library and an extended configuration corresponding to a second position of the pass-through housing within the second storage device library; and  
 wherein the extensible support limits lateral motion of the pass-through housing during translation between the first position and the second position;  
   an actuator located within the first storage device library configured to translate the pass-through housing of the extensible storage device holder between the first position and the second position.    
     
     
         20 . The storage device storage system of  claim 19  wherein the extensible storage device holder comprises three scissor-lift extensible supports.  
     
     
         21 . A method of transferring storage devices between a first storage device library and a second storage device library comprising: 
 inserting a storage device from a first storage device library into an extensible storage device holder located substantially within the first storage device library, wherein the extensible storage device holder comprises: 
 a pass-through housing configured to hold one or more storage devices;  
 at least one extensible support coupled to the pass-through housing; wherein the extensible support is configured to translate between a collapsed configuration corresponding to a first position of the pass-through housing and an extended configuration corresponding to a second position of the pass-through housing; and  
 wherein the extensible support limits lateral motion of the pass-through housing during translation between the first position and the second position;  
   translating the pass-through housing containing the storage device between the first position and the second position.    
     
     
         22 . A method of transferring a storage device vertically between a first storage device library and a second storage device library comprising: 
 inserting a storage device into an extensible storage device holder located substantially within the first storage device library, wherein the extensible storage device holder comprises: 
 a pass-through housing configured to hold one or more storage devices;  
 three extensible scissor-lift supports coupled to the pass-through housing; wherein the scissor-lift supports are configured to translate between a collapsed configuration corresponding to a first position of the pass-through housing within the first storage device library and an extended configuration corresponding to a second position of the pass-through housing within the second storage device library; and  
 wherein the scissor-lift supports substantially limit lateral motion of the pass-through housing during translation between the first position and the second position;  
   translating the pass-through housing containing the storage device from the first position to the second position.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising releasably locking the extensible support in the extended configuration.