Patent ID: 9694979
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: B65G

Claim:
1. A conveyor belt comprising: a plurality of spaced hinge rods, each of said plurality of rods including a first end and a second end, said plurality of rods being disposed transversely with respect to a direction of travel of the conveyor belt; and a plurality of plate elements including a first side edge and a second side edge, the plurality of plate elements overlying said spaced hinge rods, whereby said plurality of plate elements define a product support surface; wherein each of said plurality of plate elements includes a side edge connector having a bendable retaining tab disposed at the first side edge and the second side edge; wherein each said side edge connector further includes two holes for receiving a respective end of one of said hinge rods therein; and wherein said bendable retaining tab is configured to bend and thereby cover one of said two holes on said side edge connector, thereby restraining movement of said hinge rod within said respective hole.