PURPOSE: To improve a shift response action for changing over the color of an ink ribbon, by a method wherein a carriage provided with a permanent magnet and an electromagnet for canceling the magnetic field of the permanent magnet is attracted to or released from a magnet plate provided on a lower surface of an ink ribbon casing.

CONSTITUTION: When using an ink ribbon 1, a magnetic field in the direction of from A to B is generated through a catching plate 21 formed of a magnetic material, the magnet plate 18 provided on the lower surface of the ink ribbon casing 3 and a catching plate 22 by the permanent magnet 20 provided on the carriage 11, whereby the casing 3 is held stationary against an elastic force of a leaf spring 26, and printing is conducted on a paper 7 by a printing head 5 through the ribbon 1. Then, an electric current is supplied to the electromagnet 25 to generate a magnetic field in the direction of from B to A, thereby reducing the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 20, an attracting force is released by the plate 18 and the catching plates 21, 22, the casing 3 is turned counterclockwise with a support shaft 20 as a fulcrum by the elastic force of the spring 26, and printing is conducted on the paper 7 by the head 5 through an ink ribbon 2.