Today I tried an electronic easy made circuit with "CNY70 Reflective Optical Sensor with Transistor Output" The circuit contains only two resistor and CNY70.
You can download CNY70 datasheet from http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/...eets/cny70.pdf address and easily try attached circuit.
I did not use 74HCTxx only two resistor and CNY70 gives logic signals.
All questions and suggestions are wellcome