WO2023038629A1

WO2023038629A1 - Print medium feed

Info

Publication number: WO2023038629A1
Application number: PCT/US2021/049789
Authority: WO
Inventors: Felix Ruiz Martinez; Joseba ORMAECHEA SARACIBAR; Marcel LLORACH TO; Joan MONTANE GIOL; Vicente BLANCO HERNANDEZ
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2021-09-10
Filing date: 2021-09-10
Publication date: 2023-03-16

Abstract

The present disclosure refers to media feeding for a printing system comprising: a first operation mode in which, to feed a print medium, a pre-pick roller assembly moves to an engaged state to advance the print medium in an advance direction to a pick roller and wherein, upon surpassing the pick roller by a first coupling distance, the pre-pick roller moves to a disengage state detached from the print medium; and a second mode of operation in which, to feed a print medium, the pre-pick roller assembly moves to an engaged state to advance the print medium in an advance direction to the pick roller and wherein, upon surpassing the pick roller by a second coupling distance, the pre-pick roller moves to a disengage state detached from the print medium being the second distance higher than the first distance.

Description

PRINT MEDIUM FEED

BACKGROUND

[0001] A print medium feed relates to transport of a print medium for the purpose of printing. The print medium feed may be used in a printing system, in a printing device or in a method of operating a printing system or a printing device. The print medium maybe provided as a sheet, as a stack of sheets or from a continuous supply.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0002] The present disclosure is described in the following with reference to examples presented in the accompanying drawings. The examples shown in the drawings only serve the purpose of a detailed understanding of particular aspects of the present disclosure without limiting the scope of the scope of the present disclosure thereto. Furthermore, the examples in the drawings are not up-to-scale but depicted in an arbitrary scale for the sake of comprehensibility. In the drawings and the corresponding specification, similar, like or identical features are indicated with the same reference sign.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a device to feed a print medium according to examples.

FIG. 2A to 2C schematically illustrate a device to feed a print medium and a printing system according to examples.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a media feeding operation to a printing system according to examples.

FIG. 4 illustrates a computer-readable medium for executing a method according to examples.

[0003] In particular, the present disclosure refers to a printing system, comprising: a support member to support a print medium; a pre-pick roller assembly to advance the print medium from the support member in an advance direction, wherein the pre-pick roller assembly is operable in a disengage state detached from the print medium and in an engage state contacting the print medium; a pick roller assembly, downstream the pre-pick roller assembly; and a conveyor downstream the pick roller assembly; wherein the printing system comprises: a first feeding mode that operates the pre-pick roller assembly in the engage state until the medium is between the pick roller assembly and the conveyor and then moves to the disengage state; and a second feeding mode in which the prepick roller assembly in an engage state until the media reaches or surpasses the conveyor and then moves to the disengage state. [0004] In an example, the first feeding mode or the second feeding mode is selected based on a print medium parameter. The medium parameter may be, e.g., the weight of the medium or the length of the medium so that the pick roller for such media acts as an aid for the picking roller to take the media to the conveyor.

[0005] In a further example, at least one of the pre-pick roller assembly and the pick roller assembly comprises a plurality of rollers that extend along a width of the medium as to contact the medium along its width. The pick roller assembly may further comprise a contacting roller separator roller defining a nip therebetween wherein the medium is to pass through the nip, in an example, the separator roller and the contacting roller rotate in opposite directions thereby separating the medium from the media stack that may be in a loading tray.

[0006] In an example, the pre-pick roller assembly comprises an arm coupled to a reference structure through a pivoting connection and wherein the pre-pick roller assembly moves between the disengage state and the engage state by pivoting the arm.

[0007] Furthermore, the pre-pick roller assembly may move from the disengaged position to the engaged position at a lower speed with respect to the movement from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

[0008] Also, it is hereby disclosed a device to feed a print medium to a printer, comprising: a support member to support a print medium; a pre-pick roller assembly to advance a print medium in an advance direction, the prepick roller being movable between an engaged state in which the pre-pick roller assembly contacts the print medium and a disengaged state in which the pre-pick roller does not contact the print medium; and a pick roller assembly downstream the pre-pick roller assembly; wherein, in a feeding operation, the pre-pick roller assembly moves to the engaged state, advances the print medium in an advance direction and, upon the media surpassing the pick roller by a coupling distance, the pre-pick roller moves to the disengaged state; and wherein the device comprises a first operation mode and a second operation mode each having a different coupling distance.

[0009] In an example, the device is to use the first operation mode if the print medium is of higher weight or length than a determined threshold and to use the second operation mode if the print medium is of lower weight or length than the determined threshold and wherein the coupling distance in the first operation mode is higher than the coupling distance in the second operation mode.

[0010] Moreover, at least one of the pre-pick roller assembly and the pick roller assembly may comprise a plurality of rollers that extend along a width of the medium.

[0011] In a further example, the device is attachable to a printing system as to feed the print medium to the printing system and wherein the second coupling distance allows for print medium to reach or surpass a conveyor of the printing system.

[0012] Additionally, the present disclosure refers to a feeding method for a printing system, wherein the method comprises: a first operation mode in which, to feed a print medium, a pre-pick roller assembly moves to an engaged state to advance the print medium in an advance direction to a pick roller and wherein, upon surpassing the pick roller by a first coupling distance, the pre-pick roller moves to a disengage state detached from the print medium; and a second mode of operation in which, to feed a print medium, the pre-pick roller assembly moves to an engaged state to advance the print medium in an advance direction to the pick roller and wherein, upon surpassing the pick roller by a second coupling distance, the pre-pick roller moves to a disengage state detached from the print medium being the second distance higher than the first distance.

[0013] In an example, the second mode of operation is selected if the print medium exceeds a medium parameter and wherein the medium parameter is at least one of: a length of the print medium or the weight of the print medium otherwise, the first mode of operation is selected.

[0014] As discussed above, the present disclosure refers to a printing system and device for feeding print medium to a printing system. The examples for the print medium feed as disclosed herein may be used in combination with a printing device suitable for printing on variable-width print media and in particular with a large format printing device designed to print on print media having a DIN A3 and larger format.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1 a feeder 1, i.e., a device for print medium feeding according to an example is provided. Generally, the feeder 1 as disclosed herein may be part of a device that uses cut sheet media. In specific examples, the feeder 1 as disclosed herein may be part of a printing device, a laminating device or a (paper) bag folding device.

[0016] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the feeder 1 may comprise a support member 10 and rollers. Each of the (multiple) rollers may be any of a feed roller, a pre-pick roller or an advance roller as described in detail below. While a single pre-pick roller 112 and a single pair of pick rollers 12 are depicted in FIG. 1 and 2, the number of the rollers is illustrative and exemplary only. The present disclosure is not limited to a particular number of rollers. Also, an outer surface of any of the rollers may be provided with a material which has a sufficient friction coefficient against a material of the print medium 2. The friction coefficient may be considered sufficient if a traction applied by a rolling movement of the rollers suffice to advance the print medium 2 in the advance direction 20. For example, the rollers maybe of a rubber material on the outer surfaces such to provide a high friction coefficient against paper, cardboard, or a specific synthetic material. Further, the rollers may be subjected to a surface treatment to increase the friction coefficient against paper.

[0017] The support member 10 may be arranged to support a print medium 2. The print medium 2 as depicted in FIG. 1 and 2 may differ from one another in at least one of a width and a thickness. The width may refer to a size in a width direction. The thickness may refer to a size in a direction perpendicular to the width direction and also to an advance direction 20 (described below).

[0018] The print medium 2 may be made of any material suitable to be printed. For example, the print medium 2 may comprise paper, cardboard, a synthetic material, a woven material, or any combination thereof. The print medium 2 may be provided as a single sheet, or as multiple sheets, for example, as a stack of sheets. Additionally or alternatively, the print medium 2 may be provided in a continuous manner, for example, wounded on a roll core or as a folded stack. A size of the print medium P may be variable, and may be any standard paper size, such as DIN Al to DIN A10, or any arbitrary size with a width of of 510 mm or more, 1020 mm or more, 1500 mm or more, 2000 mm or more, and for example up to to⁴ mm. Furthermore, the print medium may have a default thickness for a paper sheet, cardboard or the respective material, or any arbitraiy thickness of 10 mm or more, 20 mm or more, for example up to 200 mm.

[0019] The rollers may be arranged in a distributed manner along the width direction of the print medium 2. In particular, the rollers may be arranged such that one of the rollers is arranged such to be associated with a first print medium width, and another one of the rollers is arranged such to be associated with a second print medium width that is different from the first print medium width

[0020] The rollers may be each arranged to advance the print medium 2 from the support member 10 in an advance direction 20. The advance direction 20 may be defined as a process direction of the print medium 2 for the purpose of printing. In particular, the advance direction 20 may refer to a direction from the support member 10 to a print zone (not shown in the drawings) in which a print fluid may be deposited onto the print medium 2. In such examples, the rollers may be particularly arranged to feed a single print medium sheet from the support member to to the print zone in the advance direction 20. The advance direction may be perpendicular to the print medium width direction.

[0021] In general, any of the rollers disclosed herein may be any roller used in a printing device for advancing the print medium 2 in a (print) process direction. The rollers may apply a traction and normal force onto the print medium 2 to move the print medium 2 in the advance direction. In examples where the print medium 2 is provided as a stack of sheets, the rollers may move an uppermost sheet or uppermost sheets of the stack of sheets in the above manner.

[0022] Two particular examples of the roller are a pre-pick roller 112 that is comprised in a pre-pick roller assembly 11 and a pick roller assembly 12. The feed roller assembly 12 may be referred to as a sheetfeeder. A pick roller assembly 12 may be arranged to advance the print medium 2 in the advance direction 20 as described above. The feed roller assembly 12 may be also referred to as an advance roller to advance the print medium to or towards a print zone. The feed roller assembly 12 may also be referred to as sheetfeeder.

[0023] In an example, pick roller assembly 12 may comprise a pair of rollers defining a nip therebetween. One of the rollers may be configured to engage in an opposite direction to act as a print medium sheet separator.

[0024] The pre-pick roller assembly 11 is used in examples where the print medium 2 is supplied as a stack of sheets. The pre-pick roller assembly 11 may be used for a preliminaiy separation of an uppermost sheet or uppermost sheets of the stack of sheets, thereby providing pre-picked sheets. Then a singulation system may be used to separate a single sheet from the pre-picked sheets.

[0025] The pre-pick assembly 11 may be operable in a disengage state. In the disengage state, the pre-pick roller 112 may be detached from the print medium 2 and the support member 10. The pre-pick roller 112 in the disengage state may be lifted such to be detached from a top surface of the print medium 2 and from a top surface of the support member 10. On the other hand, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 may operate in an engage state in which the pre-pick roller 112 (or at least one pre-pick roller) contacts the print medium 2 as to move it along advance direction 20 by rotating in a feeding direction 113, in particular, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 of Fig. 1 illustrates the pre-pick roller assembly 11 in the engage state.

[0026] In the engage state, the pre-pick roller 112 may be pulled towards (pressed against, forced towards) the support member 10, e.g., by moving a pivoting arm 111 in an engage direction E that rotates about a pivot point 110. In an example, the pre-pick roller 112 moves from the disengage state to the engage state at a slow speed, e.g., a speed of between 15 to 25 degrees per second as to avoid a mechanical lockout situation due to the friction and normal forces applied on the print medium, this situation is especially considerable while dealing with media that has a friction coefficient above 0,5 or, preferably above 0,7 and with the pivoting arm 111 resting on the media at an angle of 10-15 degrees. This mechanical lockout situation may be prevented by determining when the pre-pick roller 112 reaches the medium and exerts a downward force that is sufficient for contacting the medium and, therefore, causing its movement but that does not cause a mechanical lockout.

[0027] For determining that the pre-pick roller 112 has reached the medium and is exerting an adequate downward force to move the medium without risking mechanical lockout situations, a media detection mechanism maybe provided. In an example, the media detection mechanism envisages that the pre-pick roller assembly lowers the pre-pick roller 112 while performing the feeding rotation 113 thereto by a motor. The motor signal may be monitored given that, upon reaching the media, the motor signal will change based on the interaction between the medium and the pre-pick roller 112. In another example, a presence sensor (such as the presence sensor 13) may be positioned in the vicinity of the pre-pick roller 112 or the pick roller 12 assembly to determine that the pre-pick roller 112 has contacted the medium and caused a translation of the medium. In a further example, the media detection mechanism comprises a load sensor associated to the pivoting arm 111, so that, upon reaching the medium, the load sensor determines the contact between the pre-pick roller 112 and the media.

[0028] On the other hand, while moving from the engage state to the disengage state, the pre-pick roller 112, by the pivoting arm 111, may move at a high speed, e.g., a speed that over 30 times higher than the speed to move from the disengage to the engage state, e.g., between 700 and 800 degrees per second.

[0029] In some printing applications, the print medium 2 to be handled by the feeding device may have different parameters, e.g., of different weight, density, length, or thickness. Depending on such print medium parameters, the feeding device according to the present disclosure has different operation modes. In a feeding operation using a first operation mode, the pre-pick roller assembly may move from to the engaged state, e.g., by rotating the pivoting arm 111 in an engage direction E until the pre-pick roller 112 contacts the print medium 2 and activates the pre-pick roller 113 as to advance the print medium along an advance direction 20 by exerting an advancement force that exceeds the friction force 21 provided by further sheets of print medium 2. In the first mode of operation, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 is operable in the engage state for a first distance, e.g., until the print medium 2 (in particular, the leadingedge of the print medium 2) reaches a position between the picking roller assembly 12 and a conveyor 3 of the printing system which may be, e.g., a conveyor belt or a plurality of rollers that transport the print medium. The position of the leading edge of the print medium 2 may be determined by a presence sensor 13 or the print medium may be advanced for a predetermined distance that has been pre-calculated and stored in a memory as will be explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 2A-2C.

[0030] In the second mode of operation, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 is operable in the engage state for a second distance, larger than the first distance. In particular, the second distance may be a distance at which the leading edge of the print medium 2 reaches or surpasses the conveyor 3.

[0031] By having such two modes of operation, the feeder may accurately work with different types of media. In particular, the first mode of operation may be used for media with a lower thickness, density or weight. In this case, using as less active advancement mechanisms as possible (such as the pre-pick rollers, the pick rollers or the conveyor) allows for having a more precise transport of the print medium along the media advance direction. On the other hand, if the media is heavier, thicker and/or has a higher density, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 maybe used as an auxiliaiy mechanism for advancement of the print medium.

[0032] In an example, either or both of the pre-pick roller assembly 11 and the pick roller assembly may comprise a plurality of rollers that span the width of the print medium as to accommodate a plurality of widths of print media.

[0033] Turning to Fig. 2, Fig. 2A shows an initial state in which a pre-pick roller assembly 11 has been operated to an engage position, Fig. 2B shows a case in which the pre-pick roller assembly 11 is operated in a first operation mode and Fig. 2C shows a case in which the prepick roller assembly 11 is operated in a second operation mode.

[0034] Fig. 2A shows a feeder 1 that may be part of a printing system comprises a print medium support 10 having print media 2 in sheet form. The feeder 1 has a pre-pick roller assembly 11 and a pick roller assembly 12 that are to advance a print medium from the print medium support 10 towards a printing system (is case the feeder 1 is a standalone device independent from the printing system) or towards a conveyor 3 within the printing system.

[0035] Upon a request for feeding a sheet of print medium 2, the pre-pick roller assembly 1 moves in an engaged direction E so that the pre-pick roller contacts the print medium 2. The determination that the print medium 2 has been contacted may be performed by a media detection mechanism as discussed with reference to Fig. 1. Then, the pre-pick roller performs a feeding rotation 113 as to advance the print medium 2 towards the pick roller assembly 12. [0036] In a first operation mode, as illustrated in Fig. 2B, once the print medium 2 is advanced for a first distance Di, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 moves to a disengage state. The first distance Di is a distance long enough for the print medium to be fed to the pick roller assembly 12 which will continue the feeding operation, e.g., to a conveyor 3 of a printing system.

[0037] The first distance Di may be a pre-defined distance configurable by a user and/or may be stored in a memory device accessible by a controller associated to the feeder 1. In particular, the first distance Di may be stored, for example, in the form of a distance or as encoder steps of a encoder associated to the pre-pick roller 113. Alternatively or additionally, the feeder 1 may comprise a sensor to determine the position of the print medium 2 and such a position may be used to determine that the print medium has been advanced the first distance Di. Such a sensor may be a sensor located upstream the pick roller assembly 12 and, in particular, between the pick roller assembly and the conveyor 3. Once it has been determined that the first distance Di has been advanced and/ or that the print medium 2 is located between the pick roller assembly 12 and the conveyor 3, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 is moved to the disengage state by moving in a disengage direction D.

[0038] As explained above, this operation mode is particularly beneficial for print medium with lower length, weight, density, or thickness when compared to the second mode of operation that will be explained with reference to Fig. 2C as it provides that, in each step, a single active element, i.e., the pre-pick rollers, or the pick rollers is used which maybe sufficient for such media parameters, maybe more accurate and use less energy resources.

[0039] The sensor for determining the position of the print medium 2 may be an optical sensorthat determines the presence or absence of media, e.g., an optical or mechanical sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor may be a camera wherein the leading edge of the print medium maybe used for determining the position of the print medium.

[0040] Fig. 2C shows a pre-pick roller assembly 11 while the feeder 1 is configured to feed a print medium in the second operation mode. In the second operation mode, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 is moved to the engaged position and feeds the print medium for a second distance D2 which is longer than the first distance Di. In particular, the second distance D2 is long enough to reach or surpass the conveyor 3. As in the case of the first operation mode, the second distance D2 maybe a user-defined variable readable in a memory or maybe determined based on sensors positioned upstream or upon reaching the conveyor

[0041] In either of the first or second operation modes, the feeder 1 may be configured to prevent possible lockout situations of the moving elements and, in particular, of the pre-pick roller assembly n. In an example, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 maybe provided with a media detection mechanism whose function is to provide the feeder 1 with information associated to the force that is applied by the pre-pick mechanism 11 on the medium. In an example, the medium is positioned on a media stack and, therefore, be subject to medium-on-medium friction forces and, upon exerting excessive force may risk a mechanical lockout situation.

[0042] To reduce the risk of mechanical lockouts, while moving in an engage direction E, the pre-pick roller assembly 11 may monitor a signal as to determine that the pre-pick roller 112 has contacted the medium 2 and, upon such contact, the movement towards the medium 2 stops thereby assuring that no excessive force is being applied to the medium 2, i.e., the prepick roller assembly 11 moves the pre-pick roller 112 until a determination is made that a contact has occurred between the pre-pick roller and the print medium and such determination is made by a media detection mechanism.

[0043] Example mechanisms to reduce the risk of mechanical lockouts include monitoring a motor signal associated to the pre-pick roller rotation so that, upon contact, the medium is moved and the motor signal can be analyzed for determining that a contact has occurred. Alternatively or additionally, the force that is applied by the pre-pick assembly 11 during the movement along the engage direction E may be monitored as to determine a contact between the pre-pick roller 112 and the medium 2. Alternatively or additionally, a presence sensor 13 may be used to determine that the media has been moved by the rotation of the pre-pick roller 112 which implies its contact.

[0044] Fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the main elements of a method according to the present disclosure, in particular, this method is to be performed by a controller (not shown) associated to either or both of a printing system or a feeder. The controller may be a combination of circuitry and executable instructions representing a control program to perform the method.

[0045] In particular, the method comprises performing a media selection 301. This media selection maybe selected from a plurality of media profiles stored in a memory wherein, based on the media parameters, the memory comprises a memory position indicating the operation mode associated to each media. In particular, the memory may comprise a print medium parameter P.

[0046] Then, a determination 302 is made of whether the print parameter exceeds a parameter threshold PTH. If it does not exceed the parameter threshold PTH, the first mode of operation is selected, otherwise, the second mode of operation is selected.

[0047] In the first operation mode, the pre-pick rollers are engaged 311 by moving the pre- IO pick roller assembly to the engage position. Then, the print medium is advanced 312 by rotating the pre-pick rollers as to advance the print medium. Then, a determination is made of whether the print medium has passed the pick roller 313 and is now in a position between the pick roller and a conveyor, i.e., upstream the pick roller and downstream a conveyor that may be part of a printing system, for example, to carry the print medium towards a print zone.

[0048] Once it has been determined that the print medium is upstream the pick roller and, therefore, engaged by it, e.g., it may be slightly upstream the pick roller, i.e., 10 cm, then the pre-pick rollers are disengaged 314. In one example, the pre-pick rollers are disengaged by rotating a picking arm in a pre-pick roller assembly in a disengage direction. Therefore, the print medium will, from this point onwards be moved by the pick rollers at least, until the print medium reaches the conveyor.

[0049] In an example, the determination that the media is upstream the pick roller may be performed by several alternatives. In an example, a controller may instruct the pre-pick roller to perform a pre-configured number of rotations that has been calculated to surpass the pick roller by a pre-defined distance. In a further example, a media advance sensor may measure the length of media being advanced by the pre-pick rollers. In a yet further example, a presence sensor may be used to determine that the print medium is in a location between the pick roller and the conveyor.

[0050] If the determination 302 is to proceed with the second operation mode, as in the first operation mode, the pre-pick roller is engaged as to contact the print medium and then, the print medium is advanced 322 but, in this operating mode, a determination is made of whether the print medium has reached a conveyor 323, e.g., a conveyor belt or conveying rollers that transport the media towards an element of the print system, for example, a print zone or cutting zone.

[0051] Then, once it has been determined that the print medium has reached the conveyor 322, the pre-pick rollers are moved to a disengage position and the print medium will be handled by the conveyor. In this case, the pre-pick rollers act to aid the picking rollers to transport the media until it reaches the conveyor giving the pre-pick rollers an additional function, not just to pre-pick media, but also to aid in its displacement towards a conveyor, e.g., of the printing system.

[0052] In both cases, once the media is in the conveyor, a print operation 330 may be performed. It should be understood as printing operation any operation to be carried out by a print system, e.g., pre-conditioning media, cutting media, drying/ curing media or depositing printing fluid to generate an image on the media. [0053] Examples relate to a non-transitory computer-readable medium (CRM) encoded with instructions executable by a processing resource of a computing device to perform a method, e.g., the method of figure 3.

[0054] The CRM 400 may, in an example, comprise instructions to select between a first operation mode 410 and a second operation mode 420.

[0055] In the first operation mode 410, the CRM 400 may be to engage the pre-pick rollers 411 as to contact a print medium, then, advancing the print medium for a first distance 412 and, upon advancing the first distance, disengaging the pre-pick rollers 413 as to release the rollers from the print medium, i.e., not contacting the media.

[0056] In the second operation mode 420, the CRM 400 may be to engage the pre-pick rollers 421 as to contact a print medium, then, advancing the print medium for a second distance 422 which is different from the first distance and, upon advancing the first distance, disengaging the pre-pick rollers 423 as to release the rollers from the print medium, i.e., not contacting the media.

[0057] The present disclosure allows printing with print media of wide range of thickness and sizes. The disclosed device, system and method may be adapted to any thickness range. The present disclosure allows for nonstop printing between print media of different sizes, for the present disclosure may accept one sheet of each size or thickness without a stop for readjust. Furthermore, the present disclosure employs simple hardware without any special sensor or hardware to re-adjust.

[0058] The foregoing outlines features of several examples to illustrate aspects of the present disclosure. Various changes, substitutions, and combinations of the features herein disclosed can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Features of one or different examples may be combined to implement different aspects of this disclosure, while other features may be omitted.

Claims

1. A printing system, comprising: a support member to support a print medium; a pre-pick roller assembly to advance the print medium from the support member in an advance direction, wherein the pre-pick roller assembly is operable in a disengage state detached from the print medium and in an engage state contacting the print medium; a pick roller assembly, downstream the pre-pick roller assembly; and a conveyor downstream the pick roller assembly; wherein the printing system comprises: a first feeding mode that operates the pre-pick roller assembly in the engage state until the medium is between the pick roller assembly and the conveyor and then moves to the disengage state; and a second feeding mode in which the prepick roller assembly in an engage state until the media reaches or surpasses the conveyor and then moves to the disengage state.

2. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the first feeding mode or the second feeding mode is selected based on a print medium parameter.

3. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the medium parameter is the weight of the medium or the length of the medium.

4. The printing system of claim i, wherein at least one of the pre-pick roller assembly and the pick roller assembly comprises a plurality of rollers that extend along a width of the medium.

5. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the pick roller assembly comprises a contacting roller separator roller defining a nip therebetween wherein the medium is to pass through the nip.

6. The printing system of claim 5 wherein the separator roller and the contacting roller rotate in opposite directions.

7. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the printing system comprises a media detection mechanism and wherein the media detection mechanism determines a contact between the pre-pick roller and the print medium while moving to the engage state.

8. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the pre-pick roller assembly comprises an arm coupled to a reference structure through a pivoting connection and wherein the pre-pick roller assembly moves between the disengage state and the engage state by pivoting the arm.

9. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the pre-pick roller assembly moves from the disengage state to the engage state at a lower speed with respect to the movement from the engage state to the disengage state.

10. A device to feed a print medium to a printer, comprising:

- a support member to support a print medium;

- a pre-pick roller assembly to advance a print medium in an advance direction, the prepick roller being movable between an engaged state in which the pre-pick roller assembly contacts the print medium and a disengaged state in which the pre-pick roller does not contact the print medium; and

- a pick roller assembly downstream the pre-pick roller assembly; wherein, in a feeding operation, the pre-pick roller assembly moves to the engaged state, advances the print medium in an advance direction and, upon the media surpassing the pick roller by a coupling distance, the pre-pick roller moves to the disengaged state; and wherein the device comprises a first operation mode and a second operation mode each having a different coupling distance.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is to use the first operation mode if the print medium is of higher weight or length than a determined threshold and to use the second operation mode if the print medium is of lower weight or length than the determined threshold and wherein the coupling distance in the first operation mode is higher than the coupling distance in the second operation mode.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein, in the feeding operation, the pre-pick roller assembly moves to the engage state until a detection of media contact is made by a media detection mechanism.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is attachable to a printing system as to feed the print medium to the printing system and wherein the second coupling distance allows for print medium to reach or surpass a conveyor of the printing system.

14. A feeding method for a printing system, wherein the method comprises: 14 a first operation mode in which, to feed a print medium, a pre-pick roller assembly moves to an engaged state to advance the print medium in an advance direction to a pick roller and wherein, upon surpassing the pick roller by a first coupling distance, the pre-pick roller moves to a disengage state detached from the print medium; and a second mode of operation in which, to feed a print medium, the pre-pick roller assembly moves to an engaged state to advance the print medium in an advance direction to the pick roller and wherein, upon surpassing the pick roller by a second coupling distance, the pre-pick roller moves to a disengage state detached from the print medium being the second distance higher than the first distance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second mode of operation is selected if the print medium exceeds a medium parameter and wherein the medium parameter is at least one of: a length of the print medium or the weight of the print medium otherwise, the first mode of operation is selected.