Patent ID: 8196728

Claim:
A roller assembly comprising: a) a roller tube having outer and inner surfaces extending between ends; b) a pair of bearing assemblies mounted respectively at either end of the roller tube, each bearing assembly comprising: i) an axle, the axles of the bearing assemblies being independent from each other; ii) first and second bearings positioned in a spaced apart relationship on the axle; and iii) a casing enclosing the first and second bearings; c) locating means for axially locating the pair of bearing assemblies with respect to the roller tube, the bearing assemblies being distal from each other; d) centering means for centering each of the bearing assemblies with respect to the roller tube, the centering means comprising: i) an annular element positioned between the inner surface of the roller tube and a corresponding casing, the annular element being positioned at an extremity the corresponding casing that is proximate to the other casing; and ii) a plurality of annular segments positioned between the inner surface of the roller tube and the corresponding casing, the plurality of annular segments being positioned at an extremity of the corresponding casing that is distal to the other casing; and e) a hardened resin for encasing the ends of the roller tube and the casings therebetween, the annular element preventing the resin from entering an area between the bearing assemblies.