A variable spaced flat wire conveyor belt system comprising: a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire wickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting said plurality of spaced tractive rods, each said wicket having a uniform thickness dimension throughout a width of the conveyor belt; each of said row of wickets defining a plurality of first links and a plurality of second links, each of said links having a longitudinal height and a transverse spacing; and at least one sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth; wherein said plurality of first links have a first height and a first transverse spacing and said plurality of second links have a second height and a second transverse spacing, said first height being substantially equal to said second height and said first spacing being less than said second spacing, and wherein said conveyor belt includes an opposing first outer edge and a second outer edge and said plurality of first links are disposed on at least the first outer edge and the second outer edge of the flat wire conveyor belt, wherein said plurality of spaced tractive rods terminate with clinched ends (382, 384) within said plurality of first links disposed on at least the first outer edge and the second outer edge of the flat wire conveyor belt, and wherein said first links are dimensioned for receiving said clinched ends (382, 384) and said sprocket teeth therewithin, and characterised in that said first links disposed on the first outer edge and said first links disposed on the second outer edge include a rod opening on an outermost leg of said first links, a terminal end of said spaced tractive rods extending inwardly through said opening and bending towards the direction of travel such that said spaced tractive rods terminates at an interior position within said first links, and wherein each of said row of wickets further defines a plurality of third links spaced inwardly from said plurality of first links, said plurality of third links having a longitudinal height substantially equal to said first height of said first links and a transverse spacing less than said first transverse spacing of said first links, wherein said plurality of sprocket teeth on said at least one sprocket includes a first circumferential row of sprocket teeth and a second circumferential row of sprocket teeth, and wherein the first circumferential row of sprocket teeth engage said plurality of first links and the second circumferential row of sprocket teeth engage said plurality of third links, said plurality of third links being dimensioned to restrict lateral movement of the conveyor belt and prevent the first circumferential row of sprocket teeth from contacting said clinched ends (382, 384). a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire wickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting said plurality of spaced tractive rods, each said wicket having a uniform thickness dimension throughout a width of the conveyor belt; each of said row of wickets defining a plurality of first links and a plurality of second links, each of said links having a longitudinal height and a transverse spacing; and at least one sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth; wherein said plurality of first links have a first height and a first transverse spacing and said plurality of second links have a second height and a second transverse spacing, said first height being substantially equal to said second height and said first spacing being less than said second spacing, and wherein said conveyor belt includes an opposing first outer edge and a second outer edge and said plurality of first links are disposed on at least the first outer edge and the second outer edge of the flat wire conveyor belt, wherein said plurality of spaced tractive rods terminate with clinched ends (382, 384) within said plurality of first links disposed on at least the first outer edge and the second outer edge of the flat wire conveyor belt, and wherein said first links are dimensioned for receiving said clinched ends (382, 384) and said sprocket teeth therewithin, and characterised in that said first links disposed on the first outer edge and said first links disposed on the second outer edge include a rod opening on an outermost leg of said first links, a terminal end of said spaced tractive rods extending inwardly through said opening and bending towards the direction of travel such that said spaced tractive rods terminates at an interior position within said first links, and wherein each of said row of wickets further defines a plurality of third links spaced inwardly from said plurality of first links, said plurality of third links having a longitudinal height substantially equal to said first height of said first links and a transverse spacing less than said first transverse spacing of said first links, wherein said plurality of sprocket teeth on said at least one sprocket includes a first circumferential row of sprocket teeth and a second circumferential row of sprocket teeth, and wherein the first circumferential row of sprocket teeth engage said plurality of first links and the second circumferential row of sprocket teeth engage said plurality of third links, said plurality of third links being dimensioned to restrict lateral movement of the conveyor belt and prevent the first circumferential row of sprocket teeth from contacting said clinched ends (382, 384).