Optical paper tape readers

From: Loboyko Steve <sloboyko_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Tue Nov 26 22:04:00 2002

I was thinking about the PC parallel port route, but
instead I built a Remex parallel to RS-232 converter
with a Scenix microcontroller:


juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/remex.htm


This made it easier to hookup to non-PC stuff.

The Remex's (the early, silver ones) are built like
battleships. The later ones, the "Directors", are
micro-driven, not really as well made, mine had RS-422
interface boards and I'm working on
reverse-engineering them to RS-232.


--- "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwightk.elvey_at_amd.com> wrote:
> 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
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
>
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> >>
> >
> >
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Received on Tue Nov 26 2002 - 22:04:00 GMT

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