Method and device for detecting surface patterns on different objects

A method for detecting surface patterns on different objects, such as newspapers, by means of optical sensors is proposed, the objects being identified by different actual surface patterns such as newspaper titles. According to the invention, a characteristic optical value of the actual surface pattern is recorded line by line in at least one preferred direction of the object and compared line by line with corresponding stored values of all previously recorded nominal surface patterns for all objects. The result of the comparison is added together. The object which exhibits the least deviation of the sum formed from the corresponding value of the relevant reference object, in comparison with the stored values, is recognised as correct.