-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 M2xtJrW9yydt00/mlCU26uJExI3IljBqOltYZ1zTgUV27kXP9WbKEjMsPsvdkYWc
 2Nn4n5zsL+7BF5vU/4/WcQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001278515-04-000001.txt : 20040824
<SEC-HEADER>0001278515-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040824
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040824154549
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001278515-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040824
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040824

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIFE CLARENCE W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001278515

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05265
		FILM NUMBER:		04994175

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

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>2004-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087086</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCAN OPTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>socr</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001278515</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIFE CLARENCE W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Access Services Division</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option, right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>648908</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-08-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>648908</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>648908</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clarence W. Rife</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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