PURPOSE: To always detect a carriage by detecting means, to bring the carriage into contact with the frame of a printer and to eliminate the impact or noise thereat by moving the carriage at the print starting position direction when a power source is ON.

CONSTITUTION: In order to specify the position of a carriage 5 at the time of starting printing by turning ON the power switch of a printer, the carriage 5 is moved along a platen 2. In this case, the carriage 5 disposed at a home position is detected by a carriage detecting sensor S, the number of driving steps of a stepping motor for moving the carriage 5 from the position is counted, and the position of the carriage at the time of starting to print is decided. And, as the carriage 5 is moved, a print head 6 is driven to print. Then, the power switch is opened, and the carriage 5 is moved to the end of the downstream side by carriage control means 12. That is, the home position is detected before the carriage 5 is brought into contact with the frame 1.