Roller shaft mount

A roller conveyor comprising:

• a pair of opposite sidewalls defining shaft openings;
• at least one roller, said roller comprising a generally cylindrical roller surface that rotates relative to an axle portion;
• and
• at least one shaft support configured to mount to at least one of said sidewalls said shaft support comprising a mounting portion and a clamping portion and being configured to receive said axle portion of said roller to mount and secure said axle portion of said roller to one of said sidewalls, said mounting portion being mounted to said sidewall and said clamping portion being movable relative to said mounting portion, said at least one shaft support further comprising an adjusting element that is adjustable to move said clamping portion relative to said mounting portion to increase a clamping force at said axle portion to clamp said axle portion within said shaft support to substantially preclude rotation of said axle portion relative to said shaft support, said adjusting clement of said shaft support comprising a fastener connecting said mounting portion to said shaft clamping portion, said clamping portion being movable relative to said mounting portion to increase said clamping force in response to adjustment of said fastener to clamp said axle portion within said shaft support, wherein said clamping portion moves along a ramped surface of said mounting portion and moves toward and into engagement with said axle portion of said roller in response to adjustment of said fastener to clamp the axle portion within said shaft support.

A method of securing a shaft of a roller to a sidewall of a conveyor, said method comprising:

• providing a conveyor section having opposite sidewalls;
• providing a shaft support having a mounting portion and a clamping portion;
• mounting said mounting portion of said shaft support at a sidewall of the conveyor;
• inserting a shaft of a roller at least partially through a shaft receiving aperture of said shaft support;
• and
• moving said clamping portion relative to said mounting portion to increase a clamping force at the shaft of the roller to clamp the shaft in said shaft receiving aperture, wherein moving said clamping portion comprises moving said clamping portion along a ramped surface of said mounting portion to move said clamping portion toward and into engagement with the roller shaft.

A roller shaft support for securing an end of a conveyor roller, the conveyor roller extending laterally across a conveyor having opposite sidewalls extending generally along a direction of conveyance, said roller shaft support comprising:

• a mounting portion mountable to a sidewall of the conveyor;
• a clamping portion, said clamping portion being movably attached to said mounting portion and movable relative thereto, said shaft support receiving a roller shaft at least partially therethrough, at least one of said clamping portion and said mounting portion having a ramped surface;
• an adjusting element adjustable to move said clamping portion relative to said mounting portion;
• and
• wherein said clamping portion is movable relative to said mounting portion and along said ramped surface so as to move toward and into engagement with the roller shaft to clamp the roller shaft between said clamping portion and said mounting portion, said clamping portion being configured to increase a clamping force at the roller shaft as said clamping portion is moved relative to said mounting portion and along said ramped surface in response to adjustment of said adjusting element.