Roller Assembly

Abstract

A roller assembly for a rolling door or similar device. The roller comprises a polymer and it has first and second sides, a rolling surface, and an axis around which the roller rolls. The roller also has an interior bore and a shaft rotatably coupled to the roller. One or more ferrules are received within one or both sides of the roller. The ferrules support and align the roller for rotation upon the shaft.

1 . A roller assembly comprising:
 a roller having a first side, a second side, and an axis around which said roller rolls;   an interior bore formed in and through said roller and recesses formed along said first side and said second side;   a shaft rotatably coupled to said roller and through said interior bore; and   a first ferrule disposed within said recess of said first side of the roller; and   a second ferrule disposed within said recess of said second side of the roller.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said ferrules are shaped like a truncated trumpet. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said bore further comprises radial edges extending from said interior bore of said roller to each of said recesses of such roller. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising means for preventing the roller from falling off of the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said shaft is cold-headed at one end in order to retain said ferrules and said roller on said shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a friction-reducing washer on said shaft for reducing friction between said shaft and said ferrule. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the washer is made of polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said interior bore has dirt-catching grooves. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein said dirt-catching grooves comprise a plurality of linear grooves within said interior bore. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said roller comprises polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said ferrule comprises metal. 
     
     
         12 . A roller assembly comprising:
 a roller having a first side, a second side, and an axis around which said roller rolls;   an interior central bore in said roller, said interior bore having a radial portion;   a shaft; and   a ferrule rotatably mounted upon said shaft and at least in part disposed within said interior central bore of said roller, said ferrule being shaped like a truncated trumpet.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said ferrule includes an outer rolling surface and an inner surface, and a tapered portion and a flat portion, the inner surface of the flat portion engages the shaft and at least a part of the outer surface of the ferrule rotatably engages the interior bore of the roller. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said tapered portion of said ferrule comprises at least 25% of the entire width of the outer rotating surface of the ferrule. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said roller includes a recess formed along the side of said roller, at least a portion of said ferrule being received within said recess. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said shaft comprises a first portion and a second portion, and an adapter joining said first and second portions. 
     
     
         17 . An overhead rolling door having the roller assembly of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         18 . A roller assembly comprising:
 a polymer roller having a first side and a second side, each side having a recess;   a central axis around which said roller rolls;   an interior bore disposed through said roller and centered along said central axis;   a shaft for rotatably supporting the roller having a shoulder and an end for holding the roller upon the shaft; and   a first ferrule seated in the recess of said first side and a second ferrule seated in the recess of said second side, the ferrules serving to align said shaft through said bore.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18  including a washer on said shaft, said washer being located between said shoulder and the end of said shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said end of said shaft comprises a cold-headed end that forms a stop for retaining the roller upon the shaft.