A conveyor belt comprising: a first link having a first mating surface , wherein the first mating surface is disposed proximate a first rod receiving aperture extending through at least a portion of the first link ; and a second link having a second mating surface , wherein the second mating surface is disposed proximate a second rod receiving aperture extending through at least a portion of the second link ; the first link being located forward of the second link in a longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt; wherein the first mating surface is configured to abut the second mating surface when the first link is moved rearward and/or the second link is moved forward to move the first link and the second link towards one another, in order to move the first mating surface toward the second mating surface ; and wherein, when the first mating surface abuts the second mating surface , the first rod receiving aperture is substantially aligned with the second rod receiving aperture to form a rod receiving path; characterized in that : the second mating surface is substantially rounded and the first mating surface is substantially planar and is configured to abut the substantially rounded second mating surface during assembly; and the second mating surface at least partially surrounds the second rod receiving aperture , in particular wherein the second mating surface is substantially concentric with the second rod receiving aperture . a first link having a first mating surface , wherein the first mating surface is disposed proximate a first rod receiving aperture extending through at least a portion of the first link ; and a second link having a second mating surface , wherein the second mating surface is disposed proximate a second rod receiving aperture extending through at least a portion of the second link ; the first link being located forward of the second link in a longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt; wherein the first mating surface is configured to abut the second mating surface when the first link is moved rearward and/or the second link is moved forward to move the first link and the second link towards one another, in order to move the first mating surface toward the second mating surface ; and wherein, when the first mating surface abuts the second mating surface , the first rod receiving aperture is substantially aligned with the second rod receiving aperture to form a rod receiving path; characterized in that : the second mating surface is substantially rounded and the first mating surface is substantially planar and is configured to abut the substantially rounded second mating surface during assembly; and the second mating surface at least partially surrounds the second rod receiving aperture , in particular wherein the second mating surface is substantially concentric with the second rod receiving aperture . the second mating surface is substantially rounded and the first mating surface is substantially planar and is configured to abut the substantially rounded second mating surface during assembly; and the second mating surface at least partially surrounds the second rod receiving aperture , in particular wherein the second mating surface is substantially concentric with the second rod receiving aperture . <EOS>