Abstract: A sheet guide apparatus for a printer comprises a printing head, a platen arranged in opposed relation to the printing head, sheet feed tractor arranged upstream of the platen in a sheet delivering direction, a plurality of guide elements arranged downstream of a delivering direction of a sheet passing between the printing head and the platen, along an axis of the platen with the guide elements spaced from a surface of the platen, wire rope and pulley system for moving the printing head axially of the platen, and control unit for controlling the wire rope and pulley system such that, after a forward end of the sheet transported by the sheet feed tractor has been abutted against sheet engaging surfaces of the respective guide elements, the printing head is reciprocated along the platen axis.