A printing device includes a wire printing head provided with a plurality of closely adjacent printing wires movable back and forth with respect to a web of printing paper with inking ribbon interposed therebetween. The device further includes a pair of spools for taking up the inking ribbon and a carriage for supporting thereon these spools and the printing head in an associated relationship. The carriage may be moved along a print line in a first direction by first drive means, and in a second direction opposite to the first direction by second drive means. Means is provided to rotatively drive said spools on the carriage in response to the movement of the carriage imparted by the first drive means. The shift of the carriage from the first direction to the second direction may be provided by an automatic reversing mechanism. The rotation of the spools on the carriage may be stopped by stop means when the carriage is being moved by the second drive means.