A professional who tends machine that impregnates ribbons with ink to make ribbons for machines, such as typewriters, adding and addressograph machines, and cash registers. Responsibilities include:

• Fills ink pan of machine and loads machine roll or spool of silk, cotton, or nylon ribbon.
• Starts machine to rotate rollers that dip into ink pan and press ink on ribbon.
• Adjusts speed of machine and amount of ink to be pressed on ribbon according to type of ribbon to be made.
• Inspects inked ribbons for imperfections.
• May shape inner curve of divider that separates inks of bicolored ribbons, using file and emery cloth, until curve matches that of inking rollers.
• May adjust machine guides according to width of ribbon to be inked.