networked scanner for all users?

[ftechguy]

NOt sure if this is the best group for this, but here goes..

I'm in an environment where various users need to get a multipage document scanned and converted to PDF every now and then. We have a few scanners but they are used for actual production work and thus these users are inconvenienced for this simple but annoying job. Is there any kind of scanning solution that could be connected to one networked pc, allow scanning by the press of a button and then and output of a pdf file into a network location so the users could retrieve the file from their own PC themselves?

I don't mind setting a computer for this purpose, but I'd like to avoid getting one of those huge expensive document scanners that cost into the 4 digits. Is there any kind of software that will accomplish this??
TIA

 

[BionicJohn]

Canon's Network ScanGear does just what you want, but you'll need a Canon ImageRunner Office Printer/Copier. The entry models scan at something like 12ppm (8ppm duplexed) straight into Acrobat on any workstation.

http://software.canon-europe.com/software/network_scangear_v201s21754.asp

LIVERPOOL FC - 5 times Champions of Europe. 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005.
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[PRPhx]

How many users do you expect to use this scanner? Doing a google search for document scanner I found a piece of software that will allow your scanner to act as a network scanner (Using Terminal Services/Cetrix). Runs around $227 per user, with a 10% discounts for 3 or more users.

Actually there are a lots of google hits using network document scanner.

However, network scanning doesn't appear to be cheap. HOw much work do you expect this scanner to do? What types of documents do you need to scan? Simplex or duplex? Do you need to do deskewing of the page (Make it striaght, no matter how the page is loaded and scanned). Black border removal? Removal of specks from the page?

To do the above your talking some money.

Does your company have a centralised document scanning department? If you do, ask them about scanning your documents on occassion. I work for a large company's corporate records. We scan paper work for all deparmtents. This includes occssional work for a couple of small departments. The added work isn't really a big deal for our scannning ppl. I'm trying to get the powers to be to replace a slow, old Fujitsu Scanpartner 15C with a Fujitsu 7550 scanner. But this is one of those 4 digit scanners that does a lot (Around $5200).

 

[ftechguy]

It will probably be used around 5 times per week (aside from the scanning work of the actual production users) but the thing is that the 5 times could be by a different set of users each week. It seems that the good solutions will be too expensive and the low volume makes any hardware purchase difficult to justify. So I think, i'll have to leave it as is.
Thanks for your advice, BigJohn and PRPhx!

 

[BudTheGrey]

I've deployed several Brother MFC-7820N's (

http://www.brother-usa.com/mfc/mfc_detail_AREA=MFC_1&PRODUCTID=MFC7820N.aspx)

And I've had very good luck with them. It's a network ready multi-function box. It's very easy to set up and all the functions are availabe to all users on the network without have a "host" PC. It has a Twain driver so that you can scan documents over the network, and IIRC, the included software will fetch scans & save them as PDF's. We've been paying around $300.00

Oh yeah, although this may not be of much use to you, the it will emulate both laser & dot matrix printers. Useful for some ancient software.

Hope this helps

 

[firewolfrl]

I set up this device for a small ambulance billing office and it has worked great'

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1222390&CatId=0

it is wireless though ...that was a feature I needed

it just might be the answer you need

 

[Tranman]

I have the Brother 7820 N at home, hanging off of my ethernet. All computers have access, and can scan directly into pdf. It's a cheap solution, and the volumes you're talking about would be no problem. Also a pretty good laser printer, and if you've got a phone line handy, a fax, too.

Tranman

"Adam was not alone in the Garden of Eden, however,...much is due to Eve, the first woman, and Satan, the first consultant." Mark Twain

 

[ftechguy]

That Brother looks like it would be a good fit actually. It has fax, so I can just replace the existing stand alone fax.
Question about it's pdf scanning: can it run it's scan function right from the built-in control panel? Or do I have to install software (twain driver?) on each PC and start it from there?

 

[Tranman]

I have not tried to initiate a scan from the scanner control panel since the device has been connected directly to the ethernet. Just offhand, it seems like it would be a problem because how would it know who on the network was supposed to get the image? I will be out of town tonight, but when I get home tomorrow, I'll go punch the scan button and see what happens.

Before I put the printer on the ethernet, I had it on the parallel port of one of the computers, shared, and I think you could initiate scans from the control panel at that point, because the device knew who was "the boss".

Whenever I scan directly into pdf, at home, or at work, I always just crank up Acrobat and use it to drive the scanner. I think your users could do that, too.

Anyway, I'll play and I'll let you know.

Tranman

"Adam was not alone in the Garden of Eden, however,...much is due to Eve, the first woman, and Satan, the first consultant." Mark Twain