Dual-Camera Configuration A Differentiator For Sharp

Of course, the capture application isn’t the only component of a quality digital copier scanning solution. The digital copier itself must be able to scan images quickly and cleanly. While image quality hasn’t necessarily been a problem in recent years, speed sometimes is, especially when dealing with dual-sided documents. Most digital copiers contain only one camera, and thus need to flip a document and scan it twice to capture both sides. This typically results in duplex scanning times that are half those of simplex speeds. For example, a digital copier rated at 40 ppm in simplex mode, will typically only capture 20 ipm in duplex.

One copier vendor has managed to improve on this process. A few years ago, Sharp introduced what it called single pass, dual-sided scanning (SPDSS) on its Digital Imager Series of copiers. The feature is now incorporated in the company’s Scan2 (Scan-Squared) package, which also offers scan to-e-mail, desktop, and file capabilities.

According to Mike Marusic, VP of marketing for Sharp Document Solutions Company of America (SDSCA), Sharp’s proprietary controller technology has enabled it to implement more advanced duplex scanning technology than its competitors. “The most obvious way to improve duplex scanning is to add a second camera and then just double your internal controls,” Marusic told DIR. “However, that strategy would price you right out of the market. “

Sharp’s Scan2-enabled digital copiers do feature two CIS cameras. However, Sharp, which unlike many of its competitors, develops its own controller boards, has introduced one capable of managing dual-sided images. “Our controllers are capable of absorbing the doubled amount of content associated with duplex scanning,” said Marusic. “They are also able to process that content and understand the layouts of the pages being captured. The manufacturers that make the controllers for the other digital copier vendors haven’t developed this sort of technology yet, so for now, we have a competitive edge.”

According to Marusic, this differentiation is at least partially responsible for Sharp’s continuing to increase its market share in an essentially flat black-and-white digital copier market, according to IDC figures. “When we marketed the technology as SPDSS, it went over a lot of people’s heads,” he said. “However, in the past year and a half, since we’ve introduced the Scan2 package, we’ve received a lot of requests.”

Sharp’s dual-sided capture does not quite double the simplex ppm speeds. “If you have a 35 ppm simplex scanner, for example, it probably captures 55-60 images per minute in duplex,” said Marusic. “We are approximately 115% faster than competitive duplex speeds. The single pass technology also reduces paper jams.”

Marusic gave us an example of the type of savings this functionality can return. “Our studies show that on a 55 ppm machine, a user is probably doing 30,000 images per month. About 15,000 of those are single-sided copies and the rest are a combination of duplex copies, and simplex and duplex scans. We’ve found that our duplex capabilities on average save customers at this level about 10 hours of time per month.

“The biggest savings, of course, are realized when a document is being scanned for e-mail or filing, or when a user is only making one dual-sided copy. The savings start to decrease if a user is making multiple copies of a dual-sided document because then the bulk of time is spent on output.”

Up until now, the dual-sided scanning capabilities have been limited to Sharp’s black-and-white models, but Marusic said that will change this summer. “The initial generation of our color products does not offer Scan2, but the next generation will,” said Marusic. “As users continue to increase the amount of scanning they do from digital copiers, we think the demand for better duplex scanning will continue to increase.”

For more information: http://www.sharpusa.com/products/scan2/benefits/