Roller conveyor for conveying elongated articles

A roller conveyor for conveying an elongated article including first and second roller engagement portions having lengths comprising:

• a row of drive roller units arranged in a conveyance direction of the elongated article at intervals which are smaller than the length of the first roller engagement portion of the elongated article, each of said drive roller units including
• a fixed member,
• a drive roller for frictionally driving the elongated article in the longitudinal direction thereof while engaging the first roller engagement portion of the elongated article,
• a floating support frame rotatably supporting thereon said drive roller and being attached to said fixed member so as to enable an outer peripheral surface of said drive roller to move toward and away from the first roller engagement portion of the elongated article, and
• an urging means for urging said floating support frame in a direction to force said outer peripheral surface of said drive roller against the first roller engagement portion;
• said conveyor further including a row of freely rotatable first idler rollers arranged in parallel with said row of drive roller units for bearing part of a load on the elongated article at a fixed position, at least a part of said first idler rollers having an outer peripheral surface formed with a guide portion for guiding the second engagement portion of the elongated article to prevent meandering of the elongated article during conveyance.