A printing apparatus which includes a printer body having a setting surface on which a printing surface of a printing medium is set horizontally, a carriage beam 23 which is attached to the printer body and extends in the direction along the setting surface, and a carriage 5 provided so as to be movable in the beam lengthwise direction with respect to the carriage beam 23, and further includes an ink head 6 equipped with a nozzle for discharging ink provided in the carriage, comprises: a carriage supporting means 7 which supports the carriage 5 onto the carriage beam 23 in a manner enabling it to move up and down, an ink receiving part 8 which receives ink that is discharged from the ink head 6, and a receiving part supporting means 9 which supports the ink receiving part 8 on the carriage 5 in a manner enabling it to move to an ink receiving part below the ink head and a withdrawing position separated from the ink head 6.