AU2003208061B2

AU2003208061B2 - Roller having an end cap

Info

Publication number: AU2003208061B2
Application number: AU2003208061A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Alan Sebo
Original assignee: Conv Australia Holding Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Conv Australia Holding Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-07-15
Filing date: 2003-07-03
Publication date: 2009-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-03
Also published as: AU2003208061A1

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Sandvik AB Actual Inventor David AJan Sebo Address for service is: WRAY & ASSOCIATES Level 4, The Quadrant I William Street Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Rcller Having an End Cap" Details of Associated Provisional Application No(s): 2002950163 filed on 15 July 2002 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 -2 "Roller Having an End Cap" Field of the Invention 5 The invention relates to rollers and in particular rollers which are to be used as idler rollers for a conveying system. Disclosure of the Invention 10 In a first aspect, the invention resides in a roller for use as an idler roller in a conveying system comprising a tubular body enclosed at each end by an end cap, the end caps supporting the seals and bearings to enable the roller to be supported from a shaft, the outer radial face of the end cap being formed with a relief portion in the region of the outer radial face proximate the end, the body is being deformed inwardly at its end into the space defined by the relief portion, wherein the relief portion comprises a portion of reduced diameter and is tapered inwardly in the direction of the end. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the relief portion is provided at 20 an intermediate position along said outer radial face of said end cap. In a second aspect, the invention resides in a method of assembling a roller which is to be used as an idler roller of a conveyor system, said method comprising providing a tubular body which is to provide the outer radial surface 25 of the roller, applying end caps to each end of the tubular body, each end cap supporting the seals and bearing to enable the roller to be supported from a shaft, the outer radial face of each end cap being formed with a relief portion adjacent the end face of the end cap, the relief portion comprising a portion of reduced diameter and being tapered inwardly in the direction of the end, and 30 deforming the outer end portions of the tubular body overlying the relief portions of the end caps inwardly into the space defined by the relief portions. Also described herein is a roller for use as an idler roller in a conveying system comprising a tubular body enclosed at each end by an end cap, the end caps 35 supporting the seals and bearings to enable the roller to be supported from a shaft, the outer radial face of the end cap being formed with a relief portion in the region of the outer radial face proximate the end, the body being deformed N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77787 AU\Specis\P77787.AU Specification 2008-10-15.doc 21/04/09 -3 inwardly at its end into the space defined by the relief portion, wherein the relief portion comprises a portion of the end cap which is formed of a material having greater compressability than the remainder of the end cap. s In some embodiments of this roller, said material is more resilient than the main body. The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description. 10 Brief Description of the Drawings The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic sectional elevation of the end portion of a roller according to an 15 embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description of Specific Embodiment The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing comprises a tubular 20 body 11 which is closed at each end by an end cap 13 which can be formed of a suitable polymeric material such as polyurethane or the like and is formed with an internal bore 15 which is configured and dimensioned to accommodate the seals and bearings (not shown) which serve to provide a sealing support for the roller upon a shaft (not shown). 25 N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77787.AU\Specis\P77787 AU Specification 2008-10-15.doc 22/04/09 -4 The end cap 13 is formed with an outer radial face 17 which is formed with a relief portion 19 at the region proximate the end face of the end cap 13. The relief portion 19 is provided at an intermediate position along the outer radial face 17, terminated at its outer extent by an annular rib 21. The relief portion 5 19 is formed with a taper such that it is of a diameter which is less than that of the outer radial face of the main body of the end cap 13 while the rib 21 serves to provide a termination for that taper. In assembly of a roller according to the embodiments, the tubular body 11 is 10 formed such that it is of substantially constant cross section throughout its length. The end caps 13 are then applied to that tubular body 11. In order to retain the end caps 13 in position on the tubular body 11, the outer end portion 23 is swaged or similarly deformed inwardly at its end into the space defined by the relief portion such that it is caused to lie in close abutting relationship with is the outer radial face of the end cap 13 in the space defined by the relief portion 19 and such that the outer edge of the tubular body 11 abuts against the axial innermost face of the rib 21. Once the outer end portion 23 of the tubular body 11 has been deformed such that it is in close abutting relationship with the relief portion 19, the end cap 13 is positively retained in position in the tubular body 20 11. In addition, the axial end face of the end cap 13 may be formed with an annular recess 25 which is located intermediate of the internal bore 15 and the outer radial face 17. The annular recess 25 has a width and an axial extent such that 25 it is able to receive several fingers of one hand of an operator in order that the fingers can apply a lifting force to the outermost radial face of the annular recess 25 and adequately support the roller. The dimensions of the annular recess 25 are such that a person is able to lift a roller (provided it is not too heavy) by engaging the fingers of the hands in the annular recess 25 at 30 opposite ends of a roller whereby the annular recesses 25 enable the operator to have sufficient grip to safely lift and carry the roller (provided it is not too heavy). In addition the dimensions of the annular recess 25 enable a pair of operators to N \Sydney\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77787.AU\Specis\P77787 AU Specification 2008-10-15.doc 28/10108 -5 jointly lift and carry a roller (provided it is not too heavy), each engaging one or other of the annular recesses 25 at the respective end face of the roller. A second embodiment (not shown) corresponds with the first embodiment s though comprises a relief portion having a diameter which need not be less than that of the outer radial face of the main body of the end cap 13. In the second embodiment, the relief portion is instead formed by a portion which is integral with the main body of the end cap but which is formed of a material which is of a reduced rigidity or, alternatively, is more compressible and is 10 therefore more easily compressed with deformation of the end portion 23 of the roller 11. Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood 15 to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiments described above. 20 N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77787.AU\Specis\P77787.AU Specification 2008-10-15.doc 21/04/09

Claims

1. A roller for use as an idler roller in a conveying system comprising a tubular body enclosed at each end by an end cap, the end caps 5 supporting the seals and bearings to enable the roller to be supported from a shaft, the outer radial face of the end cap being formed with a relief portion in the region of the outer radial face proximate the end, the body being deformed inwardly at its end into the space defined by the relief portion, wherein the relief portion comprises a portion of reduced 10 diameter and is tapered inwardly in the direction of the end.

2. A roller according to claim 1, wherein the relief portion is provided at an intermediate position along said outer radial face of said end cap. is

3. A roller according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the end cap comprises an axial end face formed with an annular recess proximate the outer circumference of the face, said recess being dimensioned to be able to receive the fingers of one hand of a person attempting to carry the roller such that the fingers are able to adequately support the end of the roller. 20

4. A roller substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. A method of assembling a roller which is to be used as an idler roller of a 25 conveyor system, said method comprising providing a tubular body which is to provide the outer radial surface of the roller, applying end caps to each end of the tubular body, each end cap supporting the seals and bearing to enable the roller to be supported from a shaft, the outer radial face of each end cap being formed with a relief portion adjacent 30 the end face of the end cap, the relief portion comprising a portion of reduced diameter and being tapered inwardly in the direction of the end, and deforming the outer end portions of the tubular body overlying the relief portions of the end caps inwardly into the space defined by the relief portions. 35

6. A method of assembling a roller substantially as herein described. N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77787.AU\Specis\P77787.AU Specification 2008-10-1 5.doc 21/04/09 -7

7. An end cap substantially as herein described. N:\Sydney\Cases\Patent\77000-77999\P77787.AU\Specis\P77787.AU Specification 2008-10-1 5.doc 21/04/09