PURPOSE: To obtain good-quality printing by using a small-sized type belt having no dummy portion by a method in which a stepped portion and a projection are provided to the joint portion of the type belt in such a way that the total sum of the vector of tension to be applied to the types positioned near the joint portion is zeroed.

CONSTITUTION: A stepped portion 9 of the almost same thickness as a sheet 2 is provided to one joint portion of a type belt 1, and a projection 10 to be fitted into a recess 9a formed on the back of the stepped portion 9 is provided to the other joint portion. A projection 11 of the same size as the projection 4 formed on the back of the type 3 is formed on each back of both the joint portions, and a notch 12 of a circular arc form is provided on the one joint side in such a way as not to interfere with the projection 11. The projections 11 are arranged with the same pitch as the type 3. The total sum of the vector of tension to be applied to the type portions adjacent to the joints can thus be zeroed.