Image reading device, image forming apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium storing image reading program, and image reading method comprising a switching mechanism to switch the traveling of light from a light source to an optical path directly irradiating a document or via a traveling change member

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an image reading program causing a computer to execute a process of:

• irradiating an image reading target with light from a single light source, wherein the single light source comprises a lamp or a plurality of light emitting diodes;
• changing a traveling direction of the light from the light source via a mirror and irradiating the image reading target with the light at an incidence angle different from an incidence angle of the light directly applied from the light source to the image reading target;
• and
• switching traveling of the light from the light source to an optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target or an optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror,
• wherein the switching mechanism comprises a first light blocking member and a second light blocking member, the first light blocking member is disposed on the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror, and the second light blocking member is disposed on the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target,
• each of the first light blocking member and the second light blocking member is a dimming member or an opaque member,
• the switching traveling of the light from the light source to the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror is performed by using the first light blocking member to open the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror, and by using the second light blocking member to block the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target,
• the switching traveling of the light from the light source to the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target is performed by using the first light blocking member to block the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror, and by using the second light blocking member to open the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target,
• the first light blocking member is movable to a first light blocking position at which the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror is blocked and a first retracted position that is retracted from the first light blocking position, and
• the second light blocking member is movable to a second light blocking position at which the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target is blocked and a second retracted position that is retracted from the second light blocking position.

An image reading method comprising:

• irradiating an image reading target with light from a single light source, wherein the single light source comprises a lamp or a plurality of light emitting diodes;
• changing a traveling direction of the light from the light source via a mirror and irradiating the image reading target with the light at an incidence angle different from an incidence angle of the light directly applied from the light source to the image reading target;
• and
• switching traveling of the light from the light source to an optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target or an optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror,
• wherein the switching mechanism comprises a first light blocking member and a second light blocking member, the first light blocking member is disposed on the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror, and the second light blocking member is disposed on the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target,
• each of the first light blocking member and the second light blocking member is a dimming member or an opaque member,
• the switching traveling of the light from the light source to the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror is performed by using the first light blocking member to open the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror, and by using the second light blocking member to block the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target,
• the switching traveling of the light from the light source to the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target is performed by using the first light blocking member to block the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror, and by using the second light blocking member to open the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target,
• the first light blocking member is movable to a first light blocking position at which the optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the mirror is blocked and a first retracted position that is retracted from the first light blocking position, and
• the second light blocking member is movable to a second light blocking position at which the optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target is blocked and a second retracted position that is retracted from the second light blocking position.