JP2003072105A - Printer and control method for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and its control method whereby a state of each of a plurality of ink cartridges can be efficiently displayed on the printer. SOLUTION: A carriage 52 holding ink cartridges 10B, 10C, 10M and 10Y is moved back and forth along an opening part 51. A printer driver 22 monitors the state of the ink cartridges and detects a small remaining amount of ink, an ink shortage and a cartridge insertion failure as an abnormality. When the state is judged as abnormal, an ink cartridge state display LED 64 is turned on or flickers. When the user presses a cartridge replacement button 63, the carriage 52 moves and a mark 66 as an ink cartridge state abnormality display means stops at a position indicating the cartridge 10B judged to be abnormal, whereby it is displayed that the cartridge is abnormal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that can indicate the state of an ink cartridge and a control method for the printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following two methods are known as methods for indicating the amount of ink remaining in an ink cartridge in an ink jet printer.

As a first method, a print driver installed in a computer connected to a printer calculates the amount of ink used in each ink cartridge,
The remaining ink amount is displayed on the monitor screen.

A second method is to display the remaining amount of ink at the stop position of the ink cartridge when the top cover of the printer body is opened. This is to indicate a different stop position of the cartridge according to the state of each ink cartridge. Specifically, for two ink cartridges of black and color, a position indicating a "low ink level", a position indicating a "ink problem" (4 positions in total), and a "black color" The marks are provided at a total of 5 positions, which are the positions indicating "both normal". With such a configuration, when the black ink is low, for example, when the user opens the top cover, the carriage is moved to the position of the mark indicating "low black ink", thereby causing the user to run out of black ink. To let you know. In addition, this printer can replace the ink cartridge at the position of each mark.

[0005]

However, the conventional second
This method cannot sufficiently support a printer having a large number of ink cartridges. For example, black,
In the case of an inkjet printer that uses inks in which the four colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow are in separate cartridges, a total of nine marks must be provided by the same method. Therefore, for example, in a printer of a limited size such as a printer for general users, there is no space for all the marks, or the marks have to be provided at very short intervals, which is inconvenient for the user. . Furthermore, recently, there are inkjet printers that use ink cartridges for 6 colors and 7 colors, and therefore, the same method in which the number of marks increases as the number of ink cartridges increases cannot be applied to these printers.

Further, in the conventional printer, the ink cartridge can be replaced at any mark position. Therefore, when the carriage suddenly starts moving for some reason, the user cannot successfully replace the cartridge.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and when there are a plurality of ink cartridges, it is possible to efficiently display the status of each ink cartridge on the printer and the printing apparatus. It is to provide a control method. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a control method therefor capable of exchanging the ink cartridge at a predetermined position other than the position of the mark indicating the state of the ink cartridge.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a printing apparatus in which printing is performed by reciprocating movement of a carriage holding a plurality of ink cartridges. An ink cartridge state monitoring means for monitoring the state of the ink cartridge,
With one ink cartridge status abnormality display means,
The gist is that the carriage is moved to a position where the ink cartridge judged to be abnormal by the ink cartridge status monitoring means is indicated by the ink cartridge status abnormality display means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus in which printing is performed by reciprocating movement of a carriage holding a plurality of ink cartridges, an ink cartridge state monitoring means for monitoring the state of each ink cartridge, and an abnormality. Ink cartridge state abnormality display means is provided for each type of state, and the ink cartridge state abnormality display means for the ink cartridge determined to be abnormal by the ink cartridge state monitoring means is predetermined according to the type of abnormal state. The gist is that the carriage is moved to the position indicated by.

The invention described in claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the printing apparatus described in the paragraph 1, the case where the state of the ink cartridge is abnormal is at least one of low ink level, ink shortage, and ink cartridge insertion failure.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any of the first to third aspects, a user operates a button to move the carriage to a position indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means. The point is to do when pressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the ink cartridge state abnormality display device for displaying the abnormality of the ink cartridge state is further provided, and The gist is that different displays are displayed according to the types of abnormal states.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first to fifth aspects, the ink cartridge replacement position is arranged at a position different from the position indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means. Use as a summary.

A seventh aspect of the invention is summarized in the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, in which the ink cartridge cannot be replaced except at the ink cartridge replacement position.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is a method of controlling a printing apparatus in which printing is performed by reciprocating movement of a carriage that holds a plurality of ink cartridges, and a step of monitoring the state of each ink cartridge, And a step of moving the carriage to a position where the ink cartridge is indicated by one ink cartridge state abnormality display means when the state of the ink cartridge is determined to be abnormal in the step. To do.

(Operation) According to the invention described in claims 1 and 8, when the state of the ink cartridge is abnormal,
The ink cartridge determined to be abnormal due to the movement of the carriage is indicated on one ink cartridge state abnormality display means. Therefore, since there is only one ink cartridge status abnormality display means, even a printer equipped with many ink cartridges will not run out of space for the display means.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the state of the ink cartridge is abnormal, the ink cartridge which is determined to be abnormal due to the movement of the carriage is provided according to the type of the abnormal state. The ink cartridge state abnormality display means is also indicated. Therefore, since one ink cartridge state abnormality display means is provided for each type of abnormal state, even a printer having many ink cartridges does not run out of space for the display means.

According to the invention described in claim 3, when at least one of the remaining amount of ink, the ink is exhausted, and the ink cartridge is not properly inserted, the function and effect of the invention described in claim 1 or 2 can be obtained. You can

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the carriage can be moved to the position indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means after the user's intention is confirmed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises an ink cartridge status abnormality display device, and different displays are provided depending on the type of the abnormal status of the ink cartridge. Therefore, when the types of abnormal states are different, it is possible to perform display according to the abnormal state.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the ink cartridge replacement position is arranged at a position different from the position indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means, the user is indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means. It is possible to prevent the ink cartridge from being replaced at the position.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the ink cartridge cannot be replaced except at the ink cartridge replacement position, the ink is not displayed at the position indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means by the user. It is possible to more reliably prevent the replacement of the cartridge.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ink jet printer as a printing apparatus embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
~ It demonstrates according to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows the electrical construction of the print drive control device of the printer. As shown in the figure, a host computer (for example, a personal computer) 20 is connected to an interface 30 of the printer 1 via a communication cable 21. The host computer 20 includes a printer driver 22 that performs various controls of the printer and monitors the printing status of the printer. The printer 1 includes an interface 30, a CPU 31, and an ASIC (Applicatio).
n Specific IC (IC for specific use) 32, PRO
An M33, a RAM 34, an EEPROM 35, a DC unit 37, a carriage motor driver (CR motor driver) 38, a paper feed motor driver 39, and a head driver 40 are provided. The carriage motor 6 and the paper feed motor 15 are connected to the motor drivers 38 and 39, respectively. The print head 9 provided in the ink cartridge 10 (specifically, each piezoelectric vibrator for each nozzle)
Are connected to the head driver 40. Further, the ink cartridge 10 is provided with an insertion detection terminal 11 so that the insertion detection circuit 12 becomes conductive when the ink cartridge 10 is properly set on the carriage 52. The plug-in detection circuit 12 is configured such that the plug-in detection terminal 11 is inserted between the high-voltage power supply V + and the ground provided via the resistor R, and is also connected to the CPU 31 to connect to the ink cartridge. 10
The insertion state of can be detected. CPU31
Sensors such as the linear encoder 13, the home sensor 41, and the paper detection sensor 42 are connected to the.

The ASIC 32 is the host computer 20.
The print data received from the CPU is developed into an image so that it can be used when controlling the print head 9, and the print head 9 is driven and controlled via the head driver 40 based on the data after the image development. The RAM 34 functions as a buffer for temporarily storing calculation results for various controls and temporarily storing print data and data after image development.

The DC unit 37 is controlled by the CPU 31 and converts alternating current into direct current, and supplies direct current to the motor drivers 38 and 39. The CPU 31 controls the current values of the motors 6 and 15 via the motor drivers 38 and 39. For example, when controlling the speed of the carriage motor 6 which is a DC motor, the CPU 31 outputs a current command value to the carriage motor driver 38, and the motor driver 38 supplies a direct current corresponding to the current command value to the carriage motor 6. .

The ROM 33 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 31, various setting data used when the programs are executed, and the like, and contains therein a control program for controlling the current value of the carriage motor 6 and its setting data, for example. Remembered

Next, the operation of the carriage 52 in the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 show a housing 50 portion above the printer 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 52 includes a carriage 52.
The opening 51 is provided along the main scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction), and the carriage 52 is normally located at the rightmost home position 53 in FIG. The housing 50 is usually covered with a top cover (not shown). The carriage 52 has four ink cartridges (black 10B, cyan 10C,
Magenta 10M and yellow 10Y) are held.
An ink cartridge exchange position 54 having a large width in the paper feed direction is provided at a position adjacent to the home position 53 in the opening 51. At the ink cartridge exchange position 54, the ink cartridge can be exchanged, but at other positions, the width of the opening 51 in the paper feeding direction is small and the ink cartridge 10 cannot be exchanged.

The housing 50 also includes a power switch 60, a paper feed / discharge button 61, a paper jam display LED 62, a cartridge replacement button 63, and an ink cartridge status display LED as an ink cartridge status abnormality display device.
64, various buttons 65, and a mark 66 as an ink cartridge state abnormality display means. The paper feed / ejection button 61 is a button for feeding and ejecting printing paper, and the paper jam display LED 62 is lit when the printing paper is jammed. Cartridge replacement button 63
Means to move the carriage 52 every time it is pressed. The ink cartridge status display LED 64 blinks when the amount of remaining ink is low, and lights up when the ink is out or when the ink cartridge is not properly inserted. The mark 66 indicates an abnormality in the ink cartridge state, and the ink cartridges 10 arranged on the mark 66 indicate that the ink cartridge 10 is abnormal. The position of the mark 66 is provided around the end of the opening 51 facing the home position 53, and is a position where the cartridge (yellow Y in this embodiment) at the right end of the carriage can be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the abnormal state of the ink cartridge means three types, that is, the remaining amount of ink is low, the ink is out, and the ink cartridge is not properly inserted. The method of calculating the remaining ink amount in this embodiment is performed as follows. That is, the number of ejected ink droplets is multiplied by the weight per ink droplet measured in advance to calculate the ink usage amount, and the remaining ink amount in the ink cartridge is estimated from the calculated ink usage amount. . These calculations are performed by the printer driver 22 connected to the host computer 20. The printer driver 22 constitutes ink cartridge state monitoring means.

Further, the judgment of the ink remaining amount and the ink shortage is made by judging whether or not a predetermined threshold value is exceeded. In this embodiment, threshold values 1 and 2 are provided, and the threshold value 1 corresponds to 90% of the total ink weight, and when it exceeds this threshold, it is determined that the remaining ink amount is small. Also,
The threshold value 2 corresponds to 98% of the total ink weight, and if it exceeds this threshold, it is determined that the ink has run out.

Here, it is assumed that the inks of black 10B and magenta 10M of the ink cartridge 10 have run out. In this case, the ink cartridge status display LED 64 lights up in the state of FIG. When the user opens the top cover and presses the cartridge exchange button 63, the carriage motor 6 is driven to move the carriage 52 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Then, the carriage 52 is replaced with black 10B.
The cartridge is stopped at the position where the mark 66 and the mark 66 coincide. This indicates that the cartridge of Black 10B is out of ink. Next, when the user presses the cartridge exchange button 63 again, the carriage motor 6 is driven and the carriage 52 is moved in the arrow direction of FIG. Then, the carriage 52 is stopped at the position where the mark 66 is aligned with the cartridge of the magenta 10M.
This indicates that the magenta 10M cartridge is out of ink. Next, when the user presses the cartridge exchange button 63 again, the carriage motor 6
Is driven to move the carriage 52 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Then, the carriage 52 is moved to the ink cartridge exchange position 54 and stopped. At this position, the user replaces the black 10B and magenta 10M cartridges with new cartridges. Then, when the user closes the top cover, the carriage motor 6 is driven to move the carriage 52 in the arrow direction of FIG. And the carriage 52
Is stopped at the home position 53 shown in FIG.

Next, a method for detecting the state of the ink cartridge of the printer configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. An identification number (i) is attached to each ink cartridge, and in this embodiment, black 1
0B is “i = 0”, cyan 10C is “i = 1”, magenta 10M is “i = 2”, and yellow 10Y is “i = 3”.
Is set. When detecting the state of each ink cartridge, the identification number of the ink cartridge is first cleared (i = 0) (step S10). And
For the black 10B cartridge with "i = 0", it is confirmed whether or not the ink cartridge is properly inserted (step S11). In this step, the insertion detection terminal 11 of the ink cartridge 10 is moved to the carriage 5
It is normally set to 2 and it is determined whether or not the insertion detection circuit 12 is in the conductive state. If not properly inserted (NO), the ink cartridge status display LED 64 is turned on (step S12), and the process proceeds to step S18. On the other hand, if the ink cartridge is properly inserted (YES in step S11),
The amount of ink used is calculated (step S13). Then, it is confirmed whether or not the calculated ink usage amount is larger than the threshold value 1 (step S14). If the amount of ink used is greater than the threshold value 1 (YES), it is determined that the amount of remaining ink is low, and the ink cartridge status display LED 6
4 is blinked (step S15). On the other hand, if the ink usage amount is smaller than the threshold value 1 (NO), then step S
Proceed to 18. Next, it is confirmed whether the calculated ink usage amount is larger than the threshold value 2 (step S16).
If the amount of ink used is greater than threshold 2 (YES)
Determines that the ink is out and turns on the ink cartridge status display LED 64 (step S17). On the other hand, when the ink usage amount is smaller than the threshold value 2 (NO)
Proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, the ink cartridge identification number (i) reaches the maximum value max (maximum value in this embodiment).
= 3) is confirmed. In this case, the routine is for black 10B, and since "i = 0", it is determined to be NO, i is added in step S19, and "i =
1 ”, and the process returns to step S11. Then, the same routine is repeated for the cyan 10C, magenta 10M, and yellow 10Y cartridges.
The process ends at the stage where x = 3 (YES in step S18).

Next, a method of controlling the printer after the state of the ink cartridge is detected in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the identification number of the ink cartridge is cleared (i = 0) (step S30). Then, it is confirmed whether or not the cartridge exchange button 63 is pressed (step S31). If the cartridge exchange button 63 is not pressed (NO), this step is repeated until it is pressed, and if it is pressed (YES), it is confirmed whether the ink cartridge status display LED 64 is blinking or lit (step S32). ). If the LED 64 is neither blinking nor lighting (NO), the process proceeds to step S40. On the other hand, if the LED 64 is blinking or lit,
It is judged that there is an abnormality in the ink cartridge state and LE
It is confirmed whether the blinking or lighting of D64 is caused by the i-th ink cartridge (step S33).
If the blinking or lighting of the LED 64 is not the i-th one (NO), the process proceeds to step S36. On the other hand, LE
If the blinking or lighting of D64 is the i-th one (YE
In step S34, the carriage 52 is moved so that the mark 66, which is an ink cartridge state abnormality display means, indicates the i-th ink cartridge (step S34). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the cartridge exchange button 63 has been pressed (step S35). When the cartridge exchange button 63 is not pressed (NO), this step is repeated until it is pressed, and when it is pressed (YES), it is confirmed whether or not the ink cartridge identification number (i) is the maximum value max. (Step S36). Identification number (i) is maximum m
If not ax (NO), i is added in step S37, the process returns to step S32, and a series of routines are repeated. On the other hand, when the identification number (i) is the maximum value max (max = 3), the process proceeds to step S40. In step S40, the carriage 52 is moved to the cartridge exchange position 54. Then, the user replaces the ink cartridge 10 determined to be abnormal (step S4).
1). When the replacement is over and the user closes the top cover,
The carriage 52 moves to the home position 53 (step S42), and the process ends.

According to the printer of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. In the above-described embodiment, when the state of the ink cartridge 10 is abnormal, the carriage 52 moves and the ink cartridge 10 that is determined to be abnormal is indicated by the mark 66 which is one ink cartridge state abnormality display means. Be done. Therefore, since there is only one ink cartridge state abnormality display means, it is not necessary to provide a mark for each ink cartridge, and there is no shortage of space for the mark.

In the above embodiment, the mark 66 is provided at a position far from the home position 53. Therefore, when the ink cartridge state is displayed, the carriage 52 greatly moves from the home position 53 to the mark 66. Therefore, the user can clearly confirm the abnormal ink cartridge.

In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge status display L is used as the ink cartridge status abnormality display device.
Equipped with ED64. Further, the ink cartridge status display LED 64 is configured to blink or light when the remaining amount of ink is low, the ink is out, or the ink cartridge is not properly inserted. Therefore, with only one mark 66 and the ink cartridge status display LED 64,
The state of the ink cartridge can be displayed according to the type of abnormality of the ink cartridge.

In the above embodiment, the carriage 52 is moved to the mark 66 when the user presses the cartridge exchange button 63. Therefore, since it is possible to move the carriage after waiting for the user's confirmation of intention, the user can more surely confirm each abnormality when there is abnormality in a plurality of ink cartridges.

In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge exchange position 54 is arranged at a position different from the mark 66 which is the ink cartridge state abnormality display means. Further, the ink cartridge cannot be replaced except in the ink cartridge replacement position 54. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the user from replacing the ink cartridge at the position of the mark 66.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows. In the above embodiment, only one mark 66, which is an ink cartridge state abnormality display means, is provided, but one mark 66 may be provided for each type of abnormal state. In this case, for example, it is assumed that the first mark is provided to indicate "low ink remaining amount" and the second mark is provided to indicate "out of ink or defective insertion of ink cartridge". Therefore, in the case of such a configuration, since one ink cartridge state abnormality display means is provided for each type of abnormality state, there is no space for the display means even in a printer having many ink cartridges. There is no shortage.

In the above-described embodiment, the printer uses four ink cartridges, but it has a plurality of ink cartridges (two or more, for example, six or seven).
May be applied).

In the above embodiment, the threshold value 1 is 90% of the total ink weight and the threshold value 2 is 98% of the total ink weight, but different threshold values may be adopted. . Also,
The threshold value may be a value according to the number of times of ink ejection, instead of the total weight of ink. Further, the control method of the above embodiment may be applied to a printer of a type in which a monitor is provided near the print head 9 and the amount of ink used is measured by the monitor. Further, by further providing a threshold value, the state of ink may be displayed in a more detailed manner. In this case, the ink cartridge status display L
The display form of the ED 64 may be increased by the number of threshold values, or a plurality of ink cartridge status display LEDs may be provided.

In the above embodiment, the ink condition is judged by the threshold values 1 and 2, but the threshold value may be only one. In this case, the ink status cannot be displayed in more detail than in the above embodiment, but the printer control can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge status display LED 64 as the ink cartridge status abnormality display device is provided, but it may be replaced by a liquid crystal display or a display by voice output.

In the above embodiment, there are three types of abnormal states of the ink cartridge, that is, the amount of remaining ink is low, the ink is out, and the ink cartridge is not properly inserted. However, other abnormal states may be detected. For example, when detecting an unusable type of ink cartridge for the printer, when the ink condition has deteriorated, the printer cannot be used, or when an ink cartridge of a different color is inserted in the predetermined ink insertion position of the carriage. You may allow it.

In the above embodiment, the printer driver 22 is provided as the ink cartridge status monitoring means.
The ink cartridge state monitoring means may be provided in the printer body.

Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the printer driver 22 may display on the screen of the host computer 20 together with the detection of the ink cartridge state by the printer 1. Accordingly, the detection of the ink cartridge state can be confirmed on both the screen of the printer 1 main body and the screen of the host computer 20.

Next, the technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below along with their effects. (1) A program for causing a computer to execute the steps of the method for controlling a printing apparatus according to claim 8, and a recording medium storing the program.

Therefore, according to the invention described in (1), the program or the recording medium in which the program is stored is executed or installed and executed.
The same effect as can be obtained.

(2) A control method for controlling the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7. Therefore, according to the invention described in (2), the same effects as those of claims 2 to 7 can be obtained.

[0052]

As described above in detail, the first and eighth aspects of the invention are described.
According to the invention described in (1), when the state of the ink cartridge is abnormal, the ink cartridge determined to be abnormal due to the movement of the carriage is pointed to one ink cartridge state abnormality display means. Therefore, since there is only one ink cartridge status abnormality display means, even a printer equipped with many ink cartridges will not run out of space for the display means.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the state of the ink cartridge is abnormal, the ink cartridge which is determined to be abnormal due to the movement of the carriage is determined according to the type of the abnormal state. It is indicated by the provided ink cartridge state abnormality display means. Therefore, since one ink cartridge state abnormality display means is provided for each type of abnormal state, even a printer having many ink cartridges does not run out of space for the display means.

Further, according to the sixth and seventh aspects of the invention, since the ink cartridge replacement position is arranged at a position different from the position indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means, the user can set the ink cartridge state abnormality display means. It is possible to prevent the ink cartridge from being replaced at the position indicated by.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electrical configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the carriage of the printer.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the carriage of the printer.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the carriage of the printer.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the carriage of the printer.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the printer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Inkjet printer 10 as printing device ... Ink cartridge 22 ... Printer driver 52 as ink cartridge status monitoring means ... Carriage 63 ... Cartridge replacement button 64 ... Ink cartridge status display LED 66 as ink cartridge status error display device ... Ink cartridge Mark as means for displaying abnormal status

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. In a printing apparatus in which printing is performed by reciprocating movement of a carriage that holds a plurality of ink cartridges, an ink cartridge state monitoring unit that monitors the state of each ink cartridge, and one ink cartridge state abnormality display unit. A printing apparatus, comprising: a carriage configured to move the carriage to a position indicated by the ink cartridge status abnormality display means when the ink cartridge determined to be abnormal by the ink cartridge status monitoring means. 2. In a printing apparatus in which printing is performed by reciprocating movement of a carriage that holds a plurality of ink cartridges, an ink cartridge state monitoring unit that monitors the state of each ink cartridge, and an ink cartridge for each type of abnormal state. Each of the ink cartridge state monitoring means is provided with one state abnormality display means, and the ink cartridge determined to be abnormal by the ink cartridge state monitoring means is located at a position indicated by the predetermined ink cartridge state abnormality display means according to the type of the abnormal state. A printing device characterized in that a carriage is moved. 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the abnormal state of the ink cartridge is at least one of a low ink level, an ink shortage, and an ink cartridge insertion failure. The printing device described. 4. The carriage according to claim 1, wherein the carriage is moved to a position indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means when a button is pressed by a user. Printing device. 5. The ink cartridge state abnormality display device for displaying the abnormality of the ink cartridge state is further provided, and different display is performed according to the type of the abnormal state of the ink cartridge. The printing device according to any one of to 4. 6. The ink cartridge replacement position is arranged at a position different from the position indicated by the ink cartridge state abnormality display means.
The printing device according to. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the ink cartridge cannot be replaced except at the ink cartridge replacement position. 8. A method of controlling a printing apparatus, wherein printing is performed by reciprocating movement of a carriage holding a plurality of ink cartridges, the method comprising: monitoring the status of each ink cartridge; Is determined to be abnormal, the step of moving the carriage to a position at which the ink cartridge is indicated by one ink cartridge state abnormality display means is provided.