Magnetic ink reading apparatus and printer

A printer comprising:

• a transport mechanism for transporting, along a transport path, a sheet type medium having printed thereon a magnetic ink and having a certain paper width;
• a magnetizing mechanism for magnetizing the magnetic ink on the sheet type medium on the transport path;
• a magnetic detection head arranged adjacent to the magnetizing mechanism along the transport path for reading magnetism of the magnetized magnetic ink;
• a printing mechanism arranged on the transport path for printing on the sheet type medium;
• a pressing pad arranged at a certain distance from one side end portion of the transport path in a width direction, facing the magnetic detection head with the transport path interposed therebetween, for pressing the sheet type medium transported along the transport path against the magnetic detection head;
• and
• a friction pad arranged at a certain distance from the side end portion of the transport path, facing the transport path, and spaced apart from the pressing pad in a width direction of the sheet type medium.

A magnetic ink reading method comprising:

• transporting, along a transport path, a sheet type medium having printed thereon a magnetic ink and having a certain paper width;
• magnetizing the magnetic ink on the sheet type medium on the transport path;
• reading magnetism of the magnetized magnetic ink along the transport path;
• pressing the sheet type medium transported along the transport path against a magnetic detection head using a pressing pad arranged at a first distance from one side end portion of the transport path in a width direction and facing the magnetic detection head with the transport path interposed therebetween;
• and
• passing the sheet type medium by a friction pad arranged at a second distance from the side end portion of the transport path, facing the transport path, and spaced apart from the pressing pad in a width direction of the sheet type medium.