Mesh roller for printing press and method of fabrication

Claim 1

A process for fabricating a mesh roller for a printing press, wherein the roller includes a large number of recesses formed in the operative external surface thereof, with the internal surfaces of the recesses being defined by a layer of hydrophobic material having an affinity for ink, and the external surface areas of the roller surrounding said recesses being defined by a wear resistant layer, said process comprising the steps of: providing a metal mesh roller member formed from a base nitridable material and having said recesses formed in the outer peripheral surface thereof; nitriding the operative external surface of the roller member to provide the external surface of the roller member with a hardened layer without reducing appreciably the volume of the recesses; providing a coating of hydrophobic material over the entire outer peripheral surface of the roller including the internal surfaces of the recesses formed therein: and removing the hydrophobic material from the external surface areas surrounding the recesses and thus exposing the hardened layer of the base nitridable material of the roller member at said external surface areas, with said hardened layer providing a layer of wear resistant material, with only the internal surfaces of the recesses being coated with said hydrophobic material.