Abstract: A printing roller is provided wherein such roller comprises an inner layer and a concentric ink applying tubular outer layer made of a microporous rubber material having cavities interconnected by passages defining a first ink flow control means. The inner layer is made of a sintered mass of material having a reticulated open pore structure which is harder than the outer layer, and acts as a second ink flow control means to provide uniform inking. The layers cooperate to define a substantially rigid roller having a soft ink applying layer.

Abstract: An inking roller is provided which has both inking and non-inking portions and which has substantially uniform deflection characteristics across its entire axial length; and, an improved apparatus and method for printing using such roller is also provided.

Abstract: An improved hickey roller and method of making same is provided wherein such roller has a longitudinal axis and comprises an outer portion made of an elastomeric matrix having a substantially cylindrical outside surface and a plurality of elongated fibers having inner portions embedded in the matrix and outer portions extending outwardly from the cylindrical surface to define a brushlike construction. The elongated fibers are arranged approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis and the fibers have a denier ranging between 4 and 8 and each fiber has a cohesive strength which is greater than the cohesive strength of the matrix and greater than the adhesive force holding each fiber in the matrix.