Fluid metering roller

Claim 1

A liquid transfer roller having spaced cells depressed into the surface thereof, said cells being arranged in series of said cells extending generally circumferentially around said roller, and channels depressed into the surface of said roller connecting serially adjacent cells of each said series of said cells, said channels being substantially narrower than said cells and forming unobstructed paths between said adjacent cells allowing liquid to be jetted along the channels into and through the cells, adjacent series of said cells and their connecting channels extending around said roller wherein said cells in said adjacent series are in staggered relation to form an internested pattern of said cells having continuous walls between said adjacent series of said cells and channels, said cells, channels and walls covering the useful surface of said roller, said walls having tops which form the outer surface of the roller, and the tops of the walls between said adjacent series of said cells and channels having portions alternately extended laterally of said series toward one side and then the other and connected by other portions of the tops of the walls disposed in the general direction of said adjacent series of said cells and channels extending around said roller with the continuous surface of said tops of generally uniform width throughout their extent around said roller.