Printer drive roller with grit-blasted surface

An ink-jet printer having a media path, and a paper advancing apparatus, the paper advancing apparatus comprising:

• a drive roller and a pinch roller positioned at the media path to create a nip for receiving and frictionally engaging a print medium;
• a motor drive apparatus connected to the drive roller for selectively rotating the drive roller to advance said medium along the media path;
• wherein said drive roller comprises a circumferential metal media engaging surface, the metal surface having a roughened texture defined by grit blasting, said media engaging surface a hardened, anodized surface having a profile in the range of 350 microinch Ra to 700 microinch Ra, and wherein the drive roller is a unitary structure fabricated of a solid metal rod, and said media engaging surface is defined on an outer surface of the solid metal rod;
• said drive roller further having left and right sets of shaft journal portions extending at left and right ends of the roller as a unitary part of said solid metal rod;
• and
• left and right bearings respectively press fit into engagement on said left and right sets of shaft journal portions.

A drive roller assembly for a printer, said assembly comprising:

• a metal drive roller having a circumferential metal media engaging surface, the metal surface having a roughened texture defined by grit blasting, said media engaging surface a hardened, anodized surface having a profile in the range of 350 microinch Ra to 700 microinch Ra, and wherein the roller is a unitary structure fabricated of a solid metal rod, said media engaging surface defined on an outer surface of the solid metal rod;
• said metal drive roller further having left and right sets of shaft journal portions extending at left and right ends of the roller as a unitary part of said solid metal rod;
• and
• left and right bearings respectively press fit into engagement on said left and right sets of shaft journal portions.