Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a cassette transporting apparatus having 1) a first fork member 31 and a second fork member 31, wherein each fork member 31 has a shaft 62 and a tab 63; 2) a first member 31 and a second fork member 31, wherein each fork member 31 includes a shaft 62 having a distal section 42 that is beveled; or 3) a curved handle 33. In one embodiment, the cassette transporting apparatus is a cassette fork 20 for manually transporting a cassette and includes a locking tab 63, the beveled distal section 42, and the curved handle 33. In another embodiment, the cassette transporting apparatus is a mechanical cassette transporting system 100 including an elevator 101 and the fork members 31. The design of the fork members 31 is cassette specific rather than both cassette and apparatus specific.