PURPOSE: To improve the processing efficiency by storing the output of a character electric converter and transmitting the stored output every end of recognition of character then outputting the result through a character reading/storing device every end of interpretation.

CONSTITUTION: The character strings are read by a photoelectric transducer LE and stored to a cassette 9a via a video cassette recorder TP9. Then these character strings are reproduced by loading the cassette 9a into a video cassette recorder (ASTP) 10 which is capable of a temporary stop. The reproduction output is recognized as characters by a character recognizing circuit LA2a, and character signals are sent to a CPU4. When the character reproduced to a signal is transmitted, the circuit LA2a containing a VOX circuit sends a control pulse to a control circuit CT11. Then the reproducing action of the ASTP10 is discontinued temporarily via the CT11. When the characters are recognized, the ASTP10 restarts its reproducing action. Therefore, the high by effective processing is secured although some difference exists between the scanning speed of the LE1 and the processing speed of the LA2a.