OKI-58 Photoelectric Tape Reader

Oki Electric Industry announced the OKI-58, its first photoelectric tape reader, in 1961. The OKI-58 could continuously or intermittently read paper tape at high speed. Its speed was 200char/s or 400char/s, and it could be used for either 6-unit tape or 8-unit tape, simply by switching the tape guide. Its construction was extremely simplified, compact and lightweight, and moving parts were minimized. Therefore, there were almost no points of mechanical wear, and furthermore, the sensing system used light rays for reading, so there were no hindrances like contact wear or chatter. This made it possible to use the system for a long time.