Pass-through accessor comprising a fixturing apparatus for storing a plurality of portable data storage cassettes

A data storage library comprising:

• a pass-through accessor moveably disposed therein, wherein said pass-through accessor comprises:
• a lifting servo section;
• a housing disposed on said lifting servo section, wherein said housing is formed to include an open front and an open back end;
• a first set of parallel rails disposed within said housing and extending outwardly from said back end of said housing;
• a first gripper assembly moveably disposed on said first set of parallel rails, wherein said first gripper assembly comprises a first end, an opposing second end, a first gripping mechanism disposed on said first end, and a second gripping mechanism disposed on said second end
• a vertical pillar comprising a first end and an opposing second;
• wherein said lifting servo section is moveably disposed on said vertical pillar, and wherein said first end of said vertical pillar is attached to a carriage assembly moveably disposed in said data storage library;
• a fixturing apparatus comprising a first end, a second end, and a plurality of fixturing assemblies;
• wherein:
• said first end of said fixturing apparatus is attached to said vertical pillar adjacent said first end of said vertical pillar;
• said second end of said fixturing apparatus is attached to said vertical pillar adjacent said second end of said vertical pillar;
• said fixturing apparatus can be moved upwardly and downwardly along said vertical pillar;
• said fixturing assembly is rotationally attached to said vertical pillar.

A method to access a plurality of portable data storage cassettes from a storage slot disposed in a data storage library comprising and a pass-through accessor moveably disposed therein, wherein said pass-through accessor comprises:

• a lifting servo section;
• a housing disposed on said lifting servo section, wherein said housing is formed to include an open front and an open back end;
• a first set of parallel rails disposed within said housing and extending outwardly from said back end of said housing;
• a first gripper assembly moveably disposed on said first set of parallel rails, wherein said first gripper assembly comprises a first end, an opposing second end, a first gripping mechanism disposed on said first end, and a second gripping mechanism disposed on said second end;
• a vertical pillar comprising a first end and an opposing second;
• wherein said lifting servo section is moveably disposed on said vertical pillar, and wherein said first end of said vertical pillar is attached to a carriage assembly moveably disposed in said data storage library;
• a fixturing apparatus comprising a first end, a second end, and a plurality of fixturing assemblies;
• wherein:
• said first end of said fixturing apparatus is attached to said vertical pillar adjacent said first end of said vertical pillar;
• said second end of said fixturing apparatus is attached to said vertical pillar adjacent said second end of said vertical pillar;
• said fixturing apparatus can be moved upwardly and downwardly along said vertical pillar;
• said fixturing assembly is rotationally attached to said vertical pillar;
• wherein said method comprises:
• removing by said first gripper assembly a first portable data storage cassette from said storage slot;
• storing by said first gripper assembly said first portable data storage cassette in a fixturing apparatus disposed on said pass-through accessor;
• removing by said first gripper assembly a second portable data storage cassette from said storage slot.

A pass-through accessor moveably disposed in a data storage library comprising:

• a computer readable medium comprising computer readable code disposed therein;
• a lifting servo section;
• a housing disposed on said lifting servo section, wherein said housing is formed to include an open front and an open back end;
• a first set of parallel rails disposed within said housing and extending outwardly from said back end of said housing;
• a first gripper assembly moveably disposed on said first set of parallel rails, wherein said first gripper assembly comprises a first end, an opposing second end, a first gripping mechanism disposed on said first end, and a second gripping mechanism disposed on said second end
• a fixturing apparatus comprising a first end, a second end, and a plurality of fixturing assemblies;
• a vertical pillar comprising a first end and an opposing second;
• wherein said lifting servo section is moveably disposed on said vertical pillar, and wherein said first end of said vertical pillar is attached to a carriage assembly moveably disposed in said data storage library;
• a fixturing apparatus comprising a first end, a second end, and a plurality of fixturing assemblies;
• wherein:
• said first end of said fixturing apparatus is attached to said vertical pillar adjacent said first end of said vertical pillar;
• said second end of said fixturing apparatus is attached to said vertical pillar adjacent said second end of said vertical pillar;
• said fixturing apparatus can be moved upwardly and downwardly along said vertical pillar;
• said fixturing assembly is rotationally attached to said vertical pillar;
• said computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:
• removing by said first gripper assembly a first portable data storage cassette from said storage slot;
• storing by said first gripper assembly said first portable data storage cassette in said fixturing apparatus;
• removing by said first gripper assembly a second portable data storage cassette from said storage slot.