Patent ID: 8810871
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: B08B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image reading apparatus comprising: a feed mechanism configured to feed a sheet member; a scanner including a reading portion and being configured to read an image on a surface of the sheet member in synchronism with the feeding of the sheet member by the feed mechanism; a cleaning sheet comprising a single sheet including a cleaning portion configured to clean the reading portion of the scanner, and a reference portion configured to be used in evaluating contamination of the reading portion, the cleaning portion being formed into a belt-like shape extending in a first direction intersecting with both a second direction in which the reading portion extends and a third direction in which the feed mechanism feeds the sheet material; an evaluator configured to evaluate the contamination of the reading portion based on read data pertaining to an image of the reference portion of the cleaning sheet read by the scanner, the evaluator including an identifier configured to identify a range of contamination or a position of contamination residing in the second direction; a calculator configured to calculate a feed range of the cleaning sheet in the third direction so that the cleaning portion cleans the reading portion based on the range of contamination or the position of contamination identified by the identifier; and a controller configured to control the feed mechanism to execute a cleaning operation in which the cleaning sheet is fed so that the cleaning portion cleans the reading portion based on the evaluation of the evaluator and the feed range calculated by the calculator.