Optical paper tape readers

From: Dwight K. Elvey <dwightk.elvey_at_amd.com>
Date: Tue Nov 26 16:54:00 2002

Hi
 I have an old Intel tape reader ( I think it was made
by REMEX ). It was a parallel output. I took me about
20 minutes to make an adapter to plug into the bi-directional
printer port on my laptop( it took me longer to buy the
cable since I went to Fry's to buy it). I took me another
hour or so to look up the info on the parallel port to write a
simple reader to take input from the printer port to
a file.
 I started without schematics or docs on the reader,
just knowing that it was parallel. One should be able to
find the output strobe and data lines with a logic probe
( although I used an oscilloscope ).
Dwight


>From: "Loboyko Steve" <sloboyko_at_yahoo.com>
>They once made these but I haven't seen any surplus in
>years.
>
>Until I picked up some paper tape readers on eBay
>(cheap - no one wants readers, they want punches) - I
>was considering making one out of tiny
>phototransistors/IR emitters using wooden strips
>masked with Mylar tape punched with the RUBOUT
>character. I definitely think this is doable. But
>seriously, I'd look at eBay, because readers with
>nonstandard interface go for cheap. I recently missed
>a complete Remex reader (with reels, etc) for $20
>(nobody bid on it), and I DO know how to interface
>these.
>
>
>
>--- "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwightk.elvey_at_amd.com> wrote:
>> Hi Glen
>> There isn't much application for things with this
>> spacing.
>> Remember, you will most likely be connecting this to
>> a
>> uP. You really don't need to space then in a
>> straight
>> line. You can stager them and reassemble the entire
>> byte width afterwards.
>> Another though would be to use one of the linear
>> arrays,
>> used in scanners. Most of these are about as wide as
>> a paper tape. You could use a collimated source and
>> drag the tape directly over the array. You'd need
>> to do a little image processing but it shouldn't be
>> too
>> difficult.
>> There are some mechanical options that might work
>> as well.
>> Like I said, use some imagination.
>> Dwight
>>
>>
>> >From: "Glen Slick" <glenslick_at_hotmail.com>
>> >
>> >I was hoping there might be some sort of
>> preassembled optical sensor array
>> >available with the right spacing for paper tape
>> holes, but maybe that is
>> >hoping for too much. If you build one with
>> discrete sensors, is it easy to
>> >find ones that are narrow enough to stack side to
>> side with the correct
>> >spacing?
>> >
>> >
>> >>Hi
>> >> Ahh, such concepts as make one come to mind.
>> You could
>> >>scrap a number of mice for the optical sensors (
>> two for
>> >>each axis, 4 total per mouse ) or you could buy
>> photo
>> >>transistors from Jameco. In a pinch, the clear
>> lensed
>> >>LED's make reasonable detectors.
>> >> Use a little imagination.
>> >>Dwight
>> >
>> >
>>
>>_________________________________________________________________
>> >Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2
>> months FREE*.
>> >http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.
>http://mailplus.yahoo.com
>
Received on Tue Nov 26 2002 - 16:54:00 GMT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Fri Oct 10 2014 - 23:35:29 BST