A High-Speed Reader for Perforated Tape

A perforated-tape reader is described which is simple in concept, is trouble-free and easy to operate and is very fast (1,000 characters per second). The reading head consists of six photo-electric cells to read standard five-channel tape. The sprocket hole is used for timing purposes. The design could easily be expanded for six-channel, seven-channel, or eight-channel tapes and for higher speed operation. However, no attempt is made to stop the tape on an individual character or between specific characters. This feature, while admittedly highly desirable in many applications, would complicate the mechanical design considerably and, in fact, would make the ultra high-speed extremely difficult if not impossible to achieve.