OPTICAL CHARACTER READER

PURPOSE:To require no dictionary for identifying a type face by providing a storing part for storing the type face and a character category corresponding to the type face, selectively reading a character pattern designated by this storing part from plural dictionary memories and defining it to be one for identifying the type face. CONSTITUTION:A dictionary part 10 having the dictionary memory corresponding to the plural type faces, a recognition part 9 for referring to the dictionary memory to recognize the character and the storing part 11 for storing the character category corresponding to the plural type faces are provided. A control means 7 compares the character pattern of the character category of a specific area with the character pattern read from the plural dictionary memories based on the type face of the storing part and the character category corresponding to the type face to recognize a data area character by the use of the dictionary memory corresponding to the character pattern large in a similarity. Thereby, since the type face can be identified by the use of the character pattern read from the plural dictionary memories, it is not required to provide the dictionary for identifying the type face.