Data medium processor and data medium processing method

A data medium handling apparatus and a data medium handling method suitable for use for handling of documents, for example, in a financial organ. The data medium handling apparatus (30) for recognizing, based on an image (19) read from a data medium on which information is described in an arbitrary format, the information, is constructed such that it comprises means (2) for extracting characteristics unique to the data medium including the format from the read image data (19) and specifying, from the characteristics, a position at which information to be recognized is present, and image recognition means (3) for recognizing the image (19) at the position specified by the preceding means (2) to discriminate the information, so that the data medium handling apparatus (30) can handle documents having various formats such as private slips.A device for processing a medium which is suitable for processing slips and documents in, for example, financial organs. A medium processing device (30) which recognizes information based on an image (19) read from a medium on which the information is recorded in an arbitrary format is provided with a means (2) which extracts the feature of the medium including the format from the image data (19) and specifies the position at which the information to be recognized is recorded from the feature and an image recognizing means (3) which recognizes the information by recognizing the image (19) at the position specified by the means (2). The device (30) processes documents and slips such as privately issued slips having various formats.