An image recording or printing apparatus has continuous paper feed means (1), paper feed rollers (4, 4a), a feed side sheet cutter (6), a paper feed guide means (5, 5a) (8, 8a) (9) with the leading end of the cut sheet (3) being secured by a clamp (22) on a platen drum (21). A movable guide (41, 41a) of a paper discharge means (40) with an entrance part formed at the end receives the printed sheet (3a) released from the platen drum when rotated in a reverse direction; a paper discharge cutter (42) at the exit has a trimmed paper waste parting bar (45) with a paper discharge roller means (51, 51a) for discharging the printed sheet(3a). The functions are driven synchronously by a single drive means. An ink ribbon cassette and a ribbon tension means are also disclosed.