Multi-directional conveyor roller

A conveyor roller assembly comprising:

• a plurality of conveyor rollers positioned side by side;
• a first one of the conveyor rollers including:
• a first outer shell forming a first primary rolling element, the first outer shell being rotatable about a first primary axis;
• and
• a plurality of first secondary rolling elements installed within the first outer shell, each of the first secondary rolling elements being rotatable about an axis different from the first primary axis;
• and
• a second one of the conveyor rollers including:
• a second outer shell forming a second primary rolling element, the second outer shell being rotatable about a second primary axis;
• and
• a plurality of second secondary rolling elements installed within the second outer shell, each of the second secondary rolling elements being rotatable about an axis different from the second primary axis;
• and
• wherein the first one of the conveyor roller is disposed adjacent to the second one of the conveyor rollers, whereby the first one of the conveyor rollers and the second one of the conveyor rollers cooperate to define a product conveying surface.

A conveyor roller comprising:

• a shaft extending along a primary axis;
• an outer shell disposed concentrically relative to the shaft, the outer shell having an outer circumferential surface to support a product carried by the conveyor roller and rotatable about the primary axis, the outer shell defining a plurality of openings;
• and
• a plurality of secondary rolling elements mounted within the outer shell, the plurality of secondary rolling elements being arranged in a regular pattern about a circumference and a length of the outer shell, each of the secondary rolling elements including a shaft and a roller, the roller protruding above the outer circumferential surface of the outer shell and being oriented to rotate about an axis different from the primary axis.