The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word DABBERS
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
D
A
B
B
E
R
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "ink- pads" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ink- pads = dabbers.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DABBERS mean?
DABBERS noun- A thing or person that dabs.
- A cushioned pad used for applying ink.
- A type of thick marker pen used to mark a bingo card.