Undocumented Canon Feature

[MMXMonster]

I recently purchased a Canon MX870 all in one. I encountered a strange error and couldn't find a listing of the code anywhere.
This is what I did to get the error... I tried to scan a five dollar bill. Now don't get any ideas, I wasn't trying to counterfeit it. Scanning a bill is a great way to see how accurate a scanner is able to reproduce something with a lot of fine detail that a picture or document won't be able to test. Besides who hasn't scanned a dollar before? Anyways as it was scanning some error code "5,2xx,xx scan gear" would keep popping up. Does my scanner have anti-counterfeiting feature that is undocumented anywhere in the manual or Canon website? Is this a firmware or driver feature?
I have heard of this on large scale copiers, but not on home models.

 

[Guest]

If I was a Canon engineer designing a fairly low res scanner for home use across a global market, I doubt if I would be prepared to spend a lot of time trying to design software that could recognise a $5 bill as different from other printed material, just to protect the US Treasury against amateur forgers.

Try some other notes or similar sized printed objects.

 

[MMXMonster]

If I was a Canon engineer designing a fairly low res scanner for home use across a global market, I doubt if I would be prepared to spend a lot of time trying to design software that could recognise a $5 bill as different from other printed material, just to protect the US Treasury against amateur forgers.

Try some other notes or similar sized printed objects.

Interesting... I tried an old $1 and it scanned fine, but got the same error scanning a new $20. So it does appear that engineering did go into detecting and defeating any type of counterfeiting through the use of the scanner.

 

[Guest]

Sounds like your theory may be right. When I get round to it, like when I've finished sorting my sock drawer by shades, I'll fire up a Canon and Epson scanner and see if they can detect notes in £sterling.