# B81xx Scanner Comparison — Critical Findings

## THE SHORT ANSWER

**No, the scanning engine is NOT the same across all B81xx models.**

The B8170 has a completely different document feeder (DADF) with higher capacity and significantly faster scan speeds than the B8145/B8155.

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## SCANNER SPECIFICATIONS BY MODEL

| Model | DADF Capacity | Scan Speed (Simplex) | Scan Speed (Duplex) | Print Speed |
|-------|---------------|---------------------|-------------------|-------------|
| **B8145** | 130 sheets | 82 ppm | 141 ipm | 45 ppm |
| **B8155** | 130 sheets | 82 ppm | 141 ipm | 55 ppm |
| **B8170** | **250 sheets** | **135 ppm** | **270 ipm** | **70 ppm** |

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## KEY DIFFERENCES

### Document Feeder (DADF)
- **B8145/B8155:** 130-sheet capacity
- **B8170:** 250-sheet capacity (nearly double)

### Scan Speed
- **B8145/B8155:** 82 ppm simplex / 141 ipm duplex
- **B8170:** 135 ppm simplex / 270 ipm duplex

**The B8170 scans 65% faster in simplex and 91% faster in duplex.**

### Why the Difference?
The B8170 uses a **different DADF hardware** — a high-capacity document feeder that can hold more paper and feed it through faster. This is not a software difference; it's a physical hardware difference.

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## IMPLICATIONS FOR STARLINE GROUP

Given that Starline scans "a lot, a lot":

1. **B8155** = Same DADF as B8145 (130 sheets, 82 ppm) — modest upgrade from their current 5945
2. **B8170** = High-capacity DADF (250 sheets, 135 ppm) — massive upgrade in scanning capability

**For heavy scanning operations, the B8170 is the right machine.**

The 250-sheet feeder means they reload half as often. The 135 ppm simplex speed means they process documents 65% faster. For claims processing workflows, that's a significant productivity gain.

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## SCANNING ENGINE COMPONENTS

The "scanning engine" consists of:

| Component | B8145/B8155 | B8170 | Same? |
|-----------|-------------|-------|-------|
| **DADF Hardware** | 130-sheet | 250-sheet | ❌ NO |
| **Scan Speed (Simplex)** | 82 ppm | 135 ppm | ❌ NO |
| **Scan Speed (Duplex)** | 141 ipm | 270 ipm | ❌ NO |
| **Scan Resolution** | 600 dpi | 600 dpi | ✅ YES |
| **Color Scanning** | Yes | Yes | ✅ YES |
| **Single-Pass Duplex** | Yes | Yes | ✅ YES |
| **Scan-to-Email/Folder** | Yes | Yes | ✅ YES |

**The hardware feeder is different. The scan speed is different. The resolution and software features are the same.**

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## BOTTOM LINE

If you sell them a B8155, they get a modest scanning upgrade over their 5945.

If you sell them a B8170, they get a **beast of a scanner** — 250-sheet feeder, 135 ppm, designed for high-volume document operations.

For Starline's heavy scanning workload, the B8170 is the play.

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*Sources:*
- Xerox AltaLink B8145/B8155/B8170 Specifications Sheet (AB8SS-03U.PDF)
- FaxExpress B8170 PDF Specifications
- CopierSonSale B8155 Brochure