Bar code reader having means for switching between drives of a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes at high speed

A bar code reader comprising:

• a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes for emitting respective laser beams having optical axes extending in different directions;
• a first sending means for sending the laser beam emitted from said semiconductor laser diodes while converging it;
• deflecting means for deflecting the laser beam sent from said first sending means;
• pattern forming means for reflecting the laser beam deflected by the deflecting means, to thereby form a combined scanning pattern;
• a second sending means for sending scattered light produced by scanning a bar code symbol by means of the combined scanning pattern while condensing the scattered light;
• photoelectric converting means for subjecting the condensed scattered light to photoelectric conversion;
• decoding means for decoding a signal produced by the photoelectric conversion;
• detecting means for detecting a deflection angle of the laser beam deflected by the deflecting means;
• and
• switching means for switching between drives of said plurality of semiconductor laser diodes based on a detection result of said detecting means.