A conveyor belt system (100, 200) comprising: a belt assembly (102, 1102) including: a linkage assembly extending along a longitudinal direction (112, 1112), and a plurality of transverse elements extending along a traverse direction, which transverse elements are configured to travel along the longitudinal direction (112, 1112), the plurality of transverse elements being interconnected by the linkage assembly; the linkage assembly comprising a first link (1156a, 1156b) and a second link (1158a, 1158b), the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) configured to move relative to each other between an engaged position and a disengaged position; wherein the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) of the linkage assembly, when in the engaged position, are constrained against rotation relative to each other about the transverse axis, the linkage assembly thus being in a self-supporting condition; and wherein the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) of the linkage assembly when in the disengaged position, are configured to rotate relative to each other about said transverse axis; wherein the conveyor belt system (100,200) further comprises a biasing member configured to bias the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) toward the engaged position; wherein the biasing member is a helical compression spring, a leaf spring, or a Belleville washer, and in particular, wherein at least one of the transverse elements is fixed to the biasing member, and/or wherein the biasing member is integrally connected to one of the first link and the second link (1156a, 1156b); wherein the conveyor belt system further comprises a driving member that drives the conveyor belt in the longitudinal direction (112, 1112), wherein the conveyor belt defines a vertical direction (116, 1116) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (112, 1112) and the transverse direction (114, 1114), wherein the conveyor belt system (100,200) further comprises a disengagement device configured to move the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) away from the engaged position and toward the disengaged position against a biasing force from the biasing member,); and wherein the first link (1156a, 1156b) includes a first surface and the second link (1158a, 1158b) includes a second surface; characterized in that the first surface and the second surface engage each other when in the engaged position, and wherein the first surface and the second surface abut when in the engaged position to support a load directed in the vertical direction, wherein in particular the driving member includes the disengagement device, and wherein the disengagement device includes a cam surface that cams and abuts against a surface of the first link to disengage the first link from the second link. a linkage assembly extending along a longitudinal direction (112, 1112), and a plurality of transverse elements extending along a traverse direction, which transverse elements are configured to travel along the longitudinal direction (112, 1112), the plurality of transverse elements being interconnected by the linkage assembly; the linkage assembly comprising a first link (1156a, 1156b) and a second link (1158a, 1158b), the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) configured to move relative to each other between an engaged position and a disengaged position; wherein the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) of the linkage assembly, when in the engaged position, are constrained against rotation relative to each other about the transverse axis, the linkage assembly thus being in a self-supporting condition; and wherein the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) of the linkage assembly when in the disengaged position, are configured to rotate relative to each other about said transverse axis; wherein the conveyor belt system (100,200) further comprises a biasing member configured to bias the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) toward the engaged position; wherein the biasing member is a helical compression spring, a leaf spring, or a Belleville washer, and in particular, wherein at least one of the transverse elements is fixed to the biasing member, and/or wherein the biasing member is integrally connected to one of the first link and the second link (1156a, 1156b); wherein the conveyor belt system further comprises a driving member that drives the conveyor belt in the longitudinal direction (112, 1112), wherein the conveyor belt defines a vertical direction (116, 1116) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (112, 1112) and the transverse direction (114, 1114), wherein the conveyor belt system (100,200) further comprises a disengagement device configured to move the first and second links (1156a, 1156b) away from the engaged position and toward the disengaged position against a biasing force from the biasing member,); and wherein the first link (1156a, 1156b) includes a first surface and the second link (1158a, 1158b) includes a second surface; characterized in that the first surface and the second surface engage each other when in the engaged position, and wherein the first surface and the second surface abut when in the engaged position to support a load directed in the vertical direction, wherein in particular the driving member includes the disengagement device, and wherein the disengagement device includes a cam surface that cams and abuts against a surface of the first link to disengage the first link from the second link.