Abstract: A printing head supporting device including a supporting mechanism for supporting a printing head so that the printing head can be brought into contact with and separation from a platen, and a pressure plate detachably mounted to a printer body. When the pressure plate is mounted to the printer body, the printing head is maintained in contact with the platen to obtain a printable condition. In contrast, when the pressure plate is detached from the printer body, the printing head is maintained in separation from the platen, so that an operator can easily carry out a maintenance work such as cleaning of the printing head or removing of a recording paper caught between the printing head and the platen. Thus, the maintenance work can be easily carried out by a simple operation such that the pressure plate is simply detached from the printer body.