To obtain a printer in which an ink ribbon can be oscillated with a small quantity of movement of a print head, an ink ribbon oscillating mechanism does not limit the direction of the oscillating operation of the ink ribbon, and a smooth operation is ensured without applying a significant load onto driving operation of the print head.

The printer comprises a first power converting section for outputting the reciprocal motion of a print head while converting into rotational motion of an output gear 411, a second power converting section having an input gear 413 meshing the output gear 411 directly and converting the rotational motion of the output gear 411 through the input gear 413 into oscillating operation of an ink ribbon by an oscillating mechanism, and a clutch mechanism 416 through which the output gear 411 meshes the input gear 413 selectively.