Image reading apparatus and image reading method

An image reading apparatus comprising:

• a sensor configured to detect the presence or absence of a fold of a sheet in a first position, with upstream to downstream positions with regard to a transportation direction of the sheet being determined in the following order:
• the first position, a second position, a third position;
• a roller configured to transport the sheet from the second position in a reverse transportation direction at a transportation speed that is different from a transportation speed that is applied when the sheet is transported in the transportation direction, if it is detected in the first position that the fold is present;
• a correction unit that corrects the fold in the first position;
• and
• a scanner configured to read an image on the sheet of which the fold is corrected in the first position, in the third position.

An image reading method that is performed by an image reading apparatus with upstream to downstream positions with regard to a transportation direction of the sheet being determined in the following order:

• the first position, a second position, a third position, the method comprising:
• detecting the presence or absence of a fold of the sheet in the first position;
• transporting the sheet in a reverse transportation direction if it is detected in the first position that the fold is present;
• correcting the fold in the first position;
• detecting the presence or absence of the fold in the second position;
• controlling drive of a roller in such a manner that the sheet is transported up to the first position in a reverse transportation direction, if it is detected in the second position that the fold is present;
• and
• reading an image on the sheet of which the fold is corrected in the first position, in the third position.