Supporting structure for producing rollers covered with layers of

Abstract

A roller including an internal supporting structure and at least one layer of elastic silicone-based material attached to the supporting structure and forming a mirror-finished flexible outer surface of the roller. The supporting structure includes a central hollow perforated cylindrical body having a central axis and a pair of opposite ends; and a pair of end flanges attached to the cylindrical body at the opposite ends. Each of the pair of end flanges has outer circumferential surfaces which are raised with respect to the outer surface of the cylindrical body such that the supporting structure is removably insertable inside a hollow support-mold by having the outer circumferential surfaces engage with an inner surface of the support-mold for forming an interspace between the inner surface of the support-mold and the outer surface of the cylindrical body for containing elastic silicone-based material introducable from inside the supporting structure and through the perforated cylindrical body. At least one of the end flanges has an opening adapted for allowing the elastic silicone-based material to be introduced inside the supporting structure. The layer of elastic silicone-based material is attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical body.