Passive data cartridge pass-through

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.