Patent ID: 7162903

Claim:
An apparatus for processing a drive shaft for a vehicle, the drive shaft having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the apparatus comprising: a drive arrangement for coupling to the first end of the drive shaft and applying a rotatory force to the drive shaft; a second end support arrangement for rotationally supporting the drive shaft at its second end; and a transaxial drive for applying a transverse force in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; a first end support arrangement for rotatably supporting the drive shaft at its first end, said first end support arrangement including first and second rollers arranged to rotatably support the drive shaft in a direction counter to that of the transverse force and third and fourth rollers arranged to rotatably support the drive shaft in a direction opposite to that of said first and second rollers; and said second end support arrangement including first and second rollers arranged to rotatably support the drive shaft at its second end in a direction counter to that of the transverse force.