Abstract: An apparatus for reading a bar code generally, and a Universal Product Code specifically, eliminates noise from spots on a blank area which is peripheral to the bar code. Each of the bar code characters has the same uniform width. The entire surface containing a bar code is scanned to read each of the code characters. The signal delivered from the scanning means successively indicates the widths of a white bar and a black bar adjacent thereto and the wdiths of a black bar and a white bar adjacent thereto, in order to alternately deliver width data corresponding to the adjacent white and black bars and to the adjacent black and white bars. These width signals are added and compared to the uniform width in order to deliver the output signal responsive to a sequential analysis of the width signals.