Tapered and Conical Conveyor Rollers For Curves, Transitions and Tracking
Tapered and conical rollers for conveyor curves, transitions and belt tracking. Built to your taper and dimensions, matched to your frame.
A tapered roller has a conical shell rather than a cylindrical one, so its surface speed varies along the face. On the inside of a curve the belt travels a shorter distance than on the outside; a cylindrical roll would scrub one edge. A tapered roll matches the speed difference, which is why curved and transition sections use them.
The same property makes a tapered roller a tracking device. Where the belt drifts toward the small end, the differential speed pulls it back. That is the principle behind tapered self-aligning sets, which combine a conical roll with a pivoting frame.
What You Are Actually Getting
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Shell | Conical steel tube, taper set to drawing |
| Roll diameter | Set at the large end against belt width; the small end follows the taper |
| Taper | To drawing - the taper follows the curve radius and the belt width |
| Tube | Q235 steel, equivalent to SS400 / S275JR |
| Shaft | 45# steel, equivalent to DIN C45 / JIS S45C / AISI 1045 |
| Bearing | Deep-groove ball, HRB or ZWZ standard, SKF or FAG on specification |
| Configuration | Idle tapered roll, or tapered self-aligning set on a pivoting frame |
| Coating | Standard paint, galvanizing, or rubber-coated face on request |
Where a Tapered Roll Fits
Taper is not a catalogue value - it follows the curve radius and the belt width, so it is set from a drawing. What this table gives you is the roll diameter series and the belt width range the rest of the set is built from.
| Belt width | Large-end dia. ref. | Roll length L | Typical duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | 89.1 | 145 | Short curves, transition zones |
| 600 | 89.1 | 210 | Transition zones at the tail |
| 750 | 114.3 | 265 | Bend stations on medium conveyors |
| 900 | 114.3 | 315 | Bend and transition stations |
| 1050 | 139.8 | 370 | Bend stations, tapered training sets |
| 1200 | 139.8 | 420 | Bend stations, tapered training sets |
| 1400 | 165.2 | 500 | Wide-belt curves and transitions |
| 1600 | 165.2 | 580 | Wide-belt curves and transitions |
| 1800 | 165.2 | 650 | Wide-belt curves and transitions |
| 2000 | 165.2 | 730 | Wide-belt curves and transitions |
| 2200 | 165.2 | 800 | Wide-belt curves |
| 2400 | 165.2 | 880 | Wide-belt curves |
Dimensions in mm. The large-end diameter follows the standard roll series at that belt width; the taper and the small-end diameter are set to drawing against your curve radius.
Taper, Curve Radius and Belt Edge Stress
Taper follows the radius
The taper is calculated from the curve radius and the belt width, not chosen from a table. A taper that is too steep scrubs the inside edge; too shallow and the belt rides up on the outside. Send the radius and the width.
Curve direction matters
A tapered roll is handed - the small end goes on the inside of the curve. Fit it the wrong way round and it pushes the belt off rather than guiding it. State the direction of the curve on the order.
Transitions are the other case
At the tail, the belt has to change from flat at the pulley to troughed on the run. Tapered rolls in the transition ease that change and stop the belt edge from lifting.
Rubber-coated tapered rolls
Where the curve is also a drive or where grip matters, the face can be rubber coated. It costs more and it wears, so it is specified only where the plain taper is not enough.
Common failure
A tapered roll fails at the small end, where the bearing is smallest and the speed is lowest. Check the bearing size at the small end rather than sizing from the large end.
Where Tapered Rollers Are Specified
- Curved conveyors — Horizontal curves need differential surface speed across the belt. This is the primary application.
- Tail transitions — The change from flat at the tail pulley to troughed on the run loads the belt edge unless the transition is eased with tapered rolls.
- Tapered training sets — Conical rolls on a pivoting frame correct tracking on long, wide or reversing belts - see the self-aligning idler page.
Tapered and Conical Conveyor Rollers FAQ
How do I specify the taper?
Send the curve radius, the belt width and the belt speed. The taper is calculated from those, and the large-end and small-end diameters follow. There is no useful standard taper - it is geometry, not a product option.
Is a tapered roller the same as a conical roller?
Yes. Tapered roller, conical roller and taper roll all describe the same component. Note that tapered roller is also the name of a bearing type, so make the context clear on a purchase order.
Can a tapered roller replace a training idler?
On a curve, it is the correct device. On a straight run, a tapered training set works but a friction self-aligning set is usually cheaper and more direct.
Do you build tapered rolls to an existing drawing?
Yes, and this is the normal route. Taper is rarely a catalogue value, so most orders arrive as a drawing or a sample roll.
How Orders Run
T/T — 40% deposit with order, 60% balance before shipment. L/C at sight accepted for container orders.
Quoted per order. The schedule depends on the drawing, the quantity and the material — we state a firm date with the quotation instead of a catalogue figure.
15 months from B/L date against manufacturing defects. Claims supported by photos and batch number.
Packing, minimum order and Incoterms are set out in full on the quotation page.
Tapered and Conical Conveyor Rollers Built to Your Drawing
Send the belt width, the duty and, if you have one, the drawing. We will specify it, quote within 24 hours, and ship samples in 2–3 days.
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