Self aligning, low power character reading apparatus

An apparatus for reading information off a document such as a check is herein disclosed. The apparatus includes an apparatus housing defining a specific path through which the document is intended to pass during normal operation of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes an arrangement including a read head positioned at a fixed point on the path and cooperating circuitry for reading specific information off of the document as the document is caused to move through the path and across the read head. And, the apparatus includes an arrangement for moving the document through the path and across the read head along with causing the document to engage against the read head as the document moves across the read head. This document moving arrangement includes an arrangement supporting a freely rotating idler roller which is positioned to engage the document against the read head. Also, this document moving arrangement is configured in a way which places a moment on the document as it moves through the path so as to insure that the document crosses the read head in a predetermined orientation with reset to the read head.