PURPOSE: To select a system which prioritizes a printing speed and a system which prioritizes the image quality of printing as a recording paper discharge system according to the demand of a user.

CONSTITUTION: In such a case that recording paper 16 is discharged simultaneously with printing, a microcomputer 1 rotates a mode motor 5 to close the feed route between a guide member 17 and a platen roller 20 by a paper discharge plate 15. When the platen roller 20 is rotated in this state to start printing, the leading end of the recording paper 16 is guided to the discharge port constituted of the guide member 17 and a guide plate 19 to be guided to the nip between a paper discharge roller 8 and a follower roller 7'. The microcomputer 1 starts printing without rotating the mode motor 5 when discharge is selected independently after printing. The paper discharge plate 15 closes the paper discharge port constituted of the guide member 17 and the guide plate 19. The leading end of the recording paper 16 is guided to the feed route between the guide member 17 and the platen roller 20.