Peripherals that can be added to your photocopier
Peripherals are commonly
regarded as additional devices that can be added
to a basic machine. Common devices usually include things like
document feeders, finishers, extra paper decks or cassettes, duplex
units and cabinets. Over the years these pieces of equipment have
also changed with their functions now packed into smaller units,
mainly thanks to the digital copiers ability to scan a document
once and print many copies. Additional functions that are now quite
common are booklet makers and hole punch units. These features give
the user the ability to produce complete documents without the need
for a second (usually manual) finishing process.
Copier
peripherals can be quite expensive, but are highly effective
at reducing the time required to produce quantities of large documents.
Offices, schools, colleges and copy shops that usually have a high
output can benefit immensely, as this frees their staff to perform
other duties while the copier completes the job. Smaller users can
also benefit, as it can give them the opportunity to produce a complete
document in house at a reduced cost. However the costs and benefits
would need to be weighed up carefully to justify the extra costs.
A big plus for some peripherals like finishers and extra paper sources
is that these functions are available via the print option. So in
effect you can use all the functions of the photocopier from your
computer including staple, sort and booklet making.
Below is a list
of common terms for peripherals with their functions:
- An automatic document
feeder is also known as an ADF, RDF, SRDF, DF, DP, document processor,
doc feed and multi sheet feeder to name just a few. Its main purpose
is to allow many pages to be scanned automatically at once.
- A finisher is
also known as a sorter, collator, DF or document finisher to name
a few. Their main purpose is to complete large numbers of documents
in the correct order and that may also include staples, punched
holes or in booklet format depending on the functions available.
- Extra paper sources
are also referred to as, cassettes, paper drawer or paper deck.
As you would expect they hold extra paper for higher volume output
or for different paper sizes, colours or types e.g. letter headed
paper, forms and invoices to name but a few.
- Duplex also commonly
known as double siding. Used to automatically allow printing on
both sides. This unit is usually standard on larger machines but
is also standard on some particular smaller ones.
- Cabinet is also
known as cab pedestal or ped. This is basically a wheeled base
for a floor standing machine that incorporates a cupboard for
storage.
Points
to consider when choosing peripherals.
1.
Finishers tend to be complex so make sure it will be able to cope
with the volume you intend to put through it. Some finishers on
smaller machines may not be able to cope with large volumes.
2. Check that the paper type you intend to put
through the device is within its limits. Paper that is too thick
or too thin will cause problems; also pre printed media may pose
some problems.
3. Many new digital A3/ A4 photocopiers
offer a standard electronic system that will allow a basic
collate or sort function for A4 size pages. For A4 pages
(this may be referred to as rotate
sort) this basically involves having two separate A4 paper sources
available, with one set in the standard orientation (portrait) and
the other set at 90 degrees (landscape). The machine simply takes
from the first paper source for the first document and then from
the second source for the next, and continues swapping until the
desired amount of copies is achieved. This has the effect of crossing
each set of documents, allowing for easy separation when the job
is complete.
On A4 only desktop machines, electronic collate
means arranging the output in its correct sequence, but without
rotating each complete document to allow for easy separation. This
is because of the physical size restraints of the machine.
4. Finishers, duplex units and extra paper sources
are similar for large printers as well.
|
