Review: The Panasonic KV-S4085CW Scanner

Specifically designed to detect and prevent double-feeding, as well as damage caused by stapled originals, the KV-S4085C (and it's similarly featured, but relatively slower companion model, the KV-S4065C) utilizes three types of sensors; an optical sensor to detect staples, three ultrasonic sensors (one in the S4065C) to detect double feeds, and a mechanical slip-detection sensor which automatically adjusts the height of the feeding hopper to maintain roller pressure.

Our tests showed the KV-S4085C to be a robust device that could handle everything that is thrown at it. Different sized documents, in varying degrees of thickness, can be stacked onto the hopper which then literally rises up to meet the feed rollers. Very long documents (up to 100 inches) can be scanned without jams by opening the rear tray to allow straight, pass-through feeding. Other notable features include automatic cropping of mixed batch documents, automatic straightening of skewed documents, and automatic removal of blank sides.

At resolutions up to 300 dpi (maximum resolution is 600 dpi), the S4085 can scan in full-color at the rate of 85ppm portrait or 100ppm landscape (170/200ipm duplex). Although the included software displays images on the computer monitor as they are being scanned; at these speeds the eye can barely focus before the next one takes its place.

Staple detection worked flawlessly during our evaluation, with the scanner coming to a halt whenever it sensed a staple -- regardless of its location on the page. The same held true for double feeds and pages that were skewed beyond the threshold of the de-skew feature.

Additionally, the clamshell design made it a breeze to remove the offending document from the unit after the scan was interrupted. This design also makes replacing rollers as simple as possible, with each roller easily accessible and removable by just squeezing a clip and sliding it out. Another unique feature is that the glass on the optical sensor is also easily replaceable (as a repair part), just in case it somehow manages to get scratched.

Panasonic's RTIV (Reliable Throughput Imaging Viewer) software is very customizable and allowed us to change almost every conceivable setting, ranging from scan resolution to sensor sensitivity. The application also lets the user set the scanner for manual feed, select the scan area of a document, and change the image settings for the front and back of the page independent of each other.

At 18.7 inches by 23.0 inches by 13.0 inches, and weighing 51 pounds, the scanner is not really suitable for a desktop; but any company that has a need for its feature set will probably want to place it where multiple users can access it anyway.

With suggested retail prices ranging from $9,995 to $19,995, the new scanners will be available mid-May in four models; the lower priced KV-S4065C and the KV-S4085C, each ending with either an "L" or "W" suffix. The S4065 has slower speeds (65ppm portrait/80ppm landscape) and only one ultrasonic sensor. In addition, the S4085's Auto Crop / De-Skew is feature is hardware based, versus software based for the S4065. The "L" and "W" designations refer to a maximum document width of 8.5 inches and 11 inches respectively.

The new Panasonic scanners are true workhorses that should be considered for any customers needing high-quality, high-speed scans.