Dedicated document scanners

JDtech · 07-02-2010, 08:44 PM

The typical flatbed scanner, while inexpensive, is poorly suited to the job of scanning and archiving many paper documents--unless your flatbed is equipped with an automatic document feeder (or ADF), which is an add-on for some of the better models on the market.

Even with an ADF, though, the typical consumer-level scanner will probably scan so slowly that your patience will be tested and you may give up the battle. To undertake such a task successfully, your best bet is a dedicated, high speed, full duplex document scanner. Fujitsu makes some well-regarded document scanners, such as the FI-6130 and FI-6140, that represent a good investment for those with piles of paper documents that must be scanned quickly and stored with a high degree of automation as PDF files. Epson, Xerox, and Canon also offer competitive models, I think.

In an attempt to truly go paperless a year or so ago, I splurged on the fi-6130, and I couldn't be happier. The “duplex” feature--which means that the device will scan both sides of a piece of paper at the same time--is critical, since many documents are two-sided. Speed is another essential feature. You want to be able to insert 10, 20, 30, or more pages at a time and have confidence that the scanner will feed the pages without fuss and scan them rapidly so that you don’t lose interest in a scanning job that may involve thousands of pieces of paper.

Dedicated document scanners such as the Fujitsu boast speeds of up to 120 pages per minute in black and white and color. These units plug into your PC with a standard USB cable and usually come with all the software you need to convert documents to PDF and store them directly in a folder on your PC. I love mine. Just thought I'd pass this along.

chardy100 · 07-15-2010, 08:28 AM

I agree totally. We (the office that I work for) purchased a Fujitsu S510 two years ago as we have a 5 year project to convert to paperless files.

I am really impressed by this little gadget. The desk footprint is really small, about the area of a netbook, in fact when we unpacked it, I had reservations about its suitabilty for office use.

In the last two years, we've scanned around 34,000 pages and, apart from the odd document jam, we've not had a single problem. It scans simplex & duplex to PDF, word, excel, powerpoint & email and came bundled with excellent (ABBYY) OCR software.

I think we paid around 350GBP for the S510, which I believe has been superceded by the S5100, which you can pick up for less than 300GBP.

We are only a small office so the 20ppm on the 510 & 5100 is ok for us, I think the fi6130 will manage 40ppm.

Colin

jcjacob · 07-15-2010, 09:15 AM

In a business environment, a fast duplex scanner would have to be a requirement. Never mind the frustration of using a flatbed scanner, what you'd spend in lost wages would more than pay for a high-speed duplex scanner in no time at all.

At home, I am also working to reduce paper whenever possible, and use an Epson Artisan 800 all-in-one. It has a flatbed scanner with an ADF that really comes in handy when I want to scan multiple pages annd create a PDF. It also prints on CD/DVDs which I love so I could do away with my sharpies and paper labels!

Jon Foster · 07-15-2010, 10:44 AM

Most of the document systems we've worked with in the past were extremely expensive. Only larger companies or government branches used them. Price wise, we're talking about systems that started in the range of $25,000 and went up from there.

We've never used any of them but they all seemed like awesome things to have if you could justify the investment. Here in our offices we have a few low end HP units that work so-so for what we do. Speed is always an issue and problems with drivers seem to pop up from time to time. Usually when HP does updates we start having trouble again.

Jon.

Ken-L · 07-15-2010, 12:39 PM

I used to have a dedicated flatbed scanner, but after many years it died. I replaced it with an all-in-one.

JDtech · 07-15-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chardy100

In the last two years, we've scanned around 34,000 pages and, apart from the odd document jam, we've not had a single problem.

The only document jams I've had with the 6130 were from a large book that we disassembled and ran through the thing. Even then, the jams were sorted out by fanning the pages before rescanning.

JDtech · 07-15-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Foster

Most of the document systems we've worked with in the past were extremely expensive.

The fi-6130 is not cheap by consumer standards, but it is not nearly as expensive as those systems you quoted. I would imagine that these fujitsu models are well equipped to be used in an office.

07-02-2010, 08:44 PM	#1
JDtech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 308 Blog Entries: 1	Dedicated document scanners The typical flatbed scanner, while inexpensive, is poorly suited to the job of scanning and archiving many paper documents--unless your flatbed is equipped with an automatic document feeder (or ADF), which is an add-on for some of the better models on the market. Even with an ADF, though, the typical consumer-level scanner will probably scan so slowly that your patience will be tested and you may give up the battle. To undertake such a task successfully, your best bet is a dedicated, high speed, full duplex document scanner. Fujitsu makes some well-regarded document scanners, such as the FI-6130 and FI-6140, that represent a good investment for those with piles of paper documents that must be scanned quickly and stored with a high degree of automation as PDF files. Epson, Xerox, and Canon also offer competitive models, I think. In an attempt to truly go paperless a year or so ago, I splurged on the fi-6130, and I couldn't be happier. The “duplex” feature--which means that the device will scan both sides of a piece of paper at the same time--is critical, since many documents are two-sided. Speed is another essential feature. You want to be able to insert 10, 20, 30, or more pages at a time and have confidence that the scanner will feed the pages without fuss and scan them rapidly so that you don’t lose interest in a scanning job that may involve thousands of pieces of paper. Dedicated document scanners such as the Fujitsu boast speeds of up to 120 pages per minute in black and white and color. These units plug into your PC with a standard USB cable and usually come with all the software you need to convert documents to PDF and store them directly in a folder on your PC. I love mine. Just thought I'd pass this along. __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on Tech Today Online, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.

07-15-2010, 09:15 AM	#3
jcjacob Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 159	In a business environment, a fast duplex scanner would have to be a requirement. Never mind the frustration of using a flatbed scanner, what you'd spend in lost wages would more than pay for a high-speed duplex scanner in no time at all. At home, I am also working to reduce paper whenever possible, and use an Epson Artisan 800 all-in-one. It has a flatbed scanner with an ADF that really comes in handy when I want to scan multiple pages annd create a PDF. It also prints on CD/DVDs which I love so I could do away with my sharpies and paper labels! __________________ -John

07-15-2010, 10:44 AM	#4
Jon Foster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: White Lake, MI Posts: 149	Most of the document systems we've worked with in the past were extremely expensive. Only larger companies or government branches used them. Price wise, we're talking about systems that started in the range of $25,000 and went up from there. We've never used any of them but they all seemed like awesome things to have if you could justify the investment. Here in our offices we have a few low end HP units that work so-so for what we do. Speed is always an issue and problems with drivers seem to pop up from time to time. Usually when HP does updates we start having trouble again. Jon. __________________ Come visit us on the web at AITec Services

07-15-2010, 12:39 PM	#5
Ken-L Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 150	I used to have a dedicated flatbed scanner, but after many years it died. I replaced it with an all-in-one. __________________ "An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - Bukowski

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07-15-2010, 08:28 AM	#2
chardy100 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North West England Posts: 1	I agree totally. We (the office that I work for) purchased a Fujitsu S510 two years ago as we have a 5 year project to convert to paperless files. I am really impressed by this little gadget. The desk footprint is really small, about the area of a netbook, in fact when we unpacked it, I had reservations about its suitabilty for office use. In the last two years, we've scanned around 34,000 pages and, apart from the odd document jam, we've not had a single problem. It scans simplex & duplex to PDF, word, excel, powerpoint & email and came bundled with excellent (ABBYY) OCR software. I think we paid around 350GBP for the S510, which I believe has been superceded by the S5100, which you can pick up for less than 300GBP. We are only a small office so the 20ppm on the 510 & 5100 is ok for us, I think the fi6130 will manage 40ppm. Colin