PURPOSE: To perform input processing efficiently by securing card contents with simple constitution by allowing a card to fall naturally along a passage, reading information by a read head, and then allowing it to fall to a prescribed place.

CONSTITUTION: A card A when thrown in a slot 1 strikes a stopper 7 and a sensor 14 confirms that to draw the stopper 7 in by its confirmation signal; and the card A falls until a stopper 8 and a read head 14 moves forth and back once immediately to read pieces of information on the 1st and 2nd lines of the card. After they are read, the stopper 8 is drawn in, and the card falls until a stopper 9 provided two lines below and then stops there. The head 14 moves forth and back once again to read the 3rd and 4th lines of the card. Then, the stopper 9 is drawn in and a correctly read card is discharged to a stacker 4 through a separator 10 while a defective card is discharged to a receiving dish 5. A sensor 29 confirms card processing and a next card is handled.