PURPOSE: To increase processing speed and read rate of a character read while making discrimination of the entry direction of a character automatic and accurate by detecting a frame encircling a character formed on a body to be read and by comparing the length of one side of this frame with a reference value.

CONSTITUTION: Photoelectric conversion part 11 photoscans on windowed postal matter transported to supply an electric signal to frame detecting circuit 12 to obtain position information on its window frame while forming and supplying the vertical image projection of the window frame to counter 13. Counter 13 counts the image projection information to detect the vertical-direction length of the window frame and supplies the detection value to arithmetic circuit 14, which compares it with reference lengthwise length to calculate and supply the absolute value of the difference to comparing circuit 15. Comparing circuit 15 compares the absolute value, calculated by arithmetic circuit 14, with the reference value and assumes the entry direction of the postal code to be longitudinal when the reference value is greater than the absolute value or to be lateral when the said value is less, thereby outputting a corresponding discrimination signals respectively.