Patent ID: 7855938

Claim:
A data cartridge handling and storage system, comprising: a first data storage and handling apparatus including: a first housing, said first housing defining a first pass through opening of a size to pass at least one data cartridge; at least one storage magazine in said first housing; a first cartridge shuttle in said first housing, said first cartridge shuttle being operable to move data cartridges between said at least one storage magazine and said first pass through opening; a second data storage and handling apparatus including: a second housing, said second housing defining a second pass through opening of a size to pass at least one data cartridge, said second pass through opening being disposed in a position substantially in registration with said first pass through opening when said first housing and second housing are disposed adjacent on another; at least one storage magazine in said second housing; a second cartridge shuttle in said second housing, said second cartridge shuttle being operable to move data cartridges between said at least one storage magazine and said second pass through opening, said first and second cartridge shuttles being operable to pass at least one data cartridge from said first data cartridge shuttle to said second data cartridge shuttle through said first and second pass through openings when said first and second pass through openings are substantially in registration so as to transfer a data cartridge from said first data storage and handling apparatus to said second data storage and handling apparatus; at least one data cartridge read/write drive in at least one of said first and second housings; and a pass-through box in at least one of said first and second data storage and handling apparatus, said pass-through box including a first portion configured for acceptance in a corresponding one of said first and second cartridge shuttles and a second portion configured for holding at least one data cartridge so that the at least one data cartridge in said second portion is movable between said first and second data storage and handling apparatus by operation of said corresponding one of said first and second cartridge shuttles.