The rapid development of digital technology has greatly expanded the capabilities of modern computers. Accordingly, to increase their capabilities, it was necessary to improve the existing one and invent new types of additional equipment. In general terms, these additionally connected devices are means of display and input, transmission and storage of information.
An integral attribute of
office equipment was the scanner. This device performs the function of translating the image into a computer form, otherwise - into a digital code. In English, the term “scanner” is understood as “analyzer”. The modern scanner has learned to analyze and transcode not only pictures and text from flat surfaces, but has significantly expanded its capabilities. Depending on the abilities and capabilities, various types of scanners have appeared.
The most common and familiar for us are flatbed scanners. They are user friendly, provide high quality and have an acceptable scanning speed. Outwardly it is a tablet, the scanning mechanism is located behind a special glass.
Hand scanners differ from flatbed scanners in the absence of an engine. Scanning of an object is carried out manually. The advantage of a handheld scanner is its low cost and mobility. For these advantages you have to pay with low resolution, reduced speed, narrow scan band. Manual scanning may result in skewed images.
Leaf scanners slightly improve the display quality of the object, since the sheet to be scanned is inserted into the corresponding slot and pulled along the guide rollers past the lamp. With smaller sizes than flatbed, sheet-pulling scanners scan individual sheets. For some models, automatic feeding is provided, and this makes it possible to quickly scan a fairly large amount of documents on separate sheets.
The requirement of careful attitude to the object of scanning has led to the fact that the types of scanners are replenished with planetary scanners used to work with books and shabby documents. Their feature is the lack of contact with the scan object.
Book scanners are also widely used. They are designed to work with various print media. Scanning occurs with the print side up. The operator’s job consists in the standard page turning as during normal reading.
Book types of scanners can also have a V-shaped cradle and work using digital camera technology. Possessing all the advantages of planetary scanners, they scan a book without opening it completely, providing the so-called gentle scanning mode.
In printing, drum scanners are used. These devices have improved characteristics, their resolution reaches 10,000 dpi.
Different types of scanners allow not only copying prints. Trade enterprises have found widespread use of barcode readers. These compact devices not only facilitate the work of the seller, but also improve the quality of customer service, and automate the control of the process of selling goods.
Using additional modules allows you to turn a conventional scanner into a slide scanner. Thanks to this significant expansion of the functionality, scanning of images directly from photo negatives, slides, information printed on tracing paper and other transparent surfaces becomes available. The modern industry for professional work also produces independent devices with enhanced characteristics. Such a scanner is often referred to as a film scanner. This tool is of rather high quality and is intended for narrow-profile use.