PURPOSE: To obtain a system free from erroneous reading in card having 80 columns reading by reading out the 1st line of a card in plural columns by means of converting a change in the difference of an output waveform of surfaces in plural columns into a sample pulse.

CONSTITUTION: The titled reader is constituted in such a way that the difference of an output waveform of a change in a surface of a card (non-printed part, printed part, punched part, etc.) is made into a sample pulse as it is. Since an output of the 1st row functions as a sample pulse at the same time reading indication is given to sensors for the 2nd, 3rd rows... when a counted value of the 1st row is "1", and these sensors operate. The time inherent to the device is required for such processing. During the processing cards are fed at the specific speed. A sensor 21 of the 1st row is shifted by a distance Δx away from the 2nd and the subsequent sensors 22, 23.... Since an output of the 1st row functions also as a sample pulse, reading indication is given to other sensors at the actual point when a reading part reaches sensors; therefore high accuracy of card feeding is not required.