Automatic Document Feeder

What Does Automatic Document Feeder Mean?

An automatic document feeder (ADF) is a feature in printers, photocopiers, fax machines or scanners wherein a stack of paper put into the machine and is then automatically fed through it, allowing the user to print, scan or copy without having to manually place each page into the machine.

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Techopedia Explains Automatic Document Feeder

There are two kinds of ADFs that are capable of duplex scanning:

  • Reverse automatic document feeders (RADF) scan one side of the page then flip the paper over so that the other side can be scanned.
  • Duplexing automatic document feeders (DADF) scan both sides of the page in a single pass.

An ADF is a standard feature for most printers, fax machines and large photocopiers, but scanners typically lack ADFs, although they may have them as an add-on feature. Flatbed scanners are designed without ADFs.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…