Optical reading apparatus having optical scanner for scanning information on objects

An optical reading apparatus, comprising:

• a scanning light beam generating system for generating a scanning light beam used to optically read information on an article;
• and
• an optical system for changing a readable region in which the information on the article can be read by the scanning light beam generated by said scanning light beam generating system,
• wherein said optical system has a system for changing a direction in which the scanning light beam travels, and
• wherein said system for changing the direction has a hologram plate to which the scanning light beam is incident and a mechanism for moving said hologram plate so that an incident angle of the scanning light beam with respect to said hologram plate is changed.

An optical reading apparatus, comprising:

• a scanning light beam generating system for generating a scanning light beam used to optically read information on an article;
• and
• an optical system for changing a readable region in which the information on the article can be read by the scanning light beam generated by said scanning light beam generating system,
• wherein said optical system has a system for changing the readable region without changing the direction in which the scanning light beam travels, and
• wherein said system for changing the readable region has a hologram plate to which the scanning light beam is incident and a mechanism for moving said hologram plate under a condition in which an incident angle of the scanning light beam with respect to said hologram plate is maintained at a predetermined value.

An optical reading apparatus comprising:

• a housing having a window;
• a light source provided in said housing;
• a rotatable scanning mirror provided in said housing, said rotatable scanning mirror reflecting a light beam emitted from said light source, and generates a scanning beam which travels through the window outward;
• and
• a manually operable optical system which is arranged between said rotatable scanning mirror and the window, said manually operable optical system changing a traveling direction of the scanning beam by manual operation of a user without movement of said housing.