Abstract: A powered roller conveyor wherein a plurality of conveyor rolls are formed as elongated sleeves and are freely rotatably supported on support shafts which are slightly undersized relative to the sleeves. At least some of the support shafts are rotatably driven. The sleeves and support shafts are provided with a special coating on the opposed surfaces thereof so that friction between these surfaces is greatly minimized, whereby a minimal drive force is transmitted from the driving shafts to the sleeves, which minimal driving force is sufficient to effectively convey the articles along the conveyor but results in only minimal pressure on the articles and between the articles when they are stopped and accumulate on the conveyor.