Printer and method of controlling the same

A printer, comprising:

• a printing head for performing printing while moving over a printing medium;
• a gap roller capable of rolling along a direction of moving of said printing head;
• a platen bar placed so as to face said printing head and said gap roller;
• a feeding unit for moving the printing medium between said printing head and said platen bar;
• a unit for calculating a first time period required for printing of the currently printed line and the next line to be printed in the case where the pressing force is released, the feeding unit feeds the printing medium, and the pressing force is then restored, and a second time period required for printing of the currently printed line and the next line to be printed in the case where the pressing force is not released;
• a unit for making a determination as to whether the first time period is shorter than the second time period;
• and
• a controller for controlling a pressing force of said platen bar applied to said gap roller according to a printing end position of said printing head on the printing medium, wherein said controller releases the pressing force if, after the completion of printing of the currently printed line, said printing head is stopped at a position on the printing medium which is one of the printing end position with respect to the currently printed line and a print start position with respect to printing of the next line, and restores the pressing force after said feeding unit has fed the printing medium, said controller does not release the pressing force if, after the completion of the printing of the currently printed line, said printing head is stopped at a position outside the region where the printing medium exists, and said controller executes control corresponding to the shorter of the first and second time periods.