There‘s a somewhat similar commercial scanner [1] [2], with a V-design as well but inverted to scan from the top. Much gentler on the books as it‘s the scanner that moves, not the books themselves. Super happy to see someone develop an open-source alternative!
It's probably expensive even to lease/rent, or to use their digitization service. Why? Because they have no pricing info available for those two options either. Just an inquiry form to fill out.
Um,I'm not sure this is a great alternative, as this scanner chops out a page for every scan. After that, I don't think it really matters how gentle it is...
Unless you're concerned with binding the pages to form a new book. I think that would be possible with the leftovers.
You're right! My mistake. It looked like there was a sort of deli-slicer blade and suction to remove pages, but, looking again, it's not what's happening. That's what I get for posting pre morning coffee...