Coatings roller assembly with improved frame

A coatings application roller cage apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame wire comprising a first end and second end, a first bend, second bend, and third bend, a treated portion disposed between the second end and third bend, wherein the treated portion comprises a roughened area of the frame wire;
• a first stop disposed on the frame wire proximate the third bend between the second end and third bend;
• a second stop fixed onto the treated portion between the first stop and the second end, wherein the second stop comprises a sleeve or ring crimped onto the treated portion, and wherein the second stop is positioned nearer the third bend than the second end;
• an inner bearing fixedly engaged with the frame wire, the inner bearing disposed between the second stop and the first stop, wherein the first stop and the second stop are disposed on either side of, and adjacent to, the inner bearing to operably provide stops to the inner bearing with regard to lateral movement along the frame wire;
• a coating applicator cage frame disposed over the inner bearing to operably rotate around the inner bearing;
• an inner bushing operably rotatable around the inner bearing and in fixed engagement with the coating applicator cage frame;
• an outer bearing fixedly engaged with the frame wire proximate the second end;
• and
• an outer bushing operably rotatable around the outer bearing and in fixed engagement with the coating applicator cage frame.

A method of manufacturing a coatings application roller cage apparatus, the method comprising:

• engaging an inner bearing with a frame wire, wherein the frame wire comprises:
• a first end and second end, a first bend, second bend, and third bend,
• treating a portion of the frame wire resulting in a treated portion disposed between the second end and third bend, wherein the treated portion comprises a portion of a surface of the frame wire that is altered to provide increased friction;
• fixing a first stop disposed on the frame wire proximate the third bend between the second end and third bend;
• fixing a second stop onto the treated portion between the first stop and the second end, wherein the second stop is positioned nearer the third bend than the second end;
• and
• disposing a coating applicator cage frame over the inner bearing to operably rotate around the inner bearing;
• wherein the first stop and the second stop are disposed on either side of, and adjacent to, the inner bearing to operably provide stops to the inner bearing with regard to lateral movement along the frame wire.