A printer wherein printing is effected while a print head and a recording medium are moved relative to each other with the print head in pressed contact with the medium. The printer includes a print-head support member for supporting the print head movably between a printing position and a release position. The printer further includes a support member and a displaceable member which are connected by an elastic member, so that the print head is moved from the release position to the printing position, and the print head in the printing position is pressed against the medium. The displacement of the displaceable member consists of a first movement for moving the print head to the printing position, and a second movement for enabling the elastic member to produce a biasing force for pressing the print head against the medium. An amount of displacement of the displaceable member per unit angle of rotation of the rotatable member is greater in the first movement than in the second movement.