In this time period, the use of scanners as an alternative to paper documents is becoming more popular among small and medium-sized businesses and consumers. On the market, there are many different types of scanners available for people to choose from, as well as ways to connect them to their computers. We are here to discuss the different types of scanners that are available, how they work, and how to connect them to your computer, so let’s begin with what a scanner is and how it works.
What is the anatomy of a scanner?
Before we can talk about how to connect a scanner, we first need to know what parts make up a scanner. A scanner is made up of a lot of different parts that are all equally significant to the function of the scanner. The parts of a scanner are as follows:
- Charge Coupled Device array/CCD array, some cheaper quality ones use a Contact Image Sensor/CIS
- Mirrors
- Scan head
- Lamps
- Covers
- Lens
- Glass plate
- Filters
- Stabilizer bar
- Steppar motor
- Power supply
- Belt
- Control circuitry
- Interface port
Each of these components plays an equally substantial role in creating a digital image to save on your computer.
How does a scanner work?
In order to scan a document, the document must be placed in the scanner. Scan heads are composed of lenses, mirrors, and filters that are used for capturing image data. The scan head is passed over the document. Light is shined on the document that is being captured. The light is then reflected onto a photo-sensitive element through a process of mirrors and lenses. Some scanners take only one pass, while others take as many as three passes.
What are the different types of scanners available?
Flatbed scanner
A flatbed scanner is one of the most popular scanners available for use. This type of scanner is available in a variety of different sizes to suit your various needs. There are many different things that you can use a flatbed scanner for. These include newspapers, books, articles, and even DVD cases. Some flatbed scanners have cool features such as Bluetooth and wireless options. Flatbed scanners are especially helpful if you have large amounts of paper and documents to scan. Although flatbed scanners are widely used, they do have some drawbacks.
This type of scanner can be very expensive, which makes it not a very budget-friendly option for someone on a tight budget. Flatbed scanners also take up more space than some other scanners that are on the market. If you have a small space, it is not very space friendly. Flatbed scanners can also be time-consuming to work with, which can also be frustrating if you want your documents to be scanned faster.
Sheetfed scanner
While a sheet-fed scanner has less resolution than a flatbed scanner does, it is a little bit smaller in size, which could work better for someone with more limited desk space. Just like a flatbed scanner, a sheet-fed scanner works well for scanning large amounts of paper. Sheet-fed scanners are common for use in office settings, but they are not so common in libraries and archives. Although sheet-fed scanners are more space efficient, they are still not a suitable option for someone who is on a tight budget.
Handheld scanner
A handheld scanner is used in a different way than flatbed and sheet-fed scanners. To use a handheld scanner, you carefully drag it over the page that you want to scan. You must be careful though, because if you move your hand in any way, it could cause distorted images in the scanned document. These types of scanners are also very popular. These are the types of scanners that you see in most stores for evaluating the prices of goods. Handheld scanners take up less space than most scanners and are also very cheap. This makes them a suitable fit for a person who has limited space and a tight budget.
Drum scanner
A drum scanner uses a photomultiplier tube instead of the typical CCD array used in other types of scanner. This type of scanner is known for its high-resolution images. Drum scanners are less popular because they are very expensive and take up a large amount of space.
Photo scanner
This type of scanner is used for scanning photos. It has a high resolution, which is what makes it suitable for photo scanning. This type of scanner is much smaller than flatbed and sheet-fed scanners. Some photo scanners also contain software that allows you to clean and restore old photos.
Film scanner
A film scanner is used to scan photographic film. It also allows you to adjust, crop, and edit the scanned film images. Film scanners also enable you to fix graininess and scratches found on film images.
Portable scanners
Portable scanners are small enough to be carried in a pocket. They are effective for scanning text documents but are not suited to images due to the low resolution of the portable scanner.
How do you use a scanner on a Windows computer?
The first step is to connect the scanner to your computer. Connect the USB cable from the scanner to the USB port on the computer. The computer should be able to automatically find your scanner and connect to it. Make sure that your scanner is turned on. Type in “Windows scan” on your task bar and then click the result “scan”. Place the document or item on the scanner flatbed or document feeder, depending on the type of scanner you are using.
Select the scanner you want to use. Then select the location that you will want to save the file. Select the type of file you want to save the scan. Then save the file to the desired location. Click the scan at the bottom of the page. View the scan and make any edits that you need to, and then save the scan to the location that you chose earlier.
How do you use a scanner with a Mac computer?
The first step is to plug the scanner in and connect it to the computer. Make sure that the scanner is turned on. Put the papers that need to be scanned in the document feeder. Select the Apple menu and then click on system settings. Navigate to printers and scanners. Click to open the scanner. Choose to use a document feeder. Pick the type of scanner that you are using. Choose the image type and the scanning resolution. Pick the location of the saved scans. Then click scan, and save it to the proper location.
How do you use a printer to scan documents onto a computer?
If you have a printer that also has a scanning option, you can use it with your computer in the same way that you would connect it to a flatbed scanner. You could just follow the directions mentioned above for connecting to a Mac or Windows.
What are the reasons a scanner is recommended?
There are a few reasons why it might be recommended to use a scanner. The time it takes to retrieve files is largely reduced. This is because you don’t have to sit there and dig through loads of paper files. Documents are only a click away. Documents can be kept more securely. They can be password protected from eyes that could steal information, and they could also be kept safe from the strike of natural disasters. It is also recommended to minimize your environmental footprint.
You can easily and quickly send and receive documents. Collaboration on projects is easier and simpler this way. You can make more effective use of space and resources because there is not a large amount of paper documents in filing cabinets. Significant documents can be better preserved. Customer service can be more effective if employees spend less time trying to find files and documents.
What are the pros to using a scanner?
- There is no need for 2-way communication
- It makes it easier and faster to store and find crucial information.
- High-resolution images. This is most useful in photography and engineering.
- Easy to use and more convenient
- Saves on cost due to conserving physical space used for storage
- Easy to scan, edit, save, and send if needed
What are the cons of having a scanner?
- Different scanners can give varying degrees of quality.
- Replacement costs of components can add up to being quite expensive.
- Scanners can be slow
- The time it takes to scan large amounts of documents can be a lot
- It takes time to check all of the pages
Conclusion
There are a couple of different ways to connect your scanner to your computer. Which one you use depends on the type of computer that you are using to connect to your scanner. There are many different types of scanner, but only a few are able to connect to a computer. These scanners are favored by the majority of people and businesses due to their size, cost, and efficiency.
