This specialized roller sits in the inking train of a printing press and oscillates laterally as it turns against the ink table or other rollers. The side-to-side waving motion breaks up thick lines of ink and ensures a smooth, uniform film reaches the form or plate. Without this lateral distribution, printed images would show heavy streaks parallel to the direction of the paper travel.
Heard on the job
Check the bearings on the waver, because we're getting heavy ink streaks on the left side of the sheet.
Also heard as
- waver roller
- oscillator
- oscillating roller