Abstract: A paper guide mechanism for use with a printer of the type, in which a rolled paper inserted into an inlet opening and introduced by a guide into a printing portion and in which the paper is guided by a guide, after it has been printed, until it is discharged from a discharge opening. A printing device has its printing mechanism assembled into a unit which is accommodated in such a movable block as is rotatable with respect to the body of the printer. Moreover, one of guide plates forming a running path for guiding the paper is fixed to the lower end of the movable block. Thus, the rolled paper being guided through the running path can be easily exposed and accessed by turning or retracting the movable block.

Abstract: An impact printer in which a printing drum having a plurality of lines each containing different characters is associated with printing hammers. The printing hammers are driven into contact with the characters by a driving shaft having a driving projection thereon. The driving projection is separated into driving projection sections which are axially and radially displaced along the driving shaft. Each section will selectively engage different printing hammers so that all hammers will not operate at once for the same characters. The characters in the lines are also displaced angularly of the printing drum so that some of the characters in one line will be printed responsive to one driving projection and the other characters in the one line will be printed in response to the other driving projection section.