HP Color LaserJet MFP on Ubuntu: Scan Error during device I/O (code=9)

I decided to use a multi function printer including scanner and fax with my ubuntu systems.
First step was to download the hplip package from HP:
https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/gethplip

The installation process worked like a charme

bash ./hplip-3.19.1.run

But running the scan utility ends up with the following error:

$ hp-scan

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.19.1)
Scan Utility ver. 2.2

Copyright (c) 2001-15 HP Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

warning: No destinations specified. Adding 'file' destination by default.
Using device hpaio:/net/HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281?ip=192.168.178.200
Opening connection to device...
error: SANE: Error during device I/O (code=9)

After searching around the solution was the following:
"Install the plugin"?
!

$ hp-plugin

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.19.1)
Plugin Download and Install Utility ver. 2.1

Copyright (c) 2001-15 HP Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.


HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.19.1)
Plugin Download and Install Utility ver. 2.1

Copyright (c) 2001-15 HP Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

Checking for network connection...
Downloading plug-in from:
Plugin is not accessible. Trying to download it from fallback location: [https://developers.hp.com/sites/default/files/hplip-3.19.1-plugin.run]
Receiving digital keys: /usr/bin/gpg --homedir /home/esther/.hplip/.gnupg --no-permission-warning --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys 0x4ABA2F66DBD5A95894910E0673D770CDA59047B9
Creating directory plugin_tmp
Verifying archive integrity... All good.
Uncompressing HPLIP 3.19.1 Plugin Self Extracting Archive..............................................................

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.19.1)
Plugin Installer ver. 3.0

Copyright (c) 2001-15 HP Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

Plug-in version: 3.19.1
Installed HPLIP version: 3.19.1
Number of files to install: 64


Done.
 Plug-in installation successful

Done.

After that running hp-scan immediately creates a PNG file with the scan:

 hp-scan

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.19.1)
Scan Utility ver. 2.2

Copyright (c) 2001-15 HP Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

warning: No destinations specified. Adding 'file' destination by default.
Using device hpaio:/net/HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281?ip=192.168.178.200
Opening connection to device...

Resolution: 300dpi
Mode: gray
Compression: JPEG
Scan area (mm):
  Top left (x,y): (0.000000mm, 0.000000mm)
  Bottom right (x,y): (215.899994mm, 296.925995mm)
  Width: 215.899994mm
  Height: 296.925995mm
Destination(s): file
Output file:
warning: File destination enabled with no output file specified.
Setting output format to PNG for greyscale mode.
warning: Defaulting to '/home/esther/Downloads/hpscan001.png'.

Warming up...


Scanning...
Reading data: [*************************************************************************************************************************] 100%  8.5 MB    
Read 8.5 MB from scanner.
Closing device.

Outputting to destination 'file':

Done.

This is really fast. But if you want a GUI just use xsane...