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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DkYtC6bUSwMZDrlnZbuItthk97Yt4o7GH8hqulweNfFeRH8dtITBT5IwN0rAiZL/
 OjAvmeqZawE85ppAP/QueA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000906602-04-000010.txt : 20040428
<SEC-HEADER>0000906602-04-000010.hdr.sgml : 20040428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040428142232
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000906602-04-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040426
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040428

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STELLING PETER H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001283845

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05265
		FILM NUMBER:		04760001

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		169 PROGRESS DRIVE
		CITY:			MANCHESTER
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06040
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8606457878

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCAN OPTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000087086
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				060851857
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		169 PROGRESS DR
		CITY:			MANCHESTER
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06040
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8606457878

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		169 PROGRESS DR
		CITY:			MANCHESTER
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06040
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087086</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCAN OPTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SOCR.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283845</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STELLING PETER H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SCAN-OPTICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>169 PROGESS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MANCHESTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06040</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO, VP and Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.66</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-04-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Peter H. Stelling</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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