Plustek SmartOffice PL4080 User manual

 Installation
 Usage & Maintenance

Trademarks
© 2019 Plustek Inc. All rights are reserved. No portion of this document may be
reproduced without permission.
All trademarks and brand names mentioned in this publication are property of their
respective owners.
Liability
While all efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of all contents in this
manual, we assume no liability for errors or omissions or by statements of any
kind in this manual, whether such errors are omissions or statements resulting
from negligence, accidents, or any other cause. The contents of this manual are
subject to change without notice. We will not shoulder any legal liability, if users
failed to follow the operation instructions in this manual.
Copyright
The scanning of certain documents, for example checks, bank notes, I.D. cards,
government bonds, or public documents, may be prohibited by law and/or subject
to criminal prosecution. We recommend you to be responsible and respectful of
the copyrights laws when you are scanning books, magazines, journals and other
materials.
Environmental Information
Recycle or disposal at end-of-life information, please ask local distributors or
suppliers for recycle and disposal information. The product is designed and
produced to achieve sustainable environmental improvement. We strive to
produce products in compliance with global environmental standards. Please
consult your local authorities for proper disposal.
The product packaging is recyclable.
Attention for recycling (For EU country only)
Protect your environment! This product should not be thrown into the household
waste container. Please give it to the free collecting center in your community.
Screen Examples in This Manual
The screen shots in this guide were made with Windows 7. If you are using
Windows XP / Vista / 8 / 10, your screen will look somewhat different but functions
the same.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
How to Use This Guide............................................................................................... 1
Conventions of This Guide ......................................................................................... 2
A Note about Icons ............................................................................................................... 2
Safety Precautions...................................................................................................... 2
Minimum System Requirements ................................................................................. 3
Box Contents .............................................................................................................. 4
Scanner Overview ...................................................................................................... 5
CHAPTER I. INSTALLING THE SCANNER....................................................................7
Software Installation Requirements ............................................................................ 7
Hardware Requirements............................................................................................. 7
Installing and Setting up the Scanner ......................................................................... 8
Step 1. Connecting the Scanner to Your Computer............................................................. 8
Step 2. Installing the Software.............................................................................................. 9
Step 3. Testing the Scanner ............................................................................................... 11
Installing Additional Software.................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER II. SCANNING ..................................................................................... 14
Preparing Documents ............................................................................................... 14
Checking Document Conditions ......................................................................................... 14
Loosening Documents (for ADF Scan)............................................................................... 16
Placing Documents................................................................................................... 17
Using the Flatbed ...............................................................................................................17
Using the ADF .................................................................................................................... 17
Placing Business Cards............................................................................................ 19
Scanning Documents................................................................................................ 20
Scanning via TWAIN Interface ........................................................................................... 20
Scanning from the Scanner’s Front Panel or On-screen DocAction's Execute Menu ....... 22
Scanning from the Icon in the Left Side of the DocAction Window.................................... 23
CHAPTER III. CARE AND MAINTENANCE ............................................................... 24
Cleaning the Scanner ............................................................................................... 24
Cleaning Materials..............................................................................................................24
Cleaning the Flatbed .......................................................................................................... 25
Cleaning the ADF ............................................................................................................... 26
Replacing Consumables........................................................................................... 27
Replacing the Pad Module ................................................................................................. 27
Calibrating the Scanner ............................................................................................ 29
Standby Mode........................................................................................................... 30
CHAPTER IV. TROUBLESHOOTING ........................................................................ 31
Scanner Connection ................................................................................................. 31
Clearing Paper Jams ................................................................................................ 32
APPENDIX A: SPECIFICATIONS............................................................................ 33
APPENDIX B: CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WARRANTY................................................ 34
Service & Support Information.................................................................................. 34
Statement of Limited Warranty ................................................................................. 35
FCC Radio Frequency Statement............................................................................. 36

1
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing us as your scanner supplier. Your new scanner will
improve the professionalism of your day-to-day computing tasks by allowing you to
input images and electronic text into your computer system. You can easily scan
single-sided or double-sided documents with your scanner.
Like all of our products, your new scanner is thoroughly tested and backed by our
reputation for unsurpassed dependability and customer satisfaction. We hope you will
continue to turn to us for additional quality products as your computing needs and
interests grow.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This User’s Guide provides instructions and illustrations on how to install and
operate your scanner. This guide assumes the user is familiar with Microsoft Windows.
If this is not the case, we suggest you learn more about Microsoft Windows by referring
to your Microsoft Windows manual before using your scanner.
The Introduction section of this manual describes the box contents and minimum
computer requirements to use this scanner. Before you start installing your scanner,
check the box contents to make sure all parts are included. If any items are damaged
or missing, please contact the vendor where you purchased your scanner or our
customer service directly.
Chapter I describes how to install scanner’s software and connect the scanner to
your computer. Note: The scanner connects to your computer through the Universal
Serial Bus (USB). If your computer does not support USB technology, you will need to
purchase a USB interface card to add USB capabilities to your computer, or buy and
install USB connectors if your motherboard has USB capabilities. This guide assumes
that your computer is USB-ready and has a free USB port.
Chapter II describes how to use your scanner.
Chapter III describes how to maintain and clean your scanner.
Chapter IV contains technical support information that can help you solve simple
problems.
Appendix A contains the specifications of the scanner you purchased.
Appendix B contains our customer service, the limited warranty agreement and
FCC statement concerning the product.

2
CONVENTIONS OF THIS GUIDE
Bold — Represents commands or contents on your computer screen.
ALL CAPS — Important note or first use of an important term in a chapter.
Italic — Represents buttons on your scanner OR important notes.
A
A N No ot te e a ab bo ou ut t I Ic co on ns s
This guide uses the following icons to point out information that deserves special
attention.
Warning
A procedure that must be followed carefully to prevent injury,
or accidents.
Attention
Instructions that are important to remember and may prevent
mistakes.
Information
Optional tips for your reference.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Warning
Before using this device, please read the
following important information to eliminate or
reduce any possibility of causing damage and
personal injury.
1. Usage, the product is for indoor use in dry locations. Moisture condensation may
occur inside this device and cause malfunction at these conditions:
 when this device is moved directly from a cold to a warm location;
 after a cold room is heated;
 when this device is placed in a damp room.
To avoid the moisture condensation, you are recommended to follow the
procedure:
i. Seal this device in a plastic bag for it to adapt to room conditions.
ii. Wait for 1-2 hours before removing this device from the bag.
2. Do use the AC adapter and USB cable provided with the scanner. Use of other AC
adapter and cables may lead to malfunction.

3
3. Keep the space around the AC adapter clear in case you need to quickly unplug
the AC adapter during emergencies.
4. Damaged wire could cause fire or electrical shock. Keep the power cord straight
and without being twisted, bended, or scraped.
5. Unplug this device if you don’t need to use for a certain period of time, such as,
during night or long weekend, to avoid any risks of causing fire.
6. Do not attempt to disassemble the scanner. There is danger of an electrical shock
and opening your scanner will void your warranty.
7. Be sure not to bump or knock the scanner glass as it is fragile and could break.
8. Do not subject the scanner to excessive vibration. It may damage the internal
components.
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS1
 PC with Intel Pentium®IV 3.2 GHz processor or compatible
 2 GB RAM
 One available USB 2.0 port
 DVD-ROM Drive
 2 GB Free Hard Disk Space
 Operating System: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
Information
4 GB RAM and 2 GB free hard disk space are
recommended for optimal performance.
1Higher requirements may be needed when scanning or editing large quantities of images. The
system requirements stated are only a guideline, generally the better the computer
(motherboard, processor, hard disk, RAM, video graphic card), the better the results.

4
BOX CONTENTS2
1. Scanner
2. USB Cable
3. AC Adapter
4. Quick Guide
5. Setup/Application DVD-ROM
6. Calibration Sheet
7. Cleansing Cloth
8. Pad Module
2Save the box and packing materials in case you need to transport this scanner in the future.

5
SCANNER OVERVIEW
1. ADF (AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT FEEDER)—Automatically feeds a stack of
documents for scanning.
2. PAPER WIDTH SLIDER—Adjusts the paper width slider for the paper size you
are using.
3. SCAN BUTTON—Press to perform a predefined scanning task.
4. PDF BUTTON—Press this button to scan documents into PDF files.
5. POWER LED—Indicates the scanner status.
Light Status
Blue The scanner is turned on, ready to scan images.
Orange
The scanner is in standby mode. Simply press any scanner
button on the scanner panel and the scanner will be back to the
normal status.
Off
The scanner is off, either because the power is not turned on, or
because the AC adapter is not properly plugged into an AC
power outlet.
6. CUSTOM BUTTON—Press to perform a predefined scanning task.

6
7. POWER SWITCH—Use this to turn the scanner ON or OFF.
8. POWER RECEPTOR—Connects the scanner to a standard AC power outlet by
the included AC adapter.
9. USB PORT—Connects the scanner to a USB port on the computer by the
included USB cable.
10. DOCUMENT COVER— Helps keep the paper in place and protects the scanner
glass.
11. DOCUMENT PAD— Keeps the paper in place and improves accuracy of image
quality.
12. REFERENCE MARK— Align your paper with this reference mark in case of
flatbed scanning.
13. SCANNER GLASS— Where you put items for flatbed scanning.

7
CHAPTER I. INSTALLING THE SCANNER
Before installing your scanner, please verify that you have all of the proper
components. A list of the package contents is provided in the “Box Contents” section of
this guide.
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
Your scanner comes with OCR software (ABBYY FineReader Sprint), the
scanner’s driver and DocAction. All of these software applications use approximately
800 MB of hard disk space after they are installed into your computer. To ensure ample
room for the installation, as well as for scanning and saving images, a minimum of 2
GB of hard disk space is recommended.
This USB scanner can only operate under the Microsoft Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8
/ 10 operating system.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
This scanner connects to your computer through the Universal Serial Bus (USB),
which supports HOT PLUG AND PLAY. To determine whether your computer is USB-
capable, you must check the rear of your PC to locate a USB jack that looks like the
picture below. If you are having trouble in locating the USB port on your computer,
please refer to the hardware manual that came with your computer.
Upon examination, you should find one or two rectangular USB ports, which
usually appear as shown below.
If you don’t find such USB ports on your computer, then you need to purchase a
certified USB interface card to add USB capabilities to your computer.
USB Connector(s)

8
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE SCANNER
Please follow the step-by-step procedures described below to install the Plustek
scanner.
Attention
Choose a Proper Site First!
 Always place your scanner on a level,
smooth and strong surface before
proceeding the scanner setup or any
scanning task. Tilted or uneven surface may
cause paper-feeding errors, scanner
damage or personal injury.
 Avoid using the scanner in a dusty
environment. Dust particles and other
foreign objects may damage the unit.
S
St te ep p 1 1. . C Co on nn ne ec ct ti in ng g t th he e S Sc ca an nn ne er r t to o Y Yo ou ur r C Co om mp pu ut te er r
Attention
Please make sure the scanner is turned OFF
before you plug or unplug the scanner power
adapter.
1. Plug the AC adapter into the scanner’s power receptor.

9
2. Plug the other end of the AC adapter into a standard AC power outlet.
3. Plug the square end of the included USB cable to the USB port at the rear of
the scanner.
4. Plug the rectangular end of the USB cable to an available USB port on the
computer.
5. If you plan to connect your scanner to a USB hub3, make sure that the hub is
connected to the USB port in your computer. Next, connect the scanner to the
USB hub.
S
St te ep p 2 2. . I In ns st ta al ll li in ng g t th he e S So of ft tw wa ar re e
1. Switch on the scanner power from the rear of the scanner.
2. If the USB components on your computer are functioning correctly, they will
automatically detect the scanner causing the Add New Hardware Wizard or
Found New Hardware Wizard to be launched.
Information
If your computer is off when the scanner is
connected, the “Add New Hardware Wizard”
message will not be displayed until the computer
is on and Windows starts.
3. For Windows XP:
a. Insert the Setup/Application DVD-ROM, included with your scanner, into your
DVD-ROM drive.
b. Select Install the software automatically recommended and click the Next
button.
c. Click the Next button in the window that appears. Afterwards, please skip to
procedure 7.
4. For Windows Vista:
a. Select “Locate and install driver software (recommended)” when the “Found
New Hardware” window is displayed.
b. Click on the Continue button when the “User Account Control” dialog pops up.
3The USB hub is not included with the scanner.

10
c. Insert the Setup/Application DVD-ROM, included with your scanner, into your
DVD-ROM drive when the system prompts you “Insert the disc that came with
your USB Scanner“, and click on the Next button. Afterwards, please skip to
procedure 8.
5. For Windows 7:
When the Setup/Application DVD is for several scanner models
a. Insert the Setup/Application DVD-ROM, included with your scanner, into your
DVD-ROM drive. Click Run install.exe in the AutoPlay window.
b. Click on the Yes button if the User Account Control dialog pops up. Follow
the instructions in the pop-up installation message.
c. In the Device Manager window, right-click on this scanner under Other
devices and select Update Driver Software from the pop-up menu. Click
Browse my computer for driver software in the window that appears, and
click the Browse button.
d. In the Browse For Folder window, select the folder or the DVD-ROM drive
that contains this scanner’s driver and click the OK button to return to the
previous screen. Click the Next button and click Install this driver software
anyway if the Windows Security window appears. Afterwards, please skip to
procedure 9.
When the Setup/Application DVD is for one scanner model
a. Insert the Setup/Application DVD-ROM, included with your scanner, into your
DVD-ROM drive. Click Run install.exe in the AutoPlay window.
b. Click on the Yes button if the User Account Control dialog pops up.
Afterwards, please skip to procedure 9.
6. For Windows 8 & Windows 10:
a. Insert the Setup/Application DVD-ROM, included with your scanner, into your
DVD-ROM drive. Click on the pop-up notification, then click Run install.exe in
the pop-up window. If you miss the pop-up notification, please eject and re-
insert the Setup/Application DVD-ROM.
b. Click on the Yes button if the User Account Control dialog pops up.
Afterwards, please skip to procedure 9.
7. During the process of the installation, a message “Windows can’t verify the
publisher of this driver software” might be prompted. Please ignore it, and click on
[Install this driver software anyway] to continue the installation without any
misgiving at your scanner functioning.
8. When the system completes the installation, click the Finish button.

11
9. Follow the on-screen instructions to install all software that your new scanner
requires. If the pop-up wizard window appears click Next,and click Install this
driver software anyway in the Windows Security window then click Finish in
the wizard window.
10. After the installation is complete, close all open applications and click the Finish
button to restart your computer.
Attention
Save the Setup/Application DVD in case you
need to reinstall the driver and software in the
future.
S
St te ep p 3 3. . T Te es st ti in ng g t th he e S Sc ca an nn ne er r
The following describes how you can check if the scanner is properly functioning
with your computer and the scanning software. Before testing your scanner, double
check to make sure that all connections are securely fastened.
To test the flatbed scanning:
1. Open the scanner's document cover. Place a document face down onto the
scanner glass and align the document top with the reference mark.
2. Gently close the document cover.
3. Do one of the following to open the Button Configuration window:
 Double-click the DocAction icon in the Windows system tray.
 Right-click the DocAction icon in the Windows system tray, and then
choose Button Configuration… in the pop-up menu that opens.

12
4. Clicking the Custom icon on the left pane in the Button Configuration window
displays its current button settings on the right pane. In the Button Configuration
window, choose from the dropdown list of Button Template to select “File Utility”,
and keep in mind the default saving folder show in the “Saving folder” dropdown
list.
5. Press the Custom button on the scanner and the scanning starts immediately.
You’ll see a scanned image of the document in the default saving folder; your
scanner is working properly.
To test the ADF scanning:
1. Load a document headfirst and face down into the ADF with the text side facing
the paper chute. (For detailed instructions on loading paper into the ADF, please
refer to the “Placing Documents” section.)
2. Do one of the following to open the Button Configuration window:
 Double-click the DocAction icon in the Windows system tray.
 Right-click the DocAction icon in the Windows system tray, and then
choose Button Configuration… in the pop-up menu that opens.
3. Clicking the Custom icon on the left pane in the Button Configuration window
displays its current button settings on the right pane. In the Button Configuration
window, choose from the dropdown list of Button Template to select “File Utility”,
and keep in mind the default saving folder show in the “Saving folder” dropdown
list.
4. Press the Custom button on the scanner and the scanning starts immediately.
You’ll see a scanned image of the document in the default saving folder; your
scanner is working properly.

13
INSTALLING ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE
Your scanner is TWAIN compliant and functions with virtually all available TWAIN
compatible software. If you purchase additional software to be used with your scanner,
please make sure that it conforms to the TWAIN standard.

14
CHAPTER II. SCANNING
Your scanner needs to be driven by certain type of software program. Since all
documents or images (whether text or pictures) that are acquired from the scanner are
treated by your computer as images, most scanning will probably be done from an
image-editing program where you can view, edit, save and output the scanned images.
What about scanning text documents and editing them in a word processor? This
is the role of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. OCR software converts
the image files that are created from scanning text documents into text files that can be
viewed, edited and saved by word processors. An OCR program has also been
bundled on the included Setup/Application DVD-ROM, and if you wish to use the
scanner in this way you should install the OCR software that is included.
The DocAction program, seamlessly integrating the operation of your scanner with
your computer and other peripherals, provides a quick and convenient way to perform
various scanning functions. With DocAction, you don't need to adjust settings every
time you scan. Simply press any button on the scanner's front panel or click any
scanning menu item of DocAction on the screen. The scanner starts to scan your paper
documents and transfer them to your assigned destination. The destination can be a
printer, your E-mail program, files on your disk drives, an image-editing program, etc.
Please refer to the online help of each program to guide you through any
questions you may have while scanning within that program.
This chapter describes three important steps of scanner operations. Read them
thoroughly and follow the instructions to ensure correct use and optimal scanner
performance.
Step 1. Preparing Documents
Step 2. Placing Documents, Placing Business Cards
Step 3. Scanning Documents
PREPARING DOCUMENTS
Proper document preparation prior to the scan can prevent paper feed errors and
damages to the scanner.

Checking Document Conditions

Loosening Documents
C
Ch he ec ck ki in ng g D Do oc cu um me en nt t C Co on nd di it ti io on ns s
Make sure the size and ream weight of your documents are acceptable by the
scanner. Refer to “Appendix A: Specifications” of this guide for more information.

15
To scan multiple documents in a batch from the ADF can increase your work
efficiency and make large scanning tasks easier. The ADF of this scanner accepts a
variety of paper and stationery you may use in your daily work or personal life, such as:
 Normal paper whose size and ream weight meet the requirements stated in
“Appendix A: Specifications” of this guide.
 Notched paper
 Coated paper (e.g., brochure)
Attention
To prevent paper feeding errors and damages to
the ADF unit, strictly follow the instructions
below:
 Remove all small objects e.g., paper clips,
pins, staples or any other fasteners
attached, before loading the paper into the
ADF.
 Make sure the paper is completely flat with
no creased or curled corners.
 Avoid scanning documents with pencil lead
and newspaper clippings as they will make
the ADF exposure glass and the inner ADF
dirty. If you have to scan such paper, clean
the scanner frequently (refer to “Chapter III.
Care and Maintenance” of this guide for
more information).
 The paper for each batch scanned by ADF
can be of the same or different weights.
However, make sure the length of each
scan batch is the same.
However, use the flatbed to manually scan documents if they meet any of the
following conditions:
 Paper lighter than 50 g/m2(14 lb.) or heavier than 120 g/m2(32 lb.)
 Paper with clips or staples attached
 Paper with inconsistent thickness, e.g., envelops
 Paper with wrinkles, curls, folds, or tears
 Paper with an odd (non-rectangular) shape
 Paper with static electricity
 Tracing paper
 Carbon paper, pressure sensitive paper, carbonless paper
 Items other than paper, e.g., cloth, metal foil.

16
Attention
 DO NOT use the ADF to scan photographic
sheets or particularly valuable document
originals; wrinkles or other damages can
happen in case of paper feeding errors.
 DO NOT place paper with wet ink or
correction fluid onto the flatbed glass or into
the ADF. Wait few minutes for it to get dry.
L
Lo oo os se en ni in ng g D Do oc cu um me en nt ts s ( (f fo or r A AD DF F S Sc ca an n) )
Before loading documents into the ADF, loosen them as follows:
1. Fan the documents so that no two pages are sticking together. Make sure to
remove static electricity from paper.
2. Hold the documents upside down with both hands, and then gently push them
onto a flat surface to align the edges of all documents.
This will allow documents being fed into the ADF one at a time and prevent paper-
feeding errors.

17
PLACING DOCUMENTS
U
Us si in ng g t th he e F Fl la at tb be ed d
1. Open the scanner's document cover.
2. Place a document face down onto the scanner glass and align the document
top with the reference mark.
3. Gently close the document cover.
U
Us si in ng g t th he e A AD DF F
1. Load the documents, headfirst and face down, toward the center of the ADF
paper chute and all the way into the ADF until touching the bottom.
For single-sided scans, load the documents face down so that the side to be
scanned faces towards the paper chute.
For double-sided scans, load the desired page order of documents face down
so that the side to be scanned faces towards the paper chute.