Abstract: A tapered spline conveyor roller, and a curved conveyor roller assembly using a plurality of the tapered spline rollers. The tapered spline roller has a cylindrical barrel and an inner and an outer drive portion that is formed of a plurality of parallel, radially-disposed, tapered splines about the circumference of the barrel portion. The splines can be tapered inwardly at a taper angle toward the center of the roller, along the length of the spline, from the first end toward the second end of the roller. A belt connects and engages the tapered splines of the drive portions of adjacent rollers, for rotationally coupling the rollers. The connecting belt typically has an inner surface having spaced-apart ribs for engaging the slots disposed between the tapered splines. The tapered splines of the two drive portions of adjacent rollers is provided with a taper angle that is one-half of the angle that is formed between the centerlines of the adjacent rollers.

Abstract: A conveyor platform is formed from a series of pivotally interconnected segments. Each segment has a stop block, and each stop block has two strike faces. Each strike face abuts against an opposing strike face on adjacent stop blocks when the platform is in a planar position. The stop blocks cannot be compressed, so, when the platform is carrying a load, the stop blocks prevent the platform from sagging. The platform turns as it travels around drive chain sprockets on the return portion of the cyclical drive chain pattern. When it turns, a gap is created between opposing strike faces on adjacent stop blocks. When adjacent segments of the platform emerge from the turn, the opposing strike faces come rapidly together. A bore extends inwardly from one of the strike faces on each stop block and a resilient urethane plug is mounted in the bore. The plug projects slightly beyond the strike face when the opposing strike face on the adjacent stop block is spaced from the plug-bearing strike face.