30 Jan
2017
30 Jan
'17
7:28 a.m.
On 01/29/2017 10:27 PM, Jon Elson wrote:
I think we had an Odec chain printer that
another group
gave us to use on our VAX. I hacked it up to shut off the
chain motor when it wasn't printing, and then restart it
when print data came in. It had a HORRIBLE habit of
running the ribbon off the track and crumpling the edges.
It had some bars with 45 degree angles that folded the
ribbon over to make a 90 degree change in direction to the
reels. When the ribbon was just a little used, it lost
some stiffness and started folding and rolling over the
edges. Then the chain would grab it and make a mess.
Otherwise, it was a REALLY nice printer.
Yes, I looked up a picture online, and I am pretty sure the
thing we had was indeed an Odec like in the brochure. If it
hadn't been for that horrible ribbon mechanism, it would
have been a REALLY good printer. You can just barely make
out the ribbon path in the picture with the gate folded open.
Jon