Type segment for printing roll

A flexible type segment formed of elastomeric material in an initially flat condition, and adapted for mounting on the cylindrical surface of a printing roll that rolls about its axis against the surface of an object to be marked and prints indicia thereon, comprising:

• an elongated base having generally flat, parallel top and bottom surfaces and being mounted on said roll with its bottom surface conforming to the cylindrical surface of the roll and extending longitudinally in a circumferential direction around the roll;
• a raised print face formed on the top surface of said base and defining indicia to be inked and thereafter to apply an ink imprint to said surface of said object;
• means forming a plurality of cylindrical recesses in said bottom surface of said base, said recesses extending through a major portion of the depth of said base, and being arranged in staggered rows wherein all lateral cross sections through said base parallel to the roll axis intersect at least one of said recesses, the area of the bottom surface of the base defined by the recesses being sufficient to accommodate substantial resilient flexure of the base in a direction normal to the surface of the roll;
• whereby, when said type segment is flexed to conform to said cylindrical surface of said roll, distortion occurs primarily in the lower portion of said base to minimize distortion in said print face and when said print face is pressed by said printing roll against the surface of said object, irregularities in surface form will produce a minimum of force variation and thus a minimum of print distortion.