Horizontal scanning device able to scan a bar code label on an underside or on a standing side wall of an article

Device for scanning code on an article, comprising:

• a laser source of a laser light beam;
• a rotatably drivable polygonal mirror comprising a main surface with at least two mirror surfaces for distributing in scan lines the laser light beam transmitted by the laser source;
• a first set of fixedly disposed mirrors for reflecting laser light beams originating from the polygonal mirror for directing the laser light beam through a the window at the article, the first set of fixed mirrors being arranged so as the light beams write substantially horizontal scan lines;
• a second set of fixedly disposed mirrors for reflecting laser light beams originating from the polygonal mirror for directing the laser light beam through the window at the article, the second set of fixed mirrors being arranged so as to write substantially vertical scan lines through the window;
• and
• a detector for receiving light scattered by the code;
• wherein a projection of the laser light beam coming from the second set of fixed mirrors onto an article side surface extending substantially perpendicular to the window moves substantially perpendicular to that window, thereby forming a substantially vertical scan line on the article side surface.