SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING A LIGHT SOURCE OF AN IMAGE READER

An area CCD scanner (image reader) comprises an LED unit (light source), an area CCD and an image-forming lens. The LED unit includes a large number of light emitting elements of each color of blue, green, red and infrared. Light emitted from the LED unit and having passed through a photographic film is received by the area CCD and is converted into an electric signal, which is outputted as photographic image data. When the light source is inspected, a focal point of the image-forming lens is adjusted to a light emitting surface of the LED unit. Then, the LED unit is turned on without setting the photographic film to receive the light thereof with the area CCD. On the basis of the obtained electric signal, a light-emission state of the LED unit is shown on a display.