To accelerate printing speed by making width large for the reciprocation movement of a printing head, and allowing ink ribbon winding means to obtain rotational force in the case where the ink ribbon winding means has the width not being larger than in obtaining rotational force in succession of a predetermined number or more in the reciprocation movement of the printing head.

CPU 306 operates to develop one line printing image to RAM 304 in accordance with a printing instruction received by an interface 303. In the next place, CPU 306 retains width for its line printing part from the line printing image, and obtain the number of steps how many the stepping motor 308 is driven. Following this, CPU 306 determines whether the number of step is at least a predetermined threshold (x) or not, and if it is a predetermined threshold or more, an ink ribbon winding shaft 311 is rotated to wind the ink ribbon by printing the line. When a counter becomes a predetermined threshold (w) or more, the number of steps for driving the motor 308 is increased to be corrected in a value by which the winding shaft 311 rotates.