Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for inking ribbons used in printing devices. Ribbon to be inked is unwound under tension from a core and passed over a heated roller and between a pair of transfer rollers. The transfer rollers lie in contact with inking rollers disposed in troughs of ink. The inking rollers have metering rollers in contact with the transfer rollers to meter a predetermined quantity of ink onto the transfer rollers. Once ink is transferred to the ribbon, the ribbon is passed over another heated roller to spread the ink and smooth the ribbon. A take-up roller winds the inked ribbon about a second core. The heated rollers on opposite sides of the transfer rollers engage opposite sides of the ribbon.