WO2023219604A1

WO2023219604A1 - Printing system with dynamic alignment operations

Info

Publication number: WO2023219604A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/028479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cherng Linn Teo; Jason M Quintana; Wei Lit TEOH
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2022-05-10
Filing date: 2022-05-10
Publication date: 2023-11-16

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a computing device that includes a processor and a non-transitory memory resource storing machine-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to identify a plurality of alignment operations for a print job, determine a distance between a maximum printable area of the print job and an edge of a print medium to be utilized for the print job, and perform a portion of the plurality of alignment operations for the print job based on the distance.

Description

PRINTING SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC ALIGNMENT OPERATIONS

Background

[0001] A computing device can allow a user to utilize computing device operations for work, education, gaming, multimedia, and/or other uses. Computing devices can be utilized in a non-portable setting, such as at a desktop, and/or be portable to allow a user to carry or otherwise bring the computing device along while in a mobile setting. These computing devices can utilize printing devices to generate images on a substrate or print medium. The printing device can utilize a plurality of rollers to align the print medium such that the image is generated on the print medium in a relatively center location on the print medium.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0002] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a method for executing alignment operations.

[0003] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a printing device for executing alignment operations.

[0004] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a computing device for executing alignment operations.

[0005] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a memory resource storing instructions for executing alignment operations.

[0006] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a system including a computing device for executing alignment operations.

Detailed Description

[0007] A user may utilize a computing device for various purposes, such as for business and/or recreational use. As used herein, the term “computing device” refers to an electronic system having a processor (e.g., processor resource, hardware processor, etc.) and a memory resource. Examples of computing devices can include, for instance, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, an all-in-one (AIO) computer, networking device (e.g., router, switch, etc.), and/or a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone, tablet, personal digital assistant, smart glasses, a wrist-worn device such as a smart watch, etc.), among other types of computing devices. As used herein, a mobile device refers to devices that are (or can be) carried and/or worn by a user.

[0008] Computing devices can be utilized with a plurality of peripheral devices and/or embedded devices. For example, computing devices can include or utilized with printing devices. As used herein, a printing device (e.g., printer, etc.) can be a device that deposits a print substance on a substrate to generate an image on the substrate. For example, the printing device can be an inkjet printing device that deposits a printing fluid (e.g., ink, etc.) on to a sheet of print media (e.g., paper, plastic, etc.) to generate an image on the sheet of print media. In this example, the printing device can be communicatively coupled to a computing device that can provide print data for a print job to the printing device and/or be part of the printing device to receive print data from a remote computing device. As used herein, the print data for the printjob can include information related to the image to be generated on the print media.

[0009] Printing devices can print images on different types and/or sizes of print media. For example, print media can be a substrate such as, but not limited to: paper, plastic, metal, among other materials or types of materials, in addition, the print media can be different sizes with different dimensions or shapes. For example, the print media can be a letter size (8.5 inches x 11 inches), A2 size, legal size, tabloid size, among other sizes or shapes. In these examples, the size or dimensions of the print media can be utilized to identify the edges of the print medium. The printing devices can receive print job data that includes particular margins. As used herein, margins of a print job includes a border between the edge of the print media and an edge of the printed area that is generated by the printing device. In this way, the margins include a blank area (e.g., non-printed area, area with no print substance, etc.) between the edge of the print media and the images or text generated on the print media.

[0010] The printing device can utilize different alignment operations to align the print media with a print zone (e.g., print engine, print area, print substance deposit area, etc.) of the printing device such that the images are aligned with the borders or edges of the print media. The printing device can utilize different rollers or mechanical devices to align or de-skew the print media before the print media is provided to a print area to generate an image on the print media to ensure that the image is aligned with the borders or edges of the print media. For example, the printing device can alter an alignment of the print media by altering a speed or direction of a feed roller, pick roller, and/or turn roller. In this way, the print media may be aligned (e.g., square, etc.) relative to the print area or print substance deposit area of the printing device.

[0011] The alignment operations can take a quantity of time to ensure that the print media is correctly aligned relative to the print area of the printing device. For example, a distance of the margins can be printed or positioned within a threshold of the margins defined within the print data. In some examples, the quantity of time to perform the alignment operations can extend a quantity of time it takes to perform a print job. in some examples, the quantity of time to perform the printjob can lower a user experience when the quantity of time to perform the print job exceeds a particular quantity of time. In some examples, the quantity of time to perform the print job can be reduced when the quantity of time to perform the alignment operations is reduced.

[0012] The present disclosure describes determining a quality and/or an acceptable alignment for a particular printjob or particular sheet of print media and execute a particular level of alignment operations based on the determinations. In this way, the quantity of alignment operations or a quantity of time spent performing alignment operations can be dynamically altered to decrease a quantity of time it takes for a printing device to perform a printjob. In this way, the speed of printjobs that have a relatively lower image quality expectation can be increased while the quality of a relatively higher image quality expectation is maintained.

[0013] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a method 100 for executing alignment operations. In some examples, the method 100 can illustrate a plurality of functions that can be executed by a printing device. The method 100 can be instructions stored on a memory resource and executed by a processor to instruct the printing device to perform the corresponding functions. The method 100 can be utilized to lower the quantity of time it takes to perform a print job by altering the quantity or time spent on performing alignment operations. In some examples, the method 100 utilizes the print data and/or attributes of the printjob can be utilized to determine whether to perform alignment operations (e.g., turn roller de-skew, feed roller de-skew, etc.).

[0014] At 102, the method 100 includes reading ahead the print sweep data for a print job. In some examples, reading ahead the print sweep data can include analyzing the print data associated with a received printjob. In some examples, analyzing the print sweep data can include analyzing a portion of the printjob data that includes limited data associated with a print job. In these examples, the print sweep data can be utilized to determine a maximum print area for the print job. As used herein, the maximum print area can include a total area where a print substance is deposited on the print medium. In this way, the print sweep data is utilized to identify a portion of the print medium that includes deposited print substance and a portion of the print medium that does not include deposited print substance.

[0015] As described further herein, the print job data analyzed at 102 can include image quality settings for the printjob. As used herein, the image quality settings can include a plurality of selectable inputs that can describe a quality of the image to be printed on the print media by the printing device. In these examples, the overall quality of the image to be printed on the print medium can be determined and utilized to determine if the overall quality of the image to be printed is above a threshold image quality. In some examples, the alignment operations can be altered to increase the speed of the printjob when the overall quality of the image is below the threshold image quality.

[0016] In addition, the print job data analyzed at 102 can include historical print data for a print job. In these examples, an image quality or quantity of alignment operations performed during a previous sheet of print media of a print job can be utilized to determine a quantity or time of alignment operations to be performed during a current sheet of print media being printed.

[0017] At 104, the method 100 includes performing a pre-pick operation. As used herein, a pre-pick operation includes instructing a pick roller to pick and/or separate a sheet of print media. In these examples, the pick roller can remove a sheet of print media from a stack of print media and provide the sheet of print media to a print path that moves the sheet of print media to a print zone or area of the printing device where a print substance is deposited on the sheet of print media. [0018] At 106, the method 100 includes determining whether to skip a turn roller alignment operation. As described herein, determining whether to skip the turn roller alignment is based on the print data analyzed at 102. In some examples, the turn roller alignment operation is skipped based on a distance or size of a border between the edge of the print media and the print area that is determined from an analysis of the print data. As described further herein, the turn roller alignment operation can be a turn roller de-skew operation that can be performed by altering the direction or speed of the turn roller of the printing device to further align a leading edge of the print media.

[0019] In some examples, determining whether to skip the turn roller alignment operation can include determining a quantity of time to perform the turn roller alignment operation. As described further herein, a default quantity of time can be utilized to perform the turn roller alignment operation when it is determined that the turn roller alignment operation is to be performed and a shortened quantity of time can be utilized to perform the turn roller alignment operation when it is determined to skip the turn roller alignment.

[0020] When the turn roller alignment operation is to be skipped based on the determination at 106, the method 100 moves to 110 to perform a pick paper synch. When the turn roller alignment operation is to be performed or performed for a shortened period of time, the method 100 moves to 108 to perform the turn roller alignment operation. As described herein, the turn roller alignment operation can be a de-skew operation that is performed by a turn roller of the printing device. In some examples, the turn roller of the printing device is altered to align a leading edge of the print media. For example, the speed and/or direction of the turn roller of the printing device can be altered to align the leading edge of the print media before moving the print media to a next set of rollers or subsequent roller of the printing device.

[0021] At 110, the method 100 includes performing a pick-paper synch. As used herein, a pick-paper synch includes synchronizing the picking and transfer of the next sheet of print media. In some examples, synchronizing the pick and transfer of subsequent sheets of print media can ensure that a subsequent sheet of print media is not picked or transferred without a current sheet of print media being transferred past the turn roller. Synchronizing the pick and transfer can lower a chance of a paper jam caused by a roller interacting with multiple sheets of print media.

[0022] At 112, the method 100 includes following motion of page N. As used herein, page N can be a previous page that was picked by printing device where the current page is N+1. In this way, the current sheet of print media can be sent to the same subsequent roller as the previous sheet of print media.

[0023] At 114, the method 100 includes determining whether to skip a feed roller alignment operation. In some examples, the feed roller alignment operation is an alignment operation performed or executed by a feed roller of the printing device. In some examples, the determination whether to skip the feed roller alignment operation can include utilizing the same or similar factors for determining whether to skip the turn roller alignment operation. For example, image quality selections, distance between the maximum print area and edge of the print medium, and/or other factors of the printjob to be printed on the print media can be utilized.

[0024] In addition, the feed roller alignment operation can be completely skipped such that the method moves to 120 to load to first linefeed position or the feed roller alignment operation can be altered to a relatively lower quantity of time. In this way, the quantity of time for the feed roller to perform the feed roller alignment operation can be lowered from a default quantity of time based on the factors for determining whether to skip to the feed roller alignment operation. As used herein, the feed roller alignment operations can include feed roller de-skew operations that utilize the feed roller of the printing device to align the leading edge of the print media. In some examples, the direction or speed of the feed roller can be altered to de-skew or align the print media before transferring the print media to a print zone of the printing device.

[0025] The method 100 can perform a long eject with no stops at 124 when it is determined at 114 that the feed roller alignment operation is to be skipped. In this way, an alignment operation is not performed by the feed roller of the printing device. In some examples, the method 100 then moves to 120 to load to first linefeed position and then moves to 122 to continue the printing process or transfers the print media to a print zone such that a print substance is deposited on the print media. In other examples, the method 100 moves to follow motion of page N at 116 when the feed roller alignment operation is determined to be performed at 114. In this way, the print media follows the print media path of a previous sheet of print media. At 118, the method 100 can perform the feed roller alignment operation for a default quantity of time or a shorter period of time based on the determination at 114. The method 100 can then proceed to 120 to load to first linefeed position and proceed to 122 to continue the printing process.

[0026] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a printing device 240 for executing alignment operations. Figure 2 illustrates a side view of an example of a printing device 240 that can utilize a turn roller 244 to perform turn roller alignment operations and a feed roller 246 to perform feed roller alignment operations. In some examples, the printing device 240 can be communicatively coupled to a processor and/or memory resource to determine whether to skip the alignment operations.

[0027] The printing device 240 can include a pick roller 242 that can be utilized to pick and transfer a sheet of print media from a stack of print media within a print media tray to the turn roller 244. In some examples, the pick roller 242 can be initiated to pick a sheet of print media when print data is received at the printing device 240. For example, the printing device 240 can receive print data that includes a size or location of the print media to be utilized for the print job. In this way, the pick roller 242 can pick a sheet of print media with the indicated size or location and provide the sheet of print media to the turn roller 244.

[0028] The turn roller 244 can receive the print media from the pick roller 242. As described herein, the turn roller 244 can perform a turn roller alignment operation to align or de-skew a sheet of print media received from the pick roller 242. in some examples, the print data of the print job can be utilized to determine whether the turn roller 244 is to perform, skip, or shorten the quantity of time associated with the turn roller alignment operation. As described herein, the determination whether to skip the turn roller alignment operation can be based on image quality metrics associated with the print data, a distance of margins associated with the print data, quality metrics associated with a previously printed page of the print job, among other factors.

[0029] In some examples, the turn roller 244 can be utilized to alter a direction of the print media from a first direction from the pick roller 242 to a second direction of the feed roller 246. The feed roller 246 can receive the print media from the turn roller 244. The feed roller 246 can be utilized to feed the print media to a print zone of the printing device 240. As described herein, the print zone of the printing device 240 can be a location where a print substance is deposited on the print media to generate images (e.g., photo, text, etc.) on the print media.

[0030] The feed roller 246 can perform a de-skew operation and/or an alignment operation on the print media received from the turn roller 244. As described herein, the alignment operation can include altering the direction or speed of the turn roller to align a leading edge of the print media to ensure that the image generated on the print media is representative of the digital image from the print data. In some examples, a determination is made whether to perform the turn roller alignment operation based on the image quality data associated with the print data, margins of the print media, distance between the deposited print substance and an edge of the print media, among other factors. In some examples, the alignment operation can be performed, skipped, or a quantity of time to perform the alignment operation can be altered and then executed by the turn roller 244.

[0031] By skipping or altering the quantity of time to perform a particular alignment operation (e.g., turn roller alignment operation, feed roller alignment operation, etc.) can be utilized to lower a quantity of time to complete a particular printjob. Utilizing the image quality metrics or other metrics of the printjob to determine when to skip or alter the quantity of time to perform the particular alignment operation can ensure that an expected quality of the printed image is maintained while the time to complete the print job is lowered.

[0032] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a computing device 350 for executing alignment operations. The computing device 350 can be a device that can execute the methods described herein. In some examples, the computing device 350 can be one of a plurality of computing devices that are utilized in a computing system to perform the methods for executing alignment operations. In some examples, the computing device 350 can be utilized to execute the methods described herein.

[0033] In some examples the computing device 350 can include a processor 352 (e.g., processor resource, processing resource, etc.) communicatively coupled to a memory resource 354. As described further herein, the memory resource 354 can include instructions 356, 358, 360 that can be executed by the processor 352 to perform particular functions. In some examples, the computing device 350 is coupled to a printing device 340.

[0034] The computing device 350 can include components such as a processor 352. As used herein, the processor 352 can include, but is not limited to: a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a metal-programmable cell array (MPCA), a semiconductor-based microprocessor, or other combination of circuitry and/or logic to orchestrate execution of instructions 356, 358, 360. In other examples, the computing device 350 can include instructions 356, 358, 360, stored on a machine- readable medium (e.g., memory resource 354, non-transitory computer-readable medium, etc.) and executable by a processor 352. In a specific example, the computing device 350 utilizes a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions 356, 358, 360, that, when executed, cause the processor 552 to perform corresponding functions.

[0035] In some examples, the computing device 350 can be coupled to printing device 340. As used herein, a printing device 340 is a device that is able to generate a representation of a digital image on a physical substrate. For example, the printing device 340 can be an inkjet printing device that can deposit an ink on a sheet of paper to generate an image on the sheet of paper. Although an inkjet printing device is described as a specific example, other types of printing devices can be utilized in a similar way.

[0036] In some examples, the computing device 350 can include instructions 356 that can be executed by a processor 352 to identify a plurality of alignment operations for a print job. As described herein, the plurality of alignment operations can include, but are not limited to a turn roller alignment operation and/or a feed roller alignment operation. In some examples, a turn roller of the printing device 340 is utilized to perform the turn roller alignment operation (e.g., turn roller de-skew operation, etc ). In these examples, the turn roller can rotate in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite to the first direction to alter an alignment of the print media. In some examples, the speed of the turn roller can also be altered to alter the alignment of the print media before transferring the print media to the feed roller. At this point, the feed roller can be utilized to perform the feed roller alignment operation (e.g., feed roller de-skew operation, etc.). In a similar way, the feed roller alignment operation can be executed by rotating the feed roller in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite to the first direction and/or alter a speed of the feed roller to further align the print media prior to transferring the print media to a print zone. [0037] In some examples, identifying the plurality of alignment operations can include identifying a plurality of alignment operations that are utilized for a default printjob or are to be utilized for a particular type of print job. In this way, the plurality of alignment operations may ensure that the image to be printed on the print media is representative of the digital image to be printed. In this way, the plurality of alignment operations can ensure that the generated image on the print media is within a threshold skew or threshold alignment.

[0038] In some examples, the computing device 350 can include instructions 358 that can be executed by a processor 352 to determine a distance between a maximum printable area of the print job and an edge of a print medium to be utilized for the print job. As used herein, the maximum printable area can be an area of the print media where print substance is deposited on the print media. In this way, the edges of the images and/or text generated on the print media is identified based on the print data. The maximum printable area can be the edges of the images and/or text that are generated on the print medium. As used herein, the edge of the print medium to be utilized for the printjob is a physical border or physical edge of the print medium.

[0039] As described herein, the distance between the maximum printable area and the edge of the print medium can be referred to as a margin for the print media of the printjob. The margin can include a boundary between the edge of the print media and the images generated on the print media. In some examples, the distance can be utilized determine when to skip a particular alignment operation and/or lower a quantity of time to perform the particular alignment operations. In some examples, alignment operations are skipped when the distance exceeds a distance threshold and the alignment operations are performed at a default level when the distance is at or lower than the threshold distance. In this way, a greater distance can correspond to a lower quantity of time to perform the alignment operations compared to a shorter distance.

[0040] The computing device 350 can include instructions to receive a portion of print data to be utilized for generating an image on the print medium to determine the distance. In some examples, a portion of the print data is received such that the computing device 350 may not have the complete set of print data that describes the complete print job. The portion of the print data may include print data associated with a portion of the image to be generated on the print medium. In this way, the determination whether to skip or not completely perform the alignment operations can be based on a portion of the print data.

[0041] The computing device 350 can include instructions to receive a plurality of image quality selections related to the printjob and perform the portion of the plurality of alignment operations for the print job based on the plurality of image quality selections. The image quality selections related to the print job can include selections made at the computing device 350 that correspond to a quality of the image to be printed on the print media. For example, the plurality of image quality selections can include, but is not limited to: draft print quality, photo print quality, size of the image, dots per inch (dpi), among other settings associated with the print data that can affect the quality of the image generated on the print medium.

[0042] As described herein, the portion of the plurality of alignment operations can be fewer alignment operations than a default quantity of alignment operations. In this way, the speed of the print job can be increased when the image quality of the image to be printed is relatively lower.

[0043] In some examples, the computing device 350 can include instructions 360 that can be executed by a processor 352 to perform a portion of the plurality of alignment operations for the print job based on the distance. As described herein, a portion of the plurality of alignment operations can be performed when the distance exceeds a distance threshold. In some examples, this distance or margins of the print job can be utilized to determine alignment operations to be skipped or reduced. [0044] The computing device 350 can include instructions to determine a quantity of time to perform alignment operations for the printjob to determine the portion of alignment operations to be performed for the print job. In these examples, the quantity of time is based on the distance a plurality of image quality selections related to the print job. In some examples, the distance can correspond to the quantity of time to perform the alignment operations. For example, a greater distance can correspond to a lower quantity of time for the plurality of alignment operations. In this way, a print job with a great distance or greater margins can have a reduced quantity of time to perform the print job, which can lead to a better end user experience.

[0045] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a memory resource 454 storing instructions 464, 466, 468 for executing alignment operations. In some examples, the memory resource 454 can be a part of a computing device or controller that can be communicatively coupled to a computing system that includes printing devices or components of a printing device. For example, the memory resource 454 can be part of a computing device 350 as referenced in Figure 3 and communicatively coupled to a plurality of devices.

[0046] In some examples, the memory resource 454 can be communicatively coupled to a processor 452 that can execute instructions 464, 466, 468 stored on the memory resource 454. For example, the memory resource 454 can be communicatively coupled to the processor 452 through a communication path 462. In some examples, a communication path 462 can include a wired or wireless connection that can allow communication between devices and/or components within a single device.

[0047] The memory resource 454 may be electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions. Thus, a non- transitory machine readable medium (MRM) (e.g., a memory resource 454) may be, for example, a non-transitory MRM comprising Random-Access Memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), an Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a storage drive, an optical disc, and the like. The non-transitory machine readable medium (e.g., a memory resource 454) may be disposed within a controller and/or computing device. In this example, the executable instructions 464, 466, 468 can be “installed” on the device. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the non-transitory machine readable medium (e.g., a memory resource 454) can be a portable, external or remote storage medium, for example, which allows a computing system to download the instructions 464, 466, 468 from the portabie/externai/remote storage medium. In this situation, the executable instructions may be part of an “installation package”. As described herein, the non-transitory machine readable medium (e.g., a memory resource 454) can be encoded with executable instructions for determining a quantity of alignment operations to be performed and/or determining a quantity of time to perform alignment operations.

[0048] The instructions 464, when executed by the processor 452, can include instructions to determine a threshold distance between a printable area and a print media edge. In these examples, the threshold distance is based on a plurality of image quality selections associated with a particular printjob. In some examples, the threshold distance is a determined distance that is utilized to determine when alignment operations are to be skipped or the quantity of time to perform the alignment operations are to be altered. For example, the threshold distance can be one inch for a first set of image quality selections and one and a half inches for a second set of image quality selections. In this way, the distance between the image portion of a print job and an edge of the print medium can be utilized to determine a quantity of alignment operations to be performed and/or a quantity of time to spend performing the quantity of alignment operations.

[0049] The instructions 466, when executed by the processor 452, can include instructions to perform a first plurality of alignment operations when a first print job includes a first distance between the printable area and the print media edge. In these examples, the first distance is less than the threshold distance. As described herein, the first distance is less than a threshold distance and it may cause problems with the printjob (e.g., quality below a quality threshold, portion of the image may be cut from an edge of the print media, etc.). In these examples, the threshold distance may be a set distance based on the image quality selections. In this way, the print quality selections can be utilized to alter a speed of the print job or a quantity of time it takes for the printing device to perform the print job. For example, a first print job with lower image quality selections can be performed faster than a second print job with higher image quality selections since the first print job can skip or alter the plurality of alignment operations that are performed during the print job.

[0050] The instructions 468, when executed by the processor 452, can include instructions to perform a second plurality of alignment operations when a second print job includes a second distance between the printable area and the print media edge. In these examples, the second distance is equal to or greater than the threshold distance. In some examples, the second print job is a different print job than the first print job.

[0051] In some examples, the first print job is associated with a first sheet of print media in a print job session and the second print job is associated with a second sheet of print media in the print job session. That is, the first print job is a first sheet of print media that is utilized and the second print job is a second sheet of print media that is being utilized by the printing device. In this way, the overall print job of a printing device can include the first print job and the second print job. In this way, different print jobs can be altered to perform different alignment operations and different sheets of print media can be altered to perform different alignment operations within the same print job. [0052] In some examples, the second plurality of alignment operations includes fewer alignment operations than the first plurality of alignment operations. In this way, the second plurality of alignment operations can take less time to perform than the first plurality of alignment operations, in these examples, the distance between the maximum printable area and an edge of the print medium is utilized to determine a quantity of alignment operations to be performed. In this way, a speed of performing a print job can be increased for print jobs that include distances that exceed the distance threshold.

[0053] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a system 570 including a computing device 550 for executing alignment operations. In some examples the computing device 550 can be a device that includes a processor 552 communicatively coupled to a memory resource 554. As described herein, the memory resource 554 can include or store instructions 572, 574, 576, that can be executed by the processor 552 to perform particular functions.

[0054] The system 570 includes a turn roller 544 to perform a turn roller alignment operation and a feed roller 546 to perform a feed roller alignment operation. The computing device 550 can be in communication with the turn roller 544 through a first communication path 562-1 and can be in communication with the feed roller 546 through a second communication path 562-2. In this way, the computing device 550 can provide communication signals to the hardware of the printing device to alter the quantity or time to perform alignment operations for a particular print job and/or for a particular sheet of print media of a print job.

[0055] In some examples, the computing device 550 can include instructions 572 that can be executed by a processor 552 to determine an acceptable alignment for a print job. In some examples, the acceptable alignment is based on a distance between an edge of a print medium of the print job and a printable area of the print job. In some examples, the acceptable alignment or an acceptable quantity of skew can be based on the image quality selections associated with the printjob. The acceptable alignment or a quantity of skew within a printed image can be an angle of rotation relative to the edges of the print media. For example, the skew can be a rotation of the image relative to a right angle of the sheet of print media. In this way, the skew of the image can be a quantity of rotation or misalignment relative to the digital image utilized to generate the print job. [0056] In some examples, the acceptable alignment for the print job can be based on the distance between the edge of the print medium and a printed area on the print medium since a level of misalignment or skew can be less noticeable or more acceptable with a greater distance or larger margins. For example, the same level of misalignment or skew for a larger distance may still be within the edges of the print medium compared to a smaller distance. In this way, the acceptable alignment for a larger distance or larger margins may be a relatively larger skew compared to a shorter distance or smaller margins.

[0057] In other examples, the acceptable alignment is based on a previous acceptable alignment of a previous print medium of the printjob. As described herein, a previous page that was printed can be utilized to determine the acceptable alignment. For example, the same acceptable alignment can be utilized for subsequent pages of the print job. In some examples, the current print job or current sheet of print media to be utilized may not include the complete set of print data for the current print job. In this way, a determination is made based on a portion of the print data. For this reason, the determination may also utilize the determined acceptable alignment for the previous sheet of print medium that was utilized.

[0058] In some examples, the acceptable alignment is based on a plurality of image quality selections associated with the print job. In these examples, determine the acceptable alignment based on a portion of print data associated with the print job. As described herein, the print data can include the image quality selections that were selected by a user of the printing device. The image quality selections can indicated an expected print quality, which can be utilized to speed up printing for print jobs with a relatively lower image quality. As described further herein, the printing device may not receive the full set of print data for the print job until after the print medium has been picked by the pick roller, received by the turn roller 544, and/or received by the feed roller 546. In this way, the determination whether to skip an alignment operation can be based on a portion of the complete set of print data. In some examples, the portion of the complete set of print data can include a first portion of printable lines to determine the border of the print area compared to the edges of the print medium.

[0059] In some examples, the computing device 550 can include instructions 574 that can be executed by a processor 552 to instruct the turn roller 544 to perform the turn roller alignment operation and the feed roller 546 to perform the turn roller alignment operation when the acceptabie alignment for the print job is above an alignment threshold. The alignment threshold may be a level of skew from the digital image utilized to perform the print job. When the alignment threshold is above the alignment threshold, the image quality settings may indicate that the printed image is to be printed with a relatively low skew so the printed image is more closely matching the digital image. In this way, a relatively high alignment threshold can correspond to a relatively low acceptable level of skew while a relatively low alignment threshold can correspond to a relatively high acceptable level of skew.

[0060] In some examples, the computing device 550 can include instructions 576 that can be executed by a processor 552 to instruct the turn roller 544 to bypass the turn roller alignment operation and the feed roller 546 to bypass the feed roller alignment operation when the acceptable alignment is at or below the alignment threshold. In these examples, the image quality selections and/or the distance of the margins can indicate that a relatively high level of skew is acceptabie for a user associated with the print job and that the alignment operations can be bypassed. As described herein, bypassing the alignment operations can include not performing the alignment operation before allowing the print media to be transferred to a next roller or next area of the print pathway. In this way, a lower quantity of time can be spent performing the alignment operations and the printing device can complete the print job in less time compared to when the printing device performs the alignment operations.

[0061] In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Further, as used herein, “a” refers to one such thing or more than one such thing.

[0062] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. For example, reference numeral 102 may refer to element 102 in Figure 1 and an analogous element may be identified by reference numeral 302 in Figure 3. Elements shown in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated to provide additional examples of the disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

[0063] It can be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on," "connected to", “coupled to”, or "coupled with" another element, it can be directly on, connected, or coupled with the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an object is “directly coupled to” or “directly coupled with” another element it is understood that are no intervening elements (adhesives, screws, other elements) etc.

[0064] The above specification, examples, and data provide a description of the system and method of the disclosure. Since many examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the system and method of the disclosure, this specification merely sets forth some of the many possible example configurations and implementations.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device, comprising: a processor; and a non-transitory memory resource storing machine-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to: identify a plurality of alignment operations for a printjob; determine a distance between a maximum printable area of the print job and an edge of a print medium to be utilized for the print job; and perform a portion of the plurality of alignment operations for the print job based on the distance,

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to receive a portion of print data to be utilized for generating an image on the print medium to determine the distance.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to: receive a plurality of image quality selections related to the print job; and perform the portion of the plurality of alignment operations for the print job based on the plurality of image quality selections.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to determine a quantity of time to perform alignment operations for the print job to determine the portion of alignment operations to be performed for the print job.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the quantity of time is based on the distance a plurality of image quality selections related to the print job.

6. A non-transitory memory resource storing machine-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a processor to: determine a threshold distance between a printable area and a print media edge; perform a first plurality of alignment operations when a first print job includes a first distance between the printable area and the print media edge, wherein the first distance is less than the threshold distance; and perform a second plurality of alignment operations when a second print job includes a second distance between the printable area and the print media edge, wherein the second distance is equal to or greater than the threshold distance.

7. The memory resource of claim 6, wherein the threshold distance is based on a plurality of image quality selections associated with a particular print job.

8. The memory resource of claim 7, wherein the first print job is associated with a first sheet of print media in a print job session and the second print job is associated with a second sheet of print media in the printjob session.

9. The memory resource of claim 7, wherein the second plurality of alignment operations includes fewer alignment operations than the first plurality of alignment operations.

10. The memory resource of claim 9, wherein the second plurality of alignment operations takes less time to perform than the first plurality of alignment operations.

11. A printing system, comprising: a turn roller to perform a turn roller alignment operation; a feed roller to perform a feed roller alignment operation; and a processor to: determine an acceptable alignment for a print job; instruct the turn roller to perform the turn roller alignment operation and the feed roller to perform the turn roller alignment operation when the acceptable alignment for the print job is above an alignment threshold; and instruct the turn roller to bypass the turn roller alignment operation and the feed roller to bypass the feed roller alignment operation when the acceptable alignment is at or below the alignment threshold.

12. The printing system of claim 11 , wherein the acceptable alignment is based on a distance between an edge of a print medium of the print job and a printable area of the printjob.

13. The printing system of claim 12, wherein the acceptable alignment is based on a previous acceptable alignment of a previous print medium of the printjob.

14. The printing system of claim 11 , wherein the acceptable alignment is based on a plurality of image quality selections associated with the print job.

15. The printing system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is to determine the acceptable alignment based on a portion of print data associated with the print job.