To efficiently classify massive slips by classifying them by bar codes when the character recognition results of the slips are made into the bar codes, they are printed in places where the array density of characters is low and the slips are classified again.

The slips 1 are received by a hopper 2. The images of the slips are read by a main body part 3 while they are transported, the slips 1 are classified and stored into pertinent. pockets 4 based on the character recognition results and the respective slips are classified. Here, the read part 11 and the character recognition part 12 of the main body part 3 recognize the characters which become the objects of a classification processing and which are mentioned on the slips. A bar code making part 13 and a bar code printing part 14 make the character recognition results of the slips 1 into the bar codes and print the bar code 18 at the back of the place where the array density of the characters 19 mentioned on the surface is low. At the time of classifying the slips 1 again, a bar code read part 15 reads the bar code 18 and a classification storage control part 16 classifies and stores the slips 1 into the pertinent pockets 4 based on the contents.