An optical scanning device (12) includes cleaning holders (511, 512), light transmitting members (52), a linear member (54), a winding motor (55), and stoppers (56a, 56b). The two cleaning holders (511, 512) are coupled to the linear member (54). The linear member 54 is driven to circulate by the winding motor (55), whereby the two cleaning holders (511, 512) move and each cleaning member slides on a corresponding one of the light transmitting members (52). When the cleaning holders (511, 512) come into contact with the respective stoppers (56a, 56b), the stoppers (56a, 56b) restrict movement of the respective cleaning holders (511, 512) in one of directions of extension of the light transmitting members (52). A contact determining section (913) determines, based on a current value of the winding motor (55), that the cleaning holder (511, 512) has come into contact with the stopper (56a, 56h).

An image forming apparatus includes a display panel, a sheet conveying passage, a reading unit, a light source, a chassis, and a controller. The reading unit includes a light transmitting plate and a conveying image sensor. The conveying image sensor reads a conveyed sheet, which is a sheet to print on. The chassis has a cleaning hole in which to insert a cleaning rod for rubbing the light-transmitting plate. In a maintenance mode, the controller turns on the light source, and makes the display panel display a graph showing the pixel values of the pixels included in conveyed-and-read image data acquired by reading with the conveying image sensor.

An image forming apparatus includes an input unit configured to input image data, an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording material based on the input image data, a reading unit configured to read the image formed on the recording material, and a control unit configured to, based on the input image data and the image read by the reading unit, acquire a plurality of change amounts from the read image, and determine a type of an abnormal image based on a plurality of the acquired change amounts.

An image reading apparatus includes an LED light source, a CCD sensor receiving light reflected from a document irradiated with light from the LED light source, a fan, and a frame housing the LED light source, the CCD sensor and the fan. The fan circulates air in a substantially sealed space formed by the frame. Thus, temperature difference in the image reading apparatus can be reduced while not degrading dust-proof property of the apparatus, and efficient heat radiation to the outside becomes possible. Thus, variation of sensitivity of CCD sensor, deviation of point of focus of image forming system and deviation of reading position caused by temperature increase can be prevented.

In an image reading device, a controller is configured to perform: calculating a ratio between first and second reference data as evaluation data; designating a target light receiving element from a plurality of light receiving elements one by one sequentially; calculating average evaluation data of the target light receiving element by averaging the evaluation data of a second number of light receiving elements located at positions apart every predetermined distance equal to a length of a first number of consecutively arranged light receiving elements; setting an evaluation range of the target light receiving element by adding/subtracting a predetermined value to/from the average evaluation data; determining whether the evaluation data falls within the evaluation range; in response to determining that the evaluation data is out of the evaluation range, revising the second reference data of the target light receiving element; and generating correction data using the second reference data after revision.

A scanner includes a scanning module. The scanning module has a scan channel and a scanning glass. A lower surface of the scanner is defined as a bottom wall of the scan channel. The scanning glass is positioned above the scan channel. A bottom surface of the scanning glass is defined as a top wall of the scan channel. The lower surface of the scanner has an upstream turn connected between an upstream section and a middle section of the lower surface of the scanner, the middle section of the lower surface of the scanner is parallel with the bottom surface of the scanning glass.

An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit, a fixing unit, a time setting unit, and a control unit. The image reading unit moves a running body having an onboard optical system. The fixing unit heats toner transferred onto the print medium and applies pressure on the heated toner with respect to the print medium to fix the toner. The time setting unit sets an estimated time when use of the image forming apparatus starts. The control unit controls the image reading unit, the fixing unit, and the time setting unit. The control unit, prior to the set estimated start-of-use time by a predetermined period set in advance, activates the image reading unit to detect whether condensation has occurred in the optical system, heats the fixing unit in response to a detection of occurrence of condensation, and stops the heating before the estimated start-of-use time.

An image reading apparatus includes a light source to emit at least light in a first wavelength range and light in a second wavelength range, a background member having different light reflectances in the first and second wavelength ranges, an imaging device, and circuitry. The imaging device receives reflected light from the background member irradiated with the light in the first wavelength range, and generates first read information. The imaging device further receives reflected light from the background member irradiated with the light in the second wavelength range, and generates second read information. The circuitry detects presence or absence of a first foreign substance based on a difference in reading level of the first read information generated by the imaging device; and detect presence or absence of a second foreign substance based on a difference in reading level of the second read information generated by the imaging device.

A method is disclosed. For example, the method executed by a processor of a multi-function device (MFD) includes detecting use of the MFD, wherein the MFD is associated with a plurality of MFDs that are designated as a cluster within a location, deactivating the MFD in response to use of the MFD being detected, transmitting a first notification to deactivate the plurality of MFDs within the cluster in response to use of the MFD being detected, initiating a decontamination process within the location in response to the use of the MFD being detected, receiving an indication that the decontamination process is completed, transmitting a second notification to reactivate the plurality of MFDs within the cluster, and reactivating the MFD.

An image reading apparatus includes: a reader configured to read an image of a document to be transported; a cleaning section configured to clean a reading surface of the reader, a drive source for performing a cleaning operation of the reading surface by the cleaning section; and a control unit configured to control the drive source, wherein when the control unit detects dirt on the reading surface based on data received from the reader, the control unit controls the drive source to perform the cleaning operation by the cleaning section.