Image reader

An image reader comprising:

• a first light source that irradiates an imaging target medium with a first light inside a visible spectrum;
• a second light source that irradiates the imaging target medium with a second light outside the visible spectrum;
• an imaging unit that captures, based on a reflected light inside the visible spectrum from the imaging target medium, an image of the imaging target medium;
• a conveying unit that conveys the imaging target medium to the imaging unit;
• and
• an image-data generating unit that generates a visible light data group corresponding to a portion of the imaging target medium that is captured by the imaging unit when the imaging target medium is irradiated by only the first light and a visible light external data group corresponding to a portion of the imaging target medium that is captured by the imaging unit when the imaging target medium is irradiated by only the second light, wherein
• the first light source and the second light source alternately light-up at the time of conveying the imaging target medium by the conveying unit,
• the first light source is formed of a white LED that irradiates a white light,
• the second light source is formed of an ultraviolet LED that emits an ultraviolet light,
• the imaging unit includes a three-line sensor formed of an R line sensor that responds only to an R light, a G line sensor that responds only to a G light, and a B line sensor that responds only to a B light, and that is respectively formed of a plurality of imaging elements arranged in a single row in a main scanning direction, and
• the image-data generating unit generates the visible light data group that is formed of R line data corresponding to the R light that is picked up by the R line sensor, G line data corresponding to the G light that is picked up by the G line sensor, and B line data corresponding to the B light that is picked up by the B line sensor at the time of lighting-up of the white LED, and generates the visible light external data group that is formed of the R line data corresponding to the R light that is picked up by the R line sensor, the G line data corresponding to the G light that is picked up by the G line sensor, and the B line data corresponding to the B light that is picked up by the B line sensor at the time of lighting-up of the ultraviolet LED, so that the visible light data group and the visible light external data group are generated by conveying the imaging target medium once by the conveying unit.