Patent ID: 7306091

Claim:
A tapered spline roller comprising: (a) a cylindrical barrel having a length, an outer surface, and a first and second end; and (b) at least a first drive portion formed integrally into a first portion of the outer surface of the barrel, and a second drive portion formed integrally into a second portion of the outer surface of the barrel, adjacent to and axially disposed from the first drive portion, each of the at least first drive portion and the second drive portion comprising a plurality of parallel, radially-disposed, tapered splines positioned about the circumference of the barrel portion, each of the plurality of tapered splines having a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween, and being tapered inwardly along its length from the first end to the second end at a taper angle toward the centerline of the roller, and wherein the taper angle of the plurality of tapered splines of the first drive portion is different than the taper angle of the plurality of tapered splines of the second drive portion.