To stabilize the pressing force of a pressing roller against a paper feed roller in a simple structure.

This paper feed mechanism comprises a paper feed frame mounted in a main unit frame of a printer, paper feed roller 4 rotatably journalled to the paper feed frame to feed printing paper, pressing roller 5 pressed to the paper feed roller 4 so as to be driven to rotate thereby, and a pressing spring 6 for pressing the pressing roller 5 to the paper feed roller 4. In the paper feed frame 3, a mounting part 3d, 3e mounting the pressing spring 6 is provided, in this mounting part 3d, 3e, a fixed part 6a of the pressing spring 6 is mounted, also the pressing roller 5 is pressed by a pressing part 6c of the pressing spring 6, so as to press the pressing roller 5 against the paper feed roller 4.