inking-roller

(ing’king-ro’lér), n. In printing, an elastic cylinder made of a composition of glue and mola es, or of glue, glycerin, and sugar, cast in a mold around a spindle or stock, for applying ink to type by being rolled over it. Inking-rollers (first made of cloth covered with leather) did not entirely supersede inking-balls for ordinary use till the early part of the nineteenth century. The stock was originally of wood, but is now usually of wrought-iron. The diameter of inking-rollers for power-pre es is about 84 inches, but as formerly made for hand-pre es it was considerably more. Inking-rollers are rotated on a table or in contact with other rollers to spread the ink evenly before they are rolled over the types or plates for the impre ion. On different kinds of pre es they are used either singly or in gangs of two or more. Also énk-roller.