Abstract: A device for reading digital information coded on relatively moving labels independently of the magnitude of the relative velocity, yet without a separate clock track. The device also has the capability of correctly reading such coded information independently of the direction of the relative velocity. Clock pulses are counted between two initial timing marks whereafter a similar number of clock pulses are cyclically re-counted to produce successive strobe pulses corresponding to the expected possible occurrences of information marks or bits on the label. The strobe pulses are effectively used to clock a shift register so that the label data is read without need for a separate timing track. A third direction mark or bit is used to set a reversible shift register to shift in a direction corresponding to the existing direction of relative motion thus making the final shift register data contents independent of the actual direction of relative motion.