Economical Desktop Laser Fax/Printer Begins Shipping from Ricoh

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. (October 5, 1993) -- Ricoh Corporation has announced
the pricing and immediate availability of the RICOH FAX2500L, a
multifunctional device that combines plain paper laser facsimile, on-line
printer and convenience copier capabilities The fax unit has a suggested
retail price of $2,955 and the printer interface option, which is sold
separately, lists for $695

Overview

The RICOH FAX2500L is a convenient desktop facsimile with advanced memory
options that provides high-resolution laser fax recording on plain paper
An optional PC printer upgrade permits 10 page-per-minute printing at 300
dots-per-inch (dpi) from IBM compatible PCs, even while the unit is
transmitting or receiving incoming faxes to memory Popular emulations
provide full compatibility with most off-the-shelf software

A unique front-access design significantly reduces desk space needed for
the paper tray The FAX2500L is an excellent choice for mid-volume users
demanding the speed and image quality of laser fax recording for small
office or workgroup environments By doubling as a fully-featured laser
printer, the model offers considerable cost economy as well as reduced
space requirements

"By combining our popular compact seamless laser fax engine with a highly
versatile PC printer interface, we have designed a multi-function product
we expect will establish a new definition of price performance," comments
John Carlomano, manager, facsimile product marketing, Ricoh Corporation.
"The FAX2500L can perform double duty as a back-up workgroup printer, or
even as a primary printer for a small office It delivers significant
increased value to address business segments that have previously been
unable to justify dedicated laser fax technology."

High-performance laser fax

Built around Ricoh's award-winning compact engine with its seamless organic
photoconductor belt, the FAX2500L provides high quality laser fax
recording for precise imaging of incoming documents. Ricoh's proprietary
64-level Selectone halftone process intelligently distinguishes between
text and images when scanning documents, applying halftone processing to
images only. Ricoh's Super Smoothing HQ process enhances received messages
by "smoothing" curved characters and thin diagonal lines to give documents
the appearance of being sent at twice the resolution

Speed and reliability are optimized by a very short, very reliable paper
path that provides 6 seconds-per-page (equals 10 pages-per-minute) fax
recording and virtually jam-free operation The FAX2500L also incorporates
a single-consumable design that requires users to monitor only one
cartridge containing both toner and excess toner collection

The FAX2500 significantly reduces fax lines charges through its AI
(artificial intelligence) Protocol feature that cuts total transmission
time when communicating with other Ricoh fax units This advanced
technology, which was pioneered by Ricoh, shortens the time required for
the fax "handshake" that preceeds and follows document transmission. In
addition, an AI Redial feature memorizes protocol information for
subsequent calls to the same destination.

Highly automated fax operation features 16 one-touch and 50 speed-dial
destinations that can be assigned into groups for easy broadcasting
Keystroke programs combine destinations and settings into a program,
reducing input required for frequently called destinations.

A standard seven-page upgradeable memory provides features including
send-later that automatically transmits at a subsequent time determined by
user preference A broadcast feature sends documents to any of seven
groups, with up to 20 locations in any group, without re-scanning.
Substitute reception allows incoming documents to be received into memory
if the unit has run out of toner or paper.

The FAX2500L can be enhanced with optional user-installable memory upgrades
of 1 MB (57 pages) or 2 MB (114 pages) Expanded memory allows users to
take advantage of features such as batch transmission, which combines all
files being sent to a single location into one call to reduce phone
changes.

Other advanced features available with expanded memory include memory lock,
which receives all messages into memory and requires a code before
printing them, and confidential reception, which retains only individual
messages in memory, and requires a personal ID code for retrieval.

The FAX2500L include a 30-page document feeder that accepts 12" wide
documents It scans images up to 10 1" wide at a rapid 4.5
seconds-per-pages and sends at 10 seconds-per-pages in G3 mode at 9600
bps. Transmission in any of three resolutions, ranging up to 392 by 203
dots per inch, is enhanced with CCITT Group 3 ECM (error correction
mode).

Security features include secure polling that permits messages to be polled
only from machines with a matching four-digit code Confidential
transmission allows sensitive files to be sent into memory and retrieved
by a code, or alternately, can supply a unique code different from the one
programmed into the machine In addition, authorized reception eliminates
junk fax by allowing operators to program the numbers of permitted fax
machines Automatic reduction permits recording of incoming A4 and
legal-size documents on letter-size paper. The FAX2500L has a 250 sheet
letter-size paper capacity

Laser Printer Option

By adding a computer printer interface to a high-performance laser fax
engine, the FAX2500L is transformed into an economical and versatile
multi-function office peripheral. It saves desk space by consolidating two
essential functions in one device, and saves money by eliminating an
investment in redundant technology The dual-purpose design of the FAX2500L
allows small offices and work groups to benefit from plain-paper laser fax
quality.

The FAX2500L delivers excellent printer performance from any IBM compatible
PC, at up to 300 dots-per-inch (dpi) resolution. Emulations include HP
LaserJet III Plus (PCL 5) and Epson FX, providing full compatibility with
most off-the-shelf software.

The printer offers 14 bit-mapped and 13 scaleable internal fonts, and
third-party font cards may be installed to increase the number of
available fonts Postscript emulation may be added by plugging in a
third-party emulation card Standard printer RAM is 1 MB, and is
upgradeable to 6 MB First print-out time is 20 seconds, with subsequent
print speed rated at 10 pages-per-minute (ppm).

Connectivity is provided by one RS232C serial port and one Centronics
parallel port at the printer end, allowing up to two PC hosts to be
connected. The fax/printer can intelligently switch and accept data from
either port.

Ricoh Corporation, a U.S company headquartered in West Caldwell, NJ, is a
diversified office equipment and electronics firm with sales of nearly $1
billion annually Ricoh is a leading supplier of copiers, facsimiles and
multifunctional document systems that are sold both directly and through
dealers. The company also markets scanners, printers and optical and
magnetic storage devices, as well as photographic equipment

Ricoh Corp, 5 Dedrick Place, West Caldwell, NJ 07006
201-882-2000,  fax 201-882-2506

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