Taper sleeve for conveyor roller

1. In a tapered roller for a curved section of a roller conveyor, the tapered roller having a cylindrical roller core with a cylindrical outer surface, the improvement comprising:

a sleeve having a tapered wall with internal radial ribs, the ribs having inner edges which define a cylinder to directly mate with the outer surface of the cylindrical roller core, whereby the surface contact area between the sleeve and roller core along the cylinder is limited to the inner edges of the ribs.

2. The improved tapered roller of claim 1 in which the inner edges of the ribs and the surface of the roller core have an interference fit.

3. The method of assembly of the tapered roller of claim 2 , comprising:

pressing the sleeve on the core, whereby the inner edges of the ribs have an interference fit with the surface of the roller core.

4. The improved tapered roller of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive securing the inner edges of the ribs to the surface of the roller core.

5. In a tapered roller for a curved section of a roller conveyor, the tapered roller having a cylindrical roller core, the improvement comprising:

a sleeve having a tapered wall with internal radial ribs, the ribs having inner edges which define a cylinder to mate with the surface of the cylindrical roller core; and

an end cap ring having a U-shaped cross section with an outer leg and an inner leg fitted in the larger end of the tapered wall of the sleeve between the inner surface of the wall and the surface of the cylindrical roller core.

6. The improved tapered roller of claim 5 in which the inner leg of the end cap ring is received in a groove around the surface of the cylindrical roller.

7. The improved tapered roller of claim 6 in which the inner surface of the inner leg of the end-cap ring and the groove in the surface of the cylindrical roller have mating arcuate configurations.