PURPOSE: To realize an inexpensive small-type printer, by moving a single cam by a single drive source to selectively control conditions such as the conditions of a platen and a recording head, the conditions of a paper-feeding roller and a paper-pressing roller, the opening condition of the head and the angle of the head.

CONSTITUTION: A pose detecting plate 26 is provided with a four-layer pattern in the radial direction, and the pattern is detected through four contacts to generate signals in three system. Based on the status of the signals, the position of a pose cam 23 can be detected. A recording paper is inserted under a reset condition, and a printing button is pressed, whereby the pose cam 23 is rotated forward to set a paper-feeding condition. After feeding the paper further to a predetermined position, the pose cam 23 is further rotated to set a printing condition. When printing is finished under this condition, the pose cam 23 is reversely rotated to set the paper-feeding condition. The paper is returned by a distance by which it has been fed under the printing condition, and then the pose cam 23 is again rotated forward to set the printing condition. When printing in three colors is thus finished, the paper is discharged, and the pose cam 23 is further rotated reversely, thereby restoring the reset condition.