Scanner loses connection after 1 - 50 scans

My Epson V500 Perfection Photo Scanner isn't so perfect any more. For the first year, it worked well. I could scan as many photos at a session as I wanted - up to 200 at least. For the last few months, though, with no changes in PC operating systems or major known software changes, it is malfunctioning every time I attempt to use it. It will preview and begin to scan, but then after anywhere from 1 - 50 scanned photos (usually between 1 - 7), it will make a high pitched squeal, the red light will come on, and I will get the message "Unable to communicate with the scanner..". It is directly connected, no hubs, and I have uninstalled and reinstalled the most up to date driver and other utilities from Epson several times already. I have tried changing the firewall status, letting it have access. Nothing has helped. Troubleshooting via the PC ("devices and printers" menu) reveals no problems, and no changes in compatibility modes help, either. I am running Windows 7, and have been since the scanner was first purchases and installed. It is incredibly frustrating, as I purchased this expressly to convert many old photo albums to digital files, and now the process has slowed immensely. Has anyone else had this problem, and figured out how to solve it?