Duplicating Machines
A duplicating machine makes duplicate printed, drawn or typed copies from a master copy using different reproduction techniques. Duplicating machines differ from copying machines. Copy machines produce copies made from an original through an image exposure process.
Duplicating machines were used for reproducing low cost documents in small organizations, churches and schools before modern document-reproduction technology came about. For more information on duplicating machines, refer to Wikipedia online.
Today laser printers, scanners and photocopiers are used in place of duplicating machines.
An image scanner is a device that optically scans images, handwriting, an object or printed text. A scanner converts the objects into a digital image.
There are several types of scanners (regular, rotary, planetary, 3D and digital camera). Regular scanners use contact image sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD) as the image sensor. Rotary scanners are drum scanners used for scanning high-speed documents. Instead of photomultipliers, rotary scanners use CCD sensors. Planetary scanners photograph documents and books. 3D scanners are used for objects that are three dimensional. Digital camera scanners function as reprographic cameras. Digital cameras are more popular than regular scanners because of the increased resolution and other features such as anti-shake.
3D scanners and digital cameras are being combined in new scanning technology that creates full color realistic 3D models of objects.
Photocopiers work quickly and are cost effective. A photocopier uses xerography technology. Xerography is a heat-drying process. Even though xerography is a standard office copying process, some photocopiers use inkjet technologies.
Xerox introduced xerographic office photocopying in 1959 and replaced older versions of photocopiers and other duplicating machines. The paperless office never became about because of the photocopier’s use factors.
As technology continues to develop and distributing paper is relied on less than digital documents, it is predicted that photocopiers will eventually become obsolete.