# US 11,078,025 B2 · Lightweight roller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,025 B2 - Document ID: US11078025B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/819,431 - Filed: 2017-11-21 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-21 - Assignees: Chemcut Holdings LLC - Applicants: Chemcut Holdings LLC - Inventors: Rodger Lee Keller; Gerald Myron Reitz; Charles Robert Seager; Stanley Bryan Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078025B2 ## CPC - B65G 39/02: Adaptations of individual rollers and supports therefor - H10P 72/3202: {Mechanical details, e.g. rollers or belts} - B65G 13/02: having driven rollers - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract One embodiment provides a lightweight roller, including: a cylindrical tube manufactured using a lightweight material; the cylindrical tube comprising a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, and an outer surface; and at least one end cap attached to at least one of the first end and the second end. Other aspects are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lightweight roller for conveying fragile or sensitive components while maintaining a long lifespan, comprising: a cylindrical roller core manufactured using a single lightweight composite material, the cylindrical roller having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a sleeve of soft and fluid resistant material with a uniform outer diameter, thereby lessening pressure exerted by the lightweight roller on the fragile or sensitive components, wherein the sleeve contacts the fragile or sensitive components, wherein the cylindrical roller core comprises a length that spans a majority of the length of the lightweight roller, wherein the lightweight roller comprises an over molded material over the outer surface of the cylindrical roller core and grinding the over molded material to a predetermined thickness; the cylindrical roller core comprising a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, and an outer surface; and at least one end cap attached to at least one of the first end and the second end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lightweight roller of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical roller core is a hollow tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lightweight roller of claim 1, wherein the lightweight composite material is a composite material selected from the group consisting of: carbon fiber, fiber glass, and graphene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lightweight roller of claim 1, wherein the lightweight composite material comprises a material that resists chemicals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lightweight roller of claim 1, wherein the over molded material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and plastic elastomer (PE). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lightweight roller of claim 1, further comprising a shrink wrap material covering the outer surface of the cylindrical roller core. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lightweight roller of claim 6, wherein the shrink wrap material is selected from the group consisting of: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lightweight roller of claim 1, wherein the at least one end cap comprises an attachment mechanism for attaching the lightweight roller to a conveyor apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lightweight roller of claim 1, further comprising a core insert within the cylindrical roller core. ### Claim 10 A method of manufacturing a lightweight roller for conveying fragile or sensitive components while maintaining a long lifespan, comprising: manufacturing a cylindrical roller core with a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, and an outer surface from a single lightweight composite material, the cylindrical roller having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a sleeve of soft and fluid resistant material with a uniform outer diameter, thereby lessening pressure exerted by the lightweight roller on the fragile or sensitive components, wherein the sleeve contacts the fragile or sensitive components, wherein the cylindrical roller core comprises a length that spans a majority of the length of the lightweight roller; placing an over molded material over the outer surface of the cylindrical roller core and grinding the over molded material to a predetermined thickness; and attaching at least one end cap to at least one of the first end and the second end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of manufacturing a lightweight roller of claim 10, wherein the over molded material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and plastic elastomer (PE). ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of manufacturing a lightweight roller of claim 10, further comprising placing a shrink wrap material over the outer surface of the cylindrical roller core. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of manufacturing a lightweight roller of claim 12, wherein the shrink wrap material is selected from the group consisting of: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of manufacturing a lightweight roller of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical roller core is a hollow tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of manufacturing a lightweight roller of claim 10, wherein the lightweight composite material is a composite material selected from the group consisting of: carbon fiber, fiber glass, and graphene. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of manufacturing a lightweight roller of claim 10, wherein the at least one end cap comprises an attachment mechanism for attaching the lightweight roller to a conveyor apparatus. ### Claim 17 A lightweight conveyor roller system for conveying fragile or sensitive components while maintaining a long lifespan, comprising: a conveyor roller device; and a plurality of cylindrical roller cores manufactured using a single lightweight composite material, each of the cylindrical rollers having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a sleeve of soft and fluid resistant material with a uniform outer diameter, thereby lessening pressure exerted by the lightweight roller on the fragile or sensitive components, wherein the sleeve contacts the fragile or sensitive components, wherein each of the cylindrical roller cores comprise a length that spans a majority of the length of a corresponding lightweight roller, wherein each of the cylindrical rollers comprises an over molded material over the outer surface of the cylindrical roller core and grinding the over molded material to a predetermined thickness; each of the cylindrical roller cores comprising a first end, a second end substantially opposite the first end, and an outer surface; and a first end cap for each of the cylindrical roller cores, wherein the first end cap is attached to the first end of the corresponding cylindrical roller core; a second end cap for each of the cylindrical roller cores, wherein the second end cap is attached to the second end of the corresponding cylindrical roller core; wherein each of the first end caps and the second end caps comprise an attachment mechanism for attaching the cylindrical roller cores to a position of the conveyor roller device.