Book scanning
A book scanner is a special scanner, which is optimized for the digitization of books. In practice, this scanner is combined with a special software, which stores the digitized material in the desired shape.
Application
With the book scanner bound documents (books, magazines ) can be scanned in a gentle manner without the documents are exposed to too great a burden. It must also be taken into account in book scanners that constantly pages are turned. This working process to be carried out as gently as possible and efficiently.
Are used book scanner wherever a greater number of books to be digitized. They are preferably used in archives, libraries, law firms and insurance companies to use. The result of a scan process is a digital image file which is called digitized. The digitized include, depending on request with a page or the whole work.
Book scanner can be divided into three categories:
- Manual book scanner reflective scanner
- Adapted flatbed scanner
Manual book scanners are particularly suitable as a supplement equipment for quick scanning of books and magazines, as is necessary for insurance companies, in law firms or government agencies. Here set in contrast to the automatic scan robots rather compact book scanner offers an efficient alternative dar. books can be conveniently placed on the original glass and scanned without distortion or Buchfalzschatten. For larger scan volume, the semi-or fully automatic scanning robot with which whole book collections and journal archives can be digitized quickly as possible suitable. On the other hand, there is the context that each comfortable scanning for book and arranger, is increasing the price of the device. Manual book scanners are more likely ( with lower volume scanning ) and scan robot used in small firms in large archives ( for large data sets ).
Book holder and book holder
Unlike conventional copying machines or flat- bed scanners, the book is not in the book scanners with its side down on a glass plate. This situation and the extra weight through the lid loads the spine too much. The book must be up when scanning with the open sides - the best conditions for offering the book cradle. It consists of two independently vertically adjustable plates on which the book is arranged so that the sides are flat as possible. The surface of the pages can also be smoothed by the pressing of a glass plate. Book rockers can be moved manually or with the aid of an electric motor depending on the design.
Can the book will not be fully opened to conserve approximately by the cover, so come book weighing as special book holders for use. These consist of an angled shelf for the book. Often, an additional glass plate for a flat surface provides. In some book mounts the image is passed via mirror to the camera or scan head, as in Wolfenbüttel book mirror.
A completely novel approach pursues Google with an automatic scanner in which the book is placed on top of a wedge-shaped rail, which is scanned through from the inside through slots, and where the flip is also realized through slots in the rail.
Scanning of historical books
More and more libraries, museums and archives digitize their collections to make them available to a wide audience. The scanning of historical book collections, however, places high demands on the equipment. Books that are several hundred years old, often have a limited opening angle. Book requirement that would require an opening angle of 180 ° in many printing result in damage to stitching, waistband material, binder spine and joints. Even opening angle between 110 ° and 90 ° in unilateral recordings can be problematic in such books. In order not to damage the books, they used a V-shaped book cradle or book cradle. This allows the opening angle cut up to 45 ° as in Wolfenbüttel book mirror.
Software
The scanning software influences the scanning speed and the usability of the digital versions. An automatic text recognition is often in addition to pure scan of the page carried out yet. Additional functions such as automatic turning and trimming of the pages or the automatic balance of the side curvature improve the quality of the final product.
Turn-over
While the pages by hand turns the pages in the manual book scanners, automated devices have different mechanisms.
Scan Robot
A prototype of a scanning robot was developed by the Austrian company Treventus and won at the Cebit 2007 the Grand Price of the European Information and Communication Technology Award.
Above all, in older documents gentle operation of the apparatus is provided, which is achieved through special music devices with the help of suction pumps. By this a Scan Robot bound documents can go through fully automatic and operates over manual page turning gently.