An impact dot printer that includes: a plurality of print wires (15); a front end guide (17) having guide holes (21,23) for guiding the print wires to predetermined print positions; and a guide holding member (16) for holding the front end guide. Such impact dot printers receive lubricant (18) in a portion behind the front end guide (17) and performs the printing operation by biasing an ink ribbon (3) located between the front end guide and a print sheet (4) while projecting the print wires (15) onto the print sheet (4) at appropriate timings.
In such an impact dot printer, projections (20) are provided on a surface (17a) of the front end guide (17), the surface being on the print wire projecting side, and these projections form clearances between the surface of the front end guide (17a) and the ink ribbon (3), so that even if the lubricant (18) seeps from the guide holes (21,23), the lubricant does not come in direct contact with the ink ribbon, thus not ruining the ink ribbon to impair printing quality. A means (17b,22; 24,25; 26,27,31; 33-35; 36,37-42; 44) for preventing seepage of the lubricant through clearances between the front end guide and the guide holding member is also provided to further improve printing performance.