PURPOSE: To enhance the use efficiency of an ink roll by prolonging ink life, by gradually penetrating a large amount of ink into the ink roll in such a state that an ink cartridge is held to a support arm for supporting the ink roll in a freely rotatable manner in a freely detachable manner.

CONSTITUTION: An ink ribbon 5 is sent at a speed corresponding to a printing speed and brought into contact with a transfer roller 3 and a guide roller 4 in a housing 1 to apply rotary motion to the rollers 3, 4. In addition, the rotary motion of the transfer roller 3 is also transmitted to an ink roll 6 contacted with the transfer roller 3 under pressure. On the other hand, ink which is gradually dripped from an ink cartridge inlaid with and held by the orifice 11 of an upper support arm and penetrated into an ink bobbin 7 is gradually penetrated into the other peripheral surface of the ink roll 6 from the inner peripheral surface thereof. Therefore, the ink is transferred to the rotary surface of the transfer roll 3 and further transferred to the ink ribbon 5 to perform ink supply.