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Question

>=600 dpi ADF scanner, standalone or part of MFP

Jun 11, 2015 1:52PM PDT

Dear All:

I have been happily using an OfficeJet Pro 8500 a909a (http://tinyurl.com/o4a85bx) since ~2009. I am very happy with its printing. However, there is now a scratch on the glass beneath the automatic document feeder (ADF), and all of my ADF scans have a subtle vertical line.

I thought it would be easy to upgrade to a new multifunction printer (MFP) & fix the scanning problem. However, so far, I have had to return 2 MFPs:

1. HP OfficeJet Pro x576dw (http://tinyurl.com/o3cogwf) - ADF scans everything ~5-6 degrees off vertical, even when making sure the guides are tight around the sheets being scanned (others have had this problem as well; see, e.g., http://tinyurl.com/pwtatkd).
2. HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 (http://tinyurl.com/oow5ra4) - I was _very_ surprised that the ADF scans ONLY up to 300 dpi as I did not read this ANYWHERE (including the datasheet, which states 1200 dpi scans - http://tinyurl.com/ol4hobp) before I bought the product.

I looked at some standalone scanners, but ones with good reviews seem in the ~$400 price range.

My options so far:
(A) Live with the vertical line on all scans, which I can do if there is no great alternative.
(B) Purchase a stand-alone ADF scanner that scans >= 600 dpi and works well. Ideally, it would be <$400 ($400 seems expensive given the cost of MFPs).
(C) Purchase an MFP w/an ADF scanner that scans >= 600 dpi. Print quality likely only has to be average (I print text, articles, and handouts with small/medium size photos/pictures, but not full-size photos). I don't care about the brand, as long as the company is reliable. I don't mind paying extra up front if the cost per page is low in the long-term. However, if the cost per page is average or esp. above average, I would be less interested in this solution.

Do you have any recommendations for products that work well for option (B) or (C)?

Thank you.

Yours,
Misha

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Maybe ebay?
Jun 11, 2015 2:03PM PDT

I see a few of these HP's on ebay so maybe that for under 99 bucks could be a source for clean glass if a glass shop can't cut a new piece for you.

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Thank you so much for your idea
Jun 11, 2015 5:51PM PDT

Thank you so much for your idea. I will need to take a closer look when I have time with the printer to see if I can figure out how to remove/replace the glass underneath the ADF. Unfortunately, at least a couple of simple Google searches do not turn up any guides/videos on how to do this. Thank you again!

Yours,
Misha

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I did look around for a service manual
Jun 11, 2015 6:06PM PDT
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Thank you again
Jun 12, 2015 6:03AM PDT

Thank you again for checking re the service manual and for the very helpful video. I will have to see (when I have a little more time) whether I am able to remove/unscrew the ADF and then remove the smaller glass underneath the ADF (I have already tried cleaning it, but, unfortunately the problem does not resolve; further, I can see the two small scratches on the small glass that I believe are causing the problem pretty clearly). Thank you again!

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My solution
Jun 14, 2015 1:41PM PDT

I used my TEKTON 2830 Everybit Tool Kit (http://tinyurl.com/owmhe4d) to remove the automatic document feeder, as this is the only way to remove the glass underneath (there are four screws on four corners of the feeder; NOTE: two screws are very difficult to access and I used a pair of small ?needle nose pliers with the T9 bit to unscrew these screws from the side - it was not the easiest thing to do). Then, I removed the ADF from the printer (there is a cable that plugs into the side of the ADF, so do this gently). Finally, I carefully un-snapped a small white plastic cover holding the ADF glass in place, and pulled it out. I am now in the process of getting a new piece made at a glass shop (if it is helpful, it is _approximately_ 1.6 in x 9.65 in x 0.1 in or 4.1 cm x 24.6 cm x 0.3 cm). I have not yet tested the ADF since doing this, but the printer seems to at least start normally and does not complain about any malfunction. Thank you again for your advice!!!

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My solution - updated
Jun 21, 2015 8:28AM PDT

Unfortunately, I had some trouble scanning (i.e., it did not work well - possibly due to the quality of the cut glass) after replacing the glass using one I purchased at Lowe's.

Further, the cable connecting the scanner to the document feeder was not in the best condition, and after removing it several times, I believe that I shorted the scanner motor.

I have ended up purchasing a Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500 scanner from Amazon, and so far am VERY happy with the results.